Alameda County Superior Court Judge Carrie Panetta sentenced Quochuy "Tony" Tran, 19, to 50 years to life in state prison for murdering Ichinkhorloo "Iko" Bayarsaikhan, 15, on Halloween night in 2007. Tran's attorney, Anne Beles, called the lengthy sentence "absurd," saying that the courts should have tried Tran as a juvenile, as he was 16 years old on the night of the murder.

Photos emerged last week of Fire Chief David Kapler filling up his personal BMW convertible with fire station gas, raising concerns over whether Kapler was misusing city resources for his personal benefit. To accommodate the 24-hour responsibilities of his job, Kapler's 2007 employment agreement offered to provide him with either a city vehicle or a $250 monthly allowance if he used a personal car. Kapler chose the latter option, but Human Resources Director Karen Willis confirmed there was nothing in the letter that mentions gas benefits. Kapler said free access to gas was verbally promised to him by former city manager Debra Kurita as a part of his contract negotiations.