About 150 teachers and supporters rallied on the steps of the Berkeley Unified School District’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Way headquarters Tuesday afternoon, protesting teacher layoffs scheduled to take effect next year. -more-
The Berkeley High swimming team continued their undefeated ACCAL run with a win over Encinal on Tuesday, making the ’Jackets 3-0 in league meets. -more-
The Berkeley-based Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund filed suit against the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District in U.S. District Court in San Jose Tuesday, alleging that the bus service violates the civil rights of the visually-impaired by failing to call out stops and announce routes. -more-
Just when things were starting to look up for the Berkeley High boys’ volleyball team, a freak injury may have thrown their season into chaos. -more-
The public hearing concerning TuneUp Masters and the possible revocation of the garage’s business license due to an ongoing nine-year dispute with neighbors who say the business is just not in tune with Berkeley had two distinctly different sides last night. -more-
Today is Wednesday, April 17, the 107th day of 2002. There are 258 days left in the year. -more-
Sexually explicit material and its appropriateness at certain hours of the night are hot topics in Berkeley, especially for viewers of B-TV Channel 25. -more-
SACRAMENTO — A nearly 10-year-old California experiment with a once-radical substance treatment program has proven effective in cutting both crime and drug abuse, two groups with interests in the program said Tuesday. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO - A veteran public policy researcher from Berkeley's renowned Public Health Institute has been named the new director of San Francisco State University's Public Research Institute (PRI). -more-
SACRAMENTO — Lawmakers may eliminate a state department this spring based on an audit Tuesday that found a faulty state computer contract could cost taxpayers millions of dollars. -more-
Last Friday night after a champagne gala the Berkeley Black Repertory Group premiered its "In Search of a Legend: A Tribute to Josephine Baker." Written and conceived by Johnny Land, directed and choreographed by Stephen Semien this musical revue exuberantly hits the highlights of Josephine’s life. Unfortunately, with an uneven cast and a thin script, this show never attains the heights of tribute it wishes to convey. -more-
There is, as they say, no I in team. Neither is there an I in workhorse – and you can dig all you want but you’ll be hard pressed to find an I in Joe Storno. -more-
To the editor, -more-
Local educators are sparring over controversial new state legislation that would expand the scope of negotiations between school districts and teachers’ unions. -more-
To the Editor, -more-
The Berkeley Federation of Teachers and the Berkeley Unified School District are locked in a battle over the move from a seven- to a six-period day at Berkeley High School, a shift approved by the Board of Education in February and scheduled to take place next year. -more-
WASHINGTON - Male frogs exposed to even very low doses of a common weed killer can develop multiple sex organs — sometimes both male and female — researchers at the University of California Berkeley have discovered. -more-
Madeleine Lacavoli was ready to hit the floor. All she needed was the siren’s signal. -more-
East Los Angeles, the famed rough-and-tumble Mexican neighborhood, has been a continuing source of inspiration to one of its native sons, Luis Rodriguez, bringing out poetry, political commentary, a memoir and now short fiction. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — State regulators proposed a plan Monday they said would allow Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to emerge from bankruptcy by January, without raising customers’ electric rates. -more-
CLEVELAND (AP) — Defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. increased its bid to acquire TRW Inc. to $6.7 billion, a month after the defense manufacturer’s board rejected an unsolicited offer of $5.9 billion. -more-
The list of prospective challengers to Shirley Dean’s mayoral seat in this November’s election has diminished with the announcements by several potential candidates that they will not run against the two-term incumbent. Members of the progressive voting block of the city council, determined to unseat Dean, have seen their list of challengers shrink, and have responded to their lack of a candidate by organizing a convention for May 4 to determine who will run against the mayor. -more-
The St. Mary’s High track & field program should be a contender for state honors this season, for both individual events and team score. So last weekend’s Arcadia Invitational, the first meet to host most of the state’s best teams, could be looked at as a preview of what’s to come for the Panthers. -more-
Two Berkeley residents will arrive in Israel this morning on a mission of peace. -more-
To the Editor: -more-
Led by a complete game from sophomore Matt Brown and home runs by Ben Conley and Justin Nelson, the Cal baseball team defeated visiting Arizona, 2-1, Sunday at Evans Diamond. The Bears improved to 23-18 overall and 6-6 in the Pac-10, while Arizona dropped to 24-15 and 5-7 in the conference. The Wildcats had won the first two game of the series, 8-4 on Friday and 18-9 Saturday. -more-
Reparations panelists say monetary is only beginning of America’s true atonement -more-
The daily filler titled "News of the Weird" represents at best a misjudgment of what will earn the respect and readership of Berkeley, but what's in it (Thursday, April 11th) is seriously offensive. -more-
Jewish Community Federation march numbers 5,000 -more-
In the early hours of April 15, 1912, the British luxury liner Titanic sank in the North Atlantic off Newfoundland, less than three hours after striking an iceberg. About 1,500 people died. -more-
EL CERRITO — It was funny, just not the funniest. -more-
OAKLAND — Alameda County officials face a $46.3 million budget shortfall, the largest gap in five years, just to maintain the current level of services. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — After complaints of brutality, San Francisco police are reaching out to residents of Bayview-Hunters Point, a predominantly black neighborhood. -more-
IRS seeks to increase penalties for what they deem “frivolous arguments” -more-
.Scene of crime near residential neighborhood -more-
Local municipalities, real estate and building industries say “smart growth” depends too much on state control over how cities grow -more-
Plumas County officials say Lake Davis must be blasted to get rid of foriegn breed of northern pike -more-
TULELAKE – Two men arguing about Little League wound up in the hospital after slugging each other with a baseball bat, and each now faces felony assault charges, police said Saturday. -more-
UC Berkeley venues among facilities under consideration; supporters claim Games would bring about $7.4 billion, new housing and better public transportation to region -more-
LEWISTON, Idaho – The tribes along the route of Lewis and Clark’s expedition to the Pacific Ocean 200 years ago want the upcoming commemoration to be accurate, considerate and develop relationships that will last. -more-
Already one of the largest, caucus’s membership is still growing fast -more-
Proposed legislation would require corporations to change auditing firms every four years -more-
SAN JOSE – In a state that touts itself as a national model in resources in legal protections for death penalty defendants, seven death sentences are set aside for every one carried out, according to a newspaper’s review. -more-
Researchers trying to grow human organs -more-
SAN JOSE – The Silicon Valley’s biggest companies lost more money last year than they earned in the previous eight years combined, according to a newspaper report. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO – The Cliff House, a roadside restaurant that has long been one of the West Coast’s top tourist attractions, is about to get a major and long-needed facelift. -more-
Attorneys for Earth First! activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney questioned witnesses in the opening week of their case against the FBI and Oakland Police, hoping to establish a timeline of events in the case. -more-
A tool used by historians to trace the history of a city is a special map, called a Sanborn Insurance Map. The maps were published for insurance agents to assess the risks of insuring a particular piece of property and were first published in 1867. -more-
The to Editor: -more-
Rare blend of rural and urban music reaches out to prison population -more-
Hard-hitting Berkeley takes over first place in Shoreline League -more-
Ding! Ding! -more-
A letter printed in yesterday’s edition regarding the League of Women Voters was written by Zelda Bronstein, the Chair of the Planning Commission. Below her name the Hearst-Curtis Neighborhood Association was placed inadvertantly. It has come to our attention that Bronstein has no affiliation with the Hearst-Curtis Neighborhood Association. The Daily Planet apologizes for the mistake. -more-
NEW YORK — The third time was the charm for Metropolitan Opera audiences who have been waiting for a chance to hear Vesselina Kasarova. -more-
When going up against a baseball team from a brand-new high school, it’s hard to know what to expect. But even the most cynical observer couldn’t have expected the Bad News Bears to show up. -more-
Scrapbooks, stories, videos, food and memories will be shared next Saturday at the Harmon House Reunion as the members of one of Berkeley’s eclectic communal houses say good-bye to their former South Berkeley residence. The house, a communal living space in Berkeley for working adults, students and graduate students since 1978, has been sold and will be renovated later this year. -more-
When the 45th San Francisco International Film Festival comes to the Pacific Film Archive on Friday, April 19, the “international” of the title proves itself. For two weeks the PFA will screen 34 films and 15 shorts from all points of the globe – from Berkeley to France to Senegal to Israel to China, and ports in between. -more-
Today is Saturday, April 13, the 103rd day of 2002. There are 262 days left in the year. -more-
LOS ANGELES — MGM has agreed to allow New Line Cinema to parody its James Bond film “Goldfinger” in the title of the new “Austin Powers” sequel. -more-
Trunks full of art draw admirers to Berkeley Art Museum -more-
LAS VEGAS — Nevada is challenging the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s licensing rule for making Yucca Mountain the nation’s nuclear waste dump. -more-
WASHINGTON — Several dozen Air Force cargo planes will be stationed at three California bases, providing hope the installations will remain open in the event of future base closures. -more-
Highlights of Nevada’s volcanic past: -more-
LOS ANGELES — Two Greenpeace activists were sentenced to a year’s probation Friday for taking part in a protest intended to stop the launch of an unarmed test missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base last year. -more-
SACRAMENTO — Authorities arrested a former employee and three others Friday who allegedly stole $1.3 million from the state Employment Development Department by issuing and cashing fraudulent disability insurance checks. -more-
SACRAMENTO — The California Department of Toxic Substances Control issued emergency regulations Friday designed to make sure hazardous waste isn’t used by terrorists. -more-
SANTA ROSA — A Sonoma County jury has cleared James Kunstek of elder neglect in the death of an 89-year-old Monte Rio woman. -more-
TONOPAH, Nev. — At one time, they spewed ash and lava. Now, they slumber in the southern Nevada desert where President Bush wants to build the nation’s nuclear waste dump. -more-
SANTA ROSA — A jury broke from deliberations with no verdict Friday in the rape and molestation case against a Santa Rosa priest. -more-
SAN JOSE — Santa Clara County this week agreed to a settlement in the suit involving a San Jose youth whose 1998 attempted suicide left him unable to speak and confined to a hospital bed. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — The woman convicted of second-degree murder in the dog mauling death of her neighbor has a new set of defense attorneys and a chance to convince a San Francisco judge she deserves a new trial. -more-
SACRAMENTO — Sheriff’s and FBI officials here are investigating a possible hate crime after a Jewish man said he was beaten by two attackers, one who claimed to support Palestine, officials said. -more-
KATMANDU, Nepal — A bomb exploded near a school in northwestern Nepal on Saturday, killing three children and injuring four others, police said. -more-
SAN JOSE, Calif. — It’s the talk of Silicon Valley: How did someone break into the voice mail of Hewlett-Packard Co.’s chief financial officer, snag a sensitive message from his boss, Carly Fiorina, and leak it to the local newspaper? -more-
SACRAMENTO — The state could monitor power plants’ maintenance and operation to make sure plants aren’t being deliberately pulled off-line, under legislation sent to Gov. Gray Davis Thursday. -more-
OAKLEY — A government water-protection agency has denied funding to a coalition of environmental groups that hope to turn farm land into a tidal marsh. -more-
LOS ANGELES — Driven by declines in manufacturing, construction and real estate jobs, California’s unemployment rate rose slightly in March to 6.4 percent, according to preliminary figures released Friday. -more-
NEW YORK — The New York premiere of “Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones,” will raise money for the city’s underprivileged kids and children of the victims of Sept. 11, festival organizers said Wednesday. -more-
While I was walking around the 2002 Photo Marketing Association Convention in Orlando, Fla., I felt like a kid in a candy store. Dozens of new digital darkroom tools were introduced and shown. -more-
Yesterday morning a woman drenched in blood locked herself to the entrance of City Hall demanding that city officials draft a resolution condemning the killing of “babies in Babylon.” -more-
NEW YORK — The owners of several Times Square buildings have filed a lawsuit against the makers of the upcoming “Spider-Man” movie for digitally altering a sign appearing in the motion picture. -more-
Alameda wins ACCAL track & field meet -more-
When Berkeley resident Rob Lipton answered his cell phone on April 1, the voice on the other end made him feel a helplessness known to so many of the Palestinian refugees with whom he was staying -more-
To the Editor: -more-
In the opening scene of “Human Nature” a new comedy from “Being John Malkovich” screenwriter Charlie Kaufman, a pair of country mice use their rodent wiles to outwit a hawk. -more-
The Berkeley High boys’ volleyball team came close to taking another step forward on Thursday, but instead the ’Jackets may have taken a step in the wrong direction. -more-
Believe it or not, traffic hasn’t always been a problem in Berkeley. -more-
The San Francisco Film Society has announced that “Minute Matrimony”by Berkeley filmmaker Yoav Potash is the winner of a Golden Gate Award, given to recognize outstanding film production in the San Francisco Bay Area. -more-
The Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday night to restructure the district’s music program, but left the door open for future revisions. -more-
Today is Friday, April 12, the 102nd day of 2002. There are 263 days left in the year. -more-
Richards helped establish Ohlone Dog Park, and helped Finland get started -more-
Passage could have a $10 million annual impact on the timber industry -more-
OAKLAND — A public transportation system that carries thousands of people around the San Francisco Bay area is facing budget problems, which could mean job cuts, service cuts or fare hikes. -more-
SANTA ROSA — The defense spent the bulk of closing arguments picking apart the credibility of two alleged victims of a Roman Catholic priest accused of raping and molesting them. -more-
SAN JOSE — A federal judged has ordered control of eight Monterey County water companies to be taken away from the companies, citing violations of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. -more-
Affiliates traded more than 10 million megwatt hours of electricity amongst themselves -more-
PASADENA — AT&T Corp. is not renewing its contract as presenting sponsor of the annual Rose Bowl game, company spokesman John Heath said Thursday. The decision leaves the nation’s oldest bowl game without a major corporate backer. -more-
SAN JOSE — Troubled music-swapping service Napster Inc. laid off 30 employees in the third round of job cuts since October, the company said Thursday. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Consumer advocates sued state power regulators in the California Supreme Court on Thursday in hopes of ensuring the public has a say in how much utilities charge for power and gas. -more-
NEW YORK — To get their children to eat a nutritious meal, some parents hide vegetables in desserts, mask meats in sauces or even dye foods their children’s favorite colors. -more-
A truly ripe peach is one that makes you jut your head forward with each bite to keep yourself from being showered with juice. You rarely can buy such a fruit, but you can grow it. Get it off to a good start with correct planting. -more-
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-
Editor: -more-
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-
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-
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-
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-
The Berkeley Police Department has released a sketch of a man who assaulted two Jewish men who were walking on Claremont Avenue earlier this month. -more-
Today is Tuesday, April 16, the 106th day of 2002. There are 259 days left in the year. -more-
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-
