The Berkeley High baseball team lost its last four regular season games, dropping from a tie for first place in the ACCAL to a tie for third. They barely scraped into the North Coast Section 3A East Bay playoffs, getting the 16th and last seed. And on Tuesday, they paid dearly for that slide. -more-

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Editor to readers -more-

Thursday, May 24

Thursday, May 24

Climbing structures are great for kids’ motor coordination, but wood structures preserved with arsenic may present a hidden danger. -more-

Panthers beat up on Swett -more-

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Two California Golden Bears were named to the 2001 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA)/Louisville Slugger All-American team that was announced Wednesday at the annual Women’s College World Series banquet in Oklahoma City, Okla. Sophomore first baseman Veronica Nelson was awarded first-team at-large (first base) honors while junior pitcher Jocelyn Forest was named to the second team. -more-

A class action lawsuit filed in Alameda County Superior Court Wednesday alleges that more than 800 UC Berkeley students may have been exposed to harmful levels of airborne mold in their university housing units. -more-

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – No. 26 California is in a tie for 14th place (610) with Michigan State after the second round Wednesday of the NCAA Championship at the par 72, 6106 El Campeon Golf Course. After carding a 302 Tuesday, the Golden Bears followed that up with a 308 Wednesday to fall slightly from a tie for 11th after the opening round. -more-

There is a lot of pride and a lot of history involved in the Berkeley High School Jazz Ensemble. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge said Wednesday the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision barring medical marijuana prompted him to order that an ounce of cannabis seized from a California man be forfeited. -more-

A surprising 59 percent of Californians now support building more nuclear plants, according to a poll released Wednesday. -more-

WASHINGTON — Sen. James Jeffords of Vermont stepped to the brink of a historic party switch Wednesday, triggering an intense effort by Republicans to keep him in the GOP fold and preserve their ability to advance President Bush’s legislative agenda. -more-

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A young woman in her mid-20s looking for sex and love in all the wrong places is the central character in Seattle playwright Bret Fetzer’s 1997 play “Planet Janet,” which Berkeley’s Impact Theater is currently running in an engaging production Fridays and Saturdays at LaVal’s Subterranean on the Northside. -more-

There are few American businesses more aggressive than the credit-card industry, though you might think they wouldn’t have to seek out customers for what they’re selling, which is money. -more-

The city toxics division issued the city Corporation Yard its second notice in two years for stormwater violations and Department of Public Works officials say they are taking steps to permanently correct the errors. -more-

Wednesday, May 23

Fairy tales we love -more-

“Boys will be boys” – an innocuous enough phrase when it comes to pulling cats tails and diving into coffee tables – assumes boys are naturally inclined to be rambunctious and mischievous. -more-

Habitot Children’s Museum “Back to the Farm” An interactive exhibit gives children the chance to wiggle through tunnels, look into a mirrored fish pond, don farm animal costumes, ride on a John Deere tractor and more. “Recycling Center” Lets the kids crank the conveyor belt to sort cans, plastic bottles and newspaper bundles into dumpster bins. $4 adults; $6 children age 7 and under; $3 for each additional child age 7 and under. Monday and Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Tuesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Sundays, Memorial Day through Labor Day) Kittredge Street and Shattuck Avenue 647-1111 or www.habitot.org -more-

Shirley Richardson-Brower, executive director of the Berkeley YMCA South Branch, had just finished thanking a group of elementary school children for accompanying her to the Berkeley Farmers'’ Market Tuesday when she thought to add one last gentle reminder. -more-

“Boycott Taco Bell, shut it down/Berkeley is a union town,” Sara Smith called from her bullhorn, as about a dozen UC Berkeley students tried to get the noontime Taco Bell crowd to eat elsewhere on Tuesday. -more-

A UC Berkeley student was sexually assaulted by a man she had been walking with on the campus Friday morning between 1:30 and 2 a.m., University of California Police said Tuesday. -more-

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis’ energy advisers said Monday that the state is meeting its energy goals, despite doubts raised by Controller Kathleen Connell and other critics. -more-

MODESTO — The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department has stepped up its search for a missing woman, Washington, D.C,. intern Chandra Ann Levy, and has sent investigators out of the state to follow up on at least one tip as to her whereabouts. -more-

SACRAMENTO — Mel Hurok remembers watching his wife Barbara suffer in a nursing home, then suffer more each time she was transferred to a hospital. -more-

UKIAH — A judge Monday blocked two disputed logging operations in Jackson State Demonstration Forest, ruling that management practices for the projects needed updating. -more-

Census shows families becoming more traditional as state grows older -more-

SACRAMENTO — In 1996 Theresa Azhocar was sure her daughter, who was convicted of planning to shoot her abusive boyfriend, would finally be released from prison. -more-

SACRAMENTO — Record heat and unusually dry winds have prompted fire officials to declare the start of fire season Tuesday throughout California. -more-

WASHINGTON — Emboldened by comments from the Bush administration, lawmakers who tried last year to launch a nationwide study of racial profiling are now moving for the first time to outlaw the disputed law enforcement practice. -more-

WASHINGTON — Vice President Dick Cheney, answering environmentalists and other critics of his energy report, said Tuesday anyone who argues it neglects conservation “simply hasn’t read the report.” -more-

WASHINGTON — More than 20 million children will reach high school age in four years, posing daunting challenges for school districts already coping with classroom crowding and teacher shortages. -more-

KABUL, Afghanistan — Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban said Tuesday they will require Hindus to wear identity labels on their clothing to distinguish them from Muslims, a proposal sharply denounced by India and the United States. -more-

NEW YORK — While the Federal Reserve is receiving high marks for steering the economy through the shoals, barely averting recession, there is no assurance an obstacle might not stray into its path. -more-

DENVER — A speedier Internet connection could be coming to a neighborhood near you. -more-

NEW YORK — Investors gravitated toward technology stocks again Tuesday, sending the Nasdaq composite index higher – albeit modestly – for a sixth straight session, its longest winning streak since February 2000. -more-

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All the Bush administration proposals for meeting the nation’s rising energy needs have just one thought in mind – to increase the amount of oil, gas, and electricity available to the public. -more-

Tuesday, May 22

On Sunday – three days after Israel used U.S.-supplied, F-16 fighter jets to attack Palestinians in the West Bank (the deadliest day of violence in the conflict so far this year) – well over 100 people, most of whom were Jews and Palestinians, gathered at Cedar Rose Park in north Berkeley, calling for an end to Israeli oppression in Palestine. -more-

Who’s country? -more-

After months of bad news and gloomy predictions, the Berkeley Housing Authority received some good news – the Section 8 program didn’t hemorrhage units in April. -more-

The budget battle raging between Alameda County Office of Education Superintendent Sheila Jordan and members of her board hasn’t exactly spilled over into the streets of East Bay cities. -more-

At its meeting tonight, the City Council will consider a recommendation to transfer funding for the First Source Employment Program from the Sewer Fund to allocations from a variety of capital projects. -more-

CARRIZO PLAIN NATIONAL MONUMENT — For a thousand years, American Indians have made Painted Rock their canvas. -more-

Not since the mid-’90s have more Californians believed the state is headed in the wrong direction. -more-

LOS ANGELES — Prosecutors told a state appeals court Monday they believe the Sara Jane Olson defense team is trying to delay her attempted-murder trial until “years from now when the witnesses have all died.” -more-

LOS ANGELES — Sixteen members of a Congressional reform committee invoked a 1928 rule in a federal lawsuit filed Monday to gain the release of adjusted Census data they say will show minorities were undercounted. -more-

SAN JOSE — Apple Computer Inc. is ready to make bulky cathode ray tube displays things of the past. -more-

On a brutally hot day in Stockton, several members of the St. Mary’s track & field team didn’t have a chance to take a break at the Bayshore Regional championships. With qualifying spots for the Northern California Meet of Champions next week on the line, the Panthers’ top performers had to be at their bests. -more-

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What side are you on in the marijuana fight? -more-

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Monday, May 21

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As Berkeley school administrators decide what to do with more than $500,000 awarded to the district for improved standardized test scores, a growing core of frustrated Berkeley teachers are studying ways to protest the test. -more-

A plan to install permanent lighting inside UC Berkeley’s Memorial Stadium has Panoramic Hill residents worried that glaring, unsightly lighting towers will be visible from all over the city. -more-

There were at least as many questions as there were people at the Berkeley Alternative High School on Saturday. Yes, that’s right — on Saturday. -more-

The University of California at Berkeley is offering summer courses at a discounted price for teachers from the Berkeley, Oakland, West Contra Costa and San Francisco unified school districts. -more-

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SAN FRANCISCO – Complaints against some of the state’s largest telephone companies are on the rise, according to an analysis of 47,000 complaints filed with state utility regulators over the past two years, a newspaper reported. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO – Higher power costs zapped restauranteur Marino Sandoval and his customers even before California regulators decided this week how to allocate a $5.7 billion electricity rate hike — the highest in the state’s history. -more-

LOS ANGELES – The head of the California Public Utilities Commission provided a state Senate committee with evidence showing three power generators reduced electricity production and then benefited from the resulting high prices. -more-

By Ron Harris -more-

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SAN FRANCISCO – Two runners from Kenya won San Francisco’s most popular race Sunday, the 12K Bay to Breakers. -more-

For the fourth game in a row, the Berkeley Yellowjackets couldn’t put together a big inning. For the fourth game in a row, they gave the other team a big inning. So for the fourth game in a row, they lost. -more-

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Progressives? Call them radical -more-

Saturday, May 19

Battle lines are being drawn in the discussion about whether “small learning communities” could help Berkeley High School tackle problems with truancy, campus violence, teacher turn-over, and the achievement gap that separates Asian and white students from their African-American and Latino peers. -more-

The Berkeley High crew team will compete in the state championship meet today, but they will be unique among the 15 teams racing at Lake Natoma. -more-

The City Council asked two commissions to monitor the city’s Sewer Fund, which generates about $14 million a year in local fees, because of “inappropriate use and allocation.” -more-

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A day after defeating Connecticut, 2–0, the second–seeded California Golden Bears used eight hits on offense and an excellent three–hit shutout pitching performance by junior Jocelyn Forest to defeat the Florida Atlantic Owls, 2–0, in the winner's bracket of the South Region of the NCAA Regional. -more-

Berkeley Lite is an occasional column illuminating those who’d like to shine us on. -more-

STONE MOUNTAIN, Georgia – The No. 7-ranked California women’s tennis team suffered a major loss, when they fell in the NCAA Round of 16 to the No. 11-ranked Arizona State Sun Devils, 4-2, in Stone Mountain, Georgia. The Bears met up with the Sun Devils for the third time this year, the first two coming in the regular season. -more-

West Berkeley’s past is evident today through its diverse building stock. It presents a heterogeneous mix of old and new buildings, residential and industrial buildings often side by side. -more-

A woman was battered and raped by two men who forced her into a bathroom on the Berkeley School District’s east campus about 2 a.m. Tuesday, police said. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — After years of complaints from parents about San Francisco’s crowded, ill-equipped and run-down schools, the FBI has been called in to find out whether the mess is more than just a matter of bad management. -more-

A committee of nine ratepayer groups will not be allowed to take part in the proceedings involving the bankruptcy filing of Pacific Gas and Electric Co., a judge ruled Friday. -more-

LOS ANGELES — The lawyer for a dying smoker suing tobacco giant Philip Morris Inc. suggested Friday that a jury award $10 billion in punitive damages. -more-

BREA — A 1,000-pound steer raised at a parochial school was slaughtered in front of more than 100 students, some as young as 5, to teach them where meat comes from – a demonstration that has drawn protests from some quarters. -more-

“ALIVE IN HER: Icons of the Goddess” -more-

Two years ago, Halihl Guy showed up for his first workout with the St. Mary’s track coaches. A junior transfer from Berkeley High, Guy wasn’t quite used to the workload the Panthers demanded. -more-

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West Bank, Gaza settlements illegal -more-

Friday, May 18

Despite grave concerns of two of its members, the Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to make more than $4 million in cuts to balance its budget of about $65 million by June. -more-

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The second-seeded California Golden Bears got a fine pitching performance from junior Jocelyn Forest and senior Nicole DiSalvio to defeat the fifth-seeded Connecticut Huskies, 2-0, to advance to the winners bracket of the NCAA Regional. The Bears moved on to face Florida Atlantic, which defeated Florida, 3-0, in the second round. With the win, Cal improves to 50-15 on the year, just one win shy of tying its most wins in school history. The Huskies fall to 35-22 with the loss. -more-

Jen Collins parks bikes for a living and loves it. -more-

The City Council adopted an ordinance Tuesday that spells out exactly when some city commissioners have a conflict of interest due to outside employment and how to remedy the situation. -more-

Two problems, the energy crisis and global warming, have a singular solution: turn off the lights, use public transit, save energy. -more-

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SAN FRANCISCO — Nonunion workers should not be required to pay union organizing fees, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday, overturning an earlier decision by the National Labor Relations Board. -more-

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LOS ANGELES — Lawyers for former SLA fugitive Sara Jane Olson went to court Thursday to defend themselves on criminal charges and later told a judge they may have to be removed from Olson’s trial. -more-

A judge spared federal officials a contempt of court charge Thursday, but implied he might be less understanding if they don’t follow through on a deal keeping cattle off land reserved for the threatened desert tortoise. -more-

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SACRAMENTO — A state Senate panel kept California’s high-speed rail project alive Thursday by approving $1 million for environmental studies for the 700-mile system. -more-

SACRAMENTO — The largest Catholic hospital system in the Western states has settled allegations that its Sacramento hospital made false Medicare and Medi-Cal claims and agreed to pay the federal government $10.25 million. -more-

LOS ANGELES — The rugged men portrayed in Marlboro cigarette ads became the identity of a cancer-stricken smoker suing tobacco giant Philip Morris Inc., his attorney told a Superior Court jury in closing arguments Thursday. -more-

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WASHINGTON — More fathers are going solo in raising kids. -more-

BOSTON — Two national studies of a widely used drug for colorectal cancer were suspended for new patients because the drug turned out to be more toxic than expected. -more-

Q: I have a leaky bathroom faucet. Can you tell me some simple instructions to fix it? Please include specific tools, and parts needed. -more-

Asian manufacturers still No.1, but quality gap closing -more-

WASHINGTON — Two environmental groups asked the government Wednesday to ban a common wood preservative containing 22 percent arsenic from all playground equipment and to study whether it is safe for other consumer uses. -more-

PASADENA — After years of garnering less attention than its sexier Jovian sisters, the crater-covered moon Callisto is getting closer attention than ever this week from NASA. -more-

S.F. World Music Festival -more-

The glassy-winged sharpshooter and the Pierce's Disease that it spreads are seen as a major threat to the state's wine industry. -more-

The glassy-winged sharpshooter and the Pierce's Disease that it spreads are seen as a major threat to the state's wine industry. -more-

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On Friday, a 19-year old woman was hospitalized with a presumptive diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Public health officials confirmed Thursday that the diagnosis is meningococcal meningitis. -more-