Good morning, Oakland.

Veteran investigative editor Esther Kaplan joined The Oaklandside as deputy editor today and will lead collaborations and oversee half the newsroom—bringing 18 years of experience from Business Insider, Reveal and Type Investigations.

She is dedicated to growing local journalism by mentoring Oakland reporters.

Oakland civil rights attorney Dan Siegel—who fought tirelessly for civil liberties and workers’ rights while serving on the school board and housing authority—died at 79 on July 2, leaving behind a legacy of activism and legal victories.

Tim Conover was fatally shot at his Fourth of July party in North Oakland when a guest who would not leave found his gun and shot him multiple times around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday—police later arrested 40-year-old Dwane Stewart on suspicion of murder.

Illegal fireworks on the Fourth of July caused injuries and property damage across the Bay Area as police in San Francisco detained a man carrying a firearm–a duplex fire in Oakland sent one person to the hospital and killed two dogs, and an explosion in Antioch injured five people.

Immigration courts in the Bay Area saw a sharp rise in cases, with San Francisco having over 120,000 pending cases as of May and more than 100,000 new cases since 2022—federal officials used expedited removal and courthouse arrests to target undocumented immigrants.

Data show immigrants from Guatemala and Colombia are increasingly vulnerable while most cases involve only immigration-related charges.

California will soon pay incarcerated firefighters the federal minimum wage during fires as part of a state budget that sets aside $10 million for the change—firefighters now earn between $5.80 and $10.24 per day and could earn $7.25 an hour starting Jan.

1 if the Legislature approves the bill. The policy change follows years of advocacy after hundreds of incarcerated firefighters helped battle deadly wildfires in Los Angeles.

Oakland leaders proposed to add privately owned cameras to the police surveillance system that already uses nearly 300 cameras and license plate readers.

The expanded network needs approval from the Privacy Advisory Commission and City Council before it is used—officials said it will not share data with federal immigration enforcement.

Acoustic Alchemy Live Performance

8-9:30 p.m. — Yoshi's — Check for ticket prices — Experience a night of contemporary jazz with Acoustic Alchemy showcasing their new album 33 1/3.

AI Tips for Genealogy Research

10:30-10:45 a.m. — FamilySearch Center — Free — Discover the latest AI tips to enhance your genealogy research in this short session.

Getting Started Part 4: Using Record Hints

1-2 p.m. — FamilySearch Center — Free entry — Explore the power of AI in documenting your genealogy through record hints.

TammyTeaLove Comedy Show

8:00 – 9:30 p.m. — Yoshi's — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy a night of laughter with comedian Tammy E. Clarke as she shares relatable real-life stories from her unique journey.

AI Tips for Genealogy Research

10:30-11:30 a.m. — FamilySearch center — Free entry — Explore the latest AI tips for enhancing your genealogy research in a brief chat.

Hi-Five Concert

8-9:30 p.m. — Yoshi's — Ticketed event — Experience the iconic R&B group Hi-Five performing their classic hits live.

Genius Wesley Performance

7:30-9 p.m. — The Sound Room — Ticket pricing not specified — Experience the prodigious jazz talent of drummer Genius Wesley along with local rising stars.

Milonga Rubia Dance Event

7-11 p.m. — Just Dance Ballroom — $20 entry — Enjoy a lively Milonga with diverse DJs in a welcoming atmosphere.

Life Drawing at Faultline Gallery

5:45-9 p.m. — Faultline Gallery — $20 online, $25 at the door — Engage your artistic skills with a live model in short poses.

AI Tips for Genealogy Research

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. — FamilySearch Center — Free entry — Discover the latest AI tips to enhance your genealogy research in this informative chat.