Breaking News Reporter

Rick Hurd

Rick Hurd is a breaking news reporter for the Bay Area News Group and has spent nearly his whole life and career in the East Bay. He has covered crime, public safety and court proceedings since 2011. Before that, he was a national baseball columnist and A’s beat writer during the “Moneyball” era. He started in the industry in 1990 and is a graduate of Chico State University with a BA in communications. Away from work, he has coached baseball since 2008.

The heaviest of the Thanksgiving travel on California roads is expected to begin Tuesday, though the California Highway Patrol said the crawl began last week -- as evidenced by this slow-go on northbound Interstate 880 on Friday.

‘It doesn’t matter what time you leave’: 9.6 million holiday drivers to pack California roads

November 25, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.

AAA expects an increase from 2024 of 200,000 travelers on California roads during the traditional Thanksgiving travel week.

Fans watch the San Jose Earthquakes and the LAFC during the second half of an MLS game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Trump warns he’ll move World Cup soccer games out of ‘unsafe’ cities like … Santa Clara?

September 26, 2025 at 1:50 p.m.

The president rips San Francisco's 'radical left lunatic' leadership, but games are set for Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, 44 miles away.

San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds, No. 25, heads to first base against the San Diego Padres in the fourth inning at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, September 26, 2007. (Nhat V. Meyer/Mercury News)

What does reinstatement of Pete Rose, Shoeless Joe Jackson mean for Barry Bonds?

May 14, 2025 at 7:43 a.m.

Barry Bonds remains eligible for the Hall of Fame through the Era Committee

Protesters in Oakland let their feelings be known with a makeshift sign whole outside a Social Security Office in downtown Oakland last month. Protesters are angry with the idea of changes to the Social Security system, which has been in place since 1935. (Rick Hurd/Bay Area News Group).

‘My Social Security is my Social Security’: With Trump, Musk and DOGE, will it stay that way?

May 6, 2025 at 10:17 a.m.

"I think that's really the biggest concern we all have. Is it gonna be there for me? You hear what Musk and these other people say, and it really makes...

The second fire in two months at a Monterey County battery plant brought warnings to stay inside from county officials to residents.

Residents urged to stay inside after another fire burns at Moss Landing battery facility

February 19, 2025 at 10:28 a.m.

In an emergency alert on the Monterey County Warning System sent at 10:30 p.m., officials said light smoke and fire were coming from the Vistra Battery Facility.

A fire rages out of control at the Vistra battery storage plant, one of the world’s largest, in Moss Landing, Calif., on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

Evacuations lifted near Moss Landing battery plant

January 17, 2025 at 11:13 p.m.

The blaze broke out late Thursday at one of the world's largest battery storage plants.

Firefighter Chris Fritz works to keep the Aero Fire from spreading through the Copperopolis community of Calaveras County, Calif., on Monday, June 17, 2024. Fire crews had reached 33% containment on the Aero Fire in Calaveras County by Wednesday morning. That fire had burned more than 5,300 acres and was the third-largest fire in the state. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

California wildfires: Some evacuations lifted for Aero Fire, while Point Fire is at 60% containment

June 20, 2024 at 4:37 a.m.

The Post Fire in Los Angeles County, the state's largest wildfire, had consumed more than 15,000 acres.

Police stand in front of the Stanford University president’s office after a group of pro-Palestine protesters barricaded themselves inside the office in Stanford, Calif., on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. Thirteen pro-Palestine Stanford University students were arrested. (Ryan Macasero/Bay Area News Group)

13 Stanford students arrested after pro-Palestinian protesters barricade building

June 6, 2024 at 1:33 p.m.

"There has been extensive damage to the interior and exterior of the building," a Stanford spokesperson wrote in an email.

An eight-alarm fire burns at a construction site at an affordable housing building on Monday, June 3, 2024, in North Fair Oaks, near Redwood City, Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)

Evacuations ordered in Redwood City as eight-alarm fire destroys construction site

June 3, 2024 at 2:42 p.m.

The fire was burning in the 2700 block of Middlefield Road, authorities said.

A motorcyclist who died March 18 after crashing into a light pole in Oakland has been identified. (File)

No charges against ex-49ers defensive back who was arrested in Mendocino County following failed robbery

May 16, 2024 at 1:54 p.m.

The alleged crime happened on May 10.

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