Bay Journal

Virginia has opened a public comment period on how environmental justice is considered in the state's permitting process. The effort, reported by Bay Journal, would examine how permits for industrial and other facilities affect communities already burdened by pollution. Residents and advocacy groups can weigh in on whether permit decisions adequately account for cumulative health and environmental impacts on vulnerable populations.

The San Francisco Chronicle is resuming its starred restaurant reviews, ending an eight-year hiatus from the practice. Star ratings are a long-standing tradition in food journalism, and their return signals a renewed investment in the paper's food coverage and a benchmark for the Bay Area dining scene. Restaurants, chefs and readers are likely to watch closely which establishments earn top marks when the new reviews begin.

The finance committee of MCE, the Marin Clean Energy electricity provider in the San Francisco Bay Area, has recommended cutting rates for its customers. The recommendation was reported by the Marin Independent Journal but no further details on the size of the cuts or their timing were given in the initial report. The move would mean lower electricity bills for households and businesses served by the community choice aggregator.