East Bay Express

How California's Prison Population Explodednew

And why the costs of housing inmates skyrocketed at the same time.

East Bay Express | Joaquin Palomino | 04-10-2012 | Crime & Justice

Tags: California prisons, Determinate Sentencing Law, California Prop 9, indeterminate sentences

AC Transit Finally Buys Americannew

The transit agency officially ends its long-term deal to buy expensive, foreign-made buses. Plus, Perata and De La Fuente's newest questionable deal.

East Bay Express | Robert Gammon | 04-06-2012 | Transportation

Tags: Don Perata, Ignacio De La Fuente, transportation, AC Transit, Anne Willcoxon, Buy American rules, Chris Peeples, David Armijo, Greg Harper, Hope 2012, Perata Consulting LLC, Rick Fernandez, SMG, Van Hools

The Shrinking Stagenew

The economy is forcing local theater companies to book smaller, leaner productions to save money. Is financial prudence inhibiting art?

East Bay Express | Rachel Swan | 04-06-2012 | Theater

Tags: Mark Jackson, performing arts, Liz Lisle, Shotgun Players, Mike Daisey, Actors Equity Association, American Conservatory Theater, Aurora Theater Company, Beth Wilmurt, California Shakespeare Theater, Carey Perloff, David Faustina, Impact Theatre, Lauren Gunderson, League of Resident Theaters, Magic Theatre, Marin Theater Company, Marin Theatre Company, Melissa Hillman, Patrick Dooley, Robert Kelley, Sasha Hnatkovich, Susan Medak, Susie Falk, TheatreWorks, Tom Ross, Valerie Weak, Willows Theatre

The Cannabis Crackdown Hits Oaksterdamnew

The feds detain Richard Lee and raid his respected medical pot businesses in a brazen move that may backfire.

East Bay Express | David Downs | 04-05-2012 | Drugs

Tags: Oaksterdam University, Marijuana, NORML, Internal Revenue Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Dale Gieringer, Richard Lee, Harborside Health Center, Prop 19, Stephen DeAngelo, Dale Sky Jones, Debby Goldsberry, Melinda Haag, Rebecca Kaplan, David Goldman, Americans for Safe Access San Francisco, Coffeshop Blue Sky, Jeff Jones, Oaksterdam Museum, the Oaksterdam Gift Shop, US marshalls, Freedom Fighter of the Year, High Times

Churn and Burn at the Young Musicians Programnew

A venerable UC Berkeley youth program appears to be violating its union contract.

East Bay Express | Rachel Swan | 04-05-2012 | Education

Tags: UC Berkeley, Alden Cohen, and Diversity, Beth Vandervennet, Cathy Allen, Daisy Newman, Division of Equity, Hall Goff, Inclusion, Kasey Knudsen, Michelle Squitieri, Young Musicians Program, outreach program

Oakland Police Department Sees Itself as a Victim of Occupynew

A recent internal report also reveals that the head of Internal Affairs was in charge of field operations on the night of October 25.

East Bay Express | Ali Winston | 04-05-2012 | #OCCUPY

Tags: Jean Quan, Police Brutality, Oakland Police Department, Internal Affairs, #OCCUPY, Paul Figueroa, Thelton Henderson, Jim Chanin, OPD, Occupy Oakland, Scott Olsen, Kayvan Sabeghi, John Burris, Robert Warshaw, tear gas, Frank Ogawa Plaza, Samuel Walker, Bureau of Field Operations report, Criminal Investigation Division, Donald Frazier, Frazier Group LLC, Howard Jordan, less-than-lethal munitions, May Day action

Elements of a Novelnew

Earth, water, and the disappeared connect in Carolina De Robertis' Perla.

East Bay Express | Alison Peters | 04-03-2012 | Author Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Carolina De Robertis, Perla

Federal Officials Raid Oaksterdam Universitynew

Federal officials from at least three law enforcement agencies raided Oaksterdam University and several other locations owned or affiliated with California Prop 19 founder Richard Lee in Oakland.

East Bay Express | David Downs | 04-03-2012 | Civil Liberties

Tags: Oaksterdam, Medical Marijuana, California Proposition 19

Stik Figanew

As Himself

East Bay Express | Rachel Swan | 04-02-2012 | Reviews

Tags: Rap Music, Stik Figa, John Westbrook Jr., Mello Music Group

Worlds Collide in Thomas Christensen's '1616'new

An action-packed year in profile.

East Bay Express | Alison Peters | 04-02-2012 | Author Profiles & Interviews

Tags: Books, 1616: The World in Motion, Thomas Christensen

Moshe Kasher Comes Homenew

The comedian's new memoir is part of a growing literary canon that features Oakland as a character—and a muse.

East Bay Express | Rachel Swan | 04-02-2012 | Books

Tags: Memoir, Vitus, The New Parish, Moshe Kasher, Oakland School of the Arts, Stork Club, A Bookstore, Diablo Valley College, Diesel, W. Kamau Bell

Doctors Making House Calls? ER Direct Doesnew

The East Bay medical company is one of a small but growing number that is sending doctors to people's homes to provide a more affordable, convenient alternative to emergency-room visits.

East Bay Express | Kathleen Richards | 04-02-2012 | Health