BUSD recovery plan thrown into chaos -more-
’Jackets face rematch with De La Salle in second round on Thursday -more-
An outpouring of soccer dads and youth donning baseball caps at Old City Hall Tuesday night was not enough to persuade city leaders to push for more athletic fields in the community, at least where the sports activists wanted them. -more-
One in 10 Alameda County residents suffered from asthma in the past year, well above the statewide average, according to a new study released Tuesday. -more-
Who thought the voter redistricting process was over? Not Merrilie Mitchell. -more-
Today is Wednesday, May 8, the 128th day of 2002. There are 237 days left in the year. -more-
OAKLAND — Earth First! activist Darryl Cherney strummed a guitar and sang “Spike a Tree for Jesus” as he finished testifying Tuesday in a lawsuit claiming he and fellow activist Judi Bari were framed by police and FBI agents. -more-
OAKLAND, CA — Following the trial hearings on Thursday, a press conference will be held in front of the Oakland Federal Courthouse (1301 Clay St.) featuring members of the Judi Bari Solidarity Coalition: Medea Benjamin Global Exchange, San Francisco; Randy Hayes, Rainforest Action Network; Gar Smith, Earth Island Institute; and Juliette Majot, International Rivers Network. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — According to the tobacco industry, sick or dead smokers in California cannot sue cigarette manufacturers for any smoking-related injuries sustained before 1998. -more-
SACRAMENTO — A bond measure to begin construction of a 700-mile high-speed rail system linking California’s major cities easily passed its first test Tuesday, but the plan faces bigger obstacles down the road. -more-
SACRAMENTO — A fight between public-interest groups and the powerful accounting industry is building in California’s Legislature, following Congress’ approval of a bill consumer advocates call a “red herring of reform” of auditors and accountants. -more-
Today is Tuesday, May 7, the 127th day of 2002. There are 238 days left in the year. -more-
Steve Nash and the Dallas Mavericks silenced the cowbells by beating the Sacramento Kings at their own thrilling game. -more-
Jubilation from the weekend’s mayoral nomination of Tom Bates is being tempered by the critical reactions from political opponents. -more-
Curtis Williams, paralyzed from the neck down while playing football for the University of Washington in October 2000, died Monday. He was 24. -more-
With the state facing a deficit as high as $22 billion, about 250 Berkeley residents are expected join over 1,500 Bay Area activists in Sacramento Wednesday, calling on the state legislature to spare the education budget. -more-
San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan, among the NBA’s leaders in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, has won the league’s Most Valuable Player award, a league source said Monday. -more-
Earth First! activist Darryl Cherney took the stand for the first time Monday in his high-profile case against members of the FBI and Oakland Police Department. -more-
A jury upheld an eviction order against long-time Berkeley resident Larry Menard, despite claims that Menard and his family are being forced out in an attempt to remove residents and raise rents at the 2327 Prince St. apartment building. -more-
OAKLAND, Calif. — City leaders are looking for solutions after a rash of unrelated weekend slayings left six young black men dead. -more-
SACRAMENTO — A lawyer for the state Department of General Services testified Monday that she had grave concerns about a $95 million software contract with Oracle Corp. that she first saw the day it was signed. -more-
Former Assemblyman wins progressive nomination at Saturday’s convention -more-
The Berkeley High girls’ lacrosse team defeated Bishop O’Dowd, 6-1, on Saturday to clinch the Golden Gate-Shoreline Lacrosse League title with an undefeated league season. Senior Elena Krieger led the way for Berkeley with three goals. -more-
Recycling is theme -more-
Worshipers seeking a spiritual lift at the Salvation Army service yesterday came up a bit short. -more-
To the Editor: -more-
Cal put forth its best effort but was swept at the Big Meet for the second year in a row Saturday at Edwards Stadium. On men’s side, the Cardinal won 94-69, marking its first victory at Cal since 1966. The Cardinal women posted a 101-62 victory. -more-
Twelve years after two Earth First! activists were arrested in the bombing of their own car, investigators facing accusations of false arrest have sharply different recollections of the case. -more-
STANFORD – In a game that followed the pattern of the series, the Cal baseball team played No. 9 ranked Stanford well through the first few innings but couldn’t hold off the Cardinal, losing 8-5 Sunday at Sunken Diamond. -more-
Berkeley’s annual Cinco de Mayo festival had a new address and a new attitude this year, as organizers chose to shed the holiday’s rollicking party image in favor of a more subdued block party setting. -more-
Accompanied by brass bands and flag-waving school children, members of Mexico’s military celebrated the 140th anniversary of the Battle of Puebla on Sunday, marking the country’s Cinco de Mayo celebration. -more-
SANTA ANA — Two friends from Pakistan, who hoped for opportunity in the United States but instead found themselves jailed in a post-Sept. 11 roundup, are heading home after spending more than six months in custody. -more-
SACRAMENTO — While a legislative committee investigating the state’s software contract with Oracle Corp. meets Monday, Gov. Gray Davis’ finance director and Oracle officials will discuss killing the contract criticized as wasteful. -more-
MISSION VIEJO — A Mission Viejo park was temporarily closed Sunday after several half-dollar sized pieces of broken glass were found near a child’s slide, officials said. -more-
Bilingual cooperation just one example of network’s ideas for Spanish-language integration -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Police officers are conflicted about whether to return marijuana to someone who’s legally entitled to use the drug for medical reasons. -more-
MOUNTAIN VIEW — Former actor John Barrymore III is recovering after being beaten inside his home by teenagers who were allegedly trying to steal his stash of marijuana, police said. Six teenagers pulled up to Barrymore’s upscale house in Mountain View in a Volkswagen van Wednesday, said police spokesman Jim Bennett. When the couple opened the door, they were beaten with a metal trailer hitch slung in a sock. Barrymore, 47, is the grandson of the Shakespearean actor and silent film star with the same name. Now dabbling in high-tech work, he has had minor roles in several movies and he is the brother of Drew Barrymore. -more-
Routine, superstition and will power guide students as -more-
Berkeley's first electric streetcar lines were established in 1891 and ran from Oakland to Berkeley along both Grove Street (now Martin Luther King Jr. Way) and Shattuck Avenue. Blue cars ran on Grove Street displaying the sign "Lorin" on the front; red cars ran on Shattuck Avenue with the sign "Shattuck." In 1892 a connection was made between these lines by way of the university, and an electric streetcar line was also opened on Telegraph Avenue. -more-
LOS ANGELES — When WNBC reporter Darlene Rodriguez finished filing a report on the recent meeting of U.S. bishops at the Vatican, she switched hats and filed a second report in Spanish for the Telemundo network and its New York affiliate. -more-
Benny Goldenberg said he’s never hit a ball so far in his life. -more-
A federal judge ruled against several medical marijuana clubs Friday, and in favor of the federal government, possibly indicating a wider clamp-down on medical marijuana use. -more-
To the Editor: -more-
St. Mary’s scores 14 runs on just 10 hits as Alfert goes deep in the first inning -more-
A Berkeley web site that has funneled more than 330,000 letters to Israeli, Palestinian and American policymakers urging peace in the Middle East is facing a financial crisis. -more-
Boys’ lacrosse on track for home field advantage in first round of Northern California playoffs -more-
Forget about license plates. -more-
The Berkeley High girls’ lacrosse team will take on Bishop O’Dowd High on Saturday at Cal’s Memorial Stadium with a lot on the line. Berkeley beat the Dragons by one goal in the teams’ first meeting, and Saturday’s game will determine the Shoreline Lacrosse League champion. -more-
Today is Saturday, May 4, the 124th day of 2002. There are 241 days left in the year. -more-
OAKLAND, Calif. — A federal judge on Friday denied an effort by commercial fishermen, American Indian tribes and environmental groups to release more water into the dwindling Klamath River. -more-
If the minister of a Protestant church falls in love with a consenting adult from his congregation, professional ethics dictate the minister offer his resignation to pursue the relationship. It may sound strange. But it happened this way at a Disciples of Christ church in Lafayette, just 10 miles east of Berkeley, where a minister and associate minister fell in love. -more-
OAKLAND (BCN) – With the banner of “No More Secrets,'' the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland is launching a ministry program to help those who have been sexually abused by priests. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) – Cinco de Mayo festivities may have lost some sizzle in San Francisco’s Mission District this year, since there’ll be no street parade leading into the Civic Center festival. -more-
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao wrapped up his week-long U.S. tour Friday with a meeting at Intel Corp., highlighting the deepening connection between China and the American high-tech industry. -more-
LOS ANGELES — SonicBlue, the maker of the ReplayTV digital video recorder, will challenge a court order to track the viewing practices of customers and send the data to TV networks and film studios, the company said Friday. -more-
CONCORD, N.H. — The only time most people forage for food is when the cupboards are bare and they find themselves scrounging through the refrigerator, struggling to turn a can of peas, moldy bread and ketchup into dinner. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Evidence of insurance polices for the lives of slaves surfaced in records that six companies submitted to the California Department of Insurance. -more-
Global sea levels are likely to rise higher this century than previously predicted according to calculations made by glaciologists at the University of Colorado at Boulder. -more-
is muscular arm covered up to the elbow in massive, ink-stained gloves, delivery driver Jose Gomez pointed toward a long row of his nemesis — Berkeley’s parking meters. More specifically, Berkeley’s broken parking meters. -more-
Computer monitors, surfboards, desk lamps and the other detritus of the school year will soon begin to appear on Berkeley streets in an end-of-the-year ritual that irks the university and the city. -more-
SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Catholic Diocese of San Jose announced Friday it had begun to form a task force that will review the diocese’s policy regarding clergy sexual abuse. -more-
LOS ANGELES — A libel lawsuit filed against Erin Brockovich by her ex-husband has been settled, Brockovich’s attorney said Friday. -more-
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Police who received 22 sex-abuse allegations from the Diocese of San Bernardino last week have forwarded most of them to law enforcement in 16 other communities. -more-
OAKLAND, Calif. — “No More Secrets” is the motto of a groundbreaking effort by Roman Catholic priests and survivors of clergy abuse in the Oakland diocese to work together to forgive and heal. -more-
The 51 names added Friday to the Freedom Forum Journalists Memorial in the Washington suburb of Arlington, Va. All these journalists were killed in 2001. The country in parentheses indicates the nationality of the journalist’s news organization: -more-
Two hundred pro-Palestinian protesters marched on UC Berkeley’s California Hall Thursday afternoon, protesting the suspension of Students for Justice in Palestine, calling on the UC system to divest from Israel and demanding a meeting with UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Berdahl. -more-
aTo the Editor: -more-
It’s good to see the UC Theatre back on its feet. Thanks to the Shotgun Players’ production of "Medea," the historic theater on University Avenue is once again home to audiences. Shotgun pulled off a coup renovating the space and adapting it to their needs, and also they’ve renovated "Medea" – a classical play which, tragically, always seems timely. -more-
Dragons score five goals in fourth quarter to take over a share of first place -more-
State may “balance its budget on the backs of cities,” mayor says -more-
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Ernest Hemingway is among the most well-studied American authors, but hundreds of thousands of his own words have never been examined or published. -more-
Just week’s after the city’s Peace and Justice Commission drew controversy with its Mideast resolution widely perceived as anti-Israeli, five new appointments have jolted the politically-wrenched group. -more-
MANILA, Philippines — Glittery Hong Kong dramas dominate prime time in Malaysia and Singapore. Latin America’s steamy telenovellas heat up the screen in the Philippines. In Vietnam, viewers follow the tangled twists of a half-dozen Chinese dramas. -more-
Today is Friday, May 3, the 123rd day of 2002. There are 242 days left in the year. -more-
Rangers say other vehicle-related crimes are on the rise in area parks -more-
SACRAMENTO — The California Senate, in a bow to environmental activists and fears of global warming, passed the nation’s first bill Thursday proposing to limit carbon dioxide emissions from vehicle exhaust. -more-
SACRAMENTO — California approved hundreds of logging plans affecting hundreds of thousands of acres although a regional water board failed to review the plans as required by law, an environmental law suit charged Thursday. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Protesters for the cause of Tibet and the island of Taiwan were at the corner of Taylor and O'Farrell streets in San Francisco yesterday demonstrating against the official visit of Chinese Vice President Hu Jingtao. -more-
The man in the cowboy hat walked into Monterey Market like a poor man’s Johnny Cash. Dressed in black, right down to the leather vest and matching boots, he coughed into a closed fist and strode passed the Japanese cucumbers and fresh bread and into the sliver of a liquor isle. -more-
Television decorating guru Lynette Jennings is a strong advocate of personal style. From her program on the Discovery Channel, “Lynette Jennings Design,” to her own diverse two homes, she lives it. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — One-stop telephone service Advanced TelCom Group filed for bankruptcy protection Thursday and said it will try to sell the company while it dismantles an expansion that backfired in the high-tech slump. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — California’s highest court has ruled Nike Inc. can be sued by a man alleging the athletic shoe and apparel maker violated false advertising laws with an ad campaign defending the wages, treatment and safety conditions of workers at overseas factories. -more-
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (Dow Jones/AP) — Handspring Inc.’s chief financial officer, Bernard Whitney, will resign for personal reasons effective July 1, the company said Thursday. -more-
SACRAMENTO — A second congressman raised questions Thursday about a top Interior Department official’s impartiality in dealing with West Coast Indian tribes. -more-
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis’ office dispatched highway patrol officers Thursday to prevent document shredding at a state department involved in approving a much-criticized state computer contract. -more-
The burning question in certain political circles is whether former state Assemblyman Tom Bates will run for Berkeley mayor this November. -more-
Today is Thursday, May 2, the 122nd day of 2002. There are 243 days left in the year. -more-
“The Art History Museum of Berkeley” Masterworks by Guy Colwell. Faithful copies of several artists from the past, Ongoing. Call ahead for hours. Atelier 9, 2028 Ninth St., 841-4210, www.atelier9.com. -more-
Sean Souders threw a two-hitter and DeAndre Miller had a pair of clutch singles as the Berkeley Yellowjackets beat Pinole Valley, 4-0, on Wednesday at San Pablo Park. -more-
Staff reductions, budget cuts and reserve spending — these are increasingly familiar words, piercing the ears of corporations and communities nationwide, will not escape the city of Berkeley. -more-
Any reforms to current campaign finance law will not be enacted in time to affect the elections in November, due to the City Council’s voting through of a substitute measure when it readjourned Monday evening. The passing of any substitute measure kills the initial measure, which in this case would have referred several proposals to the city manager’s office. -more-
Leaders of Common Ground and Communications/Arts/Sciences, two schools-within-a-school at Berkeley High, said they are seriously considering a break from the high school and formation of a charter school in fall 2003. -more-
PASADENA, Calif. — A lawsuit filed Wednesday seeks to void the $43 billion in long-term energy contracts that California signed to end last year’s power crisis. -more-
LOS ANGELES — With the help of ad campaigns urging residents to vacation in their home state, tourism is on the rebound in California after being severely hurt by the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. -more-
SACRAMENTO — A bill that would suspend rules requiring SBC Pacific Bell and Verizon to share part of their profits with their customers was approved by a legislative committee Wednesday. -more-
NEW YORK — Shares of Oracle Corp. fell as much as 10 percent Wednesday, to its lowest levels since 1999, following negative analyst commentary and the departure of another senior executive. -more-
SACRAMENTO — California’s hydroelectricity plants should produce about 85 percent of their normal power this summer, the California Energy Commission projected Thursday. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Californians continue to disapprove of Gov. Gray Davis’ performance, and they believe state lawmakers will reduce the budget deficit better than the governor, according to a new poll. -more-
Last summer, Tracey Lomrantz was a paid intern for a New York law firm. This year, with a stack of rejections from journalism internships on her desk, she figures she’ll wait tables. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — At the Davis administration’s urging, the California Supreme Court said Wednesday it would review whether the governor has absolute power to overturn the Board of Prison Terms’ decision to parole convicted murderers. -more-
