Parents, students and high school musicians turned out at a Board of Education meeting Wednesday to criticize the district for financial mismanagement and call for the protection of various programs identified by Superintendent Michele Lawrence in a $3 million package of budget cuts. -more-
Editor, -more-
The announcement of the Academy Award nominees last week inaugurated the annual film buff’s ritual of arguing who will win which award on March 24. From professional critics to café blowhards, to coworkers around the water cooler, to people who don’t let the fact that they haven’t seen the movies stop them from expressing their opinion about them, they all will spend some part of the Lent season proselytizing about Russell or Sean or Denzel, Halle or Nicole or Renee, “Beautiful Mind” or “Gosford Park” or “Lord of the Rings.” -more-
In most BSAL matchups, the St. Mary’s girls’ basketball team just wears their opponents out. But on Thursday, Holy Names just refused to go away, taking the Panthers down to the buzzer and losing 37-35. -more-
Next week the city of Berkeley will step a little closer to reconfiguring its eight electoral districts to better agree with new census information using a plan submitted by Elliot Cohen of Nuclear Free Berkeley. -more-
Dear Editor, -more-
The people in the speakeasy in Verona, PA. used to flip young Gwen Avery nickels to play records on the jukebox. -more-
Seniors lead boys to easy victory -more-
School and city officials discussed the closure of City of Franklin Microsociety Magnet School, parking tickets at Willard Middle School and the value of city-school symposiums at their monthly “2 x 2” meeting Thursday. -more-
Editor: -more-
NEW YORK — He may not know it, but when Bob Dylan signals his band to start a song onstage Friday night in Dallas, more than 1,000 people far from the arena are keenly interested in his choice. -more-
Amit Tamir shredded the UCLA defense for 14-second-half points as Cal routed the Bruins, 69-51, last night at Haas Pavilion in a game that got testy down the stretch. -more-
Today is Friday, Feb. 22, the 53rd day of 2002. There are 312 days left in the year. -more-
SACRAMENTO — Republican gubernatorial front-runner Richard Riordan collected twice as much as Democratic Gov. Gray Davis in a high-stakes fund-raising battle in recent weeks, reports released Thursday show. -more-
Tuesday was the last day for Californians to register to vote for the March 5 election. But looking at the empty registration tables at City Hall that day, you wouldn’t have known it. -more-
Papers show 13 siblings were abused for misbehaving, force-fed and starved -more-
Q. Fran asks: I have well water in my home and of course the water smells. Someone told me if you take out the “rod” in the water heater, the water won’t smell anymore. But what rod is it and how do I get it out? -more-
Many people are unaware that indoor air pollution can be just as bad as, or even worse than, outdoor air pollution to an individual’s health. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — PG&E Corp. said Thursday that it might have improperly kept several complex deals off its books, making the power company the latest industry giant to own up to an accounting slip-up following the Enron Corp. scandal. -more-
LOS ANGELES — Boeing Co. said Thursday it will lay off about 1,000 people from its satellite manufacturing arm in Southern California as it restructures to deal with tough competition in the uncertain economy. -more-
LOS ANGELES — A group of Global Crossing Ltd. shareholders intends to file an alternative rescue plan Friday for the telecom network firm that would save investors’ holdings and kick out many of the top executives. -more-
Parents at City of Franklin Microsociety Magnet School said they will strongly oppose the proposed closure of the school, and criticized Superintendent Michele Lawrence for recommending the move without parental input, during a series of interviews with the Daily Planet Wednesday. -more-
Dave Guest made five of six penalty kicks and the Bears held the visiting University of Victoria men’s rugby team to one try on Wednesday as Cal won 27-7 at Witter Field. -more-
Editor: -more-
Michael Lehet, a 22-year-old UC Berkeley student, devoured a package of crackers as he explained why he isn’t a registered voter. Tuesday was the registration deadline for anyone hoping to vote in the March 5 primary election, but Lehet stood inside Sproul Hall, looking at the rain. Elections failed to interest him. -more-
Editor: -more-
Two programs on BTV channel 25 depicting “sexually explicit” material has sparked a free speech debate that may in fact put some of the channel’s funding in jeopardy. -more-
Editor: -more-
Alameda County is using the $20 million a year it receives from the Proposition 10 tobacco tax approved by voters in 1998 to improve the quality of life for children and families through the Every Child Counts program, part of the Children and Families Commission. -more-
Today is Thursday, Feb. 21, the 52nd day of 2002. There are 313 days left in the year. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Popular online search engine maker Google Inc. is introducing a new program that allows Web sites to be displayed more prominently by paying more money — an advertising-driven system derided by critics as an invitation to deceptive business practices. -more-
SAN JOSE — Much like the airline industry before Sept. 11, high-tech companies, customers and government agencies are well aware of security vulnerabilities but are reluctant to pay to fix them, President Bush’s top computer security adviser said Tuesday. -more-
SACRAMENTO — Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill warned Wednesday that “the fiscal situation has deteriorated” and lawmakers must make deeper-than-expected budget cuts to lift the state from its financial straits. -more-
Parents have a rosier picture of small schools than teachers, according to a nationwide poll released Tuesday by Public Agenda, a nonpartisan public opinion agency based in New York. -more-
When a team wins 11 straight national titles, it becomes apparent that the competition provided within the United States isn’t quite getting it done. That’s where the Cal men’s rugby team is: they haven’t been beaten by an American team since 1996 and routinely beat their domestic competition by 50 points or more. The answer: import tougher opponents. -more-
In closed session yesterday the city sealed the lid on a possible lawsuit against University of California Berkeley’s plan to put a parking structure and offices on Berkeley’s southside. But perhaps more importantly, it sealed the details of that closed session meeting by further deciding not to report on it — disallowing councilmembers to speak about what took place behind closed doors. -more-
Keys a finalist for inaugural McDonald’s girls’ game -more-
Members of the Board of Education say they are poised to close City of Franklin School, lay off the security manager at Berkeley High School and move to a six-period day at BHS, endorsing many of the key budget cuts identified by Superintendent Michele Lawrence in a $3 million package released Friday. -more-
Los Angeles — Speaking at the state Democratic convention this weekend, Gov. Gray Davis praised himself and attacked GOP opponents as uninspired and driven by corporate interests, in what many observers called the unofficial beginning of Davis’ bid for re-election. -more-
Today is Wednesday, Feb. 20, the 51st day of 2002. There are 314 days left in the year. -more-
Though various community members lauded the redistricting proposal brought forth by 16-year-old Nick Rizzo, it was Elliott Cohen’s plan that received the unanimous approval of the Council. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Dogged by scandal, the city’s Elections Department has lost credibility in the eyes of many San Franciscans, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Andy Kampe was six when his family fled the communists in Latvia, fearing for their lives. He still remembers seeing the Statue of Liberty when they arrived in America. -more-
MENLO PARK — California workers paid nearly 10 percent more for their employer-provided health insurance last year than the year before, although their costs were still under the national average, a survey found. -more-
YORBA LINDA — Vice President Dick Cheney said Tuesday that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein’s regime “harbors terrorist groups,” expanding on the Bush administration’s claims of a so-called axis of evil made up of Iraq, Iran and North Korea. -more-
BEVERLY HILLS — Global Crossing, which is seeking bankruptcy protection after one of the most spectacular flameouts in U.S. telecommunications history, gave contracts to a fledgling Internet firm run by the son of one of its own senior executives. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Shareholders aren’t the only ones upset by ImClone Systems Inc.’s dwindling stock price and its troubles with the Food and Drug Administration and an angry corporate partner. -more-
Last week KPFA began its pledge drive just around the same time that Pacifica Radio Network announced sharp budget and program cuts as well as staff lay-offs in an attempt to blot out some of the red ink on its beleaguered books. -more-
SALT LAKE CITY – Plenty people go through life with wrong-headed notions. The difference between Steven Bradbury and the rest of us is that he has a gold medal to show for his. -more-
Editor: -more-
East Bay Regional Park District Board of Directors authored Measure K has so far been coasting toward the March 5th primaries with few coming out in opposition and wide-scale support. -more-
Both St. Mary’s High basketball teams received byes for the first round of the BSAL playoffs thanks to their strong regular seasons. The teams will play a second-round doubleheader at home on Thursday. -more-
Dear Shirley: -more-
Today is Tuesday, Feb. 19, the 50th day of 2002. There are 315 days left in the year. -more-
Editor: -more-
Bush opens trip with discussions on Japanese economy -more-
Editor: -more-
This weekend a documentary following the adventures and exploits of several swinging couples will premiere at Landmark's Lumiere Theatre, and selected showings will also feature a Q&A with the filmmakers Joe and Harry Gantz -more-
Editor: -more-
Airline passengers had their airport routines sharply altered after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and now the way they’re protected has changed as well. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — To minimize the pain of buying lottery ticket duds, people often console each other, saying at least the lost money goes to a good cause: public schools. -more-
SACRAMENTO — For three decades, the legal right to abortion has been a fundamental cornerstone of American life. -more-
PHOENIX — When Rick Piper wants to reward his 6-year-old, he says only one place will do. -more-
HARTFORD, Conn. — When shareholders of The Walt Disney Co. meet here Tuesday, they will be treated to a show as carefully written and rehearsed as a Broadway play. -more-
A relatively new and surprisingly innovative scam targeting residences has been discovered where thieves steal checks, then blot out the pay to the order of line with ink remover. This allows them to fill in the line with whatever name they want and makes it fairly difficult to trace down the culprit, police say. -more-
A miraculous goal at the end of regulation wasn’t quite enough to get the Berkeley High boys’ soccer team past Castro Valley in the North Coast Section quarterfinals on Saturday night, as the ’Jackets fell on penalty kicks. -more-
Editor: -more-
A male sexuality class at University of California, Berkeley has been suspended after reports of lurid extracurricular activities surfaced late last week. The suspension of the class, run by students and sponsored by the university, was announced Friday. -more-
SEATTLE – C.J. Massingale matched a career high with 25 points to give the Washington Huskies a 75-60 upset victory over California Saturday night. -more-
Editor: -more-
While many veteran teachers hobble toward retirement, Rita Davies seems to be sprinting — and she is still vigorously devoted to her teaching career. Known in and around the Berkeley Unified School District as an advocate of the arts, Davies focus in teaching goes, like art, straight to the heart. -more-
Senior second baseman Carson White knocked in the game-winning RBI with no outs in the bottom of the ninth to lead Cal to a 4-3 victory over Long Beach State Sunday at Evans Diamond. -more-
Representative Lee: -more-
INGLEWOOD — Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan issued a call for racial and religious unity on Sunday and condemned the U.S. war on terrorism, saying “there’s a lot of ugliness in America the beautiful, ugliness that can be turned into beauty.” -more-
Senior center Ami Forney posted her second double-double of the weekend in a competitive loss by Cal to visiting Washington, 64-53, Saturday afternoon in its final home game at Haas Pavilion in front of 1,447 fans. -more-
Letter to Editor -more-
OAKLAND — J. Desmond Clark, an anthropologist and African fossil hunter, has died. He was 85. -more-
BERKELEY — The City wants to conserve more energy, and they have decided to offer a $75 carrot to do it. -more-
OAKLAND — Oakland International Airport has announced that its volume of daily flights is expected to increase over the next six months. -more-
Mayor Shirley Dean is proposing an amendment to the city’s municipal code that will ban smoking within 15 to 25 feet of the entrances of all buildings open to the public. -more-
PASADENA — A NASA spacecraft will start peeling back the dry and dusty rust-red surface of Mars this month to reveal what scientists expect are vast, hidden stores of water. -more-
OAKLAND — A car wreck at one of the Bay Area’s notorious illegal car rallies has left a woman dead, a man in jail and top city officials calling for new laws to curb the troublesome activity. -more-
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — Sen. Harry Reid called President Bush a “liar” for telling Nevadans that he would base a decision on whether to send the nation’s nuclear waste to Nevada on “sound science, not politics.” -more-
SAN RAFAEL — Someone scrawled graffiti on the house and car of the Marin County family accused in the death of an infant and the neglect of 12 other children. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — As interest in the record $191 million state lottery jackpot ebbed higher, so did reports of illegal online ticket sales. -more-
The morning after at least three lottery players landed shares of the biggest single-state jackpot in history, the only winners who were talking were the store owners who sold the tickets. -more-
HOUSTON — The University of California Regents will lead the charge for big-time investors and individual shareholders collectively suing current and former Enron Corp. officials for more than $1 billion gained in stock sales before the company imploded last year. -more-
Despite objections from neighbors, The Zoning Adjustments Board approved the Environmental Impact Report Thursday for the Hills Fire Station proposed for a quiet ridge in the Berkeley hills. -more-
For seven innings, Trevor Hutchinson dodged bullets. But in the eighth, he was done in by foam pellets. -more-
Editor: -more-
If you’re more interested in reading about eunuchs than UNIX,and you’ve been wondering about the private lives of men in turbans and women in burkas in 16th and 17th century Mughal India, then you might want to pick up a copy of “The Twentieth Wife” by first-time author, Indu Sandaresan. -more-
Superintendent Michele Lawrence recommended an initial wave of $3 million in cuts, including the closure of City of Franklin School, in a budget proposal released Friday. -more-
Dear Governor Davis: -more-
The Zoning Adjustments Board unanimously approved a Use Permit for a controversial four-storey, 40-unit senior residence on Sacramento Street at the site of the former Outback clothing store. -more-
Editor: -more-
Today is Saturday, Feb. 16, the 47th day of 2002. There are 318 days left in the year. -more-
John Hinkel Park is located off Arlington Avenue in north Berkeley on a steep wooded hillside. A small creek cascades through it and paths meander under native oak, bay and buckeye trees. The almost six acre park was given to the city in 1919 by John Hinkel, a downtown property owner. It was reported to be the largest gift the city had ever received. The park area was used by the Boy Scouts, and a Boy Scout Club house still stands in the park. -more-
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — John Walker Lindh’s trial will likely start in late August, raising the odds the former Taliban soldier will be in court on the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. -more-
LOS ANGELES — Californians looked for ways to boost their luck Friday as the jackpot for Saturday night’s SuperLotto Plus draw rose to $175 million. -more-
LOS ANGELES — Richard Riordan, the front-runner for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, has issued a challenge to fellow California Republicans: Embrace moderate stances such as support for abortion rights or risk becoming “an extinct species.” -more-
STOCKTON — Hoping to save his political skin, Rep. Gary Condit is shaking every hand he can. -more-
WASHINGTON — Two California Democrats on Thursday said they would try to end any prospect for new drilling for gas and oil off the central California coast by letting energy companies swap their leases for similar rights in the Gulf of Mexico. -more-
LOS ANGELES — After months of unrelenting attacks from the Republicans who want to unseat him, Gov. Gray Davis will face a friendly crowd at the California Democratic Party convention this weekend. -more-
TUCSON, Ariz. — Seven California condors born in captivity will be released Saturday atop northern Arizona’s Vermillion Cliffs, adding to the current population of 25 in Arizona. -more-
BEVERLY HILLS — Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, joined by Russell Simmons and other prominent hip-hop figures, called on rap artists to move away from explicitly violent lyrics. -more-
AUSTIN, Texas — Former Enron Corp. Chairman Kenneth Lay wrote repeatedly to George W. Bush throughout his governorship, seeking support for legislation benefiting the energy giant, according to documents released Friday. -more-
LOS ANGELES — Global Crossing chairman Gary Winnick controlled companies that had lucrative dealings with his fiber optics network firm before it imploded, regulatory filings show. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Tundra died three years ago, but Susann Rivera never gave up hope that one day she would play with her furry friend again. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Shares of PayPal Inc. soared 55 percent in the online payment provider’s stock market debut Friday, signaling investors burned by the dot-com crash might be ready to take another chance on promising — but unprofitable — Internet companies. -more-
LOS ANGELES — A federal judge has ordered California to get rid of its “hanging chad” voting machines by the 2004 elections, more than a year before the deadline the state had set. -more-
PHILADELPHIA — Hundreds of youngsters in at least seven states have broken out in mysterious rashes, and some health investigators suspect it might be caused by a new or yet-to-be-identified virus. -more-
LOS ANGELES — Family and friends of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl mourned their loss Thursday, as news of his death reached the San Fernando Valley, where Pearl grew up and his parents still live. -more-
OAKLAND — City of Oakland officials have decided to pay $195,000 to a man who spent 287 days in custody after he was arrested by a pair of officers who have been accused of criminal misconduct in a case against the so-called “Riders.” -more-
Are you a Berkeley resident who has devised some very creative ways to reduce your electricity consumption? Do you typically spend less than $10.00 on electricity each month? If so, you may qualify to enter the City of Berkeley’s new energy conservation contest, "Berkeley Unplugged". -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — John W. Gardner, a trailblazing advocate of democratic participation and volunteerism who became known as “the father of campaign finance reform,” died Saturday. He was 89. -more-
