MARTINEZ, CA-Contra Costa County supervisors approve a plan to have Frontier Associates, an Austin, Texas-based consulting firm, train developers, contractors, government planners and others in the local construction industry in "green building" techniques.

SAN FRANCISCO-The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has decided that it is in the city's best interests to pursue a $9-million environmental study for the proposed South Basin Bridge, which may increase the chances of bringing the San Francisco 49ers football franchise to Hunter's Point.

ELK GROVE, CA-Without significant commercial development, including stores and office space, is it really a self-sufficient community? Residents of Laguna West say no, and are opposing a proposal to develop more residential space at the expense of commercial space.

SAN JOSE-Thanks to a unanimous vote of the City Council, the City of San Jose will proceed with its eminent domain plans to acquire the remaining portion of the Tropicana shopping center for redevelopment.

SACRAMENTO-The supplier of consumer package goods, under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission, is selling the stores to Save Mart Supermarkets for about $165 million.

SUNNYVALE, CA-NetScreen Technologies is expanding in the Silicon Valley area, taking advantage of Ariba's low sublease rates to consolidate its headquarters and make room for its new employees.

CARMICHAEL, CA-The Five Points Shopping Center, a 50,440-sf shopping center whose tenants include Long's Drugs and Picadilly Circus, is sold to Progenitor Holding, a Stockton-based partnership.

SAN FRANCISCO-A $110-plus million project to connect Hunters Point to U.S. Highway 101 with a new bridge could open the doors to major redevelopment of the demilitarized shipyard.