Berkeley is considering suing the company responsible for the groundwater contamination that has delayed the opening of the Harrison Skateboard Park and has cost the city more than $250,000 to clean up. -more-

To the Editors: -more-

Photographer Andy Stewart first fell in love with photography at Berkeley High School in the 1960s then went on to further study the art at the UC Berkeley Extension program. This month his work graduates from the cafes of the East Bay to his first major solo show, “Ballroom,” at Scott Nichols Gallery in downtown San Francisco. -more-

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Lorenzo Alexander never left Berkeley, but he went from one of the best football teams in Northern California to one of the worst in the nation in less than a year. The short trip from St. Mary’s College High to Cal took Alexander from the CIF playoffs to a 1-10 season that couldn’t end soon enough for players, coaches and everyone involved with the Golden Bear program. -more-

In a surprising development Robert McKnight, an African American studies teacher at Berkeley High School, did not file papers to run for the Board of Education by the city’s Wednesday deadline. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

NEW YORK – Baseball’s labor talks hit a snag when negotiators delved deeper into the key economic issues, leaving the union’s executive board on track to set a strike date Friday. -more-

State regulators, who earlier this month rejected Berkeley’s affordable housing plan – a verdict that could cost the city valuable state funds, received encouragement from an unlikely source: Berkeley residents. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

A 29-year old employee of the Hotel Durant was stabbed repeatedly with a butcher’s knife in the hotel parking lot Wednesday by a co-worker who had an unrequited attraction to the victim, according to the Berkeley Police Department. -more-

A string of five armed robberies of pedestrians early Wednesday morning – three that happened between midnight and 12:30 a.m. – could be related, police said. -more-

SAN RAFAEL — Signs are posted at four popular Marin County swimming holes, warning bathers to stay on dry land because of contaminated water. -more-

OAKLAND – While Berkeley leaders are pushing for a new tax to fund pedestrian safety measures this November, Assemblywoman Wilma Chan, D-Oakland, announced Wednesday the kick-off of an effort in neighboring Oakland to make streets safer for pedestrians. -more-

UNION CITY – When a class of third-graders asked state Sen. Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont, to make a law to ban homework, she said no. -more-

SACRAMENTO — Two California state senators filed a formal complaint against the New York Stock Exchange and the National Association of Securities Dealers on Thursday, saying the two groups are stalling arbitration claims of California investors. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — A former Genentech Inc. computer programmer agreed to pay $76,000 to settle charges she profited from inside information about a pivotal drug experiment, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Thursday. -more-

NEW YORK — The bonds of jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co. plummeted more than 20 points into distressed territory Thursday following a downgrade of the San Francisco company’s debt into highly speculative territory. -more-

When we were younger, we took it for granted that if one lived in an apartment, condo, town house or duplex — any multifamily dwelling, for that matter — sharing secrets with your neighbor was the norm. We later discovered that sound can be substantially deadened between homes — without spending a fortune. -more-

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the landmark publication of Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man.” With its jazzy rhythms and unadulterated views of racism, the 581-page opus won the 1953 National Book Award, and today it continues to challenge readers to enter the dark corners of the American psyche. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Theater -more-

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Thursday, August 15

Three seniors are competing for final
spot alongside Klotsche and Nixon -more-

The city is prepared to take control of a student boarding house owned by a landlord notorious for substandard housing. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

OAKLAND – Billy Koch needed just 12 pitches to redeem himself after a shaky outing. -more-

New Department of Conservation maps show that a significant portion of Alameda County could experience landslides and unstable ground conditions during a major earthquake. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

“When I’m in the air on a clear day, I don’t want it to end. When I’m on the ground I can’t wait to be back up in the sky,” wrote Barbara Cushman Rowell for her forthcoming memoir, “Flying South: A Pilot’s Inner Journey,” from Berkeley-based Ten Speed Press. “The cascading sensations of feeling vulnerable and exhilarated at the same time are much like falling in love.” -more-

Slowest police pursuit ever -more-

UC Berkeley’s student-run newspaper, which was recently faced with the threat of eviction, will retain its campus office. However, the Daily Californian may be forced to cede some of its space to other student groups. -more-

The virus is not known to exist in California -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Just outside San Francisco Bay, about 17 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge, teams of divers are braving frigid, murky water to pump thick oil from a ship that sank nearly 50 years ago. -more-

Shark sighting prompts
closing of Stinson Beach -more-

ANGELS CAMP — An animal rights group has declared the famed Calaveras County Jumping Frog Jubilee and similar contests around the country cruel and inhumane, saying frogs should not be taken from their native habitat for human entertainment. -more-

SANTA ANA — Lawmakers called for repairs to California’s sweeping school performance system after a newspaper reported it was so flawed that one in five students aren’t tested and millions of dollars were awarded based on unreliable scores. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO – The Federal Transit Administration's top official was in San Francisco on Wednesday to welcome about 100 transportation and security officials to a two-day forum on terrorism response coordination. -more-

Suit says U.S. Justice Dept.
official hid information -more-

A year late and $280,000 over budget, the city plans to debut it’s 18,000 square-foot Harrison Skateboard Park – the biggest in the Bay Area – in west Berkeley next month. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Wednesday, August 14 -more-

In the high-flying Pac-10, one of the most important things a team needs for success is a pair of good cornerbacks, sometimes even three or four. But thanks to some classroom troubles, the Cal Bears find themselves facing a season with just two experienced cornerbacks. -more-

Former Alameda County Board of Education member Jerome Wiggins said he will file suit next week against County Superintendent Sheila Jordan, her husband Larry Cooperman and her campaign committee, alleging slander. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Cal junior Natalie Coughlin broke the world record in the 100-meter backstroke at the U.S. National Championships and became the first woman to swim the race in under one minute. Her record time of 59.58 broke China’s Cihong He’s 1994 mark of 1:00.16. -more-

Despite two fatalities this year resulting from vehicles striking people, a report released Tuesday by Washington D.C.-based Surface Transportation Policy Project says Berkeley is the second safest pedestrian city in California. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

OAKLAND – Chris Mullin, a five-time All-Star and the Golden State Warriors’ fourth-leading career scorer, rejoined the Warriors as a special assistant Tuesday. -more-

UC Berkeley visiting professor Pedro Sanchez, the recently-announced winner of the prestigious World Food Prize, said his interest in agriculture and hunger issues began on his family’s farm in Cuba, where his father ran a soil business. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

ALBANY – Elvis might have left the building for good 25 years ago this week, but the “King” is helping two Albany police officers convey a message of traffic safety to teens throughout the state. -more-

Unaccounted funds will cut $2.8 million budget deficit -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Tuesday, August 13

Players are relieved the
deadline has been put off -more-

Rental statistics released last week document what property owners and apartment seekers already know: Berkeley rents are down. Apartment vacancies are up. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

NAPA — Trace Armstrong has never been one to sit still. -more-

Unemployment is high. Stock markets are slumping. Economic uncertainty is spreading. But the story of home sales is mostly upbeat. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

The Board of Education voted unanimously last week to join a group of 90 California school districts in purchasing a new property insurance package. -more-

UC Berkeley union members will receive university-funded transportation subsidies, one month after the university officially offered the benefit. -more-

Today’s Highlight: -more-

A bank teller was injured Monday during an armed robbery of the Cooperative Center Federal Credit Union at 2001 Ashby Ave., the Berkeley Police Department reported. -more-

SAN LEANDRO – Police reported today that a man's hand was blown off and his body was lacerated with shrapnel on Sunday night after a bomb he was apparently trying to build exploded in his face. -more-

Police identify
fatal shooting victim -more-

The plan is to restore the creek and to encourage
the government to make more restoration efforts -more-

OAKLAND – U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer Monday toured the Port of Oakland where port officials and representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard briefed her on security efforts being taken to protect the facility against terrorism. -more-

SACRAMENTO — The state Senate, in a fiery two-hour debate that stirred old passions about rolling blackouts and price manipulation by now-bankrupt energy traders, confirmed the nomination Monday of 76-year-old S. David Freeman as the state’s top energy chief. -more-

SAN JOSE — A psychologist who administered an inkblot test to accused Yosemite killer Cary Stayner testified Monday the former park handyman often lives in a fantasy world and gave psychotic responses to the test. -more-

WASHINGTON — American Indian businessmen from 16 states have created a nationwide chamber of commerce promoting economic development among the historically disadvantaged group. -more-

CEO says government likely to reject
United’s $1.8 billion loan guarantee -more-

LOS ANGELES — The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has been hit so hard by stock market losses and the prospect of settling sexual abuse claims that it plans to cut its budgets for ministry and education by as much as 30 percent and leave some jobs unfilled. -more-

Charles Schwab announces
plans for more major layoffs -more-

SEATTLE — When scientists figured out that sea water drowned groves of tall trees up and down the coast of Washington state the same year a tsunami hit Japan, they theorized that a massive earthquake in the Pacific most likely triggered both events. -more-

There were only 208 condors in the
wild and captivity as of Aug. 1. -more-

WACO, Texas — President Bush, trying to calm a jittery stock market and show he’s attacking the nation’s economic problems, is seeking advice from an assemblage ranging from blue-collar workers to blue-chip CEOs. -more-

LOS ANGELES— Months after his kidnapping and murder in Pakistan, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was finally buried in his home town and remembered as an inspiration to people across the world. -more-

The 5th annual Berkeley Arts Festival kicked off Saturday afternoon with a bang, rattle, “squonk” and “blat.” Shattuck Avenue became a corridor of noise with musicians on every downtown street corner. With crowds promenading past groups of political petitioners, bullhorns of street poets and open-jam musicians, the day was typical Berkeley turned up a notch or two. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

NEW YORK – The New York Yankees needed a jump start. Once again, Alfonso Soriano provided the spark. -more-

The blue line laid on the streets of downtown Berkeley last week is not graffiti. It’s the markings of a city-sanctioned campaign. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

NEW YORK – All the drama in baseball this season hasn’t been confined to the field. -more-

Berkeley streets, considered some of the most dangerous in the state for pedestrians and bicyclists, may get safety improvements if voters agree to a new tax in November. -more-

To the Editor : -more-

MARTINEZ – Two prominent East Bay lawmakers say they support a “regime change” in Iraq, but they emphasize that Congress should be consulted in advance. -more-

FBI reports bridge terrorist threat -more-

SAN FRANCISCO – The assets of file-sharing service Napster Inc. went up for auction Friday with an asking price of $25 million and a deadline only eight business days away. -more-

Maria Magana has an old, yellowing photograph of her shop, Pepitos Deli, taken before a 1999 facelift. Four years ago, her storefront was in as bad a shape as the photo. -more-

I support Doug Fielding's enthusiasm for creating more playing fields in Berkeley, and I don't even object to his support for the existing playing field at Harrison Park (Gabe Catalfo Field) which is an area with poor air quality. But I do object to Mr. Fielding's attempt to ignore and/or distort the facts about the city of Berkeley's current air study at the park. -more-

Scattered around west Berkeley is an unusual building system which consists of pre-cast concrete wall panels with translucent glass blocks set into the concrete in a pattern that created a lattice-work of diamond-shaped openings in a grid-pattern. They are referred to as “concrete grid forms.” -more-

“The closer you get the funnier we seem,” urged the guy on the portable stage tucked into the northeast corner of Willard Park. He beckoned the crowd nearer, smiling. It scooted up with tarps and blankets and coolers so late arrivals could fit in. A bluegrass band enlivened the mellow afternoon air while someone passed out “No War” bumper stickers and vendors sold cookies and drinks. -more-

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Friday, August 9 -more-

If the Cal football team is going to have any success this season, the Bears will have to lean on the strong right arm of quarterback Kyle Boller. But to do that, they’ll have to keep him upright. -more-

The race for five City Council seats is on. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

The Associated Press -more-

First a fare hike. Then a parcel tax. -more-

Thank you Berkeley for listening to all the people and caring for our children, our disabled and the elderly. -more-

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office reports that two suspects in a police chase Friday morning that ended in an officer shooting a man at San Francisco International Airport are in custody on suspicion of attempted murder and attempted murder of a peace officer. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

LOS ANGELES — California’s jobless rate dipped to 6.3 percent in July, down from a revised 6.5 percent a month earlier, as the state added 7,500 payroll jobs, officials said Friday. -more-

AC Transit is consolidating its bus stops at the downtown Berkeley BART station on Sunday. -more-

Today’s Highlight in History: -more-

Four cloned calves genetically engineered with human DNA and currently grazing in Iowa could hold the key to creating herds of identical cows that produce medicines in their milk and blood. -more-

Nothing in this name -more-

LOS ANGELES – California’s jobless rate dipped to 6.3 percent in July, down from a revised 6.5 percent a month earlier, as the state added 7,500 payroll jobs, officials said Friday. -more-

SONICblue chief ousted after -more-