BY SHIKIRI HIGHTOWER AND ALBA MORA // LeapFrog Enterprises Inc., a local company known for their technology-based toys, has fallen victim to a harsh economy like many other businesses.

On Friday, the Emeryville based manufacturer, announced it was slashing 10 percent of their global workforce.

“We had to reduce operating expenses” said Mischa Dunton, the LeapFrog spokesperson. “We are proud of LeapFrog’s people and so this action is one we would prefer not to have undertaken.” Read the full story

BY ALBA MORA // By the turn of the century Emeryville was known as “The Butchertown” because of the number of slaughterhouses in the city limits. In the 1920s it was known as “The Rottenest City” on the coast due to an excess of gambling salons. Read the full story

BY ALBA MORA // Although the Giants were not playing, some 30 people gathered around the big flat-screen TV last night in Emerybay Food Market. Like nearly ten million other Americans, the spectators were watching the first presidential debate between Barack Obama and John McCain, but it didn’t appear to change anybody’s mind. Read the full story