Your trusted source for local Oakland, CA news, updated daily with the most important stories from your community.
A bill in California aiming to increase accountability for PG&E and other for-profit utilities has stalled in the Oakland City Council. Advocates expressed concerns that PG&E exerted political pressure to withdraw support for Senate Bill 332, which seeks stricter audits and ties executive pay to safety performance.
Oakland's arts community celebrates the announcement of a $600,000 emergency fund and a proposal to restore the cultural affairs manager position. These efforts aim to bridge funding gaps caused by recent budget cuts, which previously eliminated vital support for local artists and cultural organizations.
Oakland Councilmember Ken Houston proposes the Encampment Abatement Policy to expedite the closure of homeless camps on sidewalks and involving vehicles, bypassing advance notice requirements. The proposal aims to address unsafe conditions in the city and respond to increased homelessness following a Supreme Court ruling allowing outdoor sleeping bans.
The California Highway Patrol arrested a man linked to two freeway shootings in the East Bay over a span of hours. The first incident injured a driver on Highway 4, while the second shooting on Highway 24 resulted in no injuries but damaged a vehicle. The suspect fled into Solano County, where officers apprehended him after he discarded a gun and two magazines.
A pair of bald eagles and their two eaglets have attracted bird watchers in Piedmont, California. These eaglets represent the first bald eagle chicks in the Oakland area in recent history, highlighting the success of conservation efforts following the DDT ban.
Oakland Unified School District appointed Nelson Alegria as the first executive director for school safety following a unanimous school board decision to eliminate its police department in 2020. Alegria aims to enhance safety protocols while focusing on racial justice and student well-being. His role comes amid ongoing safety challenges, including recent shootings and violence on school campuses.
Sydney Arkin, owner of Bad Walter’s Bootleg Ice Cream, creates unique ice cream flavors inspired by her childhood and advertising background. The shop, which opened in September 2024, offers around 115 flavors, all lactose-free, and features creative names that enhance their appeal. Arkin's innovative approach includes collaborations with local businesses, such as Rize Up Bakery, to develop new flavors.
Bryan Keith Hall, sentenced to time served for a 2022 stabbing, shot and killed parole agent Joshua Byrd in Oakland. District attorneys blame each other for Hall's lenient plea deal that allowed his early release. Hall now faces multiple charges, including murder and robbery.
Freehold Communities aims to revive the stalled Oak Knoll housing project in Oakland, with construction on 290 homes set to begin by early 2026. Despite city approvals, challenges such as high interest rates and construction costs hinder progress. Local residents express frustration over the long delays in the project’s development.
Oakland's installation of vertical bollards at the intersection of 82nd Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard has significantly reduced sideshow activity, according to local residents and business owners. The city plans to invest $1.4 million in further sideshow prevention measures, following positive feedback from the community.