This summer, Oakland High School environmental science students used to studying the ecology of Lake Merritt will travel to new turf — Costa Rica.
Student perspective: On March 4 during the freeway takeover, some reporters got the story. Four of them got arrested.
On March 4, hundreds of protesters marched from Berkeley to Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland to rally with students and educators from across the region. After the rally, a group of some 150 protesters marched onto the I-880 freeway, shut down traffic and were arrested by police. Some reporters got the story — but four of them, including Oakland North correspondent Jake Schoneker, got arrested. Schoneker shares his account of the day, in pictures and words.
School board denies Cox Academy’s charter, hears from low-performing schools
In addition to the several hot issues on the agenda, each of which pulled in a crowd, representatives from four Oakland public schools that have just been listed on the state’s lowest-performing schools list came to the meeting to state their disagreement with the listing.
Tech girls, Castlemont boys bring home OAL hoops titles
First it was chants of “O-T, O-T” that echoed throughout the Laney College gym Saturday. The happy players and coaches of Oakland Tech were celebrating their Oakland Athletic League girls basketball championship, a 72-42 win over Skyline High. A couple hours later, that scene was repeated. This time, it was chants of “Cas-tle, Cas-tle,” as the Castlemont High boys team celebrated its 67-65 win over Oakland High.
Bargain hunters descend on Oakland Museum’s White Elephant sale
By 9 a.m. on Saturday, dozens of people were in line outside a warehouse in East Oakland, waiting for the people inside to lift the heavy metal door to the building. They had been there—in some cases for hours—waiting for the mother of all rummage sales: the Oakland Museum Women’s Board’s 51st White Elephant Sale.
Oakland after-school fashion program fuses street style with business savvy
The Street Style/Dream Seam School of Fashion gives Oakland teens a place to sketch, knit, sew and be around other creative people while learning about the ins and outs of the art and fashion scenes.
School’s Out: California’s education budget crisis special coverage
On March 4, students and educators throughout California will demonstrate against state budget cuts that have slashed finances at public schools and raised student fees throughout the UC system. Oakland North presents a special news package, with all-day, three-city coverage of the protests and the story behind them.
Nola Brantley, right, talks with some of her MISSSEY staff members at the Safe Place Alternative, or SPA, at the Alameda County Family Justice Center. The SPA is a drop-in transition and recovery center for sexually exploited children in Oakland.
As more Oakland youth join the sex trade, law enforcement explores alternatives to incarceration
For decades, the law enforcement and justice systems have treated juvenile sex workers as criminals, not victims, arresting and locking them up. Now the Oakland Police Department, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and an Oakland nonprofit that works with sexually exploited youth are exploring alternatives to incarceration. But what’s the best way to do it?
Special Features
From Our Neighborhoods
Temescal
Bakesale Betty’s to get second home
Many other Oaklanders have a feverish attachment to the famed Bakesale Betty’s fried chicken sandwich and to the cheerful Temescal corner where it is currently housed. But in April, Betty will have a new way to serve her faithful patrons, a second location on the corner of West Grand and Broadway.
Rockridge
Quan makes her grassroots case to be Oakland’s mayor
It’s an early February twilight in Rockridge, and commuters are making their way from the BART station to homes and shops along College Avenue. Mayoral candidate Jean Quan and a small group of canvassers are gathering around a silver Prius on Claremont Avenue.
Grand/Lake
Summer program sends Oakland’s environmental science students to Costa Rica
This summer, Oakland High School environmental science students used to studying the ecology of Lake Merritt will travel to new turf — Costa Rica.
Golden Gate
Not just another wifi shack
Coffee shops used to be the social hub of the community until laptops and wireless Internet turned them into libraries that serve food. In North Oakland, one coffee shop is trying to get the conversation started again. Shilanda Woolridge reports.
Bushrod
Sankofa Academy celebrates student achievement
At Sankofa Academy in North Oakland, the students have a message: “R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Respect is all I really need!”
Mosswood
North Oakland medicinal pot producer no criminal, supporters say
Mickey Martin is about to go to prison. The charge was something both he and the State of California say is not a crime: selling medicinal marijuana.
Downtown
Climate change: Is Oakland a model for a local approach?
Mindful of the limits to both individual action and national and global policy, Oakland sees city government as a key climate change player.