The PM afternoon news roundup logo. (Bay City News)
Bay City News
As of noon Friday, locations including downtown San Francisco, San Jose, the Oakland Museum of California, Redwood City, and Salinas had all broken their daily record for high temperatures on the date of March 20, forecasters with the weather service said.
A weather balloon launched about 5,000 feet above Oakland on Friday recorded a temperature that set the record at that altitude for not only the month of March, but April as well, the weather service’s San Francisco Bay Area office announced on social media.
Article continues below this ad
High temps were expected to reach the mid 90s in some inland locations and the 80s along the coast Friday. The weather service issued a Heat Advisory for the Bay Area and Central Coast earlier this week that is set to expire at 8 p.m. Friday.
A gradual cooling trend is expected to start Saturday, with highs in the mid 80s inland expected into next week, temperatures that are still above season averages, forecasters said.
Make SFGATE a preferred source so your search results prioritize writing by actual people, not AI.
Add Preferred Source
St. Helena officials are asking residents to conserve water as much as possible while they try to fix the city’s drinking water system, which has been malfunctioning since Thursday morning.
Article continues below this ad
People should eliminate all non-essential water use, especially outdoor irrigation, until at least Monday and limit overall water use as much as possible.
The problem involves a malfunctioning chlorine feed pump, according to city officials.
Until the system is repaired, people might notice discolored water and higher-than-normal chlorine levels, which the city says are still within safe drinking water standards.
Article continues below this ad
California legislators announced this week the introduction of new legislation to designate March 31 as Farmworkers Day, replacing Cesar Chavez Day.
The announcement Thursday follows sexual abuse allegations against labor rights activist Cesar Chavez that came to light earlier this week.
State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Salinas, and Senate President Pro Tem Monique Limn, D-Santa Barbara, announced the legislation in a statement.
“This holiday will be a time for California to honor the past, reflect on the present, and renew our collective dedication to equity and justice for farmworkers,” read the statement, which did not mention Chavez.
Article continues below this ad
The statement also said that legislators will work with local governments and school districts to modify laws and statutes as required.
State Sen. Dave Cortese, D-San Jose, who co-authored the legislation, also issued a news release in which he paid tribute to the survivors of Chavez’s alleged abuse.
The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety on Friday afternoon reported a water main break at a busy intersection in the city.
Article continues below this ad
The department issued an alert shortly before 2:20 p.m. about the water main at Lawrence Expressway and Tasman Drive, located just south of state Highway 237.
Public safety officials asked people to avoid the area since significant traffic impacts are expected.
Marin County Public Health officials on Friday urged residents to stay current on vaccinations, take precautions during a heat advisory and remain alert to ongoing disease risks, including elevated respiratory syncytial virus and a multistate E. coli outbreak.
Article continues below this ad
A federal judge this week temporarily blocked changes to the childhood immunization schedule, keeping existing recommendations in place during legal review. Marin County health officials will continue to follow established, science-based guidance and encouraged residents to check their measles, mumps and rubella vaccination status amid rising global measles outbreaks. In the Bay Area, measles cases have been detected in San Mateo and Napa counties.
RSV remains higher than usual in Marin County and statewide, posing a risk to infants. Preventive options include nirsevimab, a protective antibody shot for infants younger than 8 months entering their first RSV season, and vaccination during late pregnancy to protect newborns. State officials recommend continuing infant immunizations through April.
A heat advisory is also in effect. Residents are urged to limit outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours, stay hydrated, seek cool environments, and check on vulnerable neighbors.
In a food safety alert, officials warned against consuming raw, unpasteurized dairy products after federal investigators linked raw cheddar cheese to an E. coli outbreak affecting multiple states, including California. The product has not been fully removed from the market.
Article continues below this ad
A Hayward police officer took money and free sex from a brothel in exchange for keeping the illegal operation safe from law enforcement and competitors, according to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.
Officer Benjamin Yarbrough, who is related to the police chief, was charged this week with one felony count of accepting a bribe after allegedly receiving $1,000 and free sex from prostitutes at a Hayward brothel, according to prosecutors.
Yarbrough was identified during a 2025 San Jose police investigation into prostitution involving Yanqiong Xiong, who has since been charged with pimping and pandering.
Article continues below this ad
San Jose investigators also seized 11 cellphones and discovered evidence of a suspected brothel on Main Street near Warren Street in Hayward. They also discovered that Yarbrough allegedly had frequent contact with Xiong.
A Willits man was sentenced to 10 and a half years in federal prison Wednesday for trying to arrange a sexual encounter with a child and distributing and possessing child pornography, authorities said.
Federal prosecutors said Nathanial Alfonso Burke, 34, communicated over several weeks in early 2024 with people he believed were a man and his 11-year-old daughter. During those exchanges, he sent sexually explicit messages and images and made plans to meet them for sexual activity.
Article continues below this ad
Authorities arrested Burke when he showed up at the agreed location. Investigators said he had condoms with him at the time.
Burke pleaded guilty in July 2025 to charges including attempting to entice a minor and sharing and possessing child porn.
He has been in custody since his arrest. In addition to the prison sentence, the judge ordered 15 years of supervised release after his release from prison.
Article continues below this ad
Copyright © 2026 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.