Politics

While a “grocery tax” or “soda tax” by another name may not sound as sweet, there’s no denying the battle surrounding Measure HH relies heavily on semantics.

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and a new bill aims to address the mental health crises faced by many California students. Assembly Bill 2246 would mandate that every California school serving grades seven through 12 adopt suicide prevention policies that specifically address high-risk students, including LGBTQ youth, those experiencing homelessness or foster care, those bereaved by suicide and those with mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

The Alameda County District Attorney can proceed with charges against seven Bay Area officers involved in the “Celeste Guap” case as soon as Guap is released from a Florida jail—something a Florida prosecutor said “could be soon.”

The 10th annual Urban Shield training and equipment expo sparks a major debate about the militarization of first responders in Oakland.

About 100 current and former employees of the popular Bay Area restaurant chain Burma Superstar have filed a lawsuit claiming pay and benefit violations. The workers claim that Burma Superstar—in its three restaurants in San Francisco, Oakland and Alameda—routinely failed to pay minimum wages or overtime, while denying mandatory breaks and sick leave. The lawsuit also alleges the restaurants failed to keep accurate payroll records. The restaurant had not yet responded publicly to the lawsuit as of Sunday. Efforts to…

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announced this week that 12 Oakland police officers will be disciplined for their involvement in a wide-ranging sex scandal. But some Oakland residents are saying Schaaf’s response doesn’t go far enough.

A new measure will ask Oakland voters in November if they want to create a new police-oversight commission. But some community activists—and some members of city council—wanted to see a different kind of commission.