Unrest in Oakland has deep roots in city's history of race relations
The lingering protests and scattered nighttime violence downtown this week surprised a lot of people, as if the bold response seemed out of sync with the shooting. But even though the victim was from Hayward, and the incident took place on BART property and involved BART police, the story line for many has moved on: to Oakland.


	Property tax assessments could plunge across California, worsening fiscal crisis California's plunging property values have already clobbered homeowners, but now the trend is promising pain for struggling counties, cities and schools that rely upon property taxes. Vote: Concerned about house values? Real estate news


	DA: Prosecutors may have known about sex-assault videotapes As hundreds of child-sex-assault convictions hang in the balance, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office is backing away from its previous insistence that its prosecutors had no idea the medical examinations of suspected victims were routinely videotaped.


	Obama's Vision: Only Government Can End Economic Woes FAIRFAX, Va. — Republican Ronald Reagan once quipped that the most "terrifying words" in the English language were: "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help. Transition of power \| Economic crisis news

Breaking News submit a news tip
	Cal women coast past Washington State - 01/09/2009 05:03 AM PST Around the NHL: Ovechkin gets his All-Star bid - 01/08/2009 10:39 PM PST Florida raises another trophy - 01/08/2009 11:38 PM PST Stanford women win Pac-10 mismatch 112-35 - 01/09/2009 05:05 AM PST College basketball: San Jose State hurting, falls to 0-3 in WAC - 01/09/2009 12:02 AM PST Rickey won't be unanimous to Hall - 01/08/2009 10:40 PM PST Washington tops Stanford in final seconds - 01/09/2009 05:06 AM PST

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

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Log in to Merc's entertainment blogs on music, TV, theater, celebs, video games and more. Read the blogs or check out the comments!

Celebrity photos
Carrie Underwood, Ellen DeGeneres, Reese Witherspoon, Kate Hudson, Queen Latifah and Paris Hilton at the People's Choice Awards.

Local News


	Parents at San Jose's Trace Elementary oppose synthetic turf plan A bona fide turf war has erupted at San Jose's Trace Elementary School. For years, San Jose Unified has been slowly replacing the grass playgrounds and athletic fields at many of its campuses with artificial or synthetic turf.


	Multimillion-dollar error found in San Jose pension system Fisher: Choosing words for war and peace Fired Fry's executive charged with fraud, money-laundering San Jose's ex-mayor McEnery fires back at councilwoman Campos Family of victim in BART shooting pleads for peace

Sports


	Purdy: Better mail than jail AS A RED SOX fan, I can affirm that you nailed it with your Manny Ramirez column. Anyone taking on such a nutcase is in trouble.


	Sharks try to bounce back against Oilers Warriors' Randolph gets opportunity with Wright sidelined Florida raises another trophy Washington tops Stanford in final seconds Cal men 3-0 in Pac-10

Business


	Cassidy: Enderle, analyst extraordinaire, is everywhere in Silicon Valley Sometimes it seems Silicon Valley technology analyst Rob Enderle is the most quoted person in America. Turns out he's a great guy to get to know, if you can ever get him off the phone.


	Retailers report dismal December sales Tech Notebook: Review for Apple's Phil Schiller: 'smooth,' 'articulate' Obama team asks for delay in digital-TV switchover Fired Fry's executive charged with fraud, money-laundering Palm unveils new phone and operating system

Nation & World


	Sri Lanka says it captured key rebel base COLOMBO, Sri Lanka—Sri Lankan forces captured the strategic Elephant Pass base from the Tamil Tigers on Friday, ousting the rebels from their last stronghold on the Jaffna peninsula and boxing them into a shrinking pocket of land in the northeast. Full Story EU monitors arrive in Kiev to help end gas cutoff SAfrica's ANC to lauch election campaign manifesto Ask AP: Berlin Wall defenses, stopping piracy Afghan governor says 6 killed by suicide bomber Afghan held for sister's alleged ad hoc abortion

Life & Style


	Tarantino's 'Death Proof' looks good on Blu-ray 'Death Proof' first appeared in 2007 as a component of 'Grindhouse,' an elaborate conceptual project meant to evoke a double feature at a decaying downtown movie palace around 1978. 'Grindhouse' flopped. 'Death Proof' has now been re-released in an 'extended and unrated' version on Blu-ray, and without its companion piece, 'Planet Terror,' the movie plays much better. Reviving traditional art for the Chinese New Year Brad Pitt says he was faithful to Jennifer Aniston Restaurant listings From The Onion to 'The Wrestler' Our writers make their picks for the week

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ABC7: Putting some 'MacHeads' together

Documentary on Apple obsession debuts at Macworld.

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2008 in pictures

From fires to falcons, it was an eventful year in the South Bay. See the Mercury News' best photos in our special section.

Transition of power

All the latest news and more as president-elect Barack Obama takes office. Also see all the Nov. 4 election results.

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Opinion


	Editorial: For the nation's security, Obama looks to Santa Clara University Not one but two Santa Clara grads are heading to Washington. Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, the class of 1979 valedictorian, was tapped for Homeland Security, and former California Congressman Leon Panetta, '60 magna cum laude, is expected to lead the CIA. Eat your heart out, Stanford. Editorial: Aim to trim government workers' paid holidays is reasonable, sensible Opinion: California needs a new way to aid poor students Opinion: Social equity needs attention in energy policy Hanson: Support the auto bailout? Buy American cars Jimmy Carter: Gaza: an unnecessary war

Columns


	Roadshow: The rules on texting, GPS and more New laws aim at keeping the attention of drivers on the road ahead. Purdy: Better mail than jail Fisher: Choosing words for war and peace Cassidy: Enderle, analyst extraordinaire, is everywhere in Silicon Valley Pizarro: Target reaches out to artists for remodeled Sunnyvale store Biz break: Retailers report dismal December sales

Celebrities


	Angelina Jolie says she'll work 'a lot less' SANTA MONICA, Calif.—Angelina Jolie is getting ready to join the ranks of the unemployed. The "Changeling" star and mother of six says that while she'll be in front of the camera early this year, she plans to lie low—at least until twins Vivienne and Knox are toddlers. Full Story Ex-'Sopranos' actor faces prison for burglary try Tom Cruise calls Travolta death 'horrific' Stephanie March returns to 'Special Victims Unit' 2 arrested in burglary at Gregg Allman's Ga. home Golden Globes promise glamour and pizazz Sunday

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