Rural Hospital Remains Entrenched In Covid ‘War’

The battle wages on despite vaccine rollout.

Mobile 'Strike Team' On The Go

Vaccines go mobile to keep seniors from slipping through the cracks.

Teddy Bear Drive | New NorCal Wine Club: Saturday Smiles

Brewery featured during CA Craft Beer Week; Valentine's dining deals; sign up for virtual Shamrock 5K fun run and other nice NorCal news.

Tech Companies Mobilize To Schedule Vaccine Appointments, But Often Fall Short

Tech companies are confident they can ameliorate vaccination scheduling issues.

Sunset Glow In Ventura: CA Photo Of The Day

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Man Saves Choking Colleague | Wineries Reopen: Saturday Smiles

Hospital launches fundraiser for wounded tortoise; food pantry team receives award; Super Bowl takeout specials and other nice NorCal news

How Social Media Companies Can Self-Regulate Toxic, Hate Speech

By using Artificial Intelligence, Big Tech can enforce objective policies on users’ hateful, inflammatory, racist or toxic speech.

$24.5K Lottery Ticket | Mom’s Dance Moves Lauded: Saturday Smiles

A Bay Area couple turns their hobby into a surprise success story; officers awarded state Medal of Valor and other nice NorCal news.

Vaccine Ramp-Up Squeezes Coronavirus Testing And Tracing

Diminished testing sites in Los Angeles leads to mass scrambling as infected residents surge.

Foxes At The Beach, LA Waives Cat Adoption Fees: Saturday Smiles

Eagle scouts retire old flags, Temecula celebrates a new playground, a baby condor at the LA Zoo gets a new name and other cheerful stories.

Drive-Thru Crab Feeds | Treats For Caregivers: Saturday Smiles

A Boys & Girls Club donates $33K in gift cards; NorCal city is among top 25 most fitness-friendly places in the U.S. and other nice news.

California Is Overriding Its Limits On Nurse Workloads As Coronavirus Surges

Hospitals are increasingly desperate to find enough staffers to care for sick patients.

‘Chalk Granny’ Lifts Spirits | $2.7M Powerball: Saturday Smiles

Beloved K-9 retires; nonprofit grows food, donates it to those in need; a firefighter earns hero award and other nice NorCal news.

‘Flying The Plane As We Build It’

California counties continue plodding along with the vaccine rollout.

$2.3M Lottery Ticket | Famous 'Kite Man' Returns: Saturday Smiles

East Bay teen’s smiley face signs spread joy; 'Art In The Time Of Corona' on exhibit; and other nice NorCal news.

New Year's Day San Jose Skies: CA Photo Of The Week

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Californians Find Their Way Forward: 20 Inspiring Stories Of 2020

How communities, businesses, schools & essential institutions have found ways to reopen, recover & move on from the coronavirus shutdown.

10 Ways Life Changed In California In 2020

Happy hour? Gone. Left the house without a mask? Turn around. Here are some of the biggest lifestyle changes Californians saw in 2020.

35 Of CA's Biggest Moments Of 2020 In Photos

See some of 2020's most impactful moments in CA, from the loss of Kobe Bryant in January to the first COVID-19 vaccinations in December.

'Here Comes The Sun:' CA Photo Of The Week

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10 Stories That Warmed Our Hearts In 2020: California Smiles

A celebrity raised $20 million to help restaurant workers impacted by coronavirus; a teen packed care bags for the homeless, and much more.

Padilla Tapped For Senate; Rare 'Christmas Star:' Top CA Stories

Take a look back at some of the top news stories from across California over the past week.

Donor Gifts $100 To 1K Families | Therapy Dog: Saturday Smiles

A woman was reunited with her birth mother after 50 years; donate to the Patch Holiday Food Drive and other nice NorCal news.

20 Of California's Most Memorable Heroes Of 2020

Patch readers submitted hundreds of inspirational heroes who helped us get through 2020. Here are 20 who really stand out.

Restraining Order Issued In SoCal Neighbor Vs. Neighbor Dispute

A judge in southern California sided with a billionaire's neighbor after he harassed the guy next door with Gilligan's Island theme songs.

These 10 Charities Will Benefit Californians In 2021

It's been a tough year for many in the Golden State. Want to plan an end-of-year gift? Consider these 10 charities serving Californians.

California’s Coronavirus Enforcement Strategy: Education Over Citations

Instead of strictly penalizing businesses for violations, educating owners about infectious disease mandates has been top priority.

Adorable Animals Rescued | Holiday Toy Drives: Saturday Smiles

Participate in the Christmas bird count; donate to our online holiday food drive; send your letters to Santa and more nice NorCal news.

High-Poverty Neighborhoods Bear The Brunt Of Coronavirus Scourge

Pandemic has battered high-poverty neighborhoods in California.

Winning Lottery Ticket | $1K Tip | Cat Rescued: Saturday Smiles

‘Giving Tree’ brings gifts to kids in need; kitten rescued; volunteers needed for East Bay food giveaway and other nice NorCal news.

Gingerbread House Gallery: Check Out California's Contest Entries

We asked and you delivered, big time: Here are the Golden State entries in Patch's gingerbread house decorating contest.

'Off The Beaten Path' In NorCal: CA Photo Of The Day

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Sparkling Point Arena Sunset: CA Photo Of The Day

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Navy Veteran Remembers Pearl Harbor Attack 79 Years Later

Louis Conter of Grass Valley is one of only two Navy servicemen who were on the USS Arizona during the 1941 Japanese attack alive today.

Fall In Brentwood: CA Photo Of The Day

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Church Gives 750 Kids Gifts | SF Holiday Events: Saturday Smiles

Students collect 182 pounds of food in three days; enter our holiday gingerbread house contest and other nice news from around NorCal.

Come For Your Eye Exam, Leave With A Band-Aid On Your Arm

Optometrists and dentists are pushing for the authority to immunize patients.

3rd Monolith Mystery: What In (Or Out Of) The World Is Going On?

A third monolith — on a hiking trail near Atascadero, California — is similar to obelisks found in Utah's Red Rock Country and in Romania.

Rare Badger Spotted | Ropes Course Helps Kids: Saturday Smiles

Nonprofit reunites homeless man with his family; enter our holiday gingerbread house contest and other nice news from around NorCal.

California Teen Gets Call From VP-Elect Kamala Harris

A San Jose artist, 14, painted a portrait of Kamala Harris as a tribute to her for breaking barriers. It got the VP-elect's attention.