UC students returning to class today are in for a raucous welcome. -more-

To The Editor: -more-

With a new air of confidence in Strawberry Canyon, Golden Bear football fans young and old attended Saturday’s Fan Appreciation Day, meeting players and coaches on the re-energized Cal football squad. -more-

Pastor and African-American studies teacher Robert McKnight told the Daily Planet Friday that a long-planned, two-week tour of churches in the South prevented him from meeting the city’s Aug. 14 deadline to file as a candidate for the Board of Education. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

DETROIT – The Oakland Athletics won their 12th straight game, with John Mabry hitting a go-ahead double during a five-run rally in the eighth inning for a 10-7 victory Sunday over the Detroit Tigers. -more-

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To the Editor: -more-

SACRAMENTO – Berkeley resident Ellen Gold, 52, was appointed by Gov. Gray Davis to the state Carcinogen Identification Committee last week. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

A young Oakland man was shot to death early Saturday outside a restaurant in west Oakland, the city's 72nd murder this year, police report. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Some airport screeners who are part of a team that moves from airport to airport serving as models for the federal takeover of aviation security got as little as 15 minutes of training on how to screen baggage for bombs. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Juicier chops, thicker steaks and other food produced by cloned animals could be in grocery stores by next year. Atlantic salmon fattened with genes spliced from other fish, though, remain years away from the American dinner table. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO – Discount-brokerage mogul Charles Schwab is selling his ranch, and all the duck hunting that goes with it. -more-

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To the Editor: -more-

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Berkeley is home to many aspiring musicians and provides opportunity for the amateur performer to get onstage nearly every night of the week. Here’s what the Daily Planet found in a typical week of talent-spotting. -more-

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State education consultants said the Berkeley Unified School District’s transition to a new data processing system has been “very smooth,” despite a pair of high-profile payroll problems in late July. Errors are unavoidable in a transition, they said. -more-

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Gov. Gray Davis announced approval of more than $20 million by the California Transportation Commission to upgrade service on BART. -more-

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SACRAMENTO — California’s budget impasse is on course to break records as it heads into the ninth week and the Legislature prepares for the final marathon week of its 2002 session. -more-

LOS ANGELES — Low interest rates, strong demand and tight supply kept California’s real estate market red hot in July, with home prices soaring 16.5 percent over the same period last year. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — A former business executive was sentenced to 30 months in prison Friday for insider trading. -more-

Computer hackers used the Berkeley Unified School District’s network to transmit pornographic images last year, according state and district officials. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Here’s a conundrum for you. When watching local theater productions, do you look past the rough parts that plague most plays and give the company a break? Or do you hope for a higher level of performance that can be found in other small theater productions? -more-

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In a preview of what should be an explosive offense, the Cal women’s soccer team got goals from four different players to win 4-0 against USF in an exhibition game on Thursday. -more-

UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Berdahl said the state’s fiscal crisis will prevent the university from boosting its wage offer to clerical workers, who are set to strike Monday, -more-

To the Editor: -more-

OAKLAND – BART officials adopted a fare schedule Thursday in preparation of January’s opening of the five-station extension to the San Francisco International Airport. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

What’s in a name? A heck of a lot, according to members of Citizens for an Eastshore State Park, who have worked since 1985 for the preservation of a stretch of coast from the Bay Bridge to Richmond. -more-

The Oakland Police Department says that homicide detectives are investigating the shooting death of a man on Wednesday night in the city's 71st killing of the year. -more-

The Federal Highway Administration will investigate allegations by two Bay Area construction firms that Caltrans violated federal regulations by not meeting goals for minority-owned business participation during the bidding process of the Bay Bridge's east span replacement project. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Creditors of Pacific Gas and Electric Co. have teamed with California power regulators to promote a plan to settle PG&E’s debts that could require millions of customers to keep paying among the nation’s highest electricity rates for an unknown number of years. -more-

SACRAMENTO — For the second time this year, the Assembly advanced legislation Wednesday that would make California the only state to ban smoking by anyone under age 21. -more-

SACRAMENTO — Gone are the good old days of distracted driving, when motorists merely juggled coffee, shaved, read a map, drove with a pet dog in the lap and lit cigarettes for the miles still ahead. -more-

If you’re like most folks, your home is the single biggest investment that you will make in a lifetime. Therefore, it makes good sense to do everything that you can to take good care of it. -more-

OLD SAYBROOK, Conn. — Elizabeth Tashjian has spent most of her 89 years trying to prove that nuts are at the very core of human existence. -more-

CLEVELAND – Sitting on the dugout steps before the game, Oakland manager Art Howe glanced at the threatening clouds above Jacobs Field and worried about a postponement. -more-

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Clerical walkout will coincide
with start of classes Monday -more-

To the Editor -more-

Friday, August 23

Having opened for alt. country rockers Wilco this summer in towns such as St. Louis, Chicago, and Nashville, guitarist Scott “Spiral Stairs” Kannberg has returned home to Berkeley. -more-

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Shantay Legans, Cal’s starting point guard for the past three seasons, may not return to the Golden Bear program for his senior year, his mother said this week. -more-

A popular recycling center has won a four-year lease extension from UC Berkeley, ending a lengthy struggle that involved hundreds of teachers, a host of local politicians and thousands of dollars in legal fees. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

RBs to split carries: Head coach Jeff Tedford said senior Joe Igber will the starter at tailback, but sophomore Terrell Williams will get a share of the carries. Igber missed the last four games of 2001 with a broken collarbone, and Williams was impressive as his replacement, racking up three 100-yard rushing games in Igber’s absence. -more-

Company wins a state award
for program in question -more-

To the Editor: -more-

BHS girls’ volleyball tryouts next week -more-

Boy’s blue hair a celebration -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Today’s Highlight in History: -more-

Police arrest stabbing suspect at BART -more-

SAN LEANDRO – The Alameda County Fire Department reports that about 175 firefighters from numerous agencies have contained a six-alarm grassfire in Anthony Chabot Regional Park Tuesday night. -more-

The Oakland Police Department is now able to receive confidential information about suspected illegal drug activity from tipsters who speak languages other than English. -more-

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A powerful, new version of the rocket that carried John Glenn into orbit blasted off Wednesday on a flight intended to revolutionize — and revitalize — the nation’s launch business. -more-

Former Enron executive pleads guilty
to money laundering, wire fraud -more-

LOS ANGELES — When President Bush arrives in California on Friday, political observers will be watching closely to see how enthusiastically he promotes the candidacy of GOP gubernatorial hopeful Bill Simon. -more-

The world’s oldest profession has San Pablo Avenue merchants flagging down police officers. Again. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Wednesday, August 21 -more-

Last fall, Bob Foster was sitting at home, retired after 36 years of coaching college football. But when new Cal head coach Jeff Tedford came calling, Foster jumped at the chance to get back on the field. -more-

When UC Berkeley student Brad Evans died last year because the smoke detector in his Oakland apartment failed to detect a fire – the second fire-related student death during that school year – Berkeley officials decided to take action. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

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A new study by UC Berkeley economist David Romer urges football coaches to strive for a first down or touchdown on fourth down rather than punt or kick a field goal. But don’t expect Cal football coach Jeff Tedford to embrace this more aggressive strategy. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

A small, independent Berkeley lab has made it to the big time. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

The Oakland Police Department reports that a male suspect who dragged an officer behind his car and then led police on a high speed chase has been arrested after crashing his car in Tracy Tuesday morning. -more-

Fake bomb prompted morning evacuation in Burlingame -more-

SAN JOSE — City officials and developers of the fire-ravaged Santana Row development promised Tuesday that their $500 million project, conceived at the height of the dot-com boom, will rise as planned and help lead Silicon Valley out of the dot-com bust. -more-

Scores dipped for the high school class of 2002 on the ACT college entrance exam, breaking a five-year streak during which results remained unchanged, the test maker said Wednesday. -more-

HALF MOON BAY — California fishermen are bringing home a huge haul of king salmon this season — but it’s been a mixed blessing. -more-

LOS ANGELES — NASA has found a missing $159 million spacecraft, thanks to a half-dozen telescope images that confirm the silent probe is in orbit around the sun but possibly broken in pieces. -more-

NEW YORK — The names of the World Trade Center victims will be etched into portions of a viewing wall that will encircle ground zero during its redevelopment, officials said Tuesday. -more-

NEW YORK— CNN and CBS both paid for videotapes that depict al-Qaida poison gas experiments, but insisted Tuesday — without naming their sources — that the money didn’t go to Osama bin Laden’s terrorist organization. -more-

LOS ANGELES — A proposal to place authority for California water projects under a governor-controlled board is drawing criticism from the state’s largest water district because it could complicate efforts to meet a deadline to reduce consumption of Colorado River water. -more-

Few surprises await them -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Tuesday, August 20

A's on the way -more-

Berkeley counts record number
of hate crimes since Sept. 11 -more-

To the Editor: -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — A hip injury forced Jay Williams to sit out practice for a second straight day Monday, leaving him contemplating whether to withdraw from the U.S. national team. -more-

Union says the administration wrongly laid off teachers -more-

LOS ANGELES — Skipper Torben Grael and crew member Marcelo Ferreira from Brazil won the second race in the Star Class world championships Monday to take the overall lead. -more-

The 13 houseboat residents at the city-owned marina are hoping a compromise struck with the Waterfront Commission will end years of monthly fees that they say were as unpredictable as the bay winds. -more-

It’s alive -more-

A woman was choked and robbed early Sunday evening on the 500 block of Gilman Street by a homeless man she had hired to help her move, police said. -more-

Foggy weather but no sharks -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Bay Area officials are looking closely, yet skeptically, at a Los Angeles County program that provides free preschool using proceeds from state cigarette taxes. -more-

SAN JOSE — A six-alarm fire gutted a six-acre section of Santana Row, an expansive $500 million retail, commercial and residential development designed to become an upscale destination for people from all over Silicon Valley. -more-

The proposed legislation
would curb speed shows
and reckless driving -more-

SAN FRANCISCO – A lawyer for an environmental advocacy group said today that she expects a judge to uphold their legal challenge to a Richmond refinery pollution permit as he did a similar one against a Martinez facility. -more-

SAN JOSE — Testimony concluded Monday in the first phase of Yosemite killer Cary Stayner’s triple-murder trial, setting the stage for closing arguments and jury deliberations. -more-

SACRAMENTO — A measure that would require utilities to have 20 percent of their electricity produced from renewable sources passed a key legislative committee Monday. -more-

PGP Corp. acquires encryption product lines from Network Associates -more-

LUSBY, Md.— On the shore of one of the country’s most bountiful waterways, the Chesapeake Bay, two reactors have produced electricity for nearly a quarter century — and accumulated 950 tons of radioactive waste. -more-

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.— Indiana University was crowned the nation’s No. 1 “party school” Monday in an annual Princeton Review survey that school leaders and medical experts derided as irresponsible and unscientific. -more-

SANTA ANA — A reputed gang member jailed on an attempted murder charge was bailed out when someone posted $500,000 in counterfeit cashier’s checks, sheriff’s officials said Monday. -more-

SACRAMENTO — The nation’s largest pension fund adopted procedures Monday designed to root out conflicts of interest among its money managers and investment bankers. -more-

SAN MATEO – A Florida salvage company hopes to complete by the end of September the removal of thousands of gallons of fuel oil from the S.S. Jacob Luckenbach that lies in 175 feet of water 17 miles southeast of San Francisco. -more-

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis unveiled a new statewide advertising campaign Thursday to encourage consumers to purchase California-grown produce to help boost the state’s largest industry. -more-

Seven minor injuries in -more-

SALT LAKE CITY — An American Airlines flight bound for San Francisco from Chicago was diverted to Salt Lake City after a passenger tried to recharge a battery with a cigarette lighter. -more-

SACRAMENTO – Thousands of college students throughout California began classes this week without the financial help they had been promised by the state, and one South Bay legislator has seized on the issue. -more-

Today’s Highlight in History: -more-