Bay Area news stories on Newser

Oakland Protesters Regroup

Rob Quinn — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:30:00 CST

Occupy protesters were back in the plaza in front of Oakland City Hall just 12 hours after police cleared their encampment yesterday. Around a thousand people gathered in the plaza for a peaceful general assembly soon after police reopened it at 5pm, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Protesters have been...

Californians Packing Guns at Starbucks

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 05:00:00 CST

A growing number of gun rights supporters in Northern California are making a frightening point by packing guns in places like Starbucks. The members of the Bay Area Open Carry Movement sport guns in holsters reminiscent of the Old West. Luckily, they're not loaded, so the guns are in full...

Calif. Shelters See Surge in Chihuahuas

Harry Kimball — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:24:21 CST

A Hollywood-fueled demand for Chihuahuas in California has morphed into shelter populations that make up 50% of the dogs in some places. “It's been a slow and steady climb,” a San Francisco animal control spokeswoman tells the Los Angeles Times . “We call it the Paris Hilton syndrome.”

SF Bay Bridge Reopens

Harry Kimball — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:08:27 CST

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge reopened to commuter traffic this morning after a successful test of repairs was conducted overnight. The bridge has been out of commission since Tuesday, when the original repair failed and crushed three cars. Workers took a while to “get the geometry” of the new repair...

Five Youths Held in 'Barbaric' Calif. Gang Rape

Mary Papenfuss — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:44:26 CDT

San Francisco-area cops have arrested three more young men in the savage gang rape, beating, and robbery of a 15-year-old girl outside her homecoming dance while dozens more watched. Five youths are being held, ranging from a 15-year-old boy who knew the victim to a 21-year-old. The girl was drinking...

Do-Nothing Bystanders Watched, Filmed Calif. Rape

Mary Papenfuss — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:55:00 CDT

Two arrests have been made in a homecoming night rape of a 15-year-old high school student that was witnessed by as many as 15 do-nothing bystanders. Some may have even participated in the two-hour attack in a San Francisco suburb while others apparently filmed the assault with cell phones, according...

Pez Sues Calif. Museum Over Outsized Dispenser

Harry Kimball — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:34:00 CDT

Pez is suing a California store and museum over an 8-foot-tall dispenser custom-made for the establishment—and thus not sanctioned by the Austrian candy-maker, the San Jose Mercury News reports. “From a branding perspective, I think Pez should embrace the Dosses and the museum, instead of trying to attack them,...

Pellet Gun Sniper Targets Calif. Freeway

Ambreen Ali — Tue, 12 May 2009 15:08:01 CDT

A sniper who has been using a San Francisco-area freeway for target practice has hit nearly a dozen cars over the past two weeks, KGO-TV reports. Police are trying to find the perpetrator—who they say may be using an air-powered rifle from nearby hills or parks—before someone is...

4 Busted in 'Hate Crime' Rape of Lesbian

Rob Quinn — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:30:46 CST

Police have arrested all four suspects in the Bay Area kidnapping and gang rape of a lesbian last month that police have deemed a hate crime, reports the San Francisco Chronicle . The two adults and two teenagers face charges including felony kidnapping to commit a sex crime, carjacking and gang...