Gretchen Smail

Gretchen Smail

47 posts

Gretchen Smail is a fellow with the California Local News Fellowship program. She grew up in Vallejo and focuses on health and science reporting.

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  Jun 08, 2026

The city of Vallejo’s budget, explained

Where the city gets its money, where it goes, and why we’re in a deficit....

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  Jun 04, 2026

How Vallejo’s Pista Sa Nayon grew to be the Bay Area’s most enduring Filipino cultural festival

The event started as a small community gathering celebrating the Philippines independence 40 years ago....

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  May 19, 2026

Local Filipino artist to be featured at Vallejo’s Mare Island Brewery

Niki Toney created the label art for the brewery’s Pista Sa Nayon-themed lager....

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  May 15, 2026

Suisun City manager addresses concerns about city’s expansion plan

City Manager Bret Prebula discussed data center rumors, the project’s timeline, and calls for a citywide advisory vote....

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  May 13, 2026

7,000 gallons of disinfectant discharged at Vallejo water treatment plant

Four workers were exposed to the chemical, but no hospitalizations have been reported....

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  May 11, 2026

It’s going to be a bad tick season, according to the CDC

The western U.S. is seeing high rates of emergency room visits for tick bites, according to the CDC’s tick bite data tracker....

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  Apr 29, 2026

Valero fined $3.25M for years of emission leaks and compliance issues in Benicia

Even as Valero idles operations, the Bay Area Air District is requiring it to improve emissions monitoring....

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  Apr 28, 2026

California Forever project could threaten sensitive Solano County habitat, environmentalists say

The project could affect endangered species like fairy shrimp, tadpole shrimp, and the California tiger salamander....

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  Apr 24, 2026

Junk journaling comes to Vallejo

Two new clubs encourage people to make art out of items they would normally throw away....

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  Apr 22, 2026

Activists call for vote on California Forever’s Suisun City expansion plan

The Solano Together coalition held a rally outside the Suisun City Council meeting on April 21....

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  Apr 15, 2026

El sheriff de Solano habla sobre las interacciones con el ICE en 2025 en la reunión de la Junta de Supervisores

Según el sheriff Bradley DeWall, una persona fue trasladada a la custodia del ICE desde el Centro de Detención de Justicia en Fairfield....

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  Apr 14, 2026

Solano sheriff discusses 2025 ICE interactions at Board of Supervisors meeting

According to Sheriff Bradley DeWall, one person was transferred to ICE custody from the Justice Detention Center in Fairfield....

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