Contra Costa Times

Commuter asks what the rules are about merging onto freeways after noticing a number of drivers bullying their way on, forcing other drivers to slam brakes or change lanes. Full Story »

BRENTWOOD — Getting caught committing a parking no-no in Brentwood just became more expensive.The City Council agreed Tuesday to raise parking fines to at least $35 to recover money that Brentwood is losing to the state as well as to bring them in line with those of other cities in the county. Full Story »

ANTIOCH — A man forced an Antioch Middle School sixth-grader into a bathroom stall Monday and touched him inappropriately, his mother and school district officials said. Full Story »

A Sausalito man pleaded guilty Tuesday in a drunken motorcycle crash that ejected him and his Orinda girlfriend onto a San Rafael freeway onramp.Anthony John Butt, 35, pleaded guilty to charges of drunken driving and causing great bodily injury, said Deputy District Attorney A. Full Story »

Homeless crowd into emergency shelters; volunteers check on the elderly. Full Story »

More than 40 employees at the downtown Walnut Creek Target store quit their jobs after an internal probe raised suspicions about their immigration status, according to lawyers who have met with the workers. Full Story »

OAKLAND — A day after a police released a surveillance picture of a man wanted in an armed ATM robbery, the suspect turned himself into police this afternoon. Full Story »

MTC administrators endorse plan to shift $35 million in federal funds to reduce AC Transit service cuts Full Story »

An Oakley woman was one of four arrested in Glenn County on Monday night on suspicion of shooting out the driver's side window of another car on Interstate 5. Full Story »

A rash of recent crimes may be linked, police say. Full Story »

Bay Area gas prices dropped 11 cents a gallon over the last month in an early holiday present for drivers beleaguered by layoffs and economic malaise.    Check local gas prices Full Story »

To balance mayor duties, she is campaigning for supervisor; vice mayor is Hanecak Full Story »

Bay Area Air Quality Management District issues Spare the Air alert banning wood fires on Wednesday Full Story »

A story about health inequities on Monday's front page implied the entire Port of Los Angeles clean-truck program is on hold because of a lawsuit by the American Trucking Association. Full Story »

Judge tells convicted killer that he 'had absolutely no right to end their lives and take them away from their children" Full Story »

Police are investigating the parents of a 6-week-old boy after hospital authorities reported the infant was brought into the emergency room with broken bones and other injuries. Full Story »

Paddock BowlA's & J's: John Atkins, 195High Rollers: Ric Eason, 212/522; Jim Willer, 279; Mike Pounds, 266/739; CeCe Brouwer, 246; Mitch Gronner, 222Happy Timers: Ernie Davis, 234; Okie McDaniel, 243; Cliff Richards, 219; Larry Sander, 247; Tony Ferrari, 204; Richard Leong, 223; John Dorsett, Full Story »

College Park High expects to contend for the DFAL title and an NCS playoff berth Full Story »

Police say they are reviewing evidence and carrying out interviews in their search for a suspect in last week's slaying of a local real estate agent. Full Story »

The City Council has scheduled a special meeting for Monday. Full Story »

Commuters are braving sub-freezing temperatures throughout the Bay Area that have prompted weather officials to issue freeze warning along the region's roadways. Reader photos: Bay Area snow    Forecast | Post photo | Send in a photo Full Story »

Eyebar inspectors spot other problem on the bridge and make repairs to metal plate Full Story »

A Pleasanton man's family has reported him missing in Death Valley National Park after he did not call his wife for two days, police said. Full Story »

MARTINEZ — A 46-year-old Antioch man was sentenced Monday to 333 years in prison for sex crimes against three girls, including a relative.A jury in October convicted long-haul truck driver Dean William Hale of 56 counts of child molestation, rape of a child younger than 14, sexual intercourse Full Story »

San Joaquin County sheriff's deputies are investigating whether a 16-year-old boy arrested this weekend may be responsible for a string of armed robberies in the area. Full Story »