As part of California Assembly Bill 617, the most polluted areas across the state were given support and directions to try and limit air pollution in their area. The Richmond-North Richmond-San Pablo region is among those areas. Bay Area Air Quality Management District board members Marisol Cantú and Jeffrey Kilbreth gave a presentation of work they are doing as part of AB 617 to Richmond City Council on Tuesday, including the steps they hope to take going forward. “Pollution in Richmond has been underestimated and is affecting our health in many different ways, [contributing to] chronic respiratory issues and as well as other cognitive development issues,” Cantú said. “This is data-driven, and we’re holding all of the different polluters accountable as well as regulators.”

Sarah Chavera Edwards and her family adopted a cat over a year ago from a shelter in Arizona. While the cat, named Houdini, now trusts Chavera Edwards and her family, he still sometimes scratches and gets scared easily. “We love him anyway and celebrate his slow progress,” says Chavera Edward. “He’ll never be a super affectionate lap cat, but he’s funny, fierce and independent.” Before and during COVID-19, cats and their quirky, misbehaving ways brought joy to their owners’ lives. In fact, a s