Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News

The Comforts of Home at the Sutter Hotel

By Al Winslow

Friday June 29, 2007

You can find a Sutter Hotel in many cities. Go where the last wave of redevelopment has passed through and see what’s left standing. -more-

Berkeley Lab Wins Federal Biofuel Grant

By Richard Brenneman

Friday June 29, 2007

Berkeley’s bid to become the biofuel research capital of academic and corporate America scored another major advance Tuesday, winning funds to start a second lab. -more-

Grand Jury Questions Library Practices

By Judith Scherr

Friday June 29, 2007

An Alameda County Grand Jury report released June 26 on a controversial three-year-old automated check-out system has raised questions about the library’s ability to manage its contracts effectively. -more-

Walters Leaves City College Top Post

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday June 29, 2007

Berkeley City College President Judy Walters, who presided over the transition of the downtown community college from its longtime rental quarters to a newly-built Center Street building, has left her position to take up a similar post at Diablo Valley Community College in Pleasant Hill. -more-

Local Safeways Plan to Revamp, Embrace Organics

By Richard Brenneman

Friday June 29, 2007

Though Safeway’s plans for adding housing to its Albany grocery store on Solano Avenue proved a flop with neighbors, the Pleasanton-based grocery chain is still pursuing its plans for a makeover. -more-

Council Repeals Drug City Employee Drug Test Prohibitions

By Judith Scherr

Friday June 29, 2007

Sweden Detains Former Berkeley Resident

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday June 29, 2007

City Transportation Manager Leaves for Private Sector

By Judith Scherr

Friday June 29, 2007

School Board Approves Measure BB Before Summer Break

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday June 29, 2007

BUSD Responds to Supreme Court Decision on School Race Placement

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday June 29, 2007

Bateman Neighbors Say Crime Is on the Rise

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday June 29, 2007

Early Fire Season Brings Worry to Local Firefighters

By Richard Brenneman

Friday June 29, 2007

County Medical Center Rejects Union Request to Avoid Layoffs

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday June 29, 2007

Legislative Briefs

Friday June 29, 2007

Charlie, custodian at the Sutter Hotel and seven-year resident there, takes a break in front of the downtown Oakland Hotel. In a building with constant resident turnover, he is the hotel's institutional memory. Photograph by Michael Howerton.

Editorials

Editorial: Taking the Pledge, One More Time

By Becky O’Malley

Friday June 29, 2007

The Saturday Farmers’ Market in Berkeley was awash with politicians, pressing the flesh and hawking their latest products. “Will you take the pledge?” one shouted at me, and I fled. I’ve got many historic associations with taking pledges, none of them good. -more-