In an open letter to the citizens of Oakland issued by the Oakland Police Officer's Association Tuesday, Oakland police assured the embattled city's residents that they too are part of "the 99%" of working class Americans, while criticizing Oakland Mayor Jean Quan for sending "mixed messages" to the city.

With her announcement that she will seek the Green Party's nomination for President of the United States in 2012, Jill Stein ended months of speculation among third party political insiders, Green Party activists and Independent progressives. Occupy Wall Street is now buzzing with the news as well.

Nearly 25% of California farmworkers and their families live in poverty and almost 70% have no health insurance. Many face what academics call "food insecurity," which means they're going hungry and often wondering where the next meal is coming from. Since they have no insurance or extra money, any health issues probably go untreated.

Though the country remains evenly split on its assessment of the President, there is little disagreement with regard to the Congress.  Just 9% of Americans approve of the way Congress is handling its job, according to a recent poll by CBS News and The New York Times, an historic low demonstrating deep discontent with the Democratic and Republican parties.

U.S. military officials have announced phase two of a plan to transition security duties away from U.S.-led Coalition forces to newly trained Afghan troops by 2014.