Report reveals $4.5 million in excess spending, recommends cuts -more-

Editor: -more-

A typical start by St. Mary’s High’s Joe Storno involves lots of baserunners, lots of pitches and plenty of nail-biting. Luckily for the Panthers, Storno’s outing against Salesian on Wednesday was anything but typical. -more-

Honks from passing cars joined the sounds of whistles, banging pie pans and chants of “What’s outrageous? Unfair wages!” at a noontime rally organized by the Coalition of University Employees in front of the UC Berkeley Extension School on Wednesday. -more-

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Duffy, Johnson and Stokes announce their college plans -more-

Armed with a plastic take-apart human model, oncology nurse Bev Hart-Inkster set about teaching patients and their loved ones how to cope with cancer on Wednesday night. It was the first class in a free, eight-class program, developed by the American Cancer Society, that will take place at the Alta Bates Comprehensive Cancer Center. -more-

Editor: -more-

Daily Planet Wire Services -more-

After months of negotiating with Local 2850 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union, the Claremont Spa is lashing out, alleging that the union has deliberately stalled negotiations. -more-

Editor: -more-

Today is Thursday, April 11, the 101st day of 2002. There are 264 days left in the year. -more-

OAKLAND — Two very different views of what happened after Earth First! activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney were injured in a 1990 car bombing have emerged as lawyers laid out their case for federal jurors this week. -more-

LOS ANGELES — Anti-Semitic incidents declined sharply across the United States in 2001, the Anti-Defamation League said Wednesday as it released a report covering 40 states and the District of Columbia. -more-

Ironically, the new anti-Semitism sweeping the globe could resolve part of Israel's dilemma of ruling a rebellious majority population of Palestinians on the West Bank. -more-

The Berkeley Rent Board receives more than 300 inquiries a week ranging from very specific questions about individual units, to broader questions about rent control in general. In this column we will reproduce some of the more interesting questions and answers. Our topics will include permissible rent ceilings, the effects of vacancy decontrol, permissible grounds for eviction, habitability of units, the rules concerning security deposits and other issues of interest to renters and property owners. You can e-mail the City of Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board at rent@ci. berkeley.ca.us with your questions, or you can call or visit the office at 2125 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA. 94704 (northeast corner of Milvia/Center Streets) Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, between 9 a.m. and 4:45 p.m., and on Wednesday between noon and 4:45 p.m. Our telephone number is (510) 644-6128. Our Web site address is www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/rent/. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco district attorney has sent a letter to the head of the Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco asking for any information on sexual abuse by clergy members or church employees in the past 75 years. -more-

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis announced his opposition Wednesday to a hotly debated bill that would allow teachers to bring curriculum choices and textbook selection to the collective bargaining table. -more-

SANTA ROSA — A judge delayed closing arguments Wednesday in the trial of a priest accused of rape and lewd conduct so she could question jurors about their knowledge of an incident in which the priest allegedly assaulted a newspaper photographer. -more-

The Associated Press -more-

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SACRAMENTO — State hydrologists lowered their Sierra snowpack runoff predictions Wednesday from just a week ago, based on recent dry, warm weather. -more-

LAS VEGAS — A new wrinkle in digital television’s sluggish introduction goes far beyond the current dearth of programming and the high cost of the special TV sets needed to view it. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Pacific Gas and Electric Co. electric bills may drop a bit this summer after state power regulators voted to increase “baseline” allotments — the amount of electricity California households receive at the lowest electric rate. -more-

Highlights of the “Consumer Technology Bill of Rights” proposed to Congress by DigitalConsumer.org: -more-

UC Berkeley police arrested 79 pro-Palestinian activists Tuesday afternoon, capping a day of protests against Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and University of California investment in Israel. -more-

NEW YORK - Natalie Coughlin, a 19-year-old sophomore swimmer at Cal, was one of five finalists for the 72nd Annual AAU James E. Sullivan Memorial Award that recognizes the top amateur athlete in the nation. The award was presented to skating’s Michelle Kwan at the ceremony at the award’s new presentation site, The New York Athletic Club, Tuesday night in New York City. -more-

The number of hate crimes occurring in Berkeley is appalling and deeply disturbing. Today, a member of my staff heard the hate and threats left on the answering machine of a prominent local rabbi. Last Thursday, two clearly identifiable Orthodox Jews were severely beaten, anti-Semitic graffiti was sprayed on trash cans, and a brick was thrown through a window of Hillel House. -more-

NEW YORK — Angered at Amazon.com for offering used editions of current books, the Authors Guild is urging members to remove links on their Web sites to the online retailer. -more-

Wednesday, April 10

Peter Miguel Camejo, Green Party candidate for governor, will attempt to distinguish himself from Democrat Gov. Gray Davis and Republican Bill Simon tonight at 7 p.m. at an event sponsored by the UC Berkeley Campus Greens. -more-

The Berkeley boys’ volleyball team got a good look at league power El Cerrito on Tuesday, and it wasn’t particularly pleasant for the ’Jackets. El Cerrito pounded them early and often, winning 15-1, 15-4, 15-7. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

The Landmarks Preservation Commission designated two cottages on the American Baptist Seminary of the West as “structures of merit” Tuesday, effectively entangling the city in a potential lawsuit. -more-

Boys Tennis – Berkeley 5, De Anza 0 -more-

Today is Wednesday, April 10, the 100th day of 2002. There are 265 days left in the year. -more-

Wedding invitation causes anthrax scare -more-

LOS ANGELES — A physicist who served as chief scientist for NASA was appointed chancellor of the University of California at Riverside on Monday, becoming the second Hispanic to head a campus in the system’s 134-year history. -more-

Lisa Bari, daughter of the late Judi Bari, spoke at a press conference after day two of the Earth First! trial against the FBI. “We all hope this is going to work and this is going to clear my mother’s name,” said Bari, 21, who just graduated from UC Berkeley in December 2001. -more-

CHICAGO — Another big client from its home city and affiliates in three more countries — Brazil, Chile and Poland — have joined the fast-growing parade of those fleeing Arthur Andersen LLP. -more-

SAN JOSE — A judge in Delaware has left open the possibility that dissident Hewlett-Packard Co. director Walter Hewlett still can torpedo the company’s $19 billion acquisition of Compaq Computer Corp. -more-

In response to vandalism at the Jewish student center and attacks on Jewish community members during the last two weeks, UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert M. Berdahl called for a civil discourse and a safe environment for discussion at the university on Monday morning. -more-

SEATTLE — Art Howe wanted to talk about his left fielder’s defense, too. -more-

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Tuesday, April 9

In 1995, the year the Oklahoma City federal building was razed by an ex-soldier with a truckload of fertilizer, a small news item from a San Diego suburb surfaced in papers and on televisions across the country. A man named Shawn Nelson stole an army tank and went on a 23-minute joy ride through Clairmont, plowing over parked cars and streetlights like they were children’s toys. -more-

Berkeley Police Chief Dash Butler says many things may be levied at the police department, but crookedness isn’t one of them. -more-

SACRAMENTO — The Sacramento Kings’ penchant for the dramatic apparently doesn’t extend beyond the court. They’ve taken much of the excitement out of the final days of the NBA’s regular season. -more-

Editor: -more-

Berkeley Police are still investigating a sexual assault that occurred about 8 p.m. on Saturday. The incident reportedly happened at the Marina, though BPD spokesperson Capt. Bobby Miller would neither confirm nor deny the location, for fear of endangering the ongoing investigation. -more-

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Tuesday, April 9 is the 99th day of 2002. There are 266 days left in the year. -more-

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SAN FRANCISCO — The government fought a two-pronged battle in the drug war Monday, arguing in a federal appeals court that it can ban hemp foods and strip doctors of their licenses for recommending marijuana. -more-

HOUSTON — Enron Corp. couldn’t maintain its illusion as a swaggering energy giant without help from nine investment banks and two law firms, said attorneys who added them as defendants in a securities fraud lawsuit in Houston. -more-

LOS ALTOS HILLS — Federal and county officials are investigating the cause of a fire that gutted a church with a large Middle Eastern congregation, forcing churchgoers to pray for peace in the street. -more-

WASHINGTON — Republican senators may abandon a vote in the Senate on oil drilling in an Arctic wildlife refuge, believing they would fall well short of the votes needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster, congressional and administration officials said Monday. -more-

After a long and arduous wait, Earth First!, the environmental action movement, will have its day in court to sue the FBI and the Oakland Police Department for alleged civil rights violations. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Monday, April 8

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Girls shine for St. Mary’s at OAL Invitional, while Panther boys continue to improve -more-

Berkeley celebrates grand re-opening of larger, renovated Central Library -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Israeli government officials have blocked approximately half of the messages originating from the Berkeley-based Web site www.progressiveportal.com, but founder Steve Freedkin is still looking for alternative avenues to get them through. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Today is Monday, April 8, the 98th day of 2002. There are 267 days left in the year. -more-

For over a month, the City of Berkeley has posted barriers on the 2200 block of Derby Street reading “no parking” for a certain period in front of six of our houses. At the end of the period they added two weeks to the prohibition. They did this a third time. During this time no work was done. Now they have changed the signs to “no parking” until Dec. 2. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

LOS ANGELES — Escalating violence in the Middle East over the weekend spurred heated demonstrations throughout the state and across the country Sunday afternoon, with protesters screaming chants, torching flags and even scuffling over their beliefs. -more-

Fresno police investigating 51-year-old woman’s claim of 1969 incident -more-

SANTA CRUZ — A proposed peace park has spawned a heated battle among residents, prompting the city council to hire a professional facilitator to calm tensions. -more-

SACRAMENTO – Through complaints with the federal government and a mobilized cadre of lawyers, the state of California is trying to shed some of the long-term power contracts tying it to much higher than market rates. -more-

LOS ANGELES – Executives of Edison International were given bonuses in 2001 after the company, parent to troubled utility Southern California Edison, climbed out of debt and dodged bankruptcy. -more-

In a second straight day of protests, a small group of UC Berkeley students and Oakland school teachers picketed in front of the university’s California Hall Friday, objecting to a decline in the number of African-American, Latino and Native American students admitted to the university for the 2002-2003 school year. -more-

During World War II the population of the Bay Area increased dramatically. The Kaiser shipyards in Richmond for example employed thousands and claimed to produce a “ship-a-day.” -more-

On March 30, our local League of Women Voters published an open letter to the Council and the community entitled “Getting Beyond Fear of Change to a Thriving Community.” The article disagreed with the recent Council action to downzone an area around the 1100 block of Hearst. Since then, I have heard from the neighborhood and two members of the Planning Commission have published letters expressing their disagreement with the League’s letter. Now, I’d like to add my own two cents on this important subject. Our need for housing and where it ought to be built will have an enormous impact on Berkeley’s future. -more-

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Cal starter goes 8 2/3 for the win, while closer gets one-pitch save -more-

Pacific Gas & Electric announced this week that its annual payment to the city for use of public roads to run gas and electric service is $842,000, a $175,000 increase over last year. -more-

‘I prefer stories about squalor,” said Esme to the narrator in J.D. Salinger’s short story, “To Esme – With Love And Squalor.” -more-

After a three-week break from competition, No. 20 California was tied for sixth after Friday’s opening round of the PING/ASU Invitational but was only two strokes out of first place. The Golden Bears carded a 294, their 12th round under 300 this season, to share sixth place with No. 3 Tulsa. -more-

As part of National Public Health Week, 25 members of the Berkeley community, involved in projects from domestic violence to mobile clinics, were honored Tuesday night by the city of Berkeley’s Division of Public Health. -more-

LOS ANGELES — Ray Bradbury, author of “The Martian Chronicles” and other science fiction classics, received a star Monday on the Hollywood Walk of Fame as the city kicked off a monthlong reading campaign. -more-

Today is Saturday, April 6, the 96th day of 2002. There are 269 days left in the year. A reminder: Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday at 2 a.m. local time. Clocks go forward one hour. -more-

Big Brother is watching -more-

The Public Health Institute today released a report analyzing soda contracts at the state’s 25 largest school districts to address how marketing practices to increase soda consumption ultimately contribute to California’s growing obesity epidemic. -more-

SANTA ROSA — Gardeners and compost producers worry that an herbicide used in landscaping and farming is finding its way into the compost, and could wind up hurting plants instead of helping them. -more-

ELK GROVE — Middle school principal Philip Moore knows Hispanic and black students typically have lower scores on standardized tests than white or Asian students, so he called segregated meetings for parents to discuss how to prepare for the tests. -more-

MOUNT ANGEL, Ore. — They say happy cows are more productive cows. Arie Jongeneel is hoping his herd of Holsteins, resplendent on their water beds, will bring forth a dairy deluge. -more-

DUBLIN, Ireland — Microchip maker Parthus Technologies PLC of Ireland said Friday it plans to merge with Ceva Inc., a division of an American-Israeli technology concern DSP Group. -more-

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Setting matters straight about warranties -more-

VENTURA — A Superior Court judge on Friday sentenced a Santa Rosa Valley woman to death for killing three of her four sons. -more-

CUPERTINO — Three families wept and embraced while unveiling new state highway signs Friday memorializing their loved ones, victims of drunk drivers on California roads. -more-

SANTA ROSA — The Santa Rosa Catholic Diocese needs to abandon old practices of dealing with sexual abuse, and will begin turning over to police all credible cases of such abuse involving priests, Bishop Daniel Walsh said. -more-

SACRAMENTO — State’s poets honored/April devoted to verse/Governor’s order. -more-

SAN JOSE — John Robinson Pierce, an electrical engineer who pioneered satellite communications and coined the word “transistor,” has died. He was 92. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Examiner no longer will publish on Sundays in favor of expanding its Friday edition with more weekend sports and entertainment information. -more-

SANTA CLARA — Poems and paper flowers dotted the halls of the school where Elsa Schiefer was known as a bright, athletic, cheerful girl. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Child care providers must tell parents their workers’ criminal histories, but they aren’t allowed to reveal the nature of their crimes, troubling parents and providers alike. -more-

WASHINGTON — An industrial footprint covering 2,000 acres — or a spiderweb of roads, rigs and pipelines over an area of Alaska hundreds of times that size? -more-

LOS ANGELES — Amtrak officials warned Friday that California’s four long-distance routes remain at “high risk” despite signs of help from Congress as it seeks to secure $1.2 billion in federal funding. -more-

DENVER — A consultant for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee said Friday an energy bill now before Congress probably won’t help landowners who have to allow oil and gas companies on their property. -more-

LOS ANGELES — Leaked e-mails sent by officials and attorneys with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles paint a picture of an organization scrambling to defend its handling of sexual abuse by priests even as more allegations surface. -more-

SACRAMENTO — Through complaints with the federal government and a mobilized cadre of lawyers, the state of California is trying to shed some of the long-term power contracts tying it to much higher than market rates. -more-

RESERVE, N.M. — Firefighters dug fire lines to impede a fast-moving blaze that charred 37,000 acres of forest land, drawing within three miles of the main ranchhouse of a well known cattle ranch. -more-

Berkeley native Kenneth Cardwell and Oakland native Myron Collins, professors at St. Mary’s College in Moraga, are among the 12 Lasallian brothers, a group of Catholic priests, still surrounded by Israeli troops at Bethlehem University. -more-

Editor: -more-

Friday, April 5

The advent of DVD technology for home theaters has made the concept of “director’s cut” nearly obsolete. With so much “alternative” footage and running commentary for most movies packed onto those little discs, there is very little thunder left to merit a theatrical re-release of a film. -more-

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Tully throws five-inning shutout, strikes out eight to end St. Mary’s losing streak -more-

Some students concerned with decline in minority admissions -more-

Editor: -more-

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — The publisher almost pulled the plug on Michael Moore’s latest book, fearing a backlash because of its bare-knuckle attacks on President Bush. -more-

Cope wins at Worlds -more-

E-mails, faxes sent to -more-