Opinion

BERMUDA DUNES — Authorities were hunting Friday for a federal police officer who allegedly abducted a middle school student from a bus stop and escaped after a high-speed freeway chase. -more-

SAN JOSE — Foreign-born residents of Silicon Valley earn less on average than U.S.-born residents, but pay more for housing, a new government survey concludes. -more-

UNION CITY — An explosion at a pipe factory late Wednesday afternoon injured at least 12 people, rescue officials said. -more-

Energy shortages have strained electrical and natural gas supplies, prompting the state to ask residents to keep their holiday lights off in the early evening and leading utilities to warn customers of skyrocketing heating bills. -more-

SAN JOSE — Those afraid of needles may breathe easier with news of an experimental flu vaccine that takes the form of a nasal spray. -more-

The Pacific Film Archive and Berkeley Art Museum will undergo a $4 million seismic retrofit starting in April of 2001, the University of California at Berkeley announced Friday. -more-