News Updates

East Bay Tibet Stores Close to Protest Torch Relay

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Tuesday, April 08
Posted Wed., April 9—As pro-Tibet groups and supporters of the Beijing Games engaged in a war of words during the Olympic Torch Relay in San Francisco today (Wednesday), Tibetans in Berkeley kept their businesses closed to join in a movement very close to their heart. -more-

Healthcare Union Challenges Parent

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday, April 08
Posted Wed., April 9— The United Healthcare Workers-West members who met with the press outside the San Francisco Federal Building Tuesday are in a fight—but this time it’s not with their corporate bosses. -more-

Sewage Spills into Aquatic Park

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Tuesday, April 08
Posted Tue., April 8—A sewage spill discovered at Bayer Healthcare's Berkeley campus at noon Monday prompted the city’s Division of Environmental Health to prohibit human contact with water in a section of the Berkeley Aquatic Park. -more-

News

Berkeley Skate Park Not All It’s Cracked Up to Be

By Judith Scher
Tuesday, April 08
A five-year-old city skateboard park that was to cost $200,000 and ended up costing four times that amount today is splitting at the seams. -more-

Group Marks 40th Anniversary of King’s Death

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Tuesday, April 08
A small but dedicated crowd turned up to mark the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s assassination by reading aloud his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” at the downtown Berkeley Public Library on Friday. The event coincided with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Youth Council’s National Day of Nonviolence, started nine years ago by the organization’s former director Jamal Bryant to encourage youth to fight against community violence. -more-

Portions of Oakland’s Strip-Search Policy Ruled Unconstitutional

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Tuesday, April 08
A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that the Oakland Police Department’s street strip-search policies are generally constitutional—though portions of it are not—but trials in individual cases must be held before the court can determine whether constitutional rights have actually been violated. -more-

June 1 Demolition Will Pave Way For Trader Joe’s Building

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday, April 08
Demolition of the strip mall at the corner of University Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Way will begin June 1, said developer Chris Hudson. Some preliminary dismantling of the building is already visible. -more-

School Board Discusses Re-Use of BHS Old Gym

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Tuesday, April 08
The Berkeley Board of Education will discuss a report recommending adaptive re-use of the Berkeley High School Old Gym on Wednesday. -more-

Disability Advocates Settle Lawsuit with State Education Dept.

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Tuesday, April 08

Chan Charges Hancock With Illegal Use of Officeholder Funds

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Tuesday, April 08

Fight Against Moth Spray Gains Boots on the Ground

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday, April 08

Months Still Remain Before Richmond Casino Decision

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday, April 08

Density, BRT Dominate Planning Commission Meetings

By Richard Brenneman
Tuesday, April 08

A young skater takes part in the city’s spring break skateboarding day camp at the park at Fifth and Harrison streets in West Berkeley.
Judith Scherr
A young skater takes part in the city’s spring break skateboarding day camp at the park at Fifth and Harrison streets in West Berkeley.

Editorials

Editorial: Learning From the King Legacy

—Becky O’Malley
Tuesday, April 08

Letters to the Editor

Tuesday, April 08

Reader Commentaries

Commentary:‘Bus Rapid Transit or Nothing’ Is a False Choice

By Joyce Roy
Tuesday, April 08

Commentary: A Greener, Friendlier, Economical Alternative to Bus Rapid Transit

By Merrilie Mitchell
Tuesday, April 08

Commentary: It’s Only Halftime for BRT Decision

By Alan Tobey
Tuesday, April 08

Commentary: Invasion of the Condo Boxes

By Toni Mester
Tuesday, April 08

Commentary: Why the Governor’s Budget Matters — And What You Can Do About It

By Cathy Campbell
Tuesday, April 08

Editorial Cartoon

Columnists

First Person: Having a Disability Is More Than a Job

By Jack Bragen
Tuesday, April 08

Oakland Plans Reception Honoring Actor-Singer-Activist Paul Robeson

by J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Tuesday, April 08

Zoning Board Considers Expansion Of Jupiter Restaurant

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Tuesday, April 08

Leaf and blossom of Lavatera assurgentifolia, malva rosa, island bush mallow.

Green Neighbors: Endangered in Its Home, Enthusiastic in Gardens: Malva Rosa

By Ron Sullivan
Tuesday, April 08

Arts & Entertainment

Arts Calendar

Tuesday, April 08

TheatreFirst Stages Stephen Brown’s ‘Future Me’

By Ken Bullock, Special to The Planet
Tuesday, April 08

Playwright Comes To Town for ‘Future Me’ Premiere

By Ken Bullock, Special to The Planet
Tuesday, April 08

The Rolling Stones — Mick Jagger, Ron Wood, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts — take a bow on the stage of New York’s Beacon Theater at the end of Martin Scorcese’s concert film Shine a Light.

MOVING PICTURES: Scorsese, Stones Team Up for ‘Shine a Light’

By Justin DeFreitas
Tuesday, April 08

Events Calendar

Berkeley This Week

Tuesday, April 08