This educator is turning Instagram into a classroom about Oakland’s ecosystems Saumitra Kelkar is on a mission to restore native plants. He’s teaching East Bay residents about where to find rare flowers, plants, trees and wild bees.

Saumitra Kelkar is on a mission to restore native plants. He’s teaching East Bay residents about where to find rare flowers, plants, trees and wild bees — all in The Town.

Sunday parking is no longer free in Oakland. Tickets starting at $64 begin this weekend Sunday meters could generate an added $1.7 million in annual revenue. 

Sunday meters could generate an added $1.7 million in annual revenue.

AI drones to spot illegal dumping? Oakland is considering a pilot project The city is expected to approve a deal with a San Francisco company to fly drones over the city to spot trash piles.

The city is expected to approve a deal with a San Francisco company to fly drones over the city to spot trash piles.

Millennium announces May closure; plus Crepe Pan shutters and Sweet Fingers on the move A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.

A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.

Fire at Camron-Stanford, charter reform guide, renaming César E. Chávez library...on the podcast Catch up on Oakland news while walking the dog or cooking dinner with Oaklandside 510.

Catch up on Oakland news while walking the dog or cooking dinner with Oaklandside 510.

Las Delicias departs, La Noisette shutters, and more recent East Bay closures Other March restaurant closures included a Hawaiian spot and a juice bar.

Other March restaurant departures included a Hawaiian spot and a juice bar.

LGBTQ+ leaders in Oakland and SF denounce Philz Coffee’s removal of Pride flags The open letter, co-signed by Oakland’s Lakeshore and San Francisco’s Castro LGBTQ+ cultural districts, calls on the coffee chain to reverse its controversial move.

The open letter, co-signed by Oakland’s Lakeshore and San Francisco’s Castro LGBTQ+ cultural districts, calls on the coffee chain to reverse its controversial move.

Immigrant truckers are enduring delays to get their driver's licenses back   A state judge has ordered California’s DMV to provide progress reports. 

A state judge has ordered California’s DMV to provide progress reports.

Spring restaurant superbloom brings new Filipino, burger, Mexican, coffee, and Nicaraguan spots FOB West, Tita Becca's, Butter's Burgers, Leña, GA.RA, and La Cocinita Nica are some of the East Bay restaurants to recently open.

FOB West, Tita Becca's, Butter's Burgers, Leña, GA.RA, and La Cocinita Nica are some of the East Bay restaurants to open in March.

Oakland fired its Human Services director after just 5 months Jason Lester said he was terminated after clashing with a high-ranking city official. City leaders say they’re still looking for someone who will be the “right fit.”

Jason Lester said he was terminated after clashing with a high-ranking city official. City leaders say they’re still looking for someone who will be the “right fit.”

Immigrant seniors are losing medicare coverage despite paying for it The "big beautiful bill," signed into law by President Trump last year, bars certain categories of lawfully present immigrants from accessing health insurance

The "big beautiful bill," signed into law by President Trump last year, bars certain categories of lawfully present immigrants from accessing health insurance

Oakland public school buildings need $3.5 billion in upgrades A new report lays out where schools need modernizing. It’s up to the board to decide where to invest first.

A new report lays out where schools need modernizing. It’s up to the board to decide where to invest first.

12 households displaced, cat killed, in Fairmount Avenue fire A 66-unit apartment complex caught fire Tuesday evening on Fairmount Avenue in Adams Point.

A 66-unit apartment complex caught fire Tuesday evening in Adams Point.

Alameda County leaders oppose ICE jail in former Dublin women’s prison The Board of Supervisors unanimously stands against FCI Dublin’s conversion into an immigration detention center — though the county has no jurisdiction over federal property.

The Board of Supervisors unanimously stands against FCI Dublin’s conversion into an immigration detention center — though the county has no jurisdiction over federal property.

After 10 years of fighting, ‘No Coal’ activists gear up for new battle With Oakland’s legal defenses exhausted, a coalition is strategizing a new way to stop construction of a coal export terminal.

With Oakland’s legal defenses exhausted, a coalition is strategizing a new way to stop construction of a coal export terminal.

This week in Oakland: the Gay Men’s Chorus concert and wrestling at Prescott Market the Gay Men’s Chorus concert, wrestling at Prescott Market, a photo exhibit at Rockridge Cafe, Big Mike Hart at Yoshi’s, and more.

Other events include a civic engagement fair, a photo exhibit at Rockridge Cafe, a variety show at the Continental Club, and Big Mike Hart at Yoshi’s.

Wildflower season has arrived: here’s where to enjoy the blooms in the East Bay and beyond California’s wildflower season peaks from mid-March to May and the Bay Area has several notable parks where you can find them.

California’s wildflower season peaks from mid-March to May and the Bay Area has several notable parks where you can find them.

Nudi Blue set for debut, Bad Decision takes over A Capella, and the former Pho Vy is home to something new A running list of restaurants that have recently opened in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.

A running list of restaurants that have recently opened in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.

A quick guide to the Oakland charter reform debate Three new systems of government are on the table and could reach ballots in November. Use this table to keep them straight.

Three new systems of government are on the table and could reach ballots in November. Use this table to keep them straight.

Affordable teacher housing is scarce. This group is trying an innovative solution in Oakland Building workforce housing, as Oakland Unified and other districts have tried to do, is time-consuming and costly. What about buying existing buildings?

Building workforce housing, as Oakland Unified and other districts have tried to do, is time-consuming and costly. What about buying existing buildings?

Cambodian community bursts with color, dance and Khmer tradition in Oakland Women in vibrant traditional attires, elders soaking in the sun, and dance performances marked the Cambodian new year at Peralta Hacienda.

Women in vibrant traditional attires, elders soaking in the sun, and dance performances marked the Cambodian new year at Peralta Hacienda.

Air today, beer tomorrow. Almanac partners with Berkeley company on first air-capture carbonated beer The Alameda brewery's Flow pale ale uses a process pioneered by Aircapture to turn the air around the brewery into bubbles for beer.

The Alameda brewery's Flow pale ale uses a process pioneered by Aircapture to turn the air around the brewery into bubbles for beer.

Oakland Earth Day celebrations will focus on cleanups and community fun Kayaking, planting seeds, and picking up trash are all enjoyable activities that help the environment. 

Kayaking, planting seeds, and picking up trash are all enjoyable activities that help the environment.

Fire damages Oakland’s historic Camron-Stanford House The Victorian at Lake Merritt had recently reopened to the public after a year and a half closure over a lease dispute with the city.

The Victorian at Lake Merritt had recently reopened to the public after a year and a half closure over a lease dispute with the city.

‘OPD rendered no aid’: Marvin Boomer’s loved ones slam police and CHP in legal filing The city is facing a potential multi-million dollar lawsuit for the crash following a CHP pursuit that killed Boomer and injured Ta Ta Neshe Woodruff.

The city is facing a potential multi-million dollar lawsuit for the crash following a CHP pursuit that killed Boomer and injured Ta Ta Neshe Woodruff.

Trumer’s U.S. operation sold, departing Berkeley after 22 years A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.

A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.

Oakland library commission takes first step in renaming César E. Chávez Branch Three Fruitvale sites carry the name of the late labor leader. The bureaucratic process of renaming will soon get underway for one of them.

Three Fruitvale sites carry the name of the late labor leader. The bureaucratic process of renaming will soon get underway for one of them.

Speed cameras in Oakland are real now...on the podcast Catch up on Oakland news while walking the dog or cooking dinner with Oaklandside 510.

Catch up on Oakland news while walking the dog or cooking dinner with Oaklandside 510.

‘Now that the building is damaged and vacant’: Broadway landlord looks to sell the day after fire Three months later, owner Ted Dang and the city of Oakland are locked in a dispute over whether he owes relocation money to the displaced tenants.

Three months later, owner Ted Dang and the city of Oakland are locked in a dispute over whether he owes relocation money to the displaced tenants.

Skyline High School has 17 AP classes. Castlemont has 0. OUSD has a serious college prep gap White and Asian students take AP classes at twice the rate of their Black and Latino peers. And while one Oakland school has 17 course options, many others have zero.

Meanwhile a newer college prep program has attracted students of color and low-income students in Oakland at far higher rates. And it gives high schoolers direct access to college professors.