![Katie Lauer is a reporter for the Bay Area News Group](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Katie-Lauer-BANG-Reporter.jpg?w=85)
Contra Costa County Reporter
Katie Lauer
Katie Lauer is a reporter for the Bay Area News Group covering local government and community news across Contra Costa County for the East Bay Times and The Mercury News. She joined the Bay Area News Group in 2022 after writing about the COVID-19 pandemic, housing, disability access, the LGBTQ community and everything in between across the South Bay. Prior to moving west, she was anchored at several community newspapers in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, where she graduated with a BA degree from the University of Minnesota’s Hubbard School of Journalism.
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Language: American Sign Language (conversational)
Expertise: Development, lawsuits, arts and culture, environment, disability, LGBTQ+ issues
All Stories
![It was branded as mutiny when Black military men refused to work after July 1944 explosion that killed hundreds. It was branded as mutiny when Black military men refused to work after July 1944 explosion that killed hundreds.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/EBT-L-PORTCHICAGO-0720-3.jpg?w=137)
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Families look back on legacy, tragedy of Port Chicago military disaster after sailors exonerated
It was branded as mutiny when Black military men refused to work after July 1944 explosion that killed hundreds.
![Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced the exoneration Wednesday. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced the exoneration Wednesday.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/CCHICAGO.jpg?w=131)
Exonerated: Bay Area leaders react after Navy clears Black sailors convicted in World War II Port Chicago explosion
Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced the exoneration Wednesday.
![Oversight officials want an investigation into whether deal with Schneider Electric was mishandled. Oversight officials want an investigation into whether deal with Schneider Electric was mishandled.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/EBT-L-MDUSDFOLO-0714.jpg?w=137)
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No guarantees, no proof: How did East Bay school district’s $50 million energy contract go so wrong?
Oversight officials want an investigation into whether deal with Schneider Electric was mishandled.
![A massive explosion on July 17, 1944, instantly killed 320 sailors and civilians, who were predominantly Black men in their late teens to early 20s. A massive explosion on July 17, 1944, instantly killed 320 sailors and civilians, who were predominantly Black men in their late teens to early 20s.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SJM-L-PORTCHICAGO-0717-1.jpg?w=112)
World War II’s Port Chicago disaster — and its role in civil rights — to be memorialized
A massive explosion on July 17, 1944, instantly killed 320 sailors and civilians, who were predominantly Black men in their late teens to early 20s.
![Nina Simon's debut novel soared up the best-seller lists. Now she's talking inspiration -- from atop a stand-up paddleboard on this Monterey Bay slough. Nina Simon's debut novel soared up the best-seller lists. Now she's talking inspiration -- from atop a stand-up paddleboard on this Monterey Bay slough.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SJM-L-SLOUGHMURDER-4.jpg?w=132)
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Dive into the life (and death) of Elkhorn Slough with “Mother-Daughter Murder Night”
Nina Simon's debut novel soared up the best-seller lists. Now she's talking inspiration -- from atop a stand-up paddleboard on this Monterey Bay slough.
![Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe and councilmembers Tamisha Torres-Walker and Monica Wilson face allegations of secret meetings. Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe and councilmembers Tamisha Torres-Walker and Monica Wilson face allegations of secret meetings.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/EBT-L-ANTCOPMEET-0919-22-1.jpg?w=133)
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Illegal meetings in Antioch? Grand jury inconclusive on elected officials’ closed door talks
Antioch Mayor Lamar Hernandez-Thorpe and councilmembers Tamisha Torres-Walker and Monica Wilson face allegations of secret meetings.
![A ban on Pride flags approved last fall sparked the push to recall trustees Ryan Jergensen and Linda Hurley. A ban on Pride flags approved last fall sparked the push to recall trustees Ryan Jergensen and Linda Hurley.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/SJM-L-PRIDEFLAG-0914-13.jpg?w=125)
Sunol school board recall: Early election results favor ousting two trustees
A ban on Pride flags approved last fall sparked the push to recall trustees Ryan Jergensen and Linda Hurley.
![Report details eight recommendations to ensure timely warnings by 2025 Report details eight recommendations to ensure timely warnings by 2025](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/EBT-L-FOURTHFIRE-0705-10.jpg?w=132)
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Grand Jury: Contra Costa County’s emergency warning system endangers residents
Report details eight recommendations to ensure timely warnings by 2025
![Roughly 70% of the entire 500-mile plan for the Bay Trail has been completed -- nearly four decades after its conception. Roughly 70% of the entire 500-mile plan for the Bay Trail has been completed -- nearly four decades after its conception.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/EBT-L-BAYTRAILGAP-06XX-1.jpg?w=132)
Contra Costa officials awarded $1.9 million to close two gaps on Bay Trail
Roughly 70% of the entire 500-mile plan for the Bay Trail has been completed -- nearly four decades after its conception.
![Unauthorized trails previously threatened to destroy, erode Lime Ridge -- a 1,200-acre swath of ridge land on the eastern edge of Walnut Creek. Unauthorized trails previously threatened to destroy, erode Lime Ridge -- a 1,200-acre swath of ridge land on the eastern edge of Walnut Creek.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/EBT-L-OPENSPACE-0912-4.jpg?w=132)
Walnut Creek: Flow trail project abandoned at Lime Ridge Open Space
Unauthorized trails previously threatened to destroy, erode Lime Ridge -- a 1,200-acre swath of ridge land on the eastern edge of Walnut Creek.