County implements Laura’s Law for treatment of the mentally ill

Contra Costa became the eighth county in California to begin implementation of AB 1421, also known as Laura’s Law, which allows for court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment of the mentally ill. Its supporters believe that while treatment should first be offered as a choice, mentally ill people who pose a threat to society and resist medical help should be ordered into treatment by a court.

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Patients struggle, doctors worry in aftermath of hospital shutdown

In the months following the April shutdown of Doctor’s Medical Center, doctors and patients have dispersed to other care centers. Some have had to go only across the street in San Pablo, while others must find care much farther away in Pinole, Walnut Creek, Martinez, Concord, Oakland or Berkeley. The distance takes a toll on former patients, and that concerns some doctors.

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Community members voice concerns over raising rents in Richmond

Dozens of Richmond residents come together to discuss the current issue of rent control. (Photo by Brittany Kirstin)

More than a dozen Richmond residents complained of big rent increases during a community forum last week. Richmond’s City Council enacted rent control legislation in July, and the controls were due to take effect in late August. Instead, the ordinance was suspended. Now, some Richmond tenants say they are suffering a consequence that nobody at City Hall may have intended.

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Event helps Asian and Pacific Islanders enroll in health care

The Richmond Memorial Convention Center was the site recently of a health care enrollment event directed at Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities are some of the least represented in healthcare enrollment, yet represent about 12 to 13 percent of the population in West Contra Costa County, said Sean Kirkpatrick,…

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