News

motorcross is Not a crime bikers want a park, too

By Casey McKinney Special to the Daily Planet
Friday September 13, 2002

Area motorcross bikers are frustrated. And they’re teaming up to take action. -more-


How many police does it take?

Bob Moghaddacy Berkeley
Friday September 13, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


The Backyard isn’t safe anymore

By Peter Crimmins Special to the Daily Planet
Friday September 13, 2002

Wrap barbed wire around a baseball bat. Beat a friend with it onto a plywood plank doused with lighter fluid and sparked into a table of fire. Then check to make sure he’s bleeding. -more-


Arts Calendar

Friday September 13, 2002

Out & About

Friday September 13, 2002

Friday, September 13 -more-


Daily Planet 2002 High School Football Preview Jackets hope for better finish

By Jared Green Daily Planet Staff
Friday September 13, 2002

Last season, Berkeley High was within 24 minutes of winning the Alameda-Contra Costa Athletic League title. Tied 7-7 at halftime of the regular-season finale against Pinole Valley, the Yellowjackets collapsed and ended up losing 35-14. This year, the Jackets hope they will have the staying power to outlast the Spartans and several other contenders. -more-


Banks file suit over local privacy laws

By David Scharfenberg Daily Planet Staff
Friday September 13, 2002

Berkeley officials say they will move ahead with an ordinance that would protect consumers’ personal financial information, despite a lawsuit challenging similar laws in San Mateo County and Daly City. -more-


Hey you, patriotic folk

Charmaine Soldat Berkeley
Friday September 13, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


Asteroid hunter finds Apollo-era rocket

By Andrew Bridges The Associated Press
Friday September 13, 2002

LOS ANGELES — An amateur astronomer hunting for asteroids may have discovered a piece of the rocket that launched the Apollo 12 astronauts to the moon in 1969, a NASA scientist said Thursday. -more-


St. Mary’s not worried about replacing stars

By Jared Green Daily Planet Staff
Friday September 13, 2002

When a football team loses three players who gained 70 percent of its yards the previous season, there’s usually not much room for optimism. So why is St. Mary’s High head coach Jay Lawson so upbeat about the upcoming season? -more-


Council condemns Bush’s Patriot Act

By Kurtis Alexander Daily Planet Staff
Friday September 13, 2002

Swapping parking spaces for playing fields

Gloria Wong Berkeley
Friday September 13, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


Another obstacle for UC clericals

Jennifer Barrios Special to the Daily Planet
Friday September 13, 2002

While clerical workers sat down to discuss contracts with UC administrators Thursday – the first meeting since last month’s three-day strike – negotiators had at least one additional worry on their minds. -more-


Disputing the housing shortage claims

lan Wofsy Berkeley
Friday September 13, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


Judge dismisses Simon fraud verdict

By Erica Werner The Associated Press
Friday September 13, 2002

OS ANGELES — A judge Thursday threw out a politically damaging $78 million civil fraud verdict against GOP gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon’s family investment firm, ruling that William E. Simon & Sons and other investors were the fraud victims. -more-


One lifeguard costs less than two

Terry Cochrell Berkeley
Friday September 13, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


Learn how to ‘touch and vote’

Friday September 13, 2002

OAKLAND – Alameda County Registrar of Voters Brad Clark has announced a series of demonstrations this month designed to allow voters to become acquainted with new electronic touchscreen voting equipment. -more-



Wen Ho Lee case stirs nation’s Asian-Americans into action

By Deborah Kong The Associated Press
Friday September 13, 2002

FREMONT — Cecilia Chang says she used to look the other way when people talked about “heavy stuff” — civil liberties, constitutional rights, discrimination. -more-


Logging giant sells 731 Sierra acres to parks system

By Don Thompson
Friday September 13, 2002

SACRAMENTO— More than 700 acres purchased Thursday from the state’s largest private landowner will expand California’s park system, perhaps by year’s end, officials said. -more-


Yahoo and SBC unveil high-speed Internet service

By Michael Liedtke The Associated Press
Friday September 13, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — Online powerhouse Yahoo Inc. and regional phone giant SBC Communications Inc. on Friday will unveil a high-speed Internet service designed to convince more people that broadband is worth the extra money. -more-


Web businesses take a 2nd shot at success

By Michael Liedtke The Associated Press
Friday September 13, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — The Internet digital photo site Webshots seemed destined to dissolve in the dot-com meltdown a year ago as its owner, ExciteAtHome, prepared to go bankrupt. -more-


Community colleges make cuts despite spike in enrollment

By Jessica Brice The Associated Press
Friday September 13, 2002

SACRAMENTO — A boom in the number of college-age students and laid-off workers means enrollment at California’s community colleges is skyrocketing. -more-


Argument stalls state’s water bill

By Mark Sherman The Associated Press
Friday September 13, 2002

WASHINGTON — A California lawmaker said a symbolic argument having nothing to do with water is holding up his critical water bill. -more-


Jury weighing sanity of Yosemite killer Stayner

By Brian Melley The Associated Press
Friday September 13, 2002

SAN JOSE — There are two things to consider in judging the sanity of Yosemite killer Cary Stayner: the criminal and his crimes. -more-


This frog has a recovery plan

By Don Thompson The Associated Press
Friday September 13, 2002

SACRAMENTO — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Thursday it has adopted its recovery plan for the threatened California red-legged frog, the amphibian believed to have inspired Mark Twain’s short story, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” -more-


Libertarian candidate spits on radio host

Friday September 13, 2002

SANTA ANA — California’s Libertarian Party is considering dropping its candidate for governor because he spit on a radio talk show host. -more-


Ex-nuclear worker jailed for threats

Friday September 13, 2002

The Associated Press -more-


Bay Area Briefs

Friday September 13, 2002

CHP chase ends in SF with -more-


Bay Area Briefs

Friday September 13, 2002

Calpine says no power contract, no plant -more-


News of the Weird

Friday September 13, 2002

Blaming it on the dog -more-


News of the Weird

Friday September 13, 2002

Boston squash comin’ up -more-


News of the Weird

Friday September 13, 2002

Alfred in Alfred -more-


Politics as usual during UC’s Sept. 11 tribute

By David Scharfenberg Daily Planet Staff
Thursday September 12, 2002

Last week’s flap over red, white and blue ribbons had critics calling UC Berkeley unpatriotic. This week, however, university administrators and students put the name-calling behind them and hoped Wednesday’s commemoration of the Sept. 11 attacks would be free of politics. -more-


Honor the dead

Bruce Joffe Piedmont
Thursday September 12, 2002

Amidst the solemn recital of names remembering the people killed on Sept. 11, I feel our grieving is incomplete. Can we truly honor the humanity of our loss if we do not also honor the four thousand civilians that we killed, albeit accidentally, during our retaliation in Afghanistan? Those people were not “collateral damage.” They had names. They had families. They, too, had hopes for the future. -more-


Calendar of Community Events

Thursday September 12, 2002

Thursday, September 12 -more-


Calendar of Community Events

Thursday September 12, 2002

Thursday, September 12 -more-


spiritual theme for Berkeley Symphony’s season opener

By Jennifer Dix Special to the Daily Planet
Thursday September 12, 2002

By Jennifer Dix -more-


High-powered Spartan offense will test Bears

By Jared Green Daily Planet Staff
Thursday September 12, 2002

Despite an encouraging start to the season, the Cal football team played to a tiny crowd of 24,619 fans at Memorial Stadium on Saturday against New Mexico State, a fact that surprised several Bears players. -more-


City sinks its water aerobics

Matthew Artz Daily Planet Staff
Thursday September 12, 2002

Budget shortfalls threatening to close two Berkeley swimming pools have already cost 50 seniors their four-year-old water aerobics class. -more-


Firefighters say thanks

Marc Mestrovich Berkeley Firefighters Association Local 1227
Thursday September 12, 2002

As everyone is well aware, Sept. 11 was the one-year anniversary of tragic events. The fire service lost over 340 firefighters as a result of that tragedy. An event we as firefighters and a nation hope never to witness again. Shortly after Sept. 11 the Berkeley Firefighters Association set out to do whatever we could to assist our brothers and sisters of the fire department of New York City. As a membership, we went out to the community of Berkeley and began a campaign called, “Fill the Boot for the FDNY.” Firefighters from Berkeley were on street corners to raise donations for the families of the fallen firefighters of the FDNY. As a result of our efforts from the Fill the Boot campaign, the Berkeley Firefighters Association was able to raise $80,000. This money was donated to the Widows and Orphans Fund of the FDNY last December. -more-


Sports Shorts

Thursday September 12, 2002

Lady Jackets start with loss -more-


New head of Rent Board

Matthew Artz Daily Planet Staff
Thursday September 12, 2002

Jay Kelekian, who in 1994 helped lead the city’s fight against the end of statewide rent control, was named executive director of the city’s rent board last week. -more-


Get the housing element fixed

Lynda Hart Berkeley
Thursday September 12, 2002

(Note: The letter’s author proposed a development for 1155 Hearst St.) -more-


Warm words for bin Laden in Britain

By Donna Abu-Nasr The Associated Press
Thursday September 12, 2002

Thanks to the police

Tim Donnelly Berkeley
Thursday September 12, 2002

As a Berkeley pedestrian and advocate for persons with disabilities, I am moved to thank the Berkeley Police Department for their work protecting pedestrians in the crosswalk. Red flags didn't work. There have to be real consequences for unsafe drivers before more pedestrians are killed. Thank you, Berkeley police. -more-


Berkeley disability group shares insights with Costa Rican disability activists

By David Scharfenberg Daily Planet Staff
Thursday September 12, 2002

This week, four women from Costa Rica’s budding disability rights movement are visiting a city that plays host to some of the world’s foremost political experts: Berkeley. -more-


Smog beats the streets

Doug Fielding Berkeley
Thursday September 12, 2002

It saddens and angers me that the air quality issue is impacting the expansion of the Harrison House Homeless Shelter. The shelter is located on the outskirts of Berkeley in an industrial neighborhood because most of the citizens of Berkeley don't want “those kind of people” in their neighborhood. Now these same Berkeley people are telling us they are so concerned about the impact of the air quality on the well-being of the people they sent to this neighborhood that their facilities shouldn't be expanded. Boona cheema, the person who has devoted much of her life to working with homeless people said it best. “What do you think the answer is going to be when you ask a homeless mother with two kids if she would rather live on the streets or in safe, warm housing in West Berkeley?” -more-


Bay Area Briefs

Thursday September 12, 2002

Some oil may never be removed -more-


State Briefs

Thursday September 12, 2002

Santa Cruz Council to pass out -more-


Lab confirms LA death was West Nile

The Associated Press
Thursday September 12, 2002

Plan would change state superintendent’s role

The Associated Press
Thursday September 12, 2002

SACRAMENTO — California’s Department of Education would be placed under the control of the governor as part of a new legislative proposal released Tuesday to restructure the state’s education system. -more-


State Legislation

Thursday September 12, 2002

The following describe bills Gov. Gray Davis signed Wednesday: -more-


The Web mutes its colors on Sept. 11

The Associated Press
Thursday September 12, 2002

NEW YORK — Yahoo.com’s home page was devoid of its usually vivid colors Wednesday, its white background replaced with gray. Amazon.com carried drawings, essays and poetry from New York City schoolchildren. -more-


Police Briefs

Matthew Artz
Thursday September 12, 2002

n Vending Machine Heist -more-


A Changed City

By Judith Scherr Special to the Daily Planet
Wednesday September 11, 2002

When one door shuts another opens, they say. -more-


Today we remember

Carolyna Marks
Wednesday September 11, 2002

The anniversary of Sept. 11 is upon us. The day we remember was dramatically significant in the life and soul of our America. Ground Zero is now sacred ground consecrated by our tears, our grief, our tremendous pain and suffering. It is the place where we became we and us and stopped being the almighty American ego. We, finally, as a culture, grew up. -more-


Cal’s winning, but has anyone noticed?

By Jared Green Daily Planet Staff
Wednesday September 11, 2002

Despite an encouraging start to the season, the Cal football team played to a tiny crowd of 24,619 fans at Memorial Stadium on Saturday against New Mexico State, a fact that surprised several Bears players. -more-


Berkeley cracks down on prostitutes

Matthew Artz Daily Planet Staff
Wednesday September 11, 2002

City Council voted Tuesday to clamp down on brothels that masquerade as massage parlors. -more-


The upper limit of development

Michael Goldberg Berkeley
Wednesday September 11, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


Father Bill O’Donnell leaves for federal prison

Kim Melton Special to the Daily Planet
Wednesday September 11, 2002

Hundreds of cheering supporters gathered at St. Joseph’s the Worker Church this morning to bid farewell to Father William O’Donnell as he left to begin a six month sentence at Atwater Federal Prison in Merced County. -more-


Davis orders more security

By Don Thompson The Associated Press
Wednesday September 11, 2002

SACRAMENTO — The nation was placed on its second highest terror alert level for the first time Tuesday, and Gov. Gray Davis ordered extra security at state buildings and memorial events. -more-


Police Briefs

Wednesday September 11, 2002

n Armed Robbery -more-


Berkeley’s true colors

By Judith Scherr Special to the Daily Planet
Tuesday September 10, 2002

Sept. 11, 2001 Berkeley residents awoke to find that the country they believed impenetrable had been attacked. Mayor Shirley Dean was among those who stared in shock and disbelief as the TV news played and replayed the brutal assault on the twin towers and the Pentagon. The vision of planes crashing into buildings and people hurling themselves from windows high above Manhattan seemed unreal, more like a made-for-TV drama. “At first you don’t believe it,” Dean said. -more-


Today is Ted Rosenkrantz Day

Mark A. Coplan, president, In Dulci Jubilo
Tuesday September 10, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


Calendar of Community Events

Tuesday September 10, 2002

Tuesday, September 10 -more-


Sports network for disabled thrives in Berkeley

By Chris Nichols Special to the Daily Planet
Tuesday September 10, 2002

By Chris Nichols -more-


UA Homes fire victims relocate

Matthew Artz Daily Planet Staff
Tuesday September 10, 2002

Residents of Berkeley’s UA Homes left stranded by the Aug. 26 fire at 1040 University are on the move again. -more-


The heroes of Sept. 11

Gerta Farber, Oakland
Tuesday September 10, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


Alcohol ban at frats may end

By David Scharfenberg Daily Planet Staff
Tuesday September 10, 2002

The Greeks are parched. But relief is on the way. -more-


What right do we have in Iraq?

Susan Rudolph, Berkeley
Tuesday September 10, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


Local Tibetans eagerly watch China

The Associated Press
Tuesday September 10, 2002

BERKELEY — Northern California’s Tibetan community cautiously welcomed a visit to China’s capital by a special envoy of Tibet’s spiritual Leader, the Dalai Lama. -more-


UC too sensitive to media?

James K. Sayre, Oakland
Tuesday September 10, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


Nepal army pursues rebels

By Binaj Gurabacharya The Associated Press
Tuesday September 10, 2002

KATMANDU, Nepal — Royal Nepalese Army soldiers launched a counterattack Monday after Maoist guerrillas killed at least 57 soldiers and policemen in a mountainous area overnight, a government minister said. -more-


Fremont teacher pleads guilty to possessing child pornography

Daily Planet Wire Service
Tuesday September 10, 2002

OAKLAND – An Alameda County prosecutor said Monday that a one-time distinguished Fremont teacher has pleaded guilty to a single felony count of possessing child pornography. -more-


Berkeley lab’s climate simulation closes in on weather predication

Daily Planet Wire Service
Tuesday September 10, 2002

Scientists at Lawrence National Laboratory in Berkeley recently completed a millennium-long simulation of global climate changes, further closing the accuracy gap in weather prediction. -more-


Power Play

Tuesday September 10, 2002

With the need for more housing and economic growth in apparent conflict with the need to protect the environment, Berkeley has developed a new program for commercial and multi-family building projects that promotes sustainability and energy conservation that will also help meet the housing and commercial needs of Berkeley residents. -more-


Bay Area Briefs

Tuesday September 10, 2002

Bay area Indians denied -more-


HP makes breakthrough in computer memory

By Matthew Fordahl The Associated Press
Tuesday September 10, 2002

SAN JOSE — Using molecules as building blocks, Hewlett-Packard Co. researchers have created memory circuits 10 times more dense than today’s silicon chips under a process that could be faster and cheaper than current technology. -more-



Berkeley official was in flight on Sept. 11

By Judith Scherr Special to the Daily Planet
Tuesday September 10, 2002

California museums commemorate Sept. 11 events

By Louise Chu The Associated Press
Tuesday September 10, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — California museums are commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks with photography exhibits, film screenings and in Silicon Valley, a huge American flag made of red, white and blue CDs. -more-


Warner Bros. offers ‘Harry Potter’ over the Internet

The Associated Press
Tuesday September 10, 2002

LOS ANGELES — Warner Bros. has become the latest studio to offer some of its films for a limited time for download over the Internet. -more-


City moves to protect consumer privacy

Matthew Artz Daily Planet Staff
Monday September 09, 2002

Berkeley may become the first California city to protect consumers from financial companies that sell personal information. -more-


The problems with ‘smart’ growth

Stuart Flashman, Emeryville
Monday September 09, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


Defense, special teams lead Bears over Aggies

By Jared Green Daily Planet Staff
Monday September 09, 2002

With an opportunistic offense and a bend-but-don’t-break defense, the Cal Bears improved to 2-0 with a 34-13 win over New Mexico State on Saturday at Memorial Stadium. -more-


Students remember September attacks

By David Scharfenberg Daily Planet Staff
Monday September 09, 2002

A case for taller buildings

Charles Siegel, Berkeley
Monday September 09, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


Messin’ with Texas: Cal wins on own goal

By Jared Green Daily Planet Staff
Monday September 09, 2002

The only goal of Sunday’s Cal-Texas A&M women’s soccer game came off of an Aggie foot, but the Bears got the 1-0 victory at Edwards Stadium. -more-


Festival encourages clean watersheds

By Denis Devine Special to the Daily Planet
Monday September 09, 2002

At Civic Center Park, which appropriately sits above Berkeley’s underground waterway Strawberry Creek, poets and activists celebrated the importance of watersheds at Saturday’s seventh annual Watershed Environmental Poetry Festival. -more-


Against a war with Iraq

M. Breunig Berkeley
Monday September 09, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


Raiders win in Callahan’s debut

By Janie McCauley The Associated Press The Associated Press
Monday September 09, 2002

OAKLAND – Oakland Raiders coach Bill Callahan had an impressive debut Sunday. -more-


Bush and Blair agree about Iraq

By Jennifer Loven The Associated Press
Monday September 09, 2002

CAMP DAVID, Md. – President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Saturday the world must act against Saddam Hussein, arguing that the Iraqi leader has defied the United Nations and reneged on promises to destroy weapons of mass destruction. -more-


Sports Shorts

Monday September 09, 2002

Cal men fall 1-0 to Southern Methodist -more-


Californians mixed about changes since 9/11

Monday September 09, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO – Californians say a lot of good and bad changes have occurred in the United States since Sept. 11, and many believe more terrorist attacks are imminent with California as a likely target, according to a Field Poll released Sunday. -more-


Wideouts atone for mistakes

– Jared Green
Monday September 09, 2002

One of Cal head coach Jeff Tedford’s main points of emphasis has been positive reinforcement for his players. He put that into practice twice on Saturday when wide receivers LaShaun Ward and Geoff McArthur committed drops. -more-


FBI, Oakland police file appeals in Earth First! case

Monday September 09, 2002

OAKLAND — The police department and the FBI have asked a judge to set aside the $4.4 million a jury awarded to two Earth First activists earlier this year. -more-


Bay Area Briefs

Monday September 09, 2002

Car chase ends in Oakland -more-


Federal jury hands Genentech big patent win in SF

By Paul Elias The Associated Press
Monday September 09, 2002

Annual festival’s theme a tribute to Sept. 11

By Neil G. Greene Special to the Daily Planet
Saturday September 07, 2002

Known as one of the Bay Area's biggest and best block parties, Sunday’s Solano Stroll is expected to draw 150,000 strollers to Albany for a day of food, fun and wholehearted fulfillment. -more-


Councilmember speaks about growth

Linda Maio, Berkeley City Council, 1st District
Saturday September 07, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


Public transportation spurred city’s growth

By Susan Cerny Special to the Daily Planet
Saturday September 07, 2002

Without public transportation in the form of trains and streetcars the fast paced urban development of the Bay Area, 1863 to 1915, would not have been possible. The first railroad in the Bay Area opened in 1863 and ran from San Francisco to San Jose. The transcontinental railroad opened in 1869, and soon there were rail lines around the state. The railroads made development possible and created a network of towns and cities. -more-


Dreams Manifest:

By Jennifer Dix Special to the Daily Planet
Saturday September 07, 2002

Gina Rose Halpern’s paintings are colorful, often exuberant works that incorporate references to many spiritual traditions, from Christianity to Buddhism to the nature religions of the world’s indigenous people. For Halpern, her work is not simply decorative or expressive but a form of healing. The 51-year-old El Cerrito artist has a career as vibrant and colorful as her paintings. She is an interfaith minister, teacher, and therapist who believes in the literal healing power of art. -more-


Arts Calendar

Saturday September 07, 2002

Calendar of Community Events

Saturday September 07, 2002

Saturday, September 7 -more-


Cal has no Schott vs. Texas

By Dean Caparaz Daily Planet Correspondent
Saturday September 07, 2002

A depleted Cal women’s soccer team fell to 10th-ranked Texas, 2-1, Friday afternoon at Edwards Stadium. The Texas win avenged a 2-1 loss to Cal in Austin last year. -more-


Sixty-nine fire victims still homeless

By Kurtis Alexander Daily Planet Staff
Saturday September 07, 2002

Michael Israel had been living in subsidized housing at 1040 University Ave. for only a week when fire swept through his building and put him out of a home. Like many of the 69 residents who were ousted by the Aug. 26 blaze at UA Homes, Israel had been a drifter, living in the streets of the East Bay, before rooting himself with the help of social service workers in the now scorched west Berkeley residential hotel. -more-


Terror scares

Aubrey Lee Broudy, UC Berkeley alumnus
Saturday September 07, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


Bears get dramatic win

By Jared Green Daily Planet Staff
Saturday September 07, 2002

The Cal men’s soccer team got its first win of the season in dramatic fashion against Portland on Friday, tying the game with three minutes left in regulation before scoring a golden goal in overtime for a 2-1 victory. -more-


State budget spares public schools

By David Scharfenberg Daily Planet Staff
Saturday September 07, 2002

With the ink still drying on the state’s 2002-2003 budget, Berkeley Unified School District officials say the impact on the local school system is far from clear. -more-


DMV-TV?

Joshua Polston, Berkeley
Saturday September 07, 2002

To the Editor: -more-


SF judge hears dispute over who owns Bonds baseball

By Justin Pritchard The Associated Press
Saturday September 07, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO – As a judge framed it Friday, the lawsuit over who owns Barry Bonds’ record-setting 73rd home run ball boils down to simple definitions: “A catch is a catch – if it’s a catch.” -more-


Grass greener for Bates, Spring

Matthew Artz Daily Planet Staff
Saturday September 07, 2002

Mayoral candidate Tom Bates and Councilmember Donna Spring were the big winners at Wednesday’s Berkeley Green Party nomination event. Both candidates won overwhelming support in preliminary votes and are now all but assured the official endorsements, to be named Sunday. -more-


West Nile virus infects Calif. woman

By Andrew Bridges The Associated Press
Saturday September 07, 2002

LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles County woman has tested positive for West Nile virus in what is believed to be the first case of a person contracting the illness in the western United States, health officials said Friday. -more-


Mexican deli closed

By Dan Krauss Special to the Daily Planet
Saturday September 07, 2002

A dispute over a leaky roof has made finding authentic south-of-the border cuisine considerably more difficult for west Berkeley residents and has roused the mayor while forcing at least one single mother to lose her livelihood. -more-


Contractor pulled off Highland Hospital job

Daily Planet Wire Service
Saturday September 07, 2002

OAKLAND – Alameda County officials announced Thursday that the contractor working on the new critical care building at the Highland Hospital campus has been pulled off of the job. -more-


Pot bust pits feds against state

By Martha Mendoza The Associated Press
Saturday September 07, 2002

SANTA CRUZ — Medical marijuana advocates outraged by a raid at a local prescription pot supplier protested at federal offices in several cities in Northern California and across the country Friday. -more-


California homeowners facing rate increases

The Associated Press
Saturday September 07, 2002

SANTA ROSA — As the insurance industry tries to offset rising costs and poor investment returns, leading providers are raising rates and denying renewals to people who’ve filed claims. -more-


Smokers steamed over NYC plan for Calif.-style smoking

By Erin McClam The Associated Press
Saturday September 07, 2002

NEW YORK — The smoke hangs thick at Pete’s Tavern, swirling through the 138-year-old pub as the lunch-hour conversation turns to the mayor’s plan to ban smoking in thousands of bars and restaurants across the city. -more-


Water-related diseases could kill up to 76 million

By Colleen Valles The Associated Press
Saturday September 07, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO — As many as 76 million people — mostly children — could die from water-related diseases by 2020 if changes aren’t made worldwide in the way communities develop their water systems and policies, according to a California think tank. -more-


Stories test airport security, TV and newspaper ethics

By David Bauder The Associated Press
Saturday September 07, 2002

NEW YORK — It makes an eye-opening story: knives, razors and pepper spray easily passing through supposedly beefed-up airport security. But it also raises troubling ethical questions: In particular, are journalists justified in breaking a law to expose weaknesses in enforcing it? -more-


Survey: 10 percent of students have used the drug Ecstasy

By Jennifer Coleman The Associated Press
Saturday September 07, 2002

SACRAMENTO — A survey of California students released Friday found that more than 10 percent of high school students have tried the drug Ecstasy, prompting the state to create a media campaign to target use of the drug. -more-