You won’t find a pair of shoes hanging from the power lines high above 8th and Lincoln in Central Richmond. Instead, orange and red cough syrup bottles dangle from ropes flung across the wires, a signal that hits of codeine are sold on this street. Richmond police are seeing both a rise in prescription drug abuse, as well as theft linked to prescription drugs. (Richmond Confidential/Julie Brown)
Berkeley resident Susan Helmrich, a three-time cancer survivor, will be one of 200 people who will jump into the San Francisco Bay on September 29th to take part in Swim Across America. In the past seven years the Bay Area chapter of the nonprofit has raised $1.2 million for cancer research, and all the money has stayed here, in the Bay Area. (Berkeleyside /SAA)
This week, charges were dropped on 19 year old Elvira Zayas after community members packed the San Francisco courtroom, lead actions outside and initiated a donation page to help raise money for her legal defense. Elvira was falsely accused of gang participation, even though she has been a leader within the San Francisco LGBQT youth organizing community for years. (Jean Melesaine/ San Jose Beez)
San Francisco's plastic bag ban will phase out the ubiquitous pink plastic grocery bags toted by customers of Chinatown’s Stockton Street markets. The ban goes into effect Oct. 1. (Jason Winshell/SF Public Press)
