Opinion

SAN FRANCISCO — Anne Cribbs has no trouble convincing people that hosting the 2012 Olympic Games would be a good thing for the San Francisco Bay area. -more-

If art is born from struggle, life has offered a master painter’s environment to Palestinian children growing up during the Middle East conflict. -more-

Colorado mayor tried cocaine, marijuana -more-

A recent article about budget problems in the city of Oakland noted that Oakland city council members “resented” the fact that they were being asked to make decisions regarding which programs to cut, and which to save. Let’s hope the Berkeley city council doesn’t feel that way about making tough decisions, since substantial budget cuts are on the horizon -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Levi Strauss & Co. said Monday it will close six U.S. plants and lay off 3,600 employees, or 22 percent of its work force, as the long-slumping company looks overseas to produce blue jeans that became a piece of Americana. -more-