The Week
News
Berkeley’s Yoga boom attracts Americans
Lisa Taylor’s curiosity made her take a Yoga class 11 years ago. The former modern dancer now teaches at two Yoga centers in Berkeley. For her, Yoga is not just a job. It’s a way of life, affecting her at both physical and spiritual levels. -more-
Letters to the Editor
Bad management real reason theater may close -more-
Bears pull out wild victory over Colorado College
A last-minute header goal by sophomore forward Laura Schott gave Cal a come-from-behind victory over Colorado College Friday afternoon at Edwards Stadium. Cal defeated the Tigers 2-1 in the opening game of the Golden Gate Classic and improved their record to 9-0-1. -more-
Oxford block on the table
A collection of green houses and small classrooms at the corner of Hearst Avenue and Oxford Street, better known as the Oxford Tract, will be replaced with a three-story structure and a 200-space underground parking lot, if a UC Berkeley plan bears fruit. -more-
Yellowjacket offense sputters, wastes good defensive effort
Everyone loves a second chance. A second chance at a job interview, a second opportunity to take a test, another shot at introducing yourself to that beautiful someone… who doesn’t like second chances? On Thursday night, the Berkeley High defense forced five turnovers to give its offense not just two but five chances to move the football. But the Berkeley Yellowjackets (0-4) failed to capitalize and the Livermore Cowboys (3-1) left nothing to chance with a 15-0 victory. -more-
Other holocaust victims considered
Holocaust experts and activists detailed the difficulties of earning recognition and reparations for non-Jewish victims of Nazi war crimes during a panel discussion at the Castro Theatre. -more-
State agencies deny public access to info, study shows
SAN FRANCISCO – An audit of government agencies in California shows that some, such as police departments and school districts, denied people access to information that is clearly defined in state statutes as public. -more-
Damages reduced for Wonder Bread
SAN FRANCISCO – A judge said Friday he will reduce the $121 million in punitive damages that a jury awarded to 17 black workers who were discriminated against at a Wonder Bread plant. -more-
Carjacker picks on the wrong car; father and son suspects arrested
SAN LEANDRO – A carjacking suspect is probably kicking himself after police said he tried to carjack an undercover car. -more-
Restrictions eased on news coverage in hostage crisis
JOLO, Philippines – The Philippine military eased some restrictions Friday on news coverage of its assault on Muslim rebels holding 17 hostages on a southern island, but continued to limit communications. -more-
State hopes to address tire piles with new fee
SACRAMENTO – The disposal fee for old tires is going up next year to pay for an expanded regulation and cleanup program aimed at illegal tire piles. -more-
Mattel unloads software assets
EL SEGUNDO – Mattel Inc. has found a buyer for the Learning Co., the software unit that lost hundreds of millions of dollars and led to the resignation of the toymaker’s chief executive and other top officials. -more-
The neighborly spirit hits Boston district
BOSTON – Buy low, sell high: It’s a homeowner’s dream that is coming true in this city thanks to soaring property values. But while sellers profit, the poor struggle to pay rising rents. -more-
Latinos protest, fast for residency bill
PASADENA – Latino activists protested outside Republican Party offices, trying to drudge up support for a bill that would make permanent residency possible for hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants. -more-
Native American remains contaminated by tests
SAN FRANCISCO – David Hostler first learned the troubling news when he journeyed more than 3,000 miles from his Hoopa Valley reservation, California’s largest, to dig through troves of tribal artifacts on display and in storage at Harvard University. -more-
Davis researchers to continue fatal expedition
SACRAMENTO – Researchers from the University of California, Davis, are preparing for a new expedition to the Sea of Cortez, six months after five of their colleagues died in a boating accident there. -more-
Davis vetoes increased benefits for injured, unemployed
SACRAMENTO – Gov. Gray Davis has vetoed increases for injured and unemployed workers despite complaints that California’s benefits are among the nation’s lowest. -more-
Jonestown lawyer comes back to face his demons in Mendocino County, this time as a prosecutor
UKIAH – It was 1967 and young prosecutor Tim Stoen was sitting in the Mendocino County Courthouse, being quizzed by a roomful of officials for a new job representing the poor. Afterward, one of the interviewers approached him with outstretched hand. -more-
Letter lands Shirek opponent in hot water
Multicolor campaign signs have begun sprouting on telephone poles and in front yards, but you really know it’s election season when colorful accusations burst onto the scene. -more-
Yellowjackets fall to DeAnza, but it doesn’t count
The Berkeley High women’s water polo team lost 9-6 to DeAnza in what amounted to a scrimmage Thursday afternoon. -more-
Campus pavilions may be leveled
“Institutional expansion” or “livable neighborhood”? -more-
Bears searching for an identity
As the Cal Bears head into their Pac-10 opener on Saturday, most of the questions concerning the offense haven’t been answered by the team’s first three games. Can Kyle Boller bring the offense together? Will any receivers distinguish themselves as starters? Will the Bears ever make a long-range field goal? -more-
New ideas for BHS food court
Talks between the Berkeley Unified School District, Mayor Shirley Dean’s office and the Downtown Berkeley Association over a proposed food court at Berkeley High School have taken on the proportions of a Bill Clinton speech – they keep going and going and going. -more-
Giesel, Faumuina to redshirt for surgeries
Cal announced today that two members of its freshmen class, defensive tackle Jonathan Giesel and running back Pana Faumuina, had suffered injuries in the last two weeks and would be lost for the season. Both are eligible to apply for medical redshirt status and are expected to return in full health next fall as redshirt-freshmen. -more-
Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown
Come this evening and it’ll be a scant 239 years until the world is disrupted by the Y6K problem on the Jewish calendar. -more-
Ferry ordered to continue service
The tour and cruise operator, Red and White Fleet, was ordered Thursday by the state Public Utility Commission to continue running its weekday ferry service from Richmond to San Francisco. -more-
Sacramento County riskiest to pedestrians
SAN FRANCISCO — Pedestrians are more likely to get hit by a car in Sacramento County than any other place in California, according to a new study released Thursday. -more-
Selina Bishop was wary of scheme
MARTINEZ — The night before she was last seen alive, Selina Bishop thought she had resolved an argument with her boyfriend over his “big plan” and was under the impression they were going to go away somewhere together, her diary shows. -more-
Racial gap still exists between homeowners
SAN DIEGO — Despite the rise in home ownership across the country, blacks and Latinos were nearly twice as likely to be turned down for mortgage loans than whites, according to a study released Thursday. -more-
Registered Independents can vote in state primaries
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation Thursday allowing independent voters to participate in primary elections, moving to salvage a wide-open process thrown out by the U.S. Supreme Court. -more-
Plan will cut diesel emissions 75 percent
SACRAMENTO — Targeting a major cause of California air pollution, state regulators approved a plan Thursday to cut soot from diesel engines 75 percent over the next decade. -more-
FDA approves abortion pill after 12-year fight
WASHINGTON — Capping a bitter 12-year battle, the government on Thursday approved use of the abortion pill RU-486, a major victory for abortion-rights advocates that could dramatically alter abortion in this country. -more-
Nevada voters to decide easing pot restrictions
CARSON CITY, Nev. — Marijuana is on the ballot across the West this fall, from proposals to allow its medicinal use in Colorado and Nevada to measures that would let it flourish in Alaska and the pot-growing “Emerald Triangle” of Northern California. Recent polls suggest the proposals are likely to pass in both Nevada and Colorado. In the past four years, similar medical-marijuana measures have become law in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Maine and Hawaii. -more-
Apples are redder than ever
Ah, the good old days when a smoker could buy a cigar for a nickel and you really could spend only a nickel or a dime in a five-and-dime store. When it came to gardening, it seemed that the grass was greener, the sweet corn was sweeter and the apples were redder – or were they? -more-
House a ‘structure of merit’
After months of emotional debate, the Swink residence was designated a “structure of merit” Tuesday by the City Council. The 8-1 vote upholding an earlier Landmarks Preservation Commission decision, ended a pitched battle between building owner Joe Cox, who opposed the designation, and residents and business owners near the 1525 Shattuck Ave. property. -more-
St. Mary’s tailback enjoys new starting status
Trestin George has more experience than the average first-year starter. The St. Mary’s tailback slid into the starting role just before last year’s playoffs when senior Eddie Smith went down with an injury. George started the Panthers’ final six games, gaining more than 200 yards in three of those games. -more-
Lecture shows businesses how to be Earth friendly
Dr. Brian Natrass had an epiphany when University of London Professor Gordon Goodman, speaking to the leaders of the Earth Council in 1993, said that by the end of 2001 humankind would be lucky if there are 100 million people left on the planet. -more-
Cal goalkeeper Zabala named Pac-10 player of the week
California senior goalkeeper Maite Zabala was named Pac-10 Player of the Week for her performance at the adidas Bay Area Classic Tuesday by the conference office. -more-
Retrofit threatens recycling center
As UC Berkeley retrofits its campus, and looks for space to house displaced students and staff, the “surge” is being felt far from the campus. -more-
Bonds woman gets her man
Criminals love her, the innocent crave her attention, and the judicial system isn’t complete without her. -more-
Housing executive convicted of bribery
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal jury on Wednesday convicted a San Francisco housing executive of 30 felony counts of bribery and making false statements in connection with a scandal that netted 22 people. -more-
Landlord sentenced to live in own building
San Jose — A San Jose landlord has been ordered to spend 60 days under house arrest in one of the dilapidated buildings she owns. -more-
Bush adjusts message as he heads to the East Coast
It was 70 degrees as George W. Bush campaigned in California on Wednesday, focusing on education. It was barely in the 50s in Wisconsin where he’ll be on Thursday, talking about fuel prices. -more-
Prescription drugs a big campaign issues
The Associated Press -more-
Health care interests unite in antibiotic campaign
SACRAMENTO — Doctors, health officials and drug companies are starting a statewide campaign Thursday warning patients and physicians not to overuse antibiotics. It is a concern Rebecca Strain-Kale knows all too well. -more-
Furnaces believed to be cause of fires
LOS ANGELES — Defective attic furnaces have caused dozens of house fires in California in the past 10 years but the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission was forbidden by law from warning consumers, the federal agency said Wednesday. -more-
Greenpeace protesters follow oil tanker
LONG BEACH — Greenpeace activists unsuccessfully tried to board a tanker filled with a million barrels of crude oil Wednesday, then followed the 900-foot vessel as it made its way toward anchor. -more-
Davis vetoes substitute allegiance bill
SACRAMENTO — Saying the flag salute is a worthy tradition, Gov. Gray Davis has vetoed a bill that would have allowed schools to substitute a Declaration of Independence excerpt for the Pledge of Allegiance. -more-
Counties save paper by voting electronically
RIVERSIDE — Riverside County voters will say good-bye to those familiar paper ballots when they go to the polls in November, instead choosing candidates and issues by computer in the largest application of electronic voting in the nation. -more-
Protesters take the streets
Hundreds of demonstrators swarmed through the streets Tuesday night in an action they dubbed “Reclaim the Streets” – one part protest of International Monetary Fund and World Bank policies and the other part street party, said Joe Hill, an alias used by one of the organizers. -more-
Morally straight and gay
The national controversy about the Boy Scout policy of excluding gays has focused on the right of a private organization to decide who its members are, or on discrimination and bigotry, depending on which side of the issue you fall on. At the eye of this storm, however, is the alleged immorality of homosexuality - and neither side is saying much about that. -more-
Forum advocates affordable housing
Even if they can’t change the fact that the federal government gives inadequate money for affordable housing, people can fight at the local level to determine where housing money is spent, Sean Heron, executive director for East Bay Housing Organizations, told some 20 people gathered Monday evening at the North Berkeley Senior Center. -more-
Letters to the Editor
The Ed Roberts Campus will be a good neighbor to South Berkeley -more-
Hills’ fire danger assessed as anniversary nears
As the anniversary of the Oct. 20, 1991 Oakland-Berkeley hills fire approaches, area residents and firefighters watch the browning of vegetation around them and assess today’s fire danger. -more-
Counties begin to fight against CalFed water plan
SACRAMENTO — California’s rural counties launched a major court fight Tuesday against the ambitious CalFed water accord, labeling it an effort to grab control over northern groundwater and send it to powerful southern water districts. -more-
Judge dismisses certain aspects of Proposition 21 suit
FTC finds gas pricing practices that raise ‘competitive concerns’
An investigation into West Coast gas prices has found oil industry practices that raise “competitive concerns” with the Federal Trade Commission, an FTC official said Tuesday. -more-
California above national income, poverty levels
SACRAMENTO — California’s median household income exceeds the national average, while the percentage of poor residents has declined, Census Bureau data released Tuesday shows. -more-
Farmers say high energy costs could rise food prices up
Sacramento at risk for overdevelopment
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has added five cities – Denver; Fort Worth, Texas; Jacksonville, Fla.; Sacramento, Calif.; and Seattle – to its list of metropolitan areas identified as at risk of overbuilding of commercial properties. -more-
State gets top marks in teaching evolution
California’s science education standard was graded the highest of the states in a report released Tuesday evaluating the teaching of evolution in the states. -more-
Popular teacher retires Breaking ground on integration was just a start
Warner Freeman knew when he was in the eighth grade – the same grade he taught science to for 32 years at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School – that he would someday be | -more-
Perspective
We, members of Citizens for Responsible Fire Protection, would like to respond to the article of Sept. 16, regarding the construction of a new fire station in the hills. It is unquestionable that a new fire station is needed. What we do question is whether or not the city’s plan actually meets the extraordinary demands of disasters such as wildfires and earthquakes. The voters approved the funding the city seeks to use for this project in 1992. After eight years we should all be certain that what we are accepting is the best possible solution. After all, it is our money, our homes, and our lives. -more-
Fire safety issue gains prominence
Since losing his sister and parents to a home fire nearly one month ago, Jason Jusay is crusading for home safety in Berkeley. Appearing at last week’s City Council meeting, Jusay said, “We need more stringent and better procedural processes to inspect buildings for safety.” -more-
Gov. Davis vetoes measure requiring Internet sales tax
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis has vetoed a bill strengthening requirements that California retailers collect taxes on Internet sales, saying it would send the wrong message to a fledgling industry. -more-
State faces crisis of lazy teens
SAN FRANCISCO — Far from their image as beach-loving fitness freaks, California’s high schoolers are growing alarmingly fat and lazy on a steady diet of potato chips and video games, according to a study released Monday by the Berkeley-based Public Health Institute. -more-
Dion Aroner blasts children’s hospital
OAKLAND — Assemblywoman Dion Aroner today accused Children's Hospital in Oakland of creating a threatening workplace for some 150 hospital technicians who on Wednesday, will vote on whether or not to unionize. -more-
Community remembers Oakland Black Panther
OAKLAND — Time forgot Gene McKinney, the former Black Panther who died in relative obscurity this month. -more-
Balancing development, preservation
LOS ANGELES — Calling it a nationwide model, local, state and federal officials signed an agreement Monday to balance development with preservation in one of the nation’s fastest growing regions. -more-
Judges in Napster trial not involved in tech decisions
SAN FRANCISCO — The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently set precedents defining gray areas of technology law, but none of the three judges announced Monday to preside over the Napster Inc. case was involved in those decisions. -more-
HUD may freeze some foreclosure proceedings
LOS ANGELES — Due to a high rate of loan defaults, federal Housing and Urban Development officials are expected to mandate a 90-day freeze on foreclosure proceedings against area homeowners behind on payments of government-backed mortgages, it was reported. -more-
Smog enforcements of cars from Mexico nonexistent
Hot spring may have claimed another victim
KELSEYVILLE — As many as a dozen people luxuriating in the “spiritual, healing” effervescence of Northern California’s Soda Springs may have been asphyxiated over the years by carbon dioxide that bubbled out of the hot spring’s water. -more-
Gov. Davis signs child safety bill
SACRAMENTO — Children under the age of 6 or weighing less than 60 pounds will be required to ride in booster seats, under a bill signed by Gov. Gray Davis. -more-
Sex offender scales wire fence to escape
SAN QUENTIN — A convicted sex offender who scaled a razor-wire fence in a pre-dawn escape from San Quentin State Prison remained on the loose Monday after authorities – in a case of mistaken identity – arrested his brother and prematurely reported his recapture. -more-
Berkeley as they want to be
When naked people, cheerleaders, fire breathers, motorized couches, Darth Vader and the mayor all get together it can only mean one thing: the annual How Berkeley Can You Be? parade. -more-
Pollster diminish effect of presidential campaigns
The pollsters have already stolen this year’s presidential election. -more-
Offense sputters in Bears’ loss
Total systematic failure. -more-
Council plans to scrutinize agenda policy
The agenda of this week’s City Council meeting will have an unusual item – the agenda itself, and whether meeting procedures can be improved. -more-
Social investment helps U.S. security
Cutting the defense budget and investing in local communities is the best way to ensure that the United States remains the world’s most powerful nation, a group of national and local activists said at a public policy forum Saturday. -more-
Yellowjackets can’t stop Dos Palos rushing attack
Broncos gain 396 yards on the ground in 48-7 win -more-
San Pablo association celebrates 50 years
Kids romped and jumped on inflated trampolines, while their elders strolled about – hundreds of them – hugging neighbors, moving to music, shelling out a few greenbacks here and for the latest in African garb, or a few dollars there for barbecue, noodles or even a psychic reading. -more-
ArtCar festival an avant-garde success
If people judge you by the car you drive, the jury is out on Philo Northup. -more-
Musicians protest dot-com takeover of space
SAN FRANCISCO — Guitars screeched from the rooftops and street corners across the city in protest Saturday as somber musicians inside the Downtown Rehearsal building packed up their guitars and gear, eviction notices in hand. -more-
Clinton pursues conservation, campaign cash
LOS ANGELES — President Clinton predicted Sunday that Democrats could win a slim majority in the House but still will have to get along with the Republicans. -more-
Thieves using lax DMV policies to get fake licenses
SANTA ANA — In an effort to keep its lines moving, the Department of Motor Vehicles has ignored safeguards and issued fraudulent drivers’ licenses, allowing thieves to steal identities and borrow money in the name of unsuspecting victims, investigators said. -more-
Parole for battered woman convicted of murder Ok’d
SACRAMENTO — For the first time, Gov. Gray Davis has allowed the release of a convicted murderer, a battered woman who shot her boyfriend in 1986 after he threatened to kill her, her son and her unborn child. -more-
Child car booster seat requirement toughens State could mandate children be 6 years or 60 pounds State could mandate children be
WEST SACRAMENTO — Rarely a day goes by that Victoria Williams’ two children, ages 1 and 2, do not try to wriggle out of their car seats. -more-
Opinion
Editorials
State to ask federal regulators to give mobile devices their own area codes
SACRAMENTO – California will try to slow the proliferation of area codes by allowing separate codes for devices such as pagers and cellular telephones. -more-
Group encourages dialogue on death
A panel of experts from the growing field of death and dying addressed some 70 people Wednesday night at Herrick Hospital in an effort to stimulate public dialogue about a part of life most of us put off as long as possible. -more-
HIV patients stop medication
A small number of patients stopped taking their AIDS drug cocktails and still managed to keep the virus under control, researchers say in one of the first studies to suggest that people with HIV may not have to be on medication for the rest of their lives. -more-
Alameda supervisor angry over Davis’ foster care veto
OAKLAND — An Alameda County supervisor interrupted the board's meeting today to express outrage over Gov. Gray Davis’ veto of a bill that would have given foster parents more say in the care of their children. -more-
POLICE LOGS
Berkeley Police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred Saturday night around 8 p.m. at the Exxon gas station at 950 University Ave. -more-
Former UC Berkeley Art Museum, Archive director dies at 76
James Elliott, the former director of the University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive has died. He was 76. -more-