Reporter
Richard Halstead
Richard Halstead covers Marin County news, politics, health care, social services and housing. A veteran reporter at the IJ of more than 35 years, he holds a BA in journalism from Northwestern University. Contact him on X @HalsteadRichard.
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Bay Area GOP chair recants election fraud claim about dead voters
John Turnacliff apologized to county officials after realizing he had received bad information from a political software vendor.

Bay Area’s Buck Institute for Research on Aging develops AI safety system
The problem is that models that might accelerate medical breakthroughs could also be used for biological weapons.

How one Bay Area county is preparing for El Niño flooding threat
The weather pattern, forecast as a high probability this winter, could mean intense rain, rising water and landslides around Marin County.

Besieged Bay Area investment network seeks bankruptcy shield
The Pacific Private Money Fund is facing investor lawsuits as well as investigations by federal, state and county authorities.

Republican leads race for North Bay District 12 Assembly seat
Eric Lucan is second to Eryn Cervantes in early primary election results for the District 12 seat to represent Marin County and part of Sonoma County.

Marin considers letting some e-bikes on open space trails
The county parks department is reconsidering its ban on class 1 electric bicycles.

Housing projects near San Quentin face more complications
Financing problems and environmental clearances are posing new hurdles for plans to build 250 affordable apartments at the Oak Hill site.

Marin County hires inspector general for sheriff’s oversight commission
John Alden, who holds a comparable position Sonoma County, has worked as a Marin prosecutor and as an internal affairs lawyer at the San Francisco Police Department.

Marin County monitors report increase in ICE arrests
The detentions have involved people being released from the county jail or visiting immigration offices.

Fraud investigations into Bay Area investment firm broaden
U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman called on federal agencies to scrutinize Pacific Private Money, a real estate lending company that halted distributions and withdrawals.