OAKLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY

Apr 24 2026HEALTH

Rethinking HIV Laws: Are Strict Rules Really the Best Defense?

Public health debates often clash over how to handle diseases like HIV. Russia once took a hard stance, making it a crime to spread HIV through actions like unprotected sex or needle sharing. The idea was simple: punish those who put others at risk to slow the epidemic. But over time, experts began

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Apr 20 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Celebrities who faced unfair media storms

Public figures often face intense scrutiny, but some get caught in media crosshairs unfairly. Reports like these highlight how power dynamics shape public perception. Mental health struggles are rarely treated with care in celebrity narratives. Amanda Bynes, for example, was ridiculed as she battled

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Apr 15 2026RELIGION

When Leaders Disagree: A Closer Look at Religion and Politics

Public figures often clash when their views don’t align, and the recent disagreement between a U. S. president and the head of the Catholic Church is no exception. The president took to social media to question the pope’s stance on a major conflict, calling his approach weak and suggesting the pope

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Mar 28 2026OPINION

Oakland schools face another challenge: a lawsuit over heritage months

Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) runs on tight funds, serving mostly low-income students who need stable classrooms more than legal battles. Yet the state education department just filed a lawsuit claiming the district didn't do enough to fight antisemitism—despite no clear evidence of widespr

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Mar 25 2026ENTERTAINMENT

Celebrities and the pressure to discuss plastic surgery

Public figures often face expectations that don’t apply to regular people. A recent debate highlights this issue after a well-known personality called out celebrities for not being open about plastic surgery. She argued that if someone clearly looks different, they should explain why instead of stay

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Feb 18 2026HEALTH

Playing to Stay Healthy: How Games Change Health Habits

Public health is all about getting people to adopt healthier habits. But how do you make that happen in a world where everyone is glued to their screens? The answer might be in games. Yes, you heard it right. Games are not just for fun anymore. They are being used to encourage healthy behaviors. Ta

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Jan 13 2026ENVIRONMENT

The Hidden Costs of Grazing on Public Lands

Public lands in the U. S. are vast, covering an area more than twice the size of California. These lands are used for many things, including grazing livestock. The government allows ranchers to use these lands for a fee, but the fees are much lower than what ranchers would pay on private land. In fa

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Dec 15 2025LIFESTYLE

A Mall's New Life: From Shopping to Community

Oakland Mall in Troy, Michigan, is not just another shopping center struggling to keep up with the times. It's a place that's reinventing itself, turning empty spaces into hubs for art, music, and community support. The mall has seen many stores, like Macy's, close their doors after years of busines

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Nov 28 2025HEALTH

Public Health Office Closures: What's Happening and Why?

Public health offices in several towns are at risk of closing. The proposal is being reviewed before a final decision. The plan is to shut down seven leased offices in the region. The board wants more information before making a final call. They asked the Medical Officer of Health to take another lo

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Nov 17 2025EDUCATION

Oakland Schools Face Heat for Jewish Student Discrimination

Oakland Unified School District is in hot water after the California Department of Education found that it created a hostile environment for Jewish students and staff. The department issued three rulings in late October, criticizing the district for taking over a year to respond to complaints of ant

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