Opinion

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge Tuesday allowed a lawsuit to proceed against Barnes & Noble Inc. and Borders Group Inc. filed by independent booksellers who allege the chains receive illegal preferential treatment from publishers for secret deals and steep discounts. -more-

NEW YORK — For people who’d turn blue were an errant wind to blow away a $20 bill, investors seem remarkably detached, even blase, about seeing more than $4 trillion in equity assets disappear into the air. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO – Several crooning Newark cops were rocking in their dress blues at Parkway Heights Middle School this week to promote the release of their new CD — all in the name of traffic safety education. -more-

LOS ANGELES — At the downtown headquarters of Chicana Service Action Center, soon-to-be released U.S. Census Bureau statistics represent more than numbers. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — City officials may soon boot advertisements portraying healthy, attractive models popping AIDS drugs, saying the message is unrealistic and promotes unsafe sex contributing to increased infection rates. -more-

WASHINGTON — Meeting with a group of pivotal Senate moderates Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Paul O’Neill stressed the importance that President Bush is giving across-the-board income tax cuts as a tonic for the flagging economy. -more-