Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News

Police Chief Details How Cop Stole Drugs

By Judith Scherr

Friday April 28, 2006

While Berkeley Police Chief Doug Hambleton called Sgt. Cary Kent’s drug evidence theft “a profound violation of public trust,” in an oral report he gave to the Police Review Commission Wednesday, the chief’s accounting left some commissioners and audience members still searching for answers. -more-

Bitter Honda Strike Ends With Contract Agreement

By Suzanne La Barre

Friday April 28, 2006

Service workers at Berkeley Honda overwhelmingly ap-proved a contract late Monday, ending a bitter 10-month strike—and the reign of an inflatable rat over Shattuck Avenue. -more-

International Food Festival Lands in West Berkeley

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday April 28, 2006

Ever heard of a little something called “Mulligatawny”? In case you haven’t, it’s a a spicy Anglo Indian soup made with red lentils, vegetables and chicken. Nothing foreign about red lentils, vegetables or chicken, is there? And yet, most of us would think of it as something exotic and even have a hard time relating it with food. -more-

North Shattuck Plaza Planned for Gourmet Ghetto

By Suzanne La Barre

Friday April 28, 2006

A tree-lined plaza. Grassy area for feasting on a slice of Cheese Board pizza. Small kiosks housing newsstands, cafes and flower shops. -more-

Council Jumps into the Gaia Building Culture War

By Judith Scherr

Friday April 28, 2006

When Patrick Kennedy got permits to develop the Gaia Building on Allston Way, he was allowed to build two stories more than the downtown height limit allowed, in exchange for the promise of using the ground floor and mezzanine for cultural purposes. -more-

Contentious Lawn Parking Law Revision Delayed

By Judith Scherr

Friday April 28, 2006

Oakland Teachers’ Contract Meets Mixed Reception

By Suzanne La Barre

Friday April 28, 2006

Opt Out Bill Passes Committee

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday April 28, 2006

David Beauvais: Defender of the First Amendment

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday April 28, 2006

Commission Grills UC Officials On Campus Disaster Plans

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday April 28, 2006

May Day Action Calls for Immigration Strike

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday April 28, 2006

County Medical Center Settles Nurses’ Contract

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday April 28, 2006

City College Completion Scheduled for Mid-July

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday April 28, 2006

Police Blotter

By Richard Brenneman

Friday April 28, 2006

Photograph by Judith Scherr: Berkeley Police Chief Douglas Hambleton shows the Police Review Commission how Sgt. Cary Kent tampered with drug evidence envelopes, through the bottom.

Editorials

Sewers, Impeachment, Alcohol Policy on Council Agenda

By Judith Scherr

Friday April 28, 2006

After a serenade by Berkeley’s Kairos Youth Choir and enlightenment by clever Public Service Announcements written by students in Berkeley High’s Communication Arts and Sciences program to inspire recycling, the City Council was ready to dig into the more meaty issues of the evening—aging sewers, creating an alcohol policy and impeaching the president. -more-