News Pix: Governor's Debate, Mission Fire, and Front Yard Art

Gov. Jerry Brown and Neel Kashkari faced off in a debate in Sacramento. The first — and apparently only — debate between the Governor and his Republican challenger was fast-paced and, at times, feisty. The candidates hit on the major issues facing California: water, immigration, the economy, education and income inequality. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP/Pool) 

The slider images above depict Mount Shasta in January 2007 and last week. The drought has all but stripped the mountain of its “perpetual” snow. Today those venturing to the mountaintop (elevation 14,162 or 14,179 or 14,180 feet, depending on who you believe) are greeted by bare rocky slopes. 

Firefighters battle a five-alarm fire in the Mission District on Thursday afternoon. Several people were treated for smoke inhalation and hospitalized. (Cristiano Valli/Mission Local)

Mark Olivier has made his Berkeley front yard a destination with a display from found objects. Olivier, a carpenter who found himself as a sculptor, walks the Albany Bulb and other beaches to collect trash, mostly plastic, that has washed up. He then turns it into art at 1118 Colusa Avenue. (Tom Dalzell/Berkeleyside)