Week in Review: Who Was Victor Castro; Gioia Gets Appointment from Gov; K'Ton Hilltop Locked Down

Are Contra Costa County's Hiring Practices Fair? The County Administrator says it's time to stop paying an Oakland law firm $30k-$50k a year to monitor diversity in the county workforce. Read the story. 

Experts Ponder What Trapped the Limo Victims: Auto safey experts say information released so far in the deaths of five women in the San Mateo Bridge limousine fire raises key questions about why the victims were unable to escape. Read the story. 

New Glimpse of El Cerrito's First Non-Indian Settler: An article offering an 1841 look at the life of Victor Castro, believed to be the first resident of European ancestry in what is now El Cerrito, has just appeared in the El Cerrito Historical Society's publication, "The Forge." Read the story. 

County Supervisor John Gioia Appointed to State Air Resources Board: Gov. Jerry Brown announced Gioia's appointment to the unpaid position May 7. Read the post. 

Should It Be Easier To Pass School Parcel Taxes in El Cerrito? Since 1983 WCCUSD has put nine parcel taxes on the ballot. Three have passed. Read the post and the comments. 

Kensington Hilltop Locked Down While Police Search for Burglar: A Kensington woman, awakened from a nap by a home security alarm Tuesday, was startled to find a burglar in the house. Read the story

Man Arrested on Suspicion of Elder Abuse: The weekend police blotter also includes a hit and run, residential burglary and shoplifting. Read the blotter. 

What else would you like to read about on El Cerrito Patch? Tell us in the comments section below, or send us an email at elcerrito@patch.com.