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MediaNews Group NorCal Publisher Jim Gleim will oversee The Monterey Herald and Santa Cruz Sentinel with the pending retirement of Gary Omernick, The Herald reports. Omernick had headed The Herald since 2007 and The Sentinel since 2013. At The Herald, Advertising Director Dana Arvig becomes operations manager; Dave Kellogg continues as managing editor. At The Sentinel, Advertising Director Steve Bennett becomes operations…

Don Blount in April expanded his duties as executive editor to include more focus on building connections and collaborations with Gannett’s The Record and the Stockton community. Blount had been top editor since 2017. His duties as market leader were added with the retirement of President and Publisher Deitra Kenoly.

Demian Bulwa returns to the San Francisco Chronicle as managing editor, The Chronicle reports. He will oversee the primary news, business and sports departments. Bulwa had been on the staff of Protocol and previously oversaw The Chronicle’s state and regional coverage.

Elizabeth Marie Himchak in April became editor of Union-Tribune Community Press’ Rancho Bernardo News Journaland Poway News Chieftain. She had been a staff reporter since 2006 and succeeded Steve Dreyer, who retired after serving for 27 years. Himchak also has written history articles for The San Diego Union-Tribune and freelanced for The Southern Cross, a Catholic newspaper.

Aly Brown is now editor of The Independent in Livermore, Publisher Joan Seppala announced. Brown formerly was a reporter, copy editor and editor at the Brentwood Press. “We are all in full support of Aly’s leadership, whose values are consistent with the 56-year history of The Independent,” Seppala said. “In addition to connecting with the existing team, she…

Mark Daniel is now general manager at Santa Maria California News Media Inc.’s Hanford Sentinel. Parker Bowman becomes managing editor. … Rob Vardon becomes editor at La Jolla Light.

President and Publisher Gary Wortel is one of four top McClatchy executives to depart the Sacramento-based company in a move to reduce expenses and support its journalism, The Sacramento Bee reported. Lauren Gustus, editor of The Sacramento Bee who oversees 10 western McClatchy newsrooms, adds president to her duties. “Local community journalism has never been…

Robin Epley is now editor of MediaNews Group’s Fort Bragg Advocate-News and Mendocino Beacon. The Chico State alum had been a reporter at the Chico Enterprise-Record and is a former CNPA staffer. Also, K.C. Meadows, editor at the Ukiah Daily Journal and Willits News, became general manager in January of The Advocate-News and Mendocino Beacon.…

Paulette Brown-Hinds, CNPA’s immediate past-president, has joined the board of directors at CalMatters, a CNPA Digital News Member. She is publisher of the Black Voice News in Riverside and founder of Voice Media Ventures. Brown-Hinds is a director at The James Irvine Foundation, the Community Foundation for the Inland Empire and the California Press Foundation.

Jay Harn, former publisher of several California newspapers, is now editor in chief at the San Diego Business Journal. He had been general manager for student media at San Diego State University-Daily Aztec. … Robert Price, longtime reporter, columnist and editor at The Bakersfield Californian, is now managing editor/Digital at KGET-TV in Bakersfield. … Bert…