A couple of attempted robbers and the owner of the taco truck they tried to stickup got in to a gun battle in a heavily-armed corner of Oakland late last night. According to the Chronicle, two men walked up to the Tacos el Mazatlan truck parked at the corner of Fruitvale Boulevard around 1:30 a.m., waving a gun and demanding cash from owner Omar Castillas. Castillas, who was cleaning up at the time, pulled out his own weapon and the two men opened fire on each other. more ›

The cause of Iraqi refugees, thousands of whom aided the U.S. military during the Iraq War in exchange for visas, was much in the news in the last 24 hours. There was this NPR story about Iraqi interpreters who are stuck in Iraq, waiting for the American bureaucracy to give them their due, meanwhile hiding out in their homes because militants would like to see them dead for having cooperated with Americans. Then the Chron publishes a story about Iraqi refugees who got visas and were provided places to live by the government, only to find that those places — mostly in East Oakland — were more hellish and dangerous than Iraq. more ›

Jesus "Chuy" Campos, owner of Fruitvale's Otaez Mexicatessen, was shot to death a little after 5:30 a.m. Friday morning. He arrived early to help out with the breakfast service. He was shot just outside the 39th Avenue service entrance. "News of Campos' death sent shock waves through the Fruitvale community, where he had served of president of the Fruitvale Merchants Association and was very active in business and cultural affairs," reports Oakland Tribune. more ›

You know the 18-year-old who was stabbed to death last night the Fruitvale BART station? Well, it turns out he was killed in self-defense. The two assailants, it seems, had the tables turned on them after robbing a 23-year-old out-of-towner last night. According to Chron, the victim "managed to grab a knife from one of the assailants and stabbed the other one to death." Oops. The victim/assailant has been identified as Christopher Gonzalez, who, after being knifed, "ran into [his] home, cried out for his parents and sister and collapsed in his father's arms." So, be careful when you're out there trying to steal from us civilians, muggers. It's a dangerous world out there. more ›

"Date: Jan 7, 2009 3:41 PM -- There is a station closure at Fruitvale Station in both directions due to civil protest." Oh dear. (Oh, and to get BART updates sent to your phone or inbox, go here.) more ›