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Oilers basketball season shows promise

Can you hear it? The sharp squeaks of sneakers across the shellacked hardwood and the echoing buzz signaling the end of a period? That’s right, it’s basketball time, and the Richmond Oilers are ramping up to for a season of success that could turn the tables on their recent history.

Local high schools gear up for a day of soccer mania

On Saturday the West Contra Costa Unified School District will host the first ever North Coast Section soccer jamboree. With 15 20-minute games scheduled in less than eight hours, it’s sure to be race car-like. All games are to be held at Richmond High and admission is free. Kennedy and Richmond kick things off at 9 a.m., while the last game starts at 5 p.m. At noon, Mexican food vendors will fill everyone up with carne asada and guacamole. Other…

Shooter, prosecutor make final arguments in death penalty sentencing trial

Whether Nathan Burris, who shot and killed Deborah Ann Ross and Ersie Everette Jr. at the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge toll plaza in 2009, will get the death penalty or life in prison is now in the hands of a jury. The same jury last week convicted Burris of two counts of first degree murder, with the special circumstance of lying in wait, making him eligible for Death Row. Senior Deputy District Attorney Harold Jewett delivered a closing statement for the…

Richmond Oilers cap off season

Joining the Richmond football team changed Cesar Munoz’s life. Before football, Munoz says, he was gang affiliated and “was in deep stuff.” But at the end of this summer, he decided to play football for the first time. The junior lineman made it through the entire season, with the positive encouragement of his coaches and teammates. “I got close with all of my teammates and all of my classmates and they helped me a lot,” Munoz said. “The coaches meant…

Kennedy soccer program slammed with academic woes

If there are any boys walking the Kennedy High hallways with aspirations of being the next Lionel Messi or Javier Hernandez, please go see head soccer coach Aaron Colacion in his classroom and tell him you want to sign up. He needs you. There’s a very good chance you’ll see a lot of playing time. As it stands right now there are only 15 students to fill Kennedy’s JV and varsity soccer teams. It takes 11 players to play a…