March 2012

Today's news: Teachers reject agreement, and the First Lady stops in Alameda

First lady Michelle Obama stopped in Alameda today to participate in a commissioning ceremony for a new Coast Guard cutter she sponsored. Our story is here.

And Alameda's teachers have rejected an agreement that would have allowed K-3 class sizes to remain at 25 students per teacher in exchange for some increased pay. Here's what happened. Read more >> about Today's news: Teachers reject agreement, and the First Lady stops in Alameda

The First Lady pays Alameda a visit

Michele Ellson
Saturday, March 31, 2012 - 12:40pm
Michelle Obama

Note: Click the ship for our photo slideshow.

First Lady Michelle Obama paid Alameda a visit this blustery Saturday morning to take part in a commissioning ceremony for the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dorothy Stratton that officially put the ship into service. Read more >> about The First Lady pays Alameda a visit

Submitted by Michele Ellson on Fri, Mar 30, 2012

Updated at 6:34 p.m. Friday, March 30

Alameda's teachers have rejected a contract deal that their union leadership has caled "inferior." The deal, which would have kept class sizes where they are and offered teachers some additional pay, was rejected by the 524-member teacher's union by a two to one vote.

“At some point AUSD will have to make teachers a priority and stop presuming that we will be able to continually sacrifice,” Alameda Education Association president Gray Harris was quoted as saying in a press release issued Friday evening. Read more >> about BREAKING: Teachers reject class size and pay deal

In an effort to boost its bottom line, Alameda Hospital shifts its care mix

Michele Ellson
Friday, March 30, 2012 - 12:05am
Alameda Hospital

Alameda Hospital’s managers are making some dramatic service changes that they hope will help them stanch the flow of red ink on their balance sheet and keep the doors of the hospital’s emergency room open, though some are questioning whether the changes will do enough to right the hospital’s shaky finances. Read more >> about In an effort to boost its bottom line, Alameda Hospital shifts its care mix

Today's news: Hospital managers shift care mix

When we opened our doors just a little over a month ago, we promised to keep you up to speed on issues that we think you need to know more about. Today's piece is the first of what we're sure will be many on Alameda Hospital, and its management's efforts to right the hospital's long deteriorating finances. As it turns out, hospital managers are making some major directional shifts that they hope will help them keep the hospital's emergency and urgent care services available to Alameda residents, who voted a decade ago to pay a parcel tax of $298 a year to keep Alameda Hospital open. Read more >> about Today's news: Hospital managers shift care mix

City restarts domestic violence task force after long hiatus

Michele Ellson
Thursday, March 29, 2012 - 12:05am

A domestic violence task force made up of Alameda city and nonprofit social service leaders started up again this month, after a nearly seven-year hiatus. The aim of the task force is to better coordinate prevention and intervention services for domestic violence victims as funding for such services dwindles, the city staffer managing the task force said. Read more >> about City restarts domestic violence task force after long hiatus

City spreading word on new bag ban

Michele Ellson
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 - 12:05am
I am a plastic bag.

City leaders are spreading the word about a new single-use plastic bag ban that went into effect this month. Enforcement of the county-enacted ban, which affects 65 stores locally and 1,900 countywide, starts in 2013.

By January 1, local grocery and convenience stores, pharmacies, liquor stores and other stores selling packaged food will no longer be allowed to offer free, single-use plastic bags to customers. But other businesses – including restaurants, clothing shops and thrift stores – won’t be affected by the ban, though they may be added at a future date. Read more >> about City spreading word on new bag ban

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