1K Holiday Meals Donated | Surprise For Seniors: Saturday Smiles

City hosts geocaching scavenger hunt; carriage rides return; try a new pumpkin spiced latte bread recipe and other nice NorCal news.

Winning Lottery Ticket | Bigfoot Found: Saturday Smiles

Woman free-climbs Yosemite's granite wall in under 24 hours; a sea lion was rescued from a parking lot and other nice NorCal news.

California Patch Editors Honored With 5 Press Club Awards

News organizations from across the state were honored for their excellence in journalism, including Patch.

Clayton Country Sunset: CA Photo Of The Day

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What The California Vote To Keep Ban On Affirmative Action Means

State vote to have lingering effects on higher education.

Oil Field Operations Likely Triggered Earthquakes In California

Quakes hit just a few miles from the San Andreas fault.

1st Woman Free-Climbs Yosemite's Granite Wall In Under 24 Hours

Emily Harrington became the first woman and fourth person to free-climb Yosemite's 3,000 foot granite wall in under 24 hours.

Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trots 2020 Guide: California

Don't let the pandemic keep you from this holiday tradition. Many runs are planned statewide, with many charities relying on the proceeds.

Stormy Point Break: CA Photo Of The Week

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Heavenly Skies In Santa Barbara: CA Photo Of The Week

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Chameleon Rescued | Macy’s Hiring Seasonal Staff: Saturday Smiles

Where vets, and active duty military can eat free on Veterans Day; try this new pumpkin pancake recipe and other nice NorCal news.

It’s Open Enrollment - Here’s What You Need To Know

California’s annual health insurance enrollment season kicks off this week agains dramatic backdrop.

Proposition 24 Election Results

The polls have closed, and we'll soon know whether voters approved the effort to prevent businesses from sharing their personal information.

Prop 24: California Measure's Pros And Cons

The measure seeks to restrict companies from using consumers' personal data without permission, but privacy advocates are divided on Prop 24

Autumn Skies In Big Bear: CA Photo Of The Week

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Hiker's Delight In Big Bear: CA Photo Of The Week

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Food Bank Needs Help | Firefighters Save Kitten: Saturday Smiles

Dealerships donate $100K to Salvation Army for disaster relief; safe Halloween events; pumpkin toffee recipe and more nice NorCal news.

Golden Hour In Morro Bay: CA Photo Of The Week

Patch loves photos! Share your photos with Patch, and your work could be featured.

Déjà Vu For California Voters On Dialysis

This year, political ads have been highlighted by heartfelt testimonials from patients against Proposition 23.

Wild Buck In Bodega Head: CA Photo Of The Week.

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$11K Lottery Ticket | Book A Haunted Hotel Room: Saturday Smiles

Masked intruders paw their way inside Bay Area bank; new drive-in movie theaters popping up and other nice news from around NorCal.

Californians Asked To Pony Up For Stem Cell Research

Initiative could authorize the state to borrow $5.5 billion to keep financing CIRM.

ALS Walk Begins "Walk Your Way" With Socially Distant Fundraiser

Proceeds will benefit the chapter's programs and services provided to local families living with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Missing Lemur Found | Bay Area Pumpkin Patches: Saturday Smiles

Pumpkin weighing 2,350 pounds wins annual contest; teen gets Warriors' help celebrating diversity and other nice news from around NorCal.

Pandemic Crackdowns At Work Saving Black; Latino Lives

Aggressive workplace health enforcement has been saving lives.

As Californians Get Older And Less Mobile, Fires Get Hotter And Faster

While the 2020 fire season will go down as the state’s biggest on record, rescuers have so far managed to avoid horrors of past wildfires.

10 Spooky Bay Area Haunts | CHP Rescues Sea Lion: Saturday Smiles

Giant hearts on sale for a good cause; couple bikes every street in town; October film festivals and other nice news from around NorCal.

'Mazda Heroes:' Recognizes Those Making A Difference In 2020

50 Heroes Will be Acknowledged for Their Inspiring, Selfless Contributions and Awarded a Mazda MX-5 Miata 100th Anniversary Special Edition

CA Heroes: Help Patch Recognize Those Making A Difference

The helpers are the people who make life better. Nominate your Local Heroes to give them the recognition they deserve, presented by Ring.

Rare Coin Collection, Decades Of Memories Stolen While 93-Year-Old CA Man Slept

Those memories were robbed last week when a thief broke into his home in the middle of the night.

Scooter Mcscooterson, Disabled Lamb From CA, Featured In National Calendar

“Scooter McScooterson” was rescued at just two-weeks-old by Vacaville-based animal sanctuary The Funky Chicken Rescue.

Fire Crew Saves Flag | Pirates Of Emerson Opens: Saturday Smiles

Sales of students' cardboard cutouts help feed kids in need; free COVID-19 antibodies test with blood donation and other nice NorCal news.

Misty And Quaint Cambria: California Photos Of The Week

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Scarecrow Stroll | Fear Overload Halloween Haunt: Saturday Smiles

Great Glass Pumpkin Patch goes virtual; Bay Area nonprofit expands nationwide to feed the hungry and other nice news from around NorCal.

Largest California Wildfire Threatens Marijuana Growing Area

"It's mainly growers," police said. "And a lot of them, they don't want to leave because that is their livelihood."

In Los Angeles, Latinos Hit Hard By Pandemic’s Economic Storm

In a national poll 63% of Latinos reported loss of household income due to the pandemic.

1 California City Among Money’s Best Places To Live In 2020

The 50 Best Places To Live offer great jobs, safe streets and homes you can really afford, according to the new ranking.

'Critical Fire Weather' Ahead As 25 Major Fires Burn: 2020 Map

A look at the latest in California's devastating 2020 fire season, including an interactive map of all the blazes burning across the state.

‘Mysterious Photo’ | Oktoberfests | Owl Released: Saturday Smiles

Four popular Bay Area pizzerias in nation’s Top 101; teens fundraise to donate 10,000 soap bars and other nice news from around NorCal.

Oktoberfests: Your 2020 Guide To Oom-Pah In California

Don't resign yourself, just yet, to chicken-dancing alone in your living room. There are options for finding your annual German fix.