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Piedmont Police Department’s year-end report highlights drop in overall crime

The police chief also discussed the city's relationship to Flock Safety during his annual report to City Council on Monday night.
The Blotter | Woman cited for DUI after accident

Plus: Catalytic converter thefts and stolen cars.
Windy Wednesday (and beyond) weather warning

Wind gusts of over 40 mph expected in some Bay Area locations.
Oakland teachers reach tentative deal with district after year of talks, but layoffs loom

Layoffs are projected to save about $11 million next fiscal year as OUSD confronts a roughly $100 million structural deficit.
Reminder: Daylight saving time — and one LESS hour of sleep — this Sunday

Don’t forget to set your clocks forward an hour before going to bed Saturday night.

AROUND TOWN

Piedmont Food Fest | Early Bird registration now open through March
The Food Fest celebrates a milestone fifth year on Saturday, April 25.
Local floral designers display their talent at SF’s Bouquets to Art show
Tickets are still available for the annual event running through March 8 at the de Young and Legion of Honor Museums in San Francisco.
Reminder: Daylight saving time — and one LESS hour of sleep — this Sunday
Don’t forget to set your clocks forward an hour before going to bed Saturday night.
Photos | Piedmont celebrates the Year of the Horse
The Piedmont Asian American Club hosted its annual Lunar New Year party at the Ellen Driscoll Playhouse on February 27.
Piedmont Council Scouting America holds recruitment season throughout March
Youth in fifth grade and up can learn more about the five troops in Piedmont.
Teen volunteer opportunities with PRD’s Sidekicks program
Teens assist experienced instructors in ensuring a safe, fun, and inclusive recreation experience for neurodiverse children.
Who’s that Good Dog?
Lovable Lulu likes fish and pate and getting tummy rubs.
Highlander Robotics summer camps registration now open
New: FIRST Lego League (FLL) Champs Academy for FLL-C rising fifth - seventh graders.
Alameda County Civil Grand Jury seeks volunteers
Investigate citizen complaints and examine the operations of local government agencies across the county.
Photos | Rain refreshes blooms in Piedmont Park
And Witter Field floods no more.
Nominate a Piedmont Heritage Tree
Do you have a favorite tree in Piedmont’s parks and public spaces?

CITY NEWS

City Council adopts updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
Plan provides 5-year roadmap for strategies to reduce potential damage from earthquakes, wildfires, and other natural hazards.
City officials encourage families to use new pick-up/drop-off zone for Havens Elementary
Plus updates on other parking and street changes to come in the center of town.
Piedmont Police Department’s year-end report highlights drop in overall crime
The police chief also discussed the city's relationship to Flock Safety during his annual report to City Council on Monday night.
Reminder: Deadline to apply to serve on a Commission or Committee is March 13
Serving in these volunteer positions is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of city government.
The Blotter | House burgled, suspect caught
Jewelry taken from Alta Avenue residence in daytime burglary.
City says Piedmont Community Pool to open April 11
5+ years since the community voted to build a new pool facility, a grand opening is at last in sight.
City holds first on-site training for new pool staff
The city is still actively hiring for spring and summer positions — with the greatest need for lifeguards and swim instructors.
Descendants of Piedmont’s first Black family sue city over racially motivated land seizure
While the city's planned memorial is a good recognition of what happened in the past, it is not a remedy for injustice, say the plaintiffs.
Nominate a Piedmont volunteer to be recognized for their impact
By March 13: nominate someone whose time, care, and effort helped make the city a better place in 2025.
Nominate a neighbor to be recognized for sustainable home improvements
Nomination deadline is February 18; awardees will be recognized at the city's Design Awards Gala on April 15.
Piedmont Community Pool: A look back at how we got here
Hindsight is always 20/20, but the building of a state-of-the-art aquatics facility suffered from an overly optimistic timeline from the get-go.

SCHOOLS

Tickets now on sale for PEF’s 2026 Spring Fling Gala
"An Education is Forever: Licensed to Give" is set for the evening of May 1, at Bloc15 in Oakland.
City officials encourage families to use new pick-up/drop-off zone for Havens Elementary
Plus updates on other parking and street changes to come in the center of town.
PHS Advanced Acting presents ‘Eurydice’ on March 6 and 7
The comedic drama is recommended for most audiences and explores themes of love, loss, memory, and the afterlife.
‘It’s so hard to get off your phone’: Students confront negative effects of social media use
"Parents need to learn negotiation skills, and also how to implement boundaries in a way that works for the family," says one teen.
Piedmont Middle School Principal Karyn Shipp to retire after 28 years with the district
Shipp said serving as principal of PMS was one of the greatest honors of her professional life.
Piedmont Arts Fund to hold meeting March 12
Parents and community members interested in learning how to support PUSD's visual and performing arts programs are encouraged to attend.
Wave of California teacher strikes ‘is no coincidence’
There is a strategic, statewide effort by the CA Teachers Association to boost salaries, benefits — and get the public’s attention.
Oakland teachers reach tentative deal with district after year of talks, but layoffs loom
Layoffs are projected to save about $11 million next fiscal year as OUSD confronts a roughly $100 million structural deficit.
PUSD accepting nominations for 2026 Arthur Hecht Volunteer Award
The deadline for nominations is March 13.

SPORTS

Softball | Piedmont has young, athletic team
Highlanders look to build for future.
Boys Tennis | Piedmont led by pair of seniors
Team has experience at the top.
Piedmont MTB opens season with podiums
Mountain biking also includes Piedmont DEVO (middle school development program), one of the fastest-growing youth sports programs around.
Girls basketball | Piedmont earns third seed in Division 1
Piedmont is in the CIF playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
Girls basketball | Piedmont stakes a claim after 58-53 victory over Clayton Valley
Highlanders third-best in NCS; they host Antelope in the CIF Division 1 playoffs on March 3 at 7 p.m.
Swimming | New coach, new pool feeds team optimism
Coach Elizabeth Dally says she's excited to work with the team which has a mix of experienced swimmers and novices.
Track and field | Piedmont racing to more success
Coach Pouyan Assadi said both the boys and girls varsity teams will have the most athletes in school history.
Baseball | Piedmont prepares for success
Returning seniors, biggest group of newcomers since COVID days should translate to a good season.
Girls lacrosse | Piedmont has big shoes to fill
Highlanders have positive outlook going into the season.
Why PMS is offering a girls futsal program this spring
Registration now open for the inaugural season, which kicks off March 16.

CALIFORNIA

Supreme Court sides with California parents in gender identity case
The order puts state policies protecting students’ privacy on hold while a lower court case continues.
These public documents are hidden from view. Two California lawmakers want to change that
The letters lobbyists submit to the Legislature are public documents.
California GOP lawmakers are incensed over a gas tax study bill. Rural groups say they need it
Gas taxes fund highway maintenance and repairs.
Teachers need training on artificial intelligence, U.S. House legislators say
Trump administration’s closure of the Office of Educational Technology would make new training nearly impossible.
BART board passes drastic contingency plan to close $367M deficit, slash service by 70%
Ridership remains about 50% below pre-pandemic levels, and BART’s funding model relies heavily on passenger fares.
Los Angeles Unified school board places Carvalho on administrative leave, names acting superintendent
Decision comes two days after FBI raided his home, the district HQ, and a Florida residence.
Newsom changed California prisons. What will the justice system look like after he leaves?
In addition to the dramatic decline in the number of people the state is incarcerating, they are directing more resources to rehabilitation programs.
He saw an abandoned trailer. Then, he uncovered a surveillance network on California’s border
The cameras are raising concerns with privacy experts, civil liberties advocates and humanitarian aid workers.
AI images scandalized a California elementary school. Now the state is pushing new safeguards
With AI rapidly becoming more prevalent in society, effectively managing the technology in schools has become an urgent issue.
Oakland teachers reach tentative deal with district after year of talks, but layoffs loom
Layoffs are projected to save about $11 million next fiscal year as OUSD confronts a roughly $100 million structural deficit.
‘Don’t agonize, organize’: Nancy Pelosi rallies Democrats one last time in San Francisco
Retiring after 39 years, the veteran congresswoman proved she can still command a room full of California Democrats like no one else.
LAUSD School Board delays decision on Superintendent Carvalho after FBI raids
Calls to place Carvalho on a temporary leave of absence.
Super Bowl human trafficking task force nets 29 arrests, rescues 73 victims across Bay Area
One victim was a 12-year-old who was recovered in Oakland, say officials.
Special education has become a flash point in negotiations with teachers
Special education staffing shortages reach “crisis” levels at the state and national level.