It’s almost election-lite time in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Both counties will hold special elections Nov. 5 with very little to vote on, but local stuff matters in big ways and the measures in your area are worth having an opinion on. Here are the basics for each county

Update, 1:50 p.m.: PG&E tortures residents by postponing the scheduled shutoff in many East Bay cities until 8 p.m. Wednesday evening. A bunch of kids woke up today in parts of Northern California thrilled that schools were closed, that is until they realized their phones won’t charge and microwaves can’t