The article discusses the impact of recent storms on the Bay Area's agriculture industry, particularly in California. Fields are currently flooded, and crops are dormant, but mainstream grocery stores are not expected to see a price impact, according to Rusty Tarpley of What a Tomato. Citrus fruits are abundant, and some vegetables like artichokes can withstand the weather. However, smaller farmers, such as Simms Organics in Pescadero, have suffered significant storm damage, with destroyed crops and grow houses, leading to the closure of their January markets.

Newly elected members of the Oakland school board have reversed a decision to close five schools in Oakland, California. The Alameda Office of Education had previously threatened to take over the district's budget if it did not make significant cuts, leading to a plan to close or consolidate nearly a dozen schools. The schools that have been saved from closure include Brookfield Elementary, Carl B. Munck Elementary, Grass Valley, Horace Mann Elementary, and Korematsu Discovery Academy. However, Parker and Community Day, which closed last year, will not reopen. School board member Valerie Baxter emphasized the negative impact of the closures on the community, particularly in deep East Oakland. Despite challenges with under-enrollment and funding, the district expects to meet its budget for the next two years.

California is preparing for a political dispute over water rights and usage, as the state heavily relies on the Colorado River for its water supply. The river is diminishing, and the federal government is asking California and six other states to present plans for reducing water consumption. The other states, which include Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona, have proposed that California should make the most significant cutbacks due to its extensive use. California, however, is defending its older and stronger water rights. Without an agreement, the federal government may intervene, and the outcome remains uncertain. This could lead to Southern California increasing its dependence on Northern California's water resources and the Sierra snowpack.

California is moving away from its initial plans to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for students in seventh grade and above due to lower than expected vaccination rates among children. The state's decision comes as it prepares to end the COVID-19 State of Emergency declaration. Despite the shift in policy, health experts, including Dr. Yvonne Maldonado from Stanford University, continue to recommend vaccinations as the best method to prevent severe infections. They also advise parents to teach their children 'respiratory etiquette' to mitigate the spread of respiratory diseases. The federal emergency declaration is expected to end in May, which will likely result in the cessation of free COVID-19 tests, vaccines, and treatments.

Oakland police are investigating a mass shooting at an East Oakland Valero gas station that resulted in one death and seven injuries. The incident occurred during rush hour and is believed to have happened during a music video shoot. Oakland Police Officers' Association President Barry Donelan highlighted the prevalence of firearms in the city, noting that over a thousand guns have been seized annually in recent years. Congresswoman Barbara Lee emphasized the need to address the national emergency of gun violence. The article also mentions a separate mass shooting in Half Moon Bay that occurred on the same day.

East Bay Congresswoman Barbara Lee has officially entered the race for Dianne Feinstein's Senate seat. After initial hints last month and filing campaign papers last week, Lee confirmed her candidacy with a video announcement. She faces competition from younger, better-funded candidates like Katy Porter and Adam Schiff. Despite financial and age-related challenges, Larry Gerston, a political science professor, notes Lee's strengths as a direct, trailblazing figure, especially on war issues. Lee's Northern California base may also provide a geographical advantage in the race. She has vowed to steadfastly do what's right for Californians if elected.

On Tuesday night, a fatal head-on collision occurred on Highway 1 near Pescadero, resulting in two deaths and one critical injury. The crash involved a Tesla and a Subaru SUV, both of which ended up in a nearby lagoon. A woman in her 60s was critically injured and transported to Stanford. The CHP spokesperson, Art Montreal, highlighted the dangers of Highway 1, noting that drivers often exceed the speed limit. The cause of the crash, whether drugs, alcohol, or distracted driving, is still under investigation. Divers from the San Mateo County Fire Department were involved in the recovery of the bodies.

Nathan Washam, a former BART police officer, resigned after a video surfaced showing him using racist language during a video game live stream. The incident led to an investigation by BART. Despite having passed a background check, Washam was disqualified from a job candidacy with the San Ramon Police when Chief Denton Carlson viewed the video. Carlson emphasized that racist behavior undermines public trust and has no place in law enforcement, expressing frustration over such incidents in the profession.

Early this morning, a fire broke out at the Avalon Sunset apartments in San Francisco, leading to two people jumping from their apartment to escape. The San Francisco Fire Department responded to the two-alarm structure fire, which resulted in five injuries and eight people being displaced. The fire, which started after 1 a.m., was described by SFFD spokesperson Jonathan Baxter, who confirmed that the two individuals who jumped were transported to hospitals and will be okay. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it is suspected that a lithium-ion battery may have started the blaze. The Red Cross is assisting those displaced, and the incident has prompted reminders about the safe recycling of batteries in San Francisco.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed expressed dissatisfaction with Elon Musk for moving Tesla's headquarters from the Bay Area to Texas despite receiving tax breaks in California. In an interview with Bloomberg's Karen Breslau, Breed criticized Musk's potential purchase of Twitter and its San Francisco offices, which remain underutilized post-lockdown. She also mentioned Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff's decision to allow remote work, leaving their offices empty. Breed emphasized the need for San Francisco to diversify its economy, particularly by attracting biotech and greentech companies, as only 40% of the city's pre-pandemic workforce has returned to the office.