Community

Oakland reacts to Arizona shooting

The shooting of Arizona congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, and 20 innocent bystanders has shocked the nation. We took a video camera downtown Monday morning, where the American flags in front of all the government buildings flew at half mast, and asked passersby for their reactions to the shooting. Did they think the political climate contributed to the shooting, or was it an independent act? Could such a shooting happen here?

Raiders in familiar territory at season’s end despite measured success

The first round of the professional football playoffs kicked off this weekend, and for the eighth consecutive year, the Oakland Raiders were nowhere to be found. In perhaps a symbol of a franchise fallen on hard times, the local Oakland bars lacked any noticeable presence from the generally boisterous fan base as well.

Quan takes crime prevention message to East Oakland’s doorsteps

Still reeling from a shooting on the night of January 4, residents of an East Oakland neighborhood received surprise visitors on Saturday—Mayor Jean Quan and a retinue of volunteers. The mayor spent the morning going door to door through East Oakland’s police beat 33, talking with residents about new services and programs in the neighborhood, including the reinstatement of the neighborhood’s crime prevention council.

Who do you think should be Oakland’s woman of the year?

Assembly member Nancy Skinner is on the search for women who have made significant impacts in their communities. She is inviting neighbors, community groups and civil leaders throughout District 14 to nominate women they believe have gone beyond the call of duty to support their communities.

Meet the animals at the Oakland Zoo

Up in the Oakland hills, the Oakland Zoo spreads across 45 acres and offers up attractions such as the African Savanna, Children’s Zoo, Tropical Rain Forest and Australian Outback to explore. With 440 types of different animal species, from lions to lemurs to lesser flamingos, it’s hard to get it all in with one days visit.

Adoptable Animal of the Week: Belinda

Oakland North is continuing with our new feature. Every Tuesday, Oakland Animal Services will spotlight an “Animal of the Week” that’s up for adoption at their facility. This week it’s Belinda the cat.

Oakland memorializes the 94 homicides of 2010

Dozens of wooden crosses, painted white with a number and name hand-written across the front, stood in the front lawn of St. Columba Catholic Church on Friday. Behind, a big cement cross was hung with a pine wreath and a sign that read: “These crosses represent those killed by homicide in Oakland this year.” There were 94 crosses in total.