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Oakland faces blowback for treatment of homeless after shutting down 500 encampments

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Oakland faces blowback for treatment of homeless after shutting down 500 encampments

City officials in Oakland, California have shut down over 500 homeless encampments in the past three years. However, this crackdown has caused blowback from some residents. 

During the city council’s May 28 “Life Enrichment Committee” meeting, one speaker addressed the city’s encampment management.

“When we speak, y’all don’t look at us? When we speak, when we tell you what’s happening at these places, it don’t matter,” a gentleman speaking at the podium said.

CALIFORNIA’S POPULATION EXPECTED TO DECLINE AS FLORIDA AND THE CAROLINAS’ SOAR IN 2024: SURVEY

Oakland, California residents blast city officials for their handling of the homelessness crisis.

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Oakland officials passed a policy in 2020 to regulate homeless encampments when there were about 140 camps. The policy was created to prohibit encampments in specific areas of the city, including proximity to businesses, schools, playgrounds, traffic lanes, bike paths, housing and playgrounds. 

Any encampments in those prohibited areas were supposed to be vacated, with the city offering shelter before evacuating the camp.

Since then, the city has closed 537 homeless camps with approximately 1,500 remaining, according to a city report

But as Oakland makes efforts to address the issue, advocates complain about the treatment of the homeless population and how the city has yet to fix the problem.

One of the speakers said Oakland officials need to set up a homeless protection board. She raised concern that the police and residents are violating the rights of the homeless.

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Homeless encampments line the streets in Oakland, California on Friday, March 15, 2024. The city remains plagued by homelessness as nearby businesses close their doors due to safety concerns. (DWS for Fox News Digital)

HOMELESS PEOPLE NEED MORE THAN A HOUSE. THEY NEED SOMETHING MONEY CAN’T BUY

“Oakland is known for its tenant protections. I suggest a solution to this, because of the statistics that were shown today, is to provide the same protections in law to the homeless residents in Oakland,” she said. “They have a place where they can go to report. They have a place where they can go to get the law so they can know how is their property is supposed to be taken care of.”

Another speaker said that forced evictions are a “violation of human rights.”

“Invest in solutions. The city has a duty to provide access to restrooms, fresh collections, and proper sanitation facilities for all residents, including those living in encampments,” the speaker said.

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“Stop criminalizing homelessness,” she added.

Homeless encampments line the streets in Oakland, California on Friday, March 15, 2024. The city remains plagued by homelessness as nearby businesses close their doors due to safety concerns. (DWS for Fox News Digital)

A woman stood up at the podium raising concern over the council’s emphasis on clearing the camps.

“If we’re focused on encampment evictions and management, we’re not actually focused on human beings,” she said.

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Utah

Utah Royals win their club-record fourth straight game

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Utah Royals win their club-record fourth straight game


Cloé Lacasse scores for second straight week, and Royals notch third straight shutout.

Utah Royals forward Cloé Lacasse celebrates her goal against the Seattle Reign FC during an NWSL soccer match on April 26, 2026, in Seattle. Lacasse also scored in the Royals’ win over Angel City FC on Saturday in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

The Utah Royals beat Angel City FC 1-0 on Saturday in Los Angeles for their club-record fourth straight win.

The victory put the Royals (4-2-1) in fourth place in the National Women’s Soccer League. Los Angeles (3-3-0) sits in eighth place.

Utah’s Cloé Lacasse scored in the 33rd minute off an assist from Paige Cronin, who took the ball down the right side of the field and crossed over to the Canadian. Lacasse headed it just inside the post to give Utah the 1-0 lead. She scored for the second straight game, having notched a goal in a 3-0 win over the Seattle Reign FC on April 26

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The Royals earned their third straight shutout, as goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn made her first start of the season and had four saves. McGlynn suffered an injury early in the season but replaced Mia Justus late in last week’s win over the Seattle Reign.

Utah Royals FC will return home to host the Houston Dash on Wednesday, May 6 (8 p.m., KMYU and CBSSN), at America First Field in Sandy.

For over 150 years, The Salt Lake Tribune has been Utah’s independent news source. Our reporters work tirelessly to uncover the stories that matter most to Utahns, from unraveling the complexities of court rulings to allowing tax payers to see where and how their hard earned dollars are being spent. This critical work wouldn’t be possible without people like you—individuals who understand the importance of local, independent journalism.  As a nonprofit newsroom, every subscription and every donation fuels our mission, supporting the in-depth reporting that shines a light on the is sues shaping Utah today.

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Wyoming

Don Day’s Wyoming Weather Forecast: Sunday, May 3, 2026

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Don Day’s Wyoming Weather Forecast: Sunday, May 3, 2026


Mostly sunny in much of Wyoming on Sunday with a chance of rain in some areas. Partly cloudy overnight. Highs in the 60s and low 70s. Lows in the 30s and low 40s.

 

Central:  

Casper:  Slight chance of rain, otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 72 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain before 11 p.m., a low near 42 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

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Riverton:  Sunny and breezy today with a high near 73 and wind gusts as high as 24 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 41 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph.

 

Jeffrey City:  Mostly sunny and breezy today with a high near 69 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph. Partly cloudy and breezy overnight with a low near 38 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph.

 

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Southwest:  

Evanston Mostly sunny today with a high near 66 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 38.

 

Green River:  Mostly sunny today with a high near 71 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. Mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 41 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

 

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Kemmerer:  Mostly sunny and breezy today with a high near 66 and wind gusts as high as 24 mph. Mostly cloudy and breezy overnight with a low near 37 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph.

 

Western Wyoming:  

Pinedale:  Mostly sunny and breezy today with a high near 64 and wind gusts as high as 24 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 32 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

 

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Alpine Mostly sunny today with a high near 69 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 38.

 

Big Piney:  Mostly sunny today with a high near 66 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph. Partly cloudy and blustery overnight with a low near 29 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph.

 

Northwest: 

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Dubois Mostly sunny and breezy today with a high near 61 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph. Mostly clear overnight with a low near 37 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

 

Jackson:  Sunny today with a high near 68 and mostly clear overnight with a slight chance of rain before 11 p.m. and a low near 37.

 

Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park:  Slight chance of rain after 3 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 59 and partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain before 7 p.m. and a low near 31.

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Bighorn Basin:  

Thermopolis:  Slight chance of rain after 3 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 73 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph. Mostly clear overnight with a low near 41.

 

Cody:  Chance of rain mainly after 4 p.m., otherwise partly sunny and breezy today with a high near 69 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 42.

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Lovell:  Slight chance of rain after 3 p.m., gradually becoming sunny today with a high near 73 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. Mostly clear overnight with a low near 41.

 

North Central:  

Buffalo:  Chance of rain mainly after 1 p.m., otherwise partly sunny today with a high near 65 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. Mostly clear overnight with a low near 43.

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Sheridan:  Slight chance of rain, gradually becoming sunny today with a high near 70 and mostly clear overnight with a low near 40.

 

Dayton:  Chance of rain mainly after 2 p.m., otherwise partly sunny today with a high near 69 and partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain and a low near 41.

 

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Northeast:  

Gillette:  Slight chance of rain, gradually becoming sunny today with a high near 68 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph. Mostly clear overnight with a low near 41 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.

 

Newcastle:  Chance of rain mainly after noon, otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 68 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. Mostly clear overnight with a low near 42 and wind gusts as high as 18 mph.

 

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Hulett:  Chance of rain mainly before noon, gradually clearing today with a high near 70 and wind gusts as high as 17 mph. Mostly clear overnight with a low near 41 and wind gusts as high as 16 mph.

 

Eastern Plains:  

Torrington:  Slight chance of rain after 4 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 74 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 39.

 

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Douglas:  Slight chance of rain, otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 72 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 38.

 

Midwest:  Slight chance of rain, otherwise mostly sunny and breezy today with a high near 71 and wind gusts as high as 24 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 39 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph.

 

Southeast:  

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Cheyenne:  Slight chance of rain after noon, increasing clouds today with a high near 69 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 41.

 

Laramie:  Chance of slight rain after noon, increasing clouds today with a high near 64 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 38.

 

Chugwater:  Slight chance of rain after 2 p.m., otherwise mostly sunny today with a high near 69 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 43.

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South Central:  

Rawlins:  Mostly sunny today with a high near 66 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 43.

 

Saratoga:  Mostly sunny today with a high near 67 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 39.

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Wamsutter:  Mostly sunny and breezy today with a high near 66 and wind gusts as high as 24 mph. Mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 39 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph.



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San Francisco, CA

SF’s Union Square showing signs of recovery, though some challenges remain

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SF’s Union Square showing signs of recovery, though some challenges remain


SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — San Francisco’s Union Square, a downtown area that generates about 40% of the city’s general fund tax base, is showing signs of recovery.

However, key challenges remain as city leaders and real estate officials push for revitalization.

“Downtown, like all of San Francisco, is on the rise,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said.

City officials and commercial real estate agents point to improvements in retail occupancy as evidence of progress. The retail vacancy rate in Union Square on Thursday stood at about 15%, down from a peak of 22% in 2025. In 2019, before the pandemic, the vacancy rate was 6.4%.

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Commercial real estate agent Julie Taylor of Colliers International described the shift as significant.

MORE: New report intensifies debate over San Francisco’s ‘CEO tax’ measure

“The nightmare is over. The nightmare is totally over,” Taylor said.

She said activity is underway even in buildings that remain vacant.

“Every building that is vacant has something going on — at a minimum, people touring. But a lot of them have multiple offers trading,” Taylor said.

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Taylor said she expects the area to fully rebound within about two years, including the Powell Street corridor, which last year experienced a retail vacancy rate of 71%. She said interest from corporations has increased this year as companies reassess the city.

“They want to tour space. They want to understand what’s changed in the market. They want to know about the Powell Street improvement project. They want to know everything that our DA and our mayor are doing for Union Square and how things have changed,” Taylor said.

MORE: New possible designs unveiled for San Francisco’s Embarcadero Plaza redevelopment

Interest from potential tenants has also coincided with lower lease prices, with some spaces seeing declines of up to 30%. Several major retailers are shifting locations within the area, including Zara, Uniqlo and Chanel. There are also unconfirmed reports that Nordstrom, which left the Westfield Mall, may take over the space previously occupied by Saks Fifth Avenue. As part of the effort to attract businesses, the mayor recently announced the Downtown Business Fund, which aims to provide grants and low-interest loans to businesses that lack the capital to lease space downtown.

“Helping a business open its doors downtown creates jobs, activates streets and restores confidence in the heart of the city,” Lurie said.

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Another major component of the revitalization effort is the Powell Street improvement project, estimated to cost between $20 million and $40 million. The project is intended to help restore Union Square as a commercial and pedestrian hub at an estimated cost of $2 to $4 million.

“It is a significant amount of money,” said San Francisco Supervisor Danny Sauter. “Part of this is coming from a 2024 bond that the voters approved, we’re not raising taxes with this. It’s some of that bond money and some of the downtown partnership money from across business leadership realizing this is a really important corridor.”

MORE: SF gives $3.3 million to residents, nonprofits with projects to beautify the city: Here’s a list

Despite optimism around retail, downtown office vacancy remains a concern. Office space vacancy stands at about 28%, compared with between 4% and 6% in 2019. Adding to the mixed outlook, one of England’s largest real estate companies, which owns property around Union Square and elsewhere in San Francisco, said last week that it is selling off part of its Bay Area portfolio.

“Those that want to depart our city, they’re missing out,” Lurie said.

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The mayor acknowledged that progress remains fragile.

“Now, I will say this: our economy is coming back, but it’s fragile, and we gotta nurture it, and we have to build partnerships like you’re seeing today to keep it growing, because the rug could be pulled out from under us quiet easily,” he said.

Copyright © 2026 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.



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