Safety

President Obama’s stimulus package meant little to Linda Russell until she went to borrow money at OneCalifornia Bank in Oakland for her school photography business, Mugshot. But when her $300,000 loan was quickly approved she discovered what the stimulus is all about. “I think the Recovery Act is working,” said the San Rafael based photographer and business entrepreneur who plans to expand with an online presence and possibly franchise the idea to other parts of the country. Russell is not…

By SHILANDA WOOLRIDGE Nuisance parking—cars left, abandoned or parked indefinitely—was most on the minds of the dozen or so residents at the West Oakland Senior Center Tuesday night for the joint Neighborhood Crime Prevention meeting.

By SHILANDA WOOLRIDGE Crime in Temescal is down, but residents have a few reasons to keep an eye out.

By SHILANDA WOOLRIDGE Summer may not bring heat to the weather in North Oakland, but it’s bringing heat to the streets.

Cuts, plans, master plans—what does it all mean?  Instead of attending another meeting on the Bicycle Master Plan, Oakland North decided to hop on a bike and see what the city’s routes had to offer. After checking out the city bicycling website, this bicycling novice found a map of bikeway networks and routes and chose Route 35 down Telegraph Ave. Granted, this was the street with the second highest collision rate for bicyclists between 2000 and 2004, with most collisions…

There’s an awful lot that happens outside the Alameda County Superior Court room. By SHILANDA WOOLRIDGE

By ALEXIA UNDERWOOD

There’s a disparity between the sport Americans love to play but can’t afford to watch. The Oakland Athletics are changing that one Wednesday at a time. By STEVE SALDIVAR

As the California heat begins to usher in the summer, as well as usher water enthusiasts into the swimming pools, counties, including Alameda County, are integrating a new federal law that will further protect people from accidental drownings in public pools and spas.