9 Stories You Should Know About Friday

Nine months into the year, it seemed Oakland was finally seeing the dramatic drop in homicides that officials had long sought. Then came an uptick in violence that brought the number of killings in the city in 2014 to 86, only a slight decline over 92 the previous year. Still, police Chief Sean Whent said 2014's numbers were encouraging, especially because it was the second straight year of decline, from 131 homicides in 2012. Full story

The Golden Gate Bridge will be closed for 52 hours next weekend so crews can put a moveable median barrier on the span to prevent head-on collisions. Once the work is completed there will be some big changes for Marin drivers even before they get to the span. Full story

Kaiser Permanente management responded Thursday to an announcement this week that a union representing mental health workers plans a weeklong strike statewide this month. The National Union of Healthcare Workers, which represents mental health employees at Kaiser facilities across the state, on Wednesday filed an official notice of intent to strike Jan. 12. Full story

In his first acts on his first day as mayor of this city, Sam Liccardo set his sights on building bridges. He wasted no time on what's likely to be the most challenging bridge, going on a 1 a.m. ridealong New Year's Day with San Jose Police Department officers working the graveyard patrol, in a gesture to a department whose union has been his staunchest political foe. Full story

Police arrested nearly 30 people late Wednesday night after protests in downtown Oakland. The New Year's Eve demonstrations, which started around 9:30 p.m., were mostly peaceful, police said. But after nearly an hour, police say that demonstrators began throwing bricks and bottles, setting off fireworks, committing acts of graffiti, and throwing trash cans on Broadway and Telegraph Avenue. Full story

Starting Thursday, the first day of 2015, all eggs sold in California must come from hens kept in roomier cages -- a policy change that's good for birds and attorneys but bad for cost-conscious consumers who will pay more to keep their layers happy. Voters and lawmakers set standards for bigger and better hen housing in several historic steps in 2008, 2010 and 2013. ... California egg prices -- already 70 percent higher this year -- are certain to rise. That's because of increasing demand for eggs, especially in fast food restaurants, as well as the cost of meeting new cage requirements. Full story

From the ill-timed driver's right turn to the wandering vehicle encroaching on a sharrow, bicyclists say their precarious relationship with motorists makes navigating San Francisco's streets challenging enough, but poor infrastructure is another dangerous culprit. More than 100 infrastructure deficiencies were identified during the past year from the personal experiences of bicyclists who are part of the 10,000-member bicycle advocate group the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. Full story

Announced last year by President Barack Obama, the ratings will assess schools on their accessibility to low-income families, their affordability, and their student outcomes, providing scorecards to consumers and possibly directing how $150 billion in federal financial aid is distributed. Full story

In San Francisco, dozens of deaf people drive for the app-based ride service Lyft — a phenomenon that started naturally and now is nurtured by the startup with outreach and support groups. Like other ride-service drivers, deaf people say they appreciate setting their own hours and being their own boss. But the work holds extra resonance for people who sometimes confront barriers to traditional employment and can experience social isolation from hearing people. Full story