Richmond Area News Feed

Shurley, who works with natural materials and "abandoned memories," will welcome the public into his studio for the first time.

Richmond police officers recovered seven illegal firearms last week using proactive patrols, community reports, and drone technology.

In the first incident, officers noticed an individual wearing a heavy jacket and ski mask in 85-degree weather. The suspect fled from officers and allegedly discarded a loaded firearm under a parked vehicle before being quickly apprehended.

Police drones assisted in two additional arrests. In one case, a resident reported an extended magazine protruding from a person’s pocket, allowing drone operators to locate the suspect and direct officers to recover a loaded firearm. In a separate incident, a drone helped locate a reported armed subject who was found carrying a loaded sawed-off shotgun.

Officers also seized a loaded firearm from a suspect after responding to a possible carjacking. Following another community tip regarding an armed individual, officers recovered a loaded firearm and subsequently served a search warrant that led to the seizure of an illegal rifle.

During a separate traffic stop, officers arrested a driver for driving under the influence. The driver had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.226 percent, and officers recovered a loaded firearm from the vehicle.

The Richmond Police Department credited these recoveries to a combination of proactive policing, community involvement, and officer dedication.

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Artist Sean Orlando’s latest whimsical work is expected to be one of the tallest sculptures at Burning Man in years.

Amy Kisch, the former Head of Art + Public Programs at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco, has been appointed as the new executive director of Richmond-based NIAD Art Center.

Kisch will lead the nonprofit progressive art studio and gallery as it supports nearly 80 artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities in sustaining their creative practices and professional careers. The leadership change comes as NIAD prepares to celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2027.

Kisch brings more than 30 years of experience as an arts leader, strategist, curator and nonprofit executive, along with an early career in clinical and community social work. NIAD said her blend of artistic and clinical experience reflects the vision of co-founders Florence Ludins-Katz and Dr. Elias Katz, whose backgrounds in art education and clinical psychology shaped the organization’s founding belief that all people, including those with disabilities, have an innate capacity for creative expression.

Before joining NIAD, Kisch led multidisciplinary exhibitions, performances and civic initiatives as Head of Art + Public Programs at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. She also founded Art+Action, which launched the national arts-driven “Come to Your Census” campaign for the 2020 Census, and AKArt Advisory, where she advised organizations including the Waverley Street Foundation.

Kisch succeeds Interim Executive Director Lucy Zimmerman, who has led NIAD since January following the departure of Amanda Eicher after seven years as executive director. During her interim tenure, Zimmerman guided the organization while overseeing artist services, exhibitions, fundraising, strategic planning and board governance. She will return to her role as Director of Exhibitions & Partnerships.

NIAD Board Chair Ben Choi thanked both Eicher and Zimmerman for their leadership and expressed confidence in Kisch’s appointment.

“Amy brings an extraordinary combination of strategic vision, artist-centered leadership, and organizational expertise,” Choi said. “We are thrilled to welcome her to NIAD and confident she will build on the strong foundation Amanda and Lucy helped create as the organization moves forward.”

Kisch said she hopes to amplify artists’ voices while fostering an equitable organizational culture where artists and staff have a strong foundation for creativity and authentic self-expression.

“My conviction has always been that art gives people the platform to be seen and heard on their own terms,” Kisch said. “I’m honored to join an organization built on the understanding that accessibility is inseparable from dignity.”

Kisch joins NIAD during a period of growing national recognition for its artists. In 2025, Marlon Mullen received a solo exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art and was awarded a Eureka Fellowship. Major museums have also expanded their NIAD collections, with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art acquiring 12 works in 2023 and the Oakland Museum of California acquiring 19 works in 2024 for its Into the Brightness exhibition.

Other NIAD artists have also earned national recognition. Felicia Griffin received a 2024 Wynn Newhouse Award, and Dorian Reid, an awardee of the Museum of the African Diaspora’s Emerging Artist Program, will open a solo exhibition at MoAD in September 2026. NIAD was also honored with the East Bay Economic Development Alliance’s 2026 East Bay Innovation Award for Arts & Culture. Despite its growing international profile, the organization remains rooted in Richmond, where it continues to serve as a founding partner in the emerging Richmond Arts Corridor.

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The Bay Area Rescue Mission has announced that Rev. Andy Bales has joined the organization as its champion and director of advancement. In the role, Bales will help expand the nonprofit’s regional impact and raise public awareness of its services for people experiencing poverty and homelessness.

Bales brings more than 30 years of front-line experience serving people experiencing homelessness. Before joining the Bay Area Rescue Mission, he spent 20 years as president and CEO of the Union Rescue Mission on Los Angeles’ Skid Row. During that time, he is credited with helping to develop faith-based recovery programs, expand emergency shelters, guide the organization through economic recessions and the COVID-19 pandemic, and establish transitional housing centers for women and children. His work has been featured on national broadcasts including 60 Minutes and NBC’s Dateline.

As director of avancement, Bales will focus on three primary goals: raising regional awareness of the mission’s food, clothing, shelter, counseling, long-term residential recovery, and job-training programs; helping shift public perception to emphasize the dignity and potential of people experiencing homelessness; and strengthening community partnerships, volunteer engagement and donor support across the Bay Area.

“We are incredibly honored to welcome Rev. Andy Bales to our team as BARM champion and director of advancement,” Bay Area Rescue Mission CEO and President Bram Begonia said. “Andy is a leader of unmatched courage and compassion, a man who has quite literally sacrificed his own health to serve the vulnerable. His deep expertise in faith-based recovery and his powerful voice will be invaluable as we spread the word about the miraculous, life-transforming work happening inside our doors every single day.”

Bales said he has dedicated his career to ensuring people experiencing homelessness are not forgotten.

“The Bay Area Rescue Mission does something extraordinary—they don’t just hand out temporary fixes; they offer a true path to recovery, restoration, and independent living,” Bales said. “I am eager to help amplify this mission across the Bay Area as Director of Advancement and show our communities the beautiful transformations taking place here.”

The Bay Area Rescue Mission is a Christ-centered nonprofit that provides emergency food, clothing and shelter, along with long-term addiction recovery, job-skills training and other wraparound services for men, women and families working toward long-term stability.

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Richmond Promise is inviting the community to its 10 Year Anniversary Celebration, presented by Wells Fargo Advisors. The free public event is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 8, from 1-4 p.m. at the Richmond Memorial Auditorium, 403 Civic Center Plaza in Richmond.

During its first decade, Richmond Promise has awarded multi-year college scholarships to more than 5,000 Richmond youth. The organization says it has distributed more than $14 million in scholarships, served an average of 1,300 scholarship recipients each year, and provided higher education preparation services in local middle and high school classrooms.

The scholarship program was initially made possible by a $35 million seed investment from Chevron Richmond distributed over a 10-year period.

The anniversary celebration will give attendees an opportunity to connect with Richmond Promise Scholars, alumni, staff, board members and community leaders while celebrating a decade of expanding higher education access for Richmond youth.

The event will feature storytelling exhibits highlighting the organization’s impact, a live art installation, higher education and community resource tables, and activities for children and families.

Admission is free, though organizers ask guests to register in advance through the 10 Year Anniversary Celebration RSVP page to help estimate attendance. Richmond Promise is also seeking volunteers to assist with the event. Interested community members can sign up through the volunteer registration form.

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A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.

The intersection of 41st Street and Bissell Avenue in Richmond is now open to the public, with only a few minor construction tasks remaining, according to City of Richmond Public Works.

The upgraded intersection near the RYSE Center features high-visibility crosswalks, new pavement, and ADA-accessible parking. The city redesigned the lane configuration to create a safer roadway layout for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

The City of Richmond Public Works Operations Signs and Lines Crew recently installed thermoplastic lane striping at the site. The city noted that this specific material provides long-lasting, highly visible markings to guide traffic safely during both day and night. Officials thanked residents for their patience while the street improvements were completed.

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The Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder’s Office is teaming up with the Cobra Experience Museum for a special wedding event. Couples can get married or renew their vows at the museum in Martinez on Friday, Aug. 7.

The museum features a large collection of classic Shelby American cars, offering a unique and memorable space for the ceremonies. Couples can bring up to 20 guests with them to celebrate.

Kristin B. Connelly, the Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder, said the team is excited to offer a fun and affordable wedding option at a special local spot.

Space is limited, so couples must make an appointment in advance. To save a spot and ask any questions, call the Clerk-Recorder’s Office at 925-335-7900.

Before the wedding day, couples must buy a marriage license from the main office in Martinez. A public marriage license costs $95, and a confidential marriage license costs $100. There is also a $120 fee for the ceremony itself.

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The San Pablo Police Department and Walgreens Asset Protection recently partnered on two retail theft operations at the Walgreens store on San Pablo Avenue, near City Hall.

The operations occurred in the wake of “more than $200,000 in theft-related losses” at this single store in just the past four months, police said.

Police arrested more than 16 people and recovered over $1,600 in stolen goods during the operations during the operations. Officers also issued trespass warnings to all arrested suspects, permanently banning them from the store, police said.

Police said they will continue cracking down on retail theft to support local businesses.

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Mike Herz, founder of SF Baykeeper, and his wife, Kate Josephs, are sharing stories about the bay from their home upon the waves.

More than 400 children have been deported from California since President Trump stepped up ICE enforcement efforts. Here's how one case made a lasting impression on a local classroom.

The Bay Area Girls Club is currently seeking culinary participants from the Greater East Bay for its 4th Annual Men Who Cook fundraising event. The event is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 16 and will run from 2-5 p.m. at the Galileo Club, located at 371 South 23rd Street in Richmond. The purpose of the gathering is to raise funds for the Bay Area Girls Club while allowing local men to showcase their culinary skills.

The deadline for chefs to register for the event is July 31. Those interested in participating can sign up or find more information by visiting the organization’s website at bagirlsclub.org.

Participants are required to supply their own food ingredients and serving equipment, such as chafing dishes or crock pots. They must prepare 100 small tasting samples, measuring about two to three tablespoons each, for attendees to try. Chefs must provide the name of their dish with a brief description and identify any FDA-recognized allergens present in the food on their sign-up form. In return, the Bay Area Girls Club provides a complete chef station featuring a six-foot banquet table, a tablecloth, two chairs, personalized signage, an electrical outlet, and all necessary guest tasting supplies, including one- to two-ounce cups, napkins, and eating utensils. Each chef is allowed to bring one assistant at no cost, though any additional guests must purchase event tickets to enter.

The culinary competition will feature a revised format this year, with winners being recognized across multiple distinct food categories. Last year, one winner was crowned who will be returning to this year’s competition. The winner received a large slab of meat donated by Rich Doellstedt of Richmond Wholesale Meat Company.

Additional inquiries can be directed to the Bay Area Girls Club by calling 510-730-9178 or by emailing [email protected].

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The Richmond and El Cerrito police departments opened a new police substation at The Home Depot on San Pablo Avenue in Richmond. The Home Depot provided the workspace for the officers.

The substation gives police a convenient place to write reports and do follow-up work without driving back to the main station. This setup saves travel time and keeps officers out in the field where the public can easily reach them.

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Highlights include: Los Cenzontles hosts a night of music and tacos, Cuban rhythms fill the Richmond Art Center corridor; and a tool library celebrates 10 years.

Local fire agencies publicly remembered two firefighters this week who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Capt. Matthew Burton and Engineer Scott Desmond died on July 21, 2007, in a flashover while attempting to rescue two individuals from a house fire. To mark the annual anniversary of the tragedy, recruits and leadership from the Richmond/El Cerrito Recruit Academy 26-1 incorporated a memorial run into their morning physical training. The El Cerrito-Kensington Fire Department noted that the academy members ran from the Richmond Fire Drill Tower to 149 Michelle Drive, the location of the fatal 2007 incident (as photographed above).

Both men had built dedicated careers within the local fire service before the incident. Capt. Burton began his career with Contra Costa Fire in 1997, spending almost his entire 10 years of service at Station 81, according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. He was promoted to Engineer in 2002 and achieved the rank of Captain in February 2007. The district described Burton as a man devoted to his family, friends, and work, emphasizing that he was a genuine person who would defend his friends without hesitation.

Engineer Desmond joined Contra Costa Fire in 1999 and earned his promotion to Engineer in 2002. According to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, Desmond often expressed a desire to emulate his father and deeply valued both his personal and professional families. The department highlighted that his humor, compassion, and fun nature positively impacted everyone he encountered throughout his life.

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The city council on Tuesday also approved the police department's annual military equipment report; rejected a proposed ethics commission; and delayed a labor standards ordinance.

A five-week cleanup will take place at a vacant Marina Bay lot; get a free Narcan kit at volunteer event.

A running list of restaurants that have recently opened in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.

The tax, currently known as Measure T, pays for school sports, libraries and counselors — but new polling suggests voter support isn't guaranteed.

1 in 8 successful scams in 2025 used deepfakes or artificial intelligence, including falsified endorsements by Bill Gates and other public figures.

A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.

The filing period for the Nov. 3 election, which includes Richmond's Contra Costa College board seat, closes Aug. 7.

Also: Theater group brings "A Chorus Line" to El Cerrito High; unique wooden art show at NIAD; and an open mic night downtown.

Richmond police stepped up enforcement over the July 4 weekend, making six arrests, seizing illegal fireworks and recovering a stolen loaded firearm.

Fifty people reported being the victims of gun violence in the last months of 2025. Here’s how one of them is fighting to recover.

A running list of restaurants that have recently opened in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.

Whether breaking up fights, mediating conflicts or simply listening, Robert Turner was a mentor who impacted generations of WCCUSD families.

Forty-seven acres along Richmond's western shore will become available in a few years, and Bay Trail advocates say it should become a regional park.

Divan, Dropo Sushi and Jjamppong Zizon are some of the several recent East Bay restaurant openings.