2025
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Vol. 27, No. 34
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August 22, 2025
‘Big, beautiful bill’ may hurt local residents’ access to healthcare, food Agencies still ‘evaluating’ scope of legislation’s impact
During an event at Los Medanos College’s Pittsburg campus last month, Susan DeMarois, director of the California Department of Aging, said the scope of H.R. 1’s impact was not known yet.
By Jake Menez Staff Writer
On July 4, the “big, beautiful bill” proposed by President Donald Trump -– known officially as H.R. 1 — was signed into law by the federal government. While the White House has touted the positive effects the bill may have for everyday Americans, Contra Costa County organizations have warned that the bill may create hardships for local residents as well. “H.R. 1 includes significant cuts to
Press file photo
Medicaid,” Nicola Gillette, a representative from Contra Costa Health, said. “Combined with changes in the state
budget, cuts could result in more than 50,000 Contra Costa residents losing healthcare coverage over the next several
years, according to our initial projections.” Many agencies are still analyzing how H.R. 1 will impact them. To discuss the potential problems, local elected officials have set a date for a panel in Walnut Creek to address residents’ concerns regarding H.R. 1, as well as other budget cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). “How do Washington, D.C.’s latest actions affect Contra Costa County residents,” a press release from the League of Women Voters reads. “On Sept. 3 in the Walnut Creek Library from 7:30-9 p.m., hear from your local elected leaders about impacts of Elon Musk’s DOGE see Bill page 22
Students start the presses Brentwood police with new school newspaper Capt. O’Grodnick named interim chief By Connor Robles Correspondent
With the planned retirement of Police Chief Timothy Herbert in September, the City of Brentwood has announced the appointment of Capt. Walter O’Grodnick as Interim Chief of Police. He will step into the role in early September. O’Grodnick brings 32 years of law enforcement experience, including the Brentwood Police Department since 1998. Over his career, he has held a wide range of assignments including Patrol Officer, Gang Resource Intelligence Officer, SWAT, Field Training Officer, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Division Manager. He currently oversees the Support Services Division. O’Grodnick holds an Associate Degree in Public Safety Services
O’GRODNICK and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Management. He is also a graduate of the Sherman Block
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Classifieds........................................... 19 Food...................................................... 17
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The RAD Findings newspaper at Pioneer Elementary is run entirely by a group of 18 students. 12 of whom are shown here. is loosely organized, with each student having an assigned role (such as Jacob’s frontpage stories). But they may deviate from it if they find an in-
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Serving East County
A group of 18 Pioneer Elementary students led by a student named Jacob (students’ last names won’t be published because they are minors) founded a fully student-run bi-weekly school newspaper, The RAD Findings, in February late in their fourth-grade year. Since the start of their fifth-grade year at the end of July, they have printed three editions and plan to continue publishing for the rest of the year, according to Jacob. Jacob prints the paper at his home and distributes the 30 copies of each issue at lunch or in Pioneer’s library, he said. The newspaper’s staff
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see Students page 22
Pets......................................................... 7 Sports................................................... 15
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teresting topic to write about, such as Mason R.’s story in the most recent issue about the