Neighbors and parents, some wearing headphones for language interpretation, listened to an Oakland officer explain certain colors, signs, and tattoos–like the numbers 13 and 14–that may be markers of gang activity.

When I walk into the North Oakland branch Post Office at 8:56, I immediately take stock of my surroundings and stake out a post from which I might best accomplish my mission. I choose a blond-colored wooden bench alongside the main entrance where there’s a good view of the lobby. My not-so-covert objective is to observe and record the scene here in the Post Office this fine Wednesday morning. The beige-colored Post Office takes up the corner at the Shattuck…

Newsflash: ‘You’re gonna get old.’ The Bay Area Senior Healthcare Policy Forum met on Friday to focus on the healthcare needs of seniors. The 34-year-mystery of an Oakland woman’s death has finally been solved.  The death of Karen Rose Robinson, originally thought to be a homicide, is ruled accidental. Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts, after his first month on the job, says that the demand placed on the Oakland Police Department far exceeds its resources and capabilities. He outlined plans to…

Students and supporters gathered outside UC Berkeley, while approximately 50 students had barricaded themselves inside Wheeler Hall in protest.

UC Berkeley students have barricaded themselves into Wheeler Hall on campus today in protest, after UC regents’ decision yesterday to raise tuition by 32 percent, and the conflict between students and police is taking an ugly turn early this evening–one student has been shot with a rubber bullet, and there are reports of tear gas outside Wheeler.   Oakland North reporter Puck Lo, who like all the staff writers is a student at U.C. Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, has joined…

Another recipe for the Oakland North collection comes from Oakland resident Kerry Thett. “As a homegrown Texas girl, I am familiar with crockpot cooking. Now that I have been transplanted to California and have a very busy job, I want to eat hearty, but healthy. Plus I recently began dating a guy from India. What a huge culture clash!  I attempted to learn to cook Indian cuisine, but found it utterly time consuming and often, not too healthy. I found…

A 19-year-old man was shot to death in West Oakland last night. Police have identified the man as Elray Jones Jr. A judge will consider relocation of the Mesherle trial today. Mesherle is charged with the Jan. 1 murder of Hayward resident Oscar Grant at the Fruitvale BART station. Oakland North will have the story later today. UC students will resume their protest today after the Board of Regents passed a 32 percent tuition increase in Los Angeles yesterday. The…

Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums acknowledged late Tuesday evening that he had failed to report a trip to South Africa on his annual state of economic interests. According to the mayor’s office, the South African government paid for Dellums’ 2008 trip to honor him for his work to end apartheid. The mayor’s office stated that because the trip was paid for by a government entity, they did not initially believe a report was necessary. Students, faculty and union workers will converge…

Curtis Martin III is charged with the murders of his girlfriend, Zoelina Williams, and her 17-month-old son, Jashon Williams. O.N. will have the story later today. Budget woes could mean a tax increase for Oakland residents and/or potentially selling off Oakland’s convention centers. City Councilmember Jane Brunner (District ) is in China this week attending a Low Carbon City program. A call to Brunner’s staff could not determine if the councilmember’s visit was in any way related to the President’s…

Oakland City Offices will be open November 23-25, but will be closed November 26-30 for Thanksgiving and furlough days.

A child’s body found in Berkeley Marina may be the 17-month-old son of a woman found slain on Friday. Police have been searching for the missing child, Jashon Williams, since the body of his mother, 23-year-old Zoelina Williams, was found beaten and shot to death on Friday. The child’s body was pulled from the Berkeley marina, less than one mile from where Williams was discovered in the parking lot of Berkeley’s Aquatic Park. A man walking along the tracks was…

Alameda County officials have declared a state of emergency to prevent the further spread of the H1N1 influenza virus. This declaration will allow for distribution of free vaccine this Saturday to uninsured, high-risk residents at select county locations.

New Oakland Police Chief Anthony Batts, at the first of a series of town hall meetings, told a West Oakland audience last night that he understood why some urban residents view police officers as “an occupying army.” Among the proposals he said he’s considered in the past: a citywide curfew aimed at bringing down youth violence.

Police Chief Anthony Batts was sworn in at last night’s Oakland City Council meeting, then council members advanced plans for a municipal ID card program, eased enforcement rules for wrong-way parking, and sentenced to death two redwood trees on the site of a controversial development.