Topic: Oakland

California garbage trucks fueled by ... garbage

Methane gas produced in California landfills fuels garbage and recycling trucks, reducing the state's carbon emissions.

Release of British hostage Peter Moore in Iraq garners praise

British hostage Peter Moore was released after 2-1/2 years in captivity in Iraq. He was among the last of 306 foreigners to be abducted since 2003. British officials praised their Iraqi counterparts' efforts in securing Moore's release.

San Jose police get ear-mounted video cameras in battle for image

A few police in San Jose, Calif., will test ear-mounted video cameras to record their interactions with the public. The pilot technology advances the police point of view at a time when bystander cellphone video often shapes perceptions of police behavior.

California voters will decide whether to legalize marijuana

The first state to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, California leads the country in decriminalizing the sale and use of cannabis. Other states are considering the issue, too, but critics warn of the impact on young people.

Nation-building at home: Civics 101

How to run a country - a.k.a. nation-building - is the bottom line of the US high school civics revival.

Opinion: In a Wikipedia age, should all ideas be free?

The US Supreme Court shouldn't weaken the patent protections that fuel technological progress.

How do you say 'town hall meeting' in Mandarin?

After Obama's session with Chinese students, the Monitor's language columnist considers the nuances of town meetings, town-hall meetings, and town-hall-style meetings.

Medical marijuana gains momentum – 13 states and counting

Support for medical marijuana - and outright legalization - is increasing across the US. But in some California cities, pot dispensaries have become unwelcome.

Seattle police ambush: cop-killing rampages up this year

Sunday's police ambush near Seattle was the fifth shooting in which more than one police officer died. The 15 officers killed this year in multiple-shooting incidents is the highest since 2000.

Arrest video sparks scrutiny of BART cops - again

A video that appears to show a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police officer pushing a passenger into a glass barrier rekindles the issue of excess police force. A passenger was shot by a BART police officer in January.

America's worst commutes

From the legendary traffic snarls of New York City to the long routes taken by rural Pennsylvanians, here are America's worst commutes.

Pressure builds over bottled water

Towns around the U.S. fight firms that want to soak up a local resource.

How Spot.Us could help save journalism

A San Francisco-based website lets journalists pitch their ideas directly to the local community, which can then fund the story they want to see reported. The venture is now expanding to Los Angeles.

A Paradise Built in Hell

When disaster strikes, ordinary human beings very often do extraordinary things.

Bay Bridge reopens, but delays on its replacement mount

Crews worked round-the-clock to repair a cracked beam, but the bigger task – finishing the new eastern half of the bridge – keeps getting pushed back.

Job hunting? This week's Top 10 intriguing offers.

Sunrise for solar heat power

Four technologies aim to use heat from the sun to make electricity. But which one has the edge?

The Slippery Year

Twelve monthly essays that take a writer through a year of challenge with humor, heart, and plenty of self-deprecation.

Crowded cells, racial tensions stoke California prison riot

Violence between black and Latino inmates at the Chino prison near Los Angeles Saturday left almost 200 men injured.

Why US economy is poised to lift out of negative GDP

Economists see in second-quarter report some signs that the groundwork is laid for an upturn.

Tests for California's 'pot economy'

Medical marijuana booms in cities such as L.A., with some eyeing its revenue potential. But there's pushback, too.

Squirrel solutions

Oakland voters approve marijuana tax

It is the first US city to assess such a tax, which could raise almost $300,000 in revenue next year. Opponents of the measure say it opens the door to more crime and heavier drug use.

Earth Talk: Can you recycle your old mattress?

IndieBound* hardcover bestseller list 7/1/09