Oakland Focus News | Oakland News Online Blog

Bleacher ReportIt might be easier fixing the national budget than it is trying to figure out how to stop the Denver Broncos, even when there is little on the line. With home-field advantage throughout the playoffs at stake for Peyton Manning and friends, however, the …Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos Pick, Odds, Prediction 12/29/13Sports Chat […] from WordPress http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/12/26/breaking-down-raiders-game-plan-vs-broncos-bleacher-report-20833/ via IFTTT

Local poet, songwriter celebrates Holidays in Oakland through songKTVU San FranciscoThe lyrics, which start with “let’s take a holiday in Oakland,” might sound like perfect marketing for the city, but Lisa Bernstein, known as Lisa B, says the words are straight from the heart. “Let’s take a walk around the lake, with the runners and […] from WordPress http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/12/26/local-poet-songwriter-celebrates-holidays-in-oakland-through-song-ktvu-san-francisco-14686/ via IFTTT

San Francisco Chronicle(12-24) 17:51 PST SAN FRANCISCO — Oakland’s top cop helped chase down a carjacking suspect on Christmas Eve, police said. Interim Chief Sean Whent was driving an unmarked Chevrolet Tahoe with his spokeswoman, Officer Johnna Watson, when …Oakland: Police chief, other officers round up carjacking, armed robbery suspectsContra Costa Times all 3 news […] from WordPress http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/12/25/oakland-police-chief-helps-chase-down-carjack-suspect-san-francisco-chronicle-66249/ via IFTTT

Merry Christmas! It sure has been that in San Francisco! The Historic Handlery Union Square Hotel at 351 Geary (between Powell and Mason) in San Francisco teamed with the San Francisco Firefighters Union Local 798 to hold a successful toy drive to make sure no child went without a toy in San Francisco this Christmas. […] from WordPress http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/12/25/san-francisco-handlery-hotel-christmas-toy-drive-with-firefighters-a-success-58234/ via IFTTT

This Oakland News is just a hearty “Merry Christmas!” to the people who make up one of the greatest cities in the entire World. What’s amazing about Oakland is that it steadfastly holds on to a bent toward population diversity. In 1994, The Montclarion allowed this blogger, then a columnist, to produce and publish a […] from WordPress http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/12/25/oakland-news-merry-christmas-oakland-68489/ via IFTTT

Oakland airport rail link to debut in fall 2014USA TODAYOakland International Airport’s direct link to the San Francisco Bay area’s BART rail system will be completed next fall, transit agency officials say. “It could be early fall; it could be late fall,” Jim Allison, a BART spokesman, says to the San … and more …read […] from WordPress http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/12/24/oakland-airport-rail-link-to-debut-in-fall-2014-usa-today-15986/ via IFTTT

Custom-made cello stolen from Oakland musicianKTVU San FranciscoA cellist who also teaches music tells KTVU a burglary at his home has affected his livelihood. Burglars stole Pawel Walerowski’s two cellos, a bicycle and smartphone from his ground floor studio apartment in East Oakland last Tuesday. The robbery … …read more Source: Oakland News By Google from WordPress http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/12/24/custom-made-cello-stolen-from-oakland-musician-ktvu-san-francisco-98322/ via IFTTT

By James Reddick With call centers inundated with questions and lengthy wait times, volunteer groups are bridges between East Bay residents and Covered California. …read more Source: Oakland North Blog News from WordPress http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/12/24/with-health-insurance-demand-on-the-rise-volunteers-chip-in-22555/ via IFTTT

Bleacher ReportHi-res-170780575-jerry-blevins-of-the-oakland-. Jerry Blevins, likely just wiping his brow, looks as if he’s waving one final goodbye to the Oakland fans. Tom Pennington/Getty Images. Last week I gave out grades for all of the transactions made by the …Oakland Athletics – TeamReportGlobalPost all 2 news articles …read more Source: Oakland News By Google from WordPress http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/12/23/power-ranking-oakland-athletics-offseason-signings-trades-so-far-bleacher-report-53092/ via IFTTT

ABC NewsBuffalo’s 19-0 win against Miami was being shown on the scoreboard video screen while the Chargers were warming up for their game against Oakland. Updates of New England’s 41-7 victory against Baltimore were shown during the game. “I was going to …Live: Raiders vs. ChargersBleacher ReportRapid Reaction: Oakland RaidersESPN (blog)Oakland Raiders vs San Diego […] from WordPress http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/12/23/bolts-beat-oakland-to-stay-alive-in-playoff-race-abc-news-94579/ via IFTTT

San Jose Mercury NewsOAKLAND — As blood poured from her daughter’s mouth, filling up cups and spilling onto her clothing, Nailah Winkfield began to cry. The Oakland mother said nurses reassured her this was “normal” for the type of tonsil and throat surgery Jahi McMath …March to be held for Oakland girl Jahi McMath Monday […] from WordPress http://www.zennie62blog.com/2013/12/23/jahi-her-mom-and-13-days-at-childrens-hospital-oakland-san-jose-mercury-news-36933/ via IFTTT

Local Retail Movement Moves into High Gear in Lake Merritt/Uptown & Downtown Oakland Plaid Friday’s “mall-ternative” event sees record numbers ‘love Oakland and put their money where their hearts are’ The results are in and everyone involved has declared last Friday’s ‘Plaid Friday’ event in Oakland a resounding success.   Hundreds of businesses citywide, including more than 45 businesses located in the Downtown and Lake Merritt/Uptown community benefit districts, participated in the day-long event which included free parking in city-owned lots and garages and at meters, professional gift wrapping, a visit from Santa, food vendors and a host of live entertainment.   This year’s event, the fifth ‘mall-ternative’ shopping event in Oakland, included the transformation of Latham Square into a festive winter wonderland where more than 30 “pop-up” artisans displayed and sold artwork and gifts. Additionally, throughout the evening, dozens of pop-up vendors wer

Nelson Mandela When Nelson Mandela was freed from prison in South Africa in 1990, he went on a United States "Thank You" Tour that included Oakland, California. You have to understand that, at that time I was just about three years out of grad school at UC Berkeley. And when I was there, protests against the apartheid regime in South Africa were common.   And violent.  One such protest shut down the campus, and brought out the police and the National Guard.  It's almost unbelievable to consider now that there were Americans who actually supported apartheid, and I spent a fair degree of time at the University of Texas at Arlington trying to explain to some white classmates, in a very calm way, why apartheid was just plain wrong. Well, in Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area, everyone knew why apartheid was wrong - especially then Congressman Ronald Dellums, who would later become Mayor of Oakland. Dellums, along with other Oakland, Berkeley political leade