East Bay Blotter

First, let's dispense with the murders and shootings. We would very much like to see news items about Oakland and Richmond that don't involve people being shot and killed or shot and in critical condition at Highland Hospital, or falling to one's death or being severely beaten and dying several days later. Oakland's already past the 100 murder mark.

It is now illegal in the state of California to steal free newspapers, as reported in the Berkeley Daily Planet, itself, familiar with the issue. Berkeley Mayor, Tom Bates, was happy that the new law passed. Bates is even more familiar with the stealing free newspapers issue. Stealing is defined as picking up more than 25 copies.

In other East Bay crime news, a white soccer mom is missing!

By SFist Sarah L, contributing