A gritty and graffitied stretch of San Lorenzo Creek just above Foothill Boulevard is in the midst of an overhaul, with construction crews laying down a footpath, stairs and observation platforms for scenic-minded pedestrians.  

The EPA, under the Endangered Species Act, is required to subject pesticides to extra scrutiny if they're used on or near critical habitat set aside for imperiled species. In its lawsuit, the environmental group contended that the agency for years has failed to take this extra step.  

Chronicle switches to outsider to print its newspapers; ends 144 year history of doing its own printing  

Fuel produced at the Altamont Landfill will power a fleet of garbage collection trucks in California.