🌱BART Doubles Police Force + Sunnier Skies Ahead

Hello, friends! I'm here with your fresh copy of the Concord Patch newsletter, filled with everything you need to know that's happening locally.

• The Concord Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group gets underway today.
• Matchbox Twenty at the Concord Pavilion tickets on sale Friday.
• The 63rd season of the Antioch Speedway starts this weekend!

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But first, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy with a shower. High: 57 Low: 43.

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Here are the top stories today in Concord:

1. According to the National Weather Service, you just have one more day to sit through the gray, blustery weather — at least for this week. Sunnier skies are on the horizon starting Thursday and into the weekend. It'll still be unseasonably cold, though. C'mon, spring! I thought you'd sprung! (Concord Patch)
2. BART police are deploying more than double the force to patrol BART trains, officials said. They will increase the numbers from 10 officers to 18 to 28 officers per shift, including K9 officers, in San Francisco and on the core BART service line. "BART officials said they are suspending fare enforcement at Embarcadero Station on weekday mornings so that fare inspectors and officers can patrol elsewhere." Officials are hoping the changes will make riders more willing to take BART, in an effort to increase ridership, which is down since the pandemic. (Claycord.com)
3. During the early morning hours of March 16, Concord police received reports of a shooting. When they arrived on scene, they found a victim who was not hit by gunfire, but they also found 12 rounds of spent ammunition which, evidence showed, had been fired at the victim. The suspects were tracked to Antioch. Concord police, together with Antioch Police and the Contra Costa Sheriff's Office, were ultimately able to arrest three suspects in the case, as well as locating the AK-47-style weapon believed to have been used in the shooting. (Claycord.com)
4. With the help of a third-party consultant, the Concord Homeless Strategic Plan Working Group is about to get underway. The group's first meeting will be today at the Concord Senior Center. "Homelessness is one of the most urgent issues facing our region," Concord Mayor Laura Hoffmeister said. The group will meet monthly and is expected to take community input as it builds out the strategic plan. "Residents can get more information and sign up for a homeless response email list at https://www.cityofconcord.org/1036/Homeless-Strategic-Plan." (Pioneer Publishers)
5. Just before 10:00 am on Tuesday, shots were reportedly fired in the area of Argyll Avenue and Broadmoor in Concord. Two victims were found at the scene, both with gunshot wounds to the head and one to the stomach. Two suspects, a man and a woman, are still at large. (News 24/680)

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Today in Concord:

• Enjoy Wine Wednesday at Smith's Landing Seafood Grill in Antioch. You'll get half off select bottles of wine. (All Day)
• "Bring smart friends to play live multi-media Head Games Trivia in the Tap Room at Headlands Brewing Company." (6:30 PM)
• "Come feel like a Rockstar singing Karaoke on a professional stage" at Vinnie's Bar in Concord. (8:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• "Matchbox Twenty will be performing at the Concord Pavilion as part of their Slow Dream Tour on Sunday, May 21.... Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, March 24 at 10 a.m. on the Live Nation website" (City of Concord, California via Facebook)
• So, there's one more day of nasty weather and you're looking for something to do with the kids? How about a museum? California.com has a great list of some beauties right here in and near Concord! Get the kids out of the house and teach them a thing or two while you're at it.
• "This Saturday night [March 25], Antioch Speedway has a loaded program as the 63rd season of championship auto racing is set to begin. Weather permitting, the trifecta of IMCA, Modifieds, Sport Modifieds and Stock Cars, will be joined by the Pacific Coast General Engineering Hobby Stocks, Delta Dwarf Cars and United States Auto Club Western States Miidgets." (Contra Costa News)

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More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

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• Successful Retirement in a Year of High Interest Rates, High Inflation, and High Market Volatility (March 28)
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You're all caught up for today! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with your next update.

— Jeri Karges

About me: Jeri Karges has been living in and loving the Sacramento region for over 30 years. Her passion is finding new and unique ways to enjoy the city and surrounding areas. On weekends, you can find her pestering her friends to sample the restaurant that doesn't have silverware, or try their hand at throwing an axe. Jeri also enjoys writing about retirement planning at https://rockinretirement.subst...

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Concord Patch newsletter? Contact me at Concord-Ca@Patch.com