Alameda County reporter

Chase Hunter

Chase Hunter is the Alameda County reporter for the Bay Area News Group. Hunter grew up in the West Valley of Phoenix and moved to Sonoma County in 2021 where he reported for the Sonoma Index-Tribune and the Santa Rosa Press Democrat on wildfires, crime, city government, agriculture, and the environment. In 2023, Hunter produced a three-part series as a California Health Equity fellow for the Health Center at the Annenberg School of Journalism at the University of Southern California. He is a class of 2021 graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.

Location: San Francisco Bay Area

Award: California News Publisher Awards for in-depth reporting, wildfires, sports features, profiles, and public service

Expertise: Investigations, public health and the environment

Ben Bahney the Space Program Leader at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory sits next to the Pandora satellite telescope on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, in Livermore, Calif. The space mission hopes to identify exoplanets with hydrogen or water dominated atmospheres. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)

Upcoming Pandora Mission is Bay Area’s latest contribution to the search for life on other planets

December 26, 2025 at 5:07 p.m.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is leading a mission to seek the elements necessary for life on exoplanets in far-away galaxies.

Alameda Food Bank Executive Director Teale Harden, center, leads visitors on a tour during the open house of the new Alameda Food Bank location in Alameda, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Alameda Food Bank’s new building highlights rising food insecurity

December 21, 2025 at 3:05 p.m.

Alameda Food Bank’s new building highlights rising food insecurity.

Jermaine Shaffer with his 1947 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan Country Club woody in front of the Russell City mural on A Street in Hayward, Calif., Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. Shaffer is particularly appreciative of recent road repaving in the city. (D. Ross Cameron for the Bay Area News Group)

This Bay Area city’s roads are getting rave reviews as new report reveals the state of region’s streets

December 21, 2025 at 4:30 a.m.

The Metropolitan Transportation Committee has released its annual report on Bay Area road conditions. Which cities have improved?

A rendering of the proposed $400 million Alameda Point veterans clinic and columbarium as part of the redevelopment of the formal naval base. The project was abruptly canceled by the Department of Veterans Affairs in August and Bay Area congressional leaders are demanding the funding be returned.

Bay Area officials demand answers on ‘unfathomable’ cancellation of $395 million Alameda veterans clinic

December 19, 2025 at 4:04 p.m.

With more than 42,000 veterans, Alameda County has the largest number of veterans across any county in the region.

An aerial view of the scene as officials investigate the aftermath of an explosion and three-alarm fire on East Lewelling Boulevard in unincorporated Ashland, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. Six people were transported to the hospital after a PG&E gas line exploded on Thursday. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

‘Like a post-apocalyptic movie’: Neighborhood stunned after Hayward-area explosion

December 14, 2025 at 7:27 a.m.

"We opened the door and it's, there's not a house there anymore. There's dust and debris in the air when you open the door. It's like almost like a post-apocalyptic...

A concept design by Inspired ADUs for Alameda County's new pilot housing program SHIFT, which seeks to use pre-permitted standardized designs to streamline the housing production process.

This Bay Area county is experimenting with a first-in-the-state pilot program for faster housing construction. Can it help solve the affordability crisis?

December 12, 2025 at 10:37 a.m.

A new Alameda County pilot program called the Scalable Housing Investment Funding Toolkit, or SHIFT, seeks to make more housing for less money with a first-in-the-state approach to affordable housing.

Chase Hunter

All Stories

Upcoming Pandora Mission is Bay Area’s latest contribution to the search for life on other planets

Alameda Food Bank’s new building highlights rising food insecurity

This Bay Area city’s roads are getting rave reviews as new report reveals the state of region’s streets

Bay Area officials demand answers on ‘unfathomable’ cancellation of $395 million Alameda veterans clinic

‘Like a post-apocalyptic movie’: Neighborhood stunned after Hayward-area explosion

This Bay Area county is experimenting with a first-in-the-state pilot program for faster housing construction. Can it help solve the affordability crisis?

Six hurt, homes heavily damaged after gas line, accidentally cut, explodes near Hayward

East Bay man allegedly killed by roommate is identified as public health commissioner

Why the Bay Area is key to the new U.S. push to win the international AI race

Alameda County food bank partners with vintage store to offer free totes with donations