Monday, July 30

Council approved visionary development -more-

Staged Hereafter – Berkeley’s newest theater company to complete a full season of plays – is closing out its first year at South Berkeley Community Church with a very strong grassroots production of English playwright Christopher Fry’s dark, fascinating 1948 philosophical comedy “The Lady’s Not for Burning.” -more-

Camps -more-

To get to the new office of the Berkeley Alliance, make your way to the second floor of the Berkeley Adult School, turn right at the old computer key boards and monitors – piled up against a wall like so many dislodged boulders at the base of a cliff – and then right again, into the windowless, L-shaped room at the end of the hallway. -more-

FUKOUKA, JAPAN - On the final day of the 2001 World Swimming Championships in Fukouka, Japan, Cal’s Natalie Coughlin had an impressive lead-off butterfly leg on the United State’s 400-meter medley relay that placed second to Australia. -more-

OAKLAND – Hundreds of teens, artists and social activists gathered in Frank Ogawa Plaza Saturday to protest Alameda County’s plan to replace the 299-bed juvenile detention facility in San Leandro with a 450-bed facility in Dublin. -more-

Physicists at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are retracting a 1999 claim of having discovered two “superheavy” elements in a fusion of lead and krypton. -more-

RICHMOND – Police say a 43-year-old Berkeley man was shot dead in the back yard of a Richmond apartment complex yesterday afternoon. -more-

Gov. Gray Davis made a brief appearance in Berkeley Friday to pledge his support for renewable energy sources as a way to stabilize California’s electricity prices and protect the environment. -more-

Stars include Ohio star LeBron James, Oakland Tech’s Leon Powe -more-

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Saturday, July 28

In a fictitiously constructed 1937 newsreel, footage of the 10th annual Academy Awards featuring the brand-new category of Best Actress in a Supporting Role is placed alongside footage of a military rally of Germany’s Third Reich overseen by Adolf Hitler, not yet perceived as a global threat. -more-

It was once a place where formerly homeless men and women could get back on their feet. It was a place where residents held poetry readings, took art classes, ate free cake on their birthdays and enjoyed donated gourmet meals from restaurants such as Chez Panisse once a month. Now, UA Homes at 1040 University Ave. is riddled with complaints. Both tenants and neighbors have complained about garbage, problems with the bathrooms, lack of building security and overt drug dealing. -more-

Prep hoops star de-commits -more-

Dear Tom and Ray: -more-

City finds new way to pump gas -more-

Standing on the steps of Sproul Hall stairs, Andrew Imparato, president of the American Association of People with Disabilities wanted to make sure that his peers would be heard Friday. -more-

In the early 1890s the city and UC Berkeley began to grow rapidly with growth accelerating after 1900. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — The lesbian partner of a woman mauled to death by dogs earlier this year scored a surprising court victory Friday as a judge allowed her wrongful death suit to proceed to trial. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Californians are buying more energy efficient refrigerators and washing machines than salespeople can ever remember, despite a blackout-free summer and assurance from state officials that electric rates should stay put or drop. -more-

LOS ANGELES — Data collected 25 years ago on the surface of Mars by NASA’s twin Viking landers show evidence of life, a scientist claimed Friday. -more-

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A judge sentenced 14-year-old Nathaniel Brazill to 28 years in prison Friday for fatally shooting his favorite teacher between the eyes on the last day of school – far less than the maximum he could have received of life without parole. -more-

WASHINGTON — The economy endured its weakest growth rate in eight years in the spring as American companies cut back on investment spending by the biggest amount in two decades. -more-

Six months ago, the sages of Wall Street were advising that things couldn’t get much worse, and investors listened. -more-

A 54-year-old woman was the victim of a robbery on Wednesday, said Berkeley Police Sgt. Kay Lantou. A young man allegedly confronted the woman on the corner of Fifth Street and Allston Way at 10:40 p.m. -more-

GJOVIK, Norway - California’s Laura Schott scored the opening goal and forward Abby Wambach contributed two goals for the U.S. Under-21 Women’s National Team in a totally one-sided affair to record a 3-0 victory Wednesday over an out-gunned Iceland team in the opening game of the 2001 Nordic Cup Championships. -more-

Dilapidated house a symbol of nimbyism -more-

Friday, July 27

UC Berkeley’s Museum of Paleontology, home to one of the largest collections of fossils in the world, will use two major grants to create Internet content that teaches students, teachers and the general public about evolution. -more-

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In an unusual move Tuesday, the City Council approved the construction of three townhouses in north Berkeley immediately after closing a public hearing on the issue. -more-

A group of 37 people from 20 different countries sat at tables and on the lawn around Pat Brown’s Grill on campus yesterday, to share their last lunch together. The group is the very first class of a new UC Berkeley international program. -more-

By Matt Lorenz -more-

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SAN FRANCISCO — The state Air Resources Board was set to vote on an air pollution cleanup plan for the Bay Area that federal clean air officials already have said isn’t adequate to address smog problems. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — An analysis of proposed staffing ratios of nurses to patients determined the changes could cost California hospitals millions of dollars, according to a study released Thursday. -more-

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LOS ANGELES — Prompted by problems in the foster care system, the state controller announced Thursday that programs in Los Angeles and Sacramento counties will be audited. -more-

WASHINGTON — As the U.S.-European rift widens, from missile defense and nuclear testing to land mines and global warming, some European leaders and U.S. Democrats suggest President Bush is drawing America into a new era of isolationism. -more-

Q. I have a humming noise in my water lines, caused by a vibration that results when the tank float valve in my toilet nears shutoff. Is there a way to fix it other than by replacing the float and shut-off valve assembly? -more-

I’ll take it, oh yes, I’ll take it! -more-

SAN JOSE — Computer and printer giant Hewlett-Packard Co. lowered its revenue forecasts again Thursday and said it is slashing an additional 6,000 jobs, more than 6 percent of its work force, because consumer spending worldwide on technology has only gotten worse. -more-

WASHINGTON — The minority homeownership rate climbed to a record-high 48.8 percent in the second quarter of 2001, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez said Thursday. -more-

Learn to look for clues of food allergens where you might not expect them, counsels a New York University Medical Center specialist. -more-

The City Council was poised early Wednesday morning to render a decision on a land use issue that had bitterly divided two communities in north Berkeley when the opposing sides announced a last-minute compromise. -more-

Thursday, July 26

Black teachers can wipe out racial prejudice -more-

924 Gilman St. Music at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. July 27: Throw Down, Glood Clean Fun, Count Me Out, Time Flies, Faded Grey, Lab Rats; July 28: Over My Dead Body, Carry On, Merrick, Some Still Believe, Black Lung Patriots; Aug. 3: Sworn Vengeance, N.J. Bloodline, Settle the Score, Existence, Step; Aug. 4: Toxic Narcotic, Menstrual Tramps, Emo Summer, Four Letter Word, Shitty Wickets; $5. 924 Gilman St. 525-9926. -more-

Barons get some clutch hits, take advantage of Clayton Valley miscues -more-

YMCA isn’t just for excercise anymore -more-

FUKUOKA, Japan – One of the big downsides of going to the World Swimming Championships for Haley Cope was that she had to miss her mother’s 40th birthday. -more-

As part of a statewide campaign to get pharmacies to stop selling tobacco products, members of the Berkeley Tobacco Prevention Coalition are pressuring local “chain” pharmacies to remove cigarettes from their shelves. -more-

By approving a design scheme for a proposed mixed-use retail, housing, and art space to take the place of a parking lot on Oxford Street, the City Council provided a wish list for the community. -more-

A local environmental group recently filed a notice of violation against a playground manufacturer who sold an arsenic-treated playstructure to a Berkeley school. -more-

Among investments, there is probably no greater performance contrast over the past year than that between housing and stocks. -more-

WASHINGTON — Even though Americans bought fewer previously occupied homes in June, sales were at near record levels, suggesting that this main pillar of the economy remains sturdy. -more-

Hours of input heard before votes -more-

Wednesday, July 25

Bush tax relief is just not enough -more-

924 Gilman St. Music at 8 p.m. unless otherwise noted. July 27: Throw Down, Glood Clean Fun, Count Me Out, Time Flies, Faded Grey, Lab Rats; July 28: Over My Dead Body, Carry On, Merrick, Some Still Believe, Black Lung Patriots; Aug. 3: Sworn Vengeance, N.J. Bloodline, Settle the Score, Existence, Step; Aug. 4: Toxic Narcotic, Menstrual Tramps, Emo Summer, Four Letter Word, Shitty Wickets; $5. 924 Gilman St. 525-9926. -more-

Nine protesters chanting “Books not bars, schools not jails” were arrested Tuesday for disrupting a public hearing in front of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors on whether a 450-bed Juvenile Hall should be built in Dublin. -more-

Air travel for the average person has become increasingly inconvenient with the rising number of reported complaints against airlines for overbooked flights, delayed departures and lost luggage. -more-

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center announced last week it will cut about 300 jobs throughout California by the end of the summer to stop their on-going financial hemorrhage. -more-

OAKLAND — The City Council voted Tuesday night cut in half the number of plants a medical marijuana grower can cultivate – but left the limit at a still sizable garden of up to 72 plants. -more-

OAKLAND — The Alameda County grand jury has recommended that the county board of education be eliminated or run by a financial expert after officials in one school district mishandled money. -more-

NEW YORK — Stock prices dropped sharply Tuesday with the Dow industrials tumbling by triple digits for a second day on a spate of bad news – a wider-than-expected loss from Lucent Technologies, lower profits from Exxon Mobil and revenue warnings from Amazon.com and AT&T. -more-

WASHINGTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee will examine whether Microsoft is improperly shutting out rivals and hurting consumers, wading into an antitrust dispute as the company prepares to the new version of its Windows operating system. -more-

The City Council is expected to approve a new police retirement package tonight that might entice veteran officers to leave the department – forcing the city into a competitive job market for new recruits. -more-

Tuesday, July 24

The Berkeley City Council can rightly be applauded for the effort it has made to help fund the expansion of some local arts groups seeking to locate new facilities downtown to develop their audiences. -more-

MUSIC

Supporters of sweeping reforms for Berkeley High School say they are building a broad base of support over the summer and will make a strong case to the Berkeley School Board in September, calling on board members to give their unequivocal support to the effort. -more-

The City Council is expected to vote tonight on the controversial proposal by the Beth El congregation to build a synagogue, school and social hall at 1301 Oxford St. -more-

The African American firefighter suing the city and California OSHA because he believes a state regulation regarding fire masks is discriminatory, is now asking the City Council for support. -more-

To do some things, Emily Hancock thinks, a woman’s got to have moxie. -more-

A 15-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by a pair of young men while exercising at the Downtown Berkeley YMCA at 7:30 p.m. Friday, said Berkeley Police Lt. Russell Lopes. -more-

LOS ANGELES — U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham unveiled a $300 million plan Monday to break a transmission-line bottleneck that has kept power from flowing freely through the state during times of peak usage. -more-

LOS ANGELES — An AIDS-stricken Thai boy used as a prop by immigrant smugglers will stay in the country and become the first applicant for a new kind of visa for victims of trafficking and violence, U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft said Monday. -more-

SACRAMENTO — The state budget cleared its final legislative hurdle Monday night, more than three weeks after it was supposed to take effect. -more-

SACRAMENTO — Voters could decide to ban the cutting of any tree that grew before California became a state in 1850, if a coalition succeeds in putting the initiative on next year’s ballot. -more-

A consulting firm recently reported that a large percentage of companies it surveyed continued to give managers performance bonuses despite the company’s poor performance. -more-

LOS ANGELES — In a deal that will give The Walt Disney Co. valuable distribution and News Corp. cash to finance an acquisition of its own, Disney is buying Fox Family Worldwide Inc. for $3 billion in cash and assuming debt of $2.3 billion. -more-

Port expansion could bring jobs -more-

STIRLING CITY — Life here is like a thousand towns across the West. The landscape is green and rolling, the days are quiet, and the air smells clean. -more-

Amid increasing attention on the plight of sweatshop workers, Gov. Gray Davis signed into law a $2 million budget increase Thursday for the California’s labor law enforcers. -more-

Dead woman found found floating near Marina -more-

SACRAMENTO — If you are a California farmer, you could save thousands of dollars on a new tractor and the diesel fuel to run it. -more-

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will hold its last redistricting public hearing next Tuesday, before adopting the final plan setting the county’s new boundaries. -more-