Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News Updates

Berkeley Continues Suit Against UC Facility Plans

Judith Scherr

Tuesday September 04, 2007

The city will pursue its lawsuit against the University of California. -more-

News

Council to Consider City-UC Settlement Behind Closed Doors

By Judith Scherr

Tuesday September 04, 2007

A closed-door Berkeley City Council session set for 5 p.m. today (Tuesday) could freeze the public out of the process and result in a deficient compromise settlement of the December 2006 City of Berkeley v. University of California lawsuit, Councilmembers Dona Spring and Kriss Worthington say. -more-

Test Scores Carry Mixed Messages for Local Schools

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Tuesday September 04, 2007

It was a decidedly mixed message for Oakland and Berkeley schools in the heavily anticipated Academic Performance Index scores released by the California Department of Education at mid-day Friday, with BUSD schools dropping 5 points overall (752 to 747) from 2006 to 2007, and OUSD schools gaining 7 points (651 to 658). -more-

County Overrules BUSD on Six Transfer Students

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Tuesday September 04, 2007

Six new out-of-district students will be able to transfer to the Berkeley public schools this school year since the Alameda County Board of Education overturned the Berkeley Unified School District’s (BUSD) decision to deny them the transfers. -more-

Greens Say Kavanagh Should Resign If Not a Berkeley Resident

By Judith Scherr

Tuesday September 04, 2007

Berkeley Rent Board Member Chris Kavanagh should “step down immediately” if he is not a legal resident of Berkeley, said a statement issued Friday by the Berkeley Green Party. -more-

New Port Security Law Bars Ex-Cons, Undocumented

By Viji Sundaram, New America Media

Tuesday September 04, 2007

For nearly six years after he got out of prison in 2000, 40-year-old Ernie Johnson kept coming up empty whenever he applied for a job. Even as he checked the “yes” box on job application forms that asked whether he had ever been convicted of a felony, he knew his chance of landing a job was slim to none. -more-

John Stansfield

By Linda Rosenand Berkeley Historical Society Volunteers

Tuesday September 04, 2007

Volunteer extraordinaire John Stansfield passed away on Aug. 18 at the age of 79 from complications of pneumonia. He was the man to whom visitors and reporters alike would turn for answers at the Berkeley History Center. His enthusiasm about Berkeley’s history was absolutely contagious. -more-

New Director for Education Foundation

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Tuesday September 04, 2007

Landmarks Commission Agenda

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Tuesday September 04, 2007

Assembly Passes Sideshow Bill Renewal

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Tuesday September 04, 2007

LeConte kindergartner Matilda Hallowell (top) plays with her new friend Yakelin Echeveste Perez on the playground during the first day of school last week. Photograph by Riya Bhattacharjee.