• San Francisco

    Report: Tobacco Sales Focus on Youth, Low-Income Neighborhoods

    by  • December 28, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Feature 2, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Dr. Ron Chapman

    California Department of Public Health (CDPH) director and state health officer Dr. Ron Chapman has released the state’s first “State Health Officer’s Report on Tobacco Use and Promotion” providing new data related to cigarette consumption declines, and the millions of dollars and lives saved. The report also includes new data on illegal sales to...

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    Vatican Says Pope Beats Justin Bieber on Re-tweets

    by  • December 28, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, Special Interests Articles

    Pope Benedict

    Pope Benedict, white-haired, 85, and a neophyte to social media site Twitter, has beaten out 18-year old heartthrob Justin Bieber to set a percentage record for re-tweeting by his followers, the Vatican said on Thursday. The Vatican newspaper said that as of noon Italian time on Thursday the pope had 2.1 million followers on...

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    Homeowner Bill of Rights Takes Effect in January

    by  • December 28, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Politics and Government, Richmond News, San Francisco

    Kamala Harris

    The California Homeowner Bill of Rights, a landmark package of legislation that extends key mortgage and foreclosure protections to California homeowners and borrowers, will take effect on Jan. 1 The new laws restrict dual-track foreclosures, guarantee struggling homeowners a reliable point of contact at their lender and impose civil penalties on fraudulently signed mortgage...

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    Blues Great Jimmy McCracklin, 91

    by  • December 28, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Obituary, Richmond News, San Francisco

    Jimmy McCracklin

    By Lee Hildebrand The blues community is mourning the passing of bluesman Jimmy McCracklin, who diedThursday, Dec. 20, at Creekside Health Center in San Pablo. The prolific singer, pianist and songwriter, a longtime Richmond resident, was 91. “He had a style that was completely his own,” singer-guitarist Sonny Rhodes said of his late friend. ...

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    Let’s Change the Culture of Gun Violence

    by  • December 28, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Opinion, Richmond News, San Francisco, Special Interests Articles, trayvon

    By Alice A. Huffman, Criminal Justice Chair for the National Board of the NAACP and the State Conference President in California/Hawaii; and Wilfred T. Ussery, former National Chairman of CORE and former President of the Board of the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART) How proud we were to watch the president...

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    2,000 Illegally Owned Weapons Seized

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Politics and Government, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Kamala D. Harris

    Over 2,000 firearms were seized this year from individuals legally barred from possessing them, including persons determined to be mentally unstable and those with active restraining orders, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris said this week. “California has clear laws determining who can possess firearms based on their threat to public safety,” said Harris. “Enforcing...

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    Berkeley Civil-Rights Scholar Releases New Book on Race

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Education, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    john a. powell

    UC News Center At a recent UC Berkeley book-launch event, sociologist Michael Omi described his colleague john a. powell as “two persons rolled into one” — “john the theoretician, who draws on a range of disciplines to rethink notions of race, racial identity and racism,” and “john the grounded and practical policy analyst.” Both...

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    Walgreen Pays $16.57 Million for Dumping Hazardous Wastes and Customer Information

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    District Attorney Nancy O’Malley.

    Alameda County Superior Court Judge Wynne Carvill has ordered the Illinois-based Walgreen Co. to pay $16.57 million as part of a settlement of a civil prosecution because its stores were illegally Dumping hazardous wastes and confidential customer medical information. The judgment is the culmination of a civil enforcement lawsuit filed in Alameda County in...

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    Spotlight on HIV/AIDS in “Many Women, One Voice” Documentary

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, Health, HIV, Marin County News, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Cynthia Carey-Grant, “HIV is not so unique that we can’t survive it. I’m inspired by a legacy surviving slavery.”

    By Jesse Brooks Featuring women from across the country and from all walks of life speaking openly and candidly about HIV/AIDS, the documentary, “Many Women, One Voice; African American Women in HIV,” inspires women to take care of themselves. The film was designed to help  Black women talk about HIV, featuring personal reflections, thoughts...

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    Black Pilots Association Hosts Christmas Fundraiser

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Philanthropy, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    By Carla Thomas The Bay Area Black Pilots Association held its annual Christmas fundraiser banquet on Saturday, Dec. 8 at the Doubletree Hotel in the Berkeley Marina. “Once you get hooked on flying, there’s no turning back,” said BABPA President Greg Scott, who greeted nearly 100 people at the banquet. “We have a great...

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    Holiday Week at Crab Cove

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Crab Cove Visitor Center at Crown Beach in Alameda is holding a holiday week open house from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, Dec. 26 through Dec. 28. There will be special activities   each day, such as nature crafts, games, and interaction with the center’s snake and turtle. The daily schedule includes...

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    Allen Temple Hosts Tye Tribbett

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, Church Events, Marin County News, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Allen Temple Baptist Church is hosting internationally renowned gospel artist, producer and minister Tye Tribbett for one night only, 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 27. Tribbett has produced four outstanding albums (“Live,” “Victory Live,” “Stand Out,” and ”Fresh”) and is coming to Allen Temple’s sanctuary at 8501 International Blvd. to minister  in Oakland. Tickets are...

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    New Presidents at Berkeley City and Merritt Colleges

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Education, Marin County News, News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Dr. Deborah Budd

    Dr. José M. Ortiz, Chancellor of the Peralta Community College District, has named Dr. Deborah Budd to lead Berkeley City College and Dr. Norma Ambriz-Galaviz to be the next president of Merritt College. Dr. Budd is currently interim president at Berkeley City, and Dr. Ambriz-Galaviz is vice president of instruction at Mission College. “Dr....

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    After Newtown, Will We Finally Act?

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, News Articles, San Francisco

    By Jesse Jackson Do not turn your eyes from the horror of the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Conn. Twenty children, their teachers and aides, their school principal shot repeatedly, in some cases beyond recognition, by a 20-year-old wielding a semiautomatic assault weapon. As he has shown in his moving words after...

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    San Francisco Kwanzaa Celebration

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, News Articles, San Francisco

    kwanzaa_logo

    By Lee Hubbard The seventh annual San Francisco Kwanzaa Celebration will take place starting at noon Wednesday, Dec. 26 at San Francisco City Hall. The keynote address will be given by Dr. Amos Brown, senior pastor at Third Baptist Church in San Francisco. “Dr. Amos Brown is a very powerful speaker, and he will...

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    Naomi and Harlan Kelly Honored By the South East Facility Community Commission

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, News Articles, San Francisco

    From left to right: San Francisco Public Utilities Commission General Manager Harlan Kelly Jr., South East Facility Commission President Willie B. Kennedy, San Francisco City Administrator Naomi Kelly, Community Advocate Irene Williams Doss, Businesswoman Etta Jones. Photo by: Lance Burton.

    By Carla Thomas San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) General Manager Harlan Kelly, Jr. and San Francisco City Administrator Naomi Kelly were honored recently by community leaders at the South East Community College. About 100 community members came together Nov. 28 to celebrate history, change and a brighter future for the Bay View District...

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    1Richmond Supports Local Youth

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco

    First row: left to right - Anthony Ingram, Greg Bluitt Jr., Charles Williams Sr.; Second Row: left to right - Wayne Captain, Councilmember Nathanial Bates, Larry Caldwell Jr., Karl Hardiaman Jr., G. Harper, Frank Thomas, Michael Jackson, Steven Bates; Third Row: left to right - Mike Sauce, Willie Barnstine, Sam Barnstine, Charles Williams Sr., Councilmember Corky Courtland Booze. Myron Ross, Leonard Neal, Otheree Christian; Fourth Row: left to right - Dale Roberts, Kelvin Davis Sr., Demark Barnstine, Gary Mason, Rev. Ellis, M. Crenshaw; Fifth Row: left to right - Gerald Bilbo, Michael Williams. Photo by Joe L. Fisher, Black American Political Action Committee (BAPAC).

    By Kia Croom, 1Richmond is a nonprofit agency organized to unite Richmond neighborhoods to reduce violence, raise public awareness and involvement and advance the education or Richmond’s youth. Although 1Richmond is a new organization, its leadership and supporters have been actively involved in the community, offering activities for youth, providing security at after-school sporting...

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    Pastor Phyllis Scott Receives KOLA Esther Award

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, San Francisco

    Pastor Phyllis Scott

    Pastor Phyllis Scott, founder and senior pastor of Tree of Life Empowerment Ministries, is the first recipient of the KOLA Esther Award for Outstanding Women’s Ministry & Leadership. The award came out of a KFAX 1190 AM Radio Station Pastors Appreciation Day honoring leaders in the faith-based community who work tirelessly transforming lives and...

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    Biden to Head Efforts to Reduce Gun Violence

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, San Francisco, South County

    Vice President Joe Biden

    President Barack Obama this week pledged his administration will create concrete proposals to reduce the gun violence that has plagued the country. “This time, the words need to lead to action,” said Obama, who set a January deadline for the recommendations. He assigned Vice President Joe Biden to lead the effort and vowed to...

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    Kamala: “We Seized 2,000 Illegal Guns” Weapons Seized

    by  • December 21, 2012 • Bay Area, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco

    Kamala Harris

    Over 2,000 firearms were seized this year from individuals legally barred from possessing them, including persons determined to be mentally unstable and those with active restraining orders, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris said this week. “California has clear laws determining who can possess firearms based on their threat to public safety,” said Harris. “Enforcing...

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    Will Black Clergy Join the AIDS Fight?

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Health, HIV, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Phil Wilson, executive director of the Black AIDS Institute.

    By Keli Goff, The Root From Martin Luther King, Jr. and the fight for civil rights in the 1960s to Rev. Al Sharpton and the fight against racial profiling and police brutality today, members of the clergy have been key leaders in some of the Black community’s most important battles. Yet there is one...

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    Black Clergy in Action in Philadelphia Offer HIV/AIDS Leadership Role Models for Nation

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Health, HIV, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Pastor Jonathan Ford

    Greater Than AIDS, in partnership with Philly Faith in Action, launched the first Greater Than AIDS faith focused campaign in Philadelphia with billboard placements, public service announcements highlighting the importance of HIV testing. Their hivtest.cdc.gov website offered free and low cost testing sites. Some pastors also produced video awareness sermonettes, including: Dr. Alyn Waller...

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    Berkeley Considers Becoming a No Drone Zone

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    By Danielle Savage Berkeley’s Peace and Justice Commission is proposing an ordinance to make the City of Berkeley a No Drone Zone. The proposed ban is on the agenda for next Tuesday’s City Council meeting. If the ordinance passes, flying of a drone in the airspace of Berkeley will be regarded as a misdemeanor...

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    Opera Singer Gloria Davy, 81

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Obituary, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Gloria Davy, a Brooklyn-born soprano who was the first African-American to sing Aida with the Metropolitan Opera, died on Nov. 28 in Geneva, Switzerland. She was 81.

    Gloria Davy, a Brooklyn-born soprano who was the first African-American to sing Aida with the Metropolitan Opera, died on Nov. 28 in Geneva, Switzerland. She was 81. Before Davy was cast in the role, Aida, an Ethiopian princess, was perennially sung by white singers in dark makeup. A lirico-spinto (which denotes a high voice...

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    Jazz Legend Dave Brubeck, 91

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Obituary, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Dave Brubeck, the pianist and composer.

    Dave Brubeck, the pianist and composer who helped make jazz popular again in the 1950s and 1960s with recordings like “Time Out,” the first jazz album to sell a million copies, died Dec. 5 in Norwalk, Conn. He was 91. Born in Concord, Contra Costa County, he grew up in farm country. His father,...

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    Medical Researchers Examine Asthma Medicines for Children

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Michael Cabana

    By Kate Rauch, UC News As asthma rates continue to rise in the U.S. — proportionally affecting more children than adults — experts at UC San Francisco and across the nation continue to search for the best medicines for pediatric patients. Nearly 10 percent of American children under the age of 17 were diagnosed...

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    Diana Fay Franklin-Adams, 64

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Oakland News Articles, Obituary, Richmond News, San Francisco, Special Interests Articles

    Diana Fay Franklin-Adams

    Born and raised in San Francisco, Mrs. Diana Fay Franklin-Adams died after an illness on Friday, Dec. 7. She was 64. Adams dedicated her life to education.  Her passion was educating and nurturing young people, inspiring them to achieve their dreams and realize their potential. She began her career as a teacher in the...

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    MLK Memorial “Drum Major” Quote to Be Removed

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, San Francisco, South County

    The Martin Luther King Memorial is seen

    By Brett Zongker, Associated Press Interior Secretary Ken Salazar endorsed a plan this week to remove a disputed inscription from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, rather than cut into the granite to replace it with a fuller quotation. Salazar said he had reached an agreement with King’s family, the group that built the...

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    Craftsman Darryl Gilbert Designs Custom Rugs

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Darryl Gilbert

    By Ashley Chambers Talented in custom design and floor installation, Darryl Gilbert created his first custom rug for his daughter, an image of a little girl holding balloons. “I saw what the value of was when I did the rug for my daughter,” Gilbert said, whose business took off after that. The...

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    New Directors for Board of YMCA of East Bay

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    YMCA of the East Bay has appointed four new members to its Board of Directors. John Escobar, a resident of Pleasanton, is retired and was previously assistant general manager for the East Bay Regional Park District. Seth Hamalian, a resident of Lafayette, is owner of Mission Bay Development Group, LLC in San Francisco. Brenda...

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    Donna Summer Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Entertainment, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, SECTIONS, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Donna Summer

    (Reuters) – Late disco queen Donna Summer and hip hop pioneers Public Enemy headed a list of eight new inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation. The late blues guitarist Albert King was also inducted into the prestigious Hall of Fame, which...

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    Kamala Harris: Delta Airlines Fails to Comply With Privacy Law

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, Marin County News, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Politics and Government, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Kamala D. Harris

    Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has filed the first legal action under California’s online privacy law against Delta Airlines, Inc. for failing to comply with the state’s Online Privacy Protection Act. Delta, headquartered in Atlanta, GA, was among the companies given 30 days to conspicuously post a privacy policy within their mobile app that...

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    To Grow, Our Children Need Books

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Marin County News, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Amina Ogbu of Oakland loves books.

    By Blanche Richardson, Manager of Marcus Books It was very, very sad and a dire premonition of the future of our children. A customer came into Marcus Books and spent almost $70 in books for young children – Christmas/Kwanzaa gifts. Two days later, she returned the books. The parents, she said, told her they...

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    Jamie Foxx Celebrates Christmas at Third Baptist

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County, Special Interests Articles

    Jamie Foxx

    Oscar Academy and Multi-Grammy Award winning actor and entertainer Jamie Foxx will celebrate Christmas in worship with Third Baptist Church on Sunday, Dec. 23 at the 10 a.m. worship service. Third Baptist is completing its 160th year of unbroken service by giving the community a special Christmas present in extending to all an invitation...

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    First Investment in Prop. C Affordable Housing and Down Payment Assistance Funding

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Mayor Edwin M. Lee

    Mayor Edwin M. Lee has announced the first funding commitments for affordable housing and down payment assistance funded through the Housing Trust Fund, passed by San Francisco voters in November. The Housing Trust Fund, created by the voter-approved Proposition C, provides a permanent source of revenue to fund the creation of affordable housing for...

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    Deadline for Homeowners Seeking Foreclosure Reviews

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, Special Interests Articles

    Maeve Elise Brown, Executive Director of Housing and Economic Rights Advocates.

    By Anna Challet, New America Media Well over 4 million homeowners affected by the foreclosure crisis are eligible for an independent review of their cases – but only a small percentage of them have requested one through a recently available federal program, and the deadline to do so is looming. The Independent Foreclosure Review...

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    Flu Shots Required for Contra Costa and Alameda County Health Workers

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco

    By Katharine Mieszkowski, Bay Citizen In an effort to prevent health care workers from spreading the flu to patients this winter, Contra Costa and Alameda County health officials are requiring medical staff to receive vaccinations or wear a surgical mask on the job. Health officials say flu vaccination rates among health care workers are...

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    Santa Distributes Tennis Shoes and Socks

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco

    From left to right: Back row - Lorena Burciaga,Thomas Pedley, Janie Holland, Mark Mitchell; Front row - Linda Whitmore, Jerrold Hatchet (Santa Claus), Olivia Walker, Lourdes Avila, LaDonna Williams (Nystrom Principal). Not pictured: Monica Boyd. Photo by Joe L. Fisher, Black American Political Action Committee (BAPAC).

    The Santa Fe Neighborhood Council (SFNC) distributed tennis shoes and socks to more than 40 Nystrom Elementary School students on Thursday, Nov. 29. “The neighborhood council members personally donated enough money at their November meeting to purchase the shoes,” said Janie Holland, SFNC President. Richmond Payless Shoe store manager Thomas Pedley gave the council...

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    New Chevron Richmond Public Affairs Staff

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco

    Nicole Barber

    Brent Tippen                       Here are the new Public Affairs staff members at Chevron  Richmond. Heather Kulp is currently manager of External Affairs for Chevron in Richmond. She is responsible for implementing a five-year strategy designed to improve Chevron’s reputation in the community while also...

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    Obama Nominates UCSF’s Mack Roach to National Cancer Advisory Board

    by  • December 14, 2012 • Bay Area, Berkeley, News Articles, Oakland News Articles, Richmond News, San Francisco, South County

    Mack Roach III

    President Barack Obama announced that he will nominate UC San Francisco’s Mack Roach III, MD, FACR, an internationally recognized expert on using radiation to treat and manage prostate cancer, to the National Cancer Advisory Board. “I am grateful these accomplished men and women have agreed to join this administration, and I’m confident they will...

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