Top of the morning’s news
- Downtown Oakland business were all over the map in their preparations for today’s general strike called by Occupy Oakland—from being open, closed, letting employees work from home, or even closing in sympathy with the protest, the Oakland Tribune says.
- Stanford surgeons successfully separated conjoined twins Angelica and Angelina Sabuco Tuesday afternoon after eight hours of surgery. Mercury News
- In Chicago, where WYCC television has already been airing Al Jazeera English news from the Middle East for more than a year, public station WTTW will add Al Jazeera newscasts six days a week. Salon
- An email shows that one-time San Francisco eviction strongman Andrew Hawkins directed employees of Archway Property Services, which he manages, to donate $500 each to Mayor Ed Lee’s campaign, telling them they would be “reimbursed right away,” the Chronicle reports.
- Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin is one politician who’s supporting today’s general strike called by Occupy Oakland, planning to address protesters at 8 a.m. and walk part way with a contingent of residents who plan to march to Oakland. Contra Costa Times
- The House passed a resolution reaffirming that the nation’s motto remains “In God We Trust” by a 396-9 vote. Roll Call
- Stanford professor and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be in New York Monday to present Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year awards—to former First Lady Laura Bush, twin daughters Jenna and Barbara, and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.). The Hill
“We’re saying that people should be be concerned. The levels we are talking about it are so small that it is not a health related issue.”-- SF Public Utilities Commission water quality director Andrew DeGrace, on blue-green algae said to be causing some San Francisco tap water to stink.
Other news
- A week after police and medical personnel stood by as Occupy Oakland protester Scott Olsen lay in the street with a fractured skull, Oakland still lacks a coordinated plan to treat injuries if they occur during today’s general strike, a senior Alameda County official in charge of preparedness tells The Bay Citizen.
- Metropolitan Transportation Commission apologized after a Clipper Card employee inadvertently exposed the email addresses of more than 1,700 customers. Chronicle
- A state appeals court upheld the city of Oakland’s North Oakland gang injunction, ruling that restricting the movements of 15 alleged gang members and placing a curfew on them does not punish them for innocent conduct or violate their rights of speech or association. Chronicle
- A red-tailed hawk rescued from Golden Gate Park several weeks ago after apparently being shot in the head with a nail gun was to be returned to the wild today. Chronicle
- The Raiders signed veteran wide receiver T. J. Houshmandzadeh, 34, who played the last two seaons in Seattle and Baltimore, and will cut a player to make room for him on the roster. BANG
- Contra Costa County and its sheriff’s deputies reached a tentative labor agreement, although neither side was immediately releasing details. Contra Costa Times
