Week in Review: Castro Valley Teens Plead Not Guilty to Killing Woman; Pizza Hut Coming to Castro Valley

Here’s a recap of the three most-read stories on Castro Valley Patch this week:

Castro Valley Teens Plead Not Guilty To Killing Barbara Latiolais

Christian Birdsall, 16, and Cody Nicosia, 18, pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that they strangled a 58-year-old woman during a burglary and later set fire to her Castro Valley home to destroy the evidence. The two are accused of killing Barbara Latiolas, whose body was found on Oct. 18 after firefighters responded to a blaze at her house at 2431 San Carlos Ave. Alameda Country sheriffs who investigated the murder/arson described the crime as "the kind of case that fears and nightmares are made of."

Pizza Hut is Coming to Castro Valley

Pizza Hut is planning to open at 3571 Castro Valley Blvd., in the small shopping area where Silver Spoon Gourmet Cuisine is located. From a general manger to a delivery driver, the company's website lists almost half a dozen job openings. However, a majority of the comments are strongly anti-Pizza Hut. Are you a fan of the chain? How do you think it will compare to Castro Valley's current pizza eateries?

U.S. Has Fiscal Cliff. California Has Third Rail

California could touch what has been the “third rail” of state politics ever since 1978, when voters approved Prop 13, the initiative that cut property taxes and it tougher to pass new levies. Now some pundits are urging lawmakers to grapple with this once-untouchable initiative that Howard Jarvis brought to popularity. A recent report says the proposals being floated include separating business and residential property tax assessments and lowering the threshold for voter approval of local parcel taxes from 66.7 percent to 55 percent. Learn more about Prop 13 here.