News Updates

Flash: Judge Rules for UC Berkeley in Oak Grove Case

by Richard Brenneman
Tuesday July 22, 2008
Berkeley’s treesitters and Memorial Stadium neighbors who had sued to block construction of a gym at the site of the adjacent oak grove were dealt a resounding setback Tuesday. -more-

Employee Charges Downtown McDonald's Franchise With Discrimination

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Tuesday July 22, 2008
The Legal Aid Society Employment Law Center of San Francisco filed charges with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Tuesday (today), alleging that the McDonald’s in downtown Berkeley unlawfully discriminated against one of its employees and her two co-workers because of their developmental disabilities. -more-

Candidate Watch: Arreguin Declares for District 4

By Judith Scherr
Tuesday July 22, 2008
Today (Tuesday) Jesse Arreguin became the fifth candidate to replace recently deceased Councilmember Dona Spring in District 4. Arreguin chairs the elected Rent Stabilization Board, chairs the Housing Advisory Commission and is a member of the Zoning Adjustments Board. -more-

Man Recovering After Falling Multiple Stories

By Kristin McFarland
Tuesday July 22, 2008
A man who fell multiple stories from a window in a Berkeley apartment building on Saturday is recovering from his injuries. Police responded to a report of a man down in the 2400 block of Channing Way just before 4 a.m. when witnesses reported seeing and hearing the fall. The police found no sign of foul play and consider the fall an accident. -more-

Community Fears Bevatron Demolition Debris

By Judith Scherr
Monday July 21, 2008
Fearing adverse health effects related to toxic debris from dismantling the Bevatron and the associated Building 51 at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and trucking the materials over several years through the streets of Berkeley, Councilmember Max Anderson is sponsoring a resolution for Tuesday’s City Council meeting—originally coauthored by recently deceased Councilmember Dona Spring—asking for a full environmental report on the impact of the demolition. -more-

BUSD, City Differ on Naming West Campus as a Preferred Site for Warm Pool

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Monday July 21, 2008
The Berkeley Board of Education approved a resolution Friday to work with the City of Berkeley to relocate the warm water pool from the landmarked Old Gym to an appropriate location without naming West Campus as a preferred site. -more-

Oak Grove Protesters Arrested by UC Berkeley for Planting Seedling on Chancellor's Lawn

by Bay City News
Monday July 21, 2008
Six protesters of the removal of a grove of oak trees on the University of California, Berkeley campus were arrested today after they planted an oak seedling on the lawn of the university's chancellor, a UC Berkeley police spokesman said. -more-

Police Name Suspect in Sunday’s Russell Street Shooting

by Kristin McFarland
Monday July 21, 2008
Berkeley police have issued a warrant for Gabriel Alejo, 18, of Berkeley, as the suspect in Sunday night’s Russell Street shooting. -more-

Planning Commission Resumes Work on West Berkeley ‘Project’

By Richard Brenneman
Monday July 21, 2008
Planning commissioners will tackle the controversial project of changing West Berkeley’s zoning ordinances when they meet Wednesday night. -more-

Protesters Bring Tree Fight Home to UC’s Birgeneau

By Bay City News and Planet staff
Monday July 21, 2008
Campus police arrested six protesters Sunday after they -more-

Candidate Watch: More Filings for Elections

By Judith Scherr
Monday July 21, 2008
Three new candidates signed up for local seats today (Monday). -more-

Eyes and Ears for Berkeley Shopping Areas May Help, May Criminalize

By Judith Scherr
Saturday July 19, 2008
The Berkeley City Council on Tuesday could approve a two-year $200,000 per-year contract to improve shoppers’ experiences on Telegraph and Shattuck avenues by hiring “hosts” to assist out-of-towners and to direct people with inappropriate behaviors into services or—if they refuse help or if services are not available—to jail. -more-

Candidate watch:

By Judith Scherr
Saturday July 19, 2008
The city clerk listed three new candidates filing for office Friday: -more-

RCPC Says No to College Avenue Safeway Expansion, Design Change Sought

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Saturday July 19, 2008
After months of deliberating neighborhood concerns about Safeway’s proposed expansion plans on College Avenue, the Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC) announced its decision to oppose the project last week. -more-

Planners Sail Through Pair of Downtown Plan Chapters

By Richard Brenneman
Saturday July 19, 2008
Berkeley planning commissioners zipped through a chapter and a half of the Downtown Area Plan on Thursday, including the potentially controversial section on historic buildings and design. -more-

Judge Denies Injunction Bid In Police Funding Lawsuit

By Bay City News Service and Berkeley Daily Planet Staff
Saturday July 19, 2008
A judge on Friday denied a bid for a preliminary injunction to Oakland attorney-plaintiff Marleen Sacks, who says the city of Oakland should return $60 million to its taxpayers because it has failed to live up to its promise to hire more police officers under the Measure Y mandates. -more-

More Arguments, No Decision In UC Berkeley Stadium Case

By Richard Brenneman
Thursday July 17, 2008
Although Judge Barbara Miller has not yet issued her final decisions in the lawsuits challenging UC Berkeley's gymnasium project, the Berkeley City Council has scheduled special legal sessions for 5 p.m. Friday and Tuesday, at which they could decide whether or not to join other plaintiffs in any appeal. The meetings are closed, but public comment will be allowed. -more-

Candidates Come Out for District 4

By Judith Scherr
Thursday July 17, 2008
Candidates are beginning to line up to fill the District 4 seat left vacant by the death Sunday of Councilmember Dona Spring: Former School Board President Terry Doran, videographer LA Wood and Commissioner Asa Dodsworth have taken out preliminary papers. -more-

State Report Shows High Drop Out Rates for B-Tech

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Thursday July 17, 2008
The first statewide report on high school dropout and graduation rates tracking individual students revealed a high dropout rate for African Americans and Latinos compared to other ethnic groups, state educators said. -more-

News

Berkeley Mourns Councilmember Dona Spring

By Judith Scherr
Thursday July 17, 2008
Berkeley Councilmember Dona Spring, protector of the environment, fighter for housing rights and champion for human and animal life, died Sunday evening, July 13, at Alta Bates/Summit Hospital, after being diagnosed with pneumonia. She was 55. -more-

Dona Spring: An Appreciation

By Becky O’Malley
Thursday July 17, 2008
Dona Spring was the bravest person I’ve ever met. No, she wasn’t just brave, she was fierce, as fierce as a lioness defending her cubs. She loved justice as much as she despised injustice, and for Dona “Justice for All” included all species, not just all humans. -more-

Berkeley City Council Delays Pools Measure

By Judith Scherr
Thursday July 17, 2008
Following the death Sunday of Councilmember Dona Spring, the warm pool’s most dedicated City Council advocate, pool supporters got some—but not all—of what they had wanted at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. -more-

Council Upholds Zoning Board’s Bayer Decision

By Judith Scherr
Thursday July 17, 2008
With deceased Councilmember Dona Spring’s spot on the council dais overflowing with flowers and a poster with a photograph and inscription, “Speak truth to power,” the council carried on its regular business of the day, after accolades to Spring from councilmembers and the public. -more-

Sea Scout Leader Gets Six Years in Sex Abuse Case

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Thursday July 17, 2008
Berkeley Sea Scouts leader Eugene Evans was convicted of two counts of child molestation Monday and is expected to spend six years in prison under a plea deal with the Alameda County district attorney’s office. -more-

SOS Ministries, which sets up its amplifiers at Haste Street and Telegraph Avenue, say its making music and preaching to save souls. Nearby merchants want them muzzled.

Telegraph Merchants Petition Against Amplified Preaching

By Judith Scherr
Thursday July 17, 2008

Service Workers Strike UC Campuses

By Judith Scherr
Thursday July 17, 2008

Candidates Sign Up for Mayoral, Rent Board, Council Races

By Judith Scherr
Thursday July 17, 2008

Planning Commission Leaps Tall Buildings

By Richard Brenneman
Thursday July 17, 2008

Planners Approve Wireless Ordinance

By Richard Brenneman
Thursday July 17, 2008

Court Hearing on Stadium Gym Could Spell Oak Grove’s Demise

By Richard Brenneman
Thursday July 17, 2008

Controversy Marks Tree-Sitter’s Arrest

By Richard Brenneman
Thursday July 17, 2008

Bad News Continues In the News Biz

By Richard Brenneman
Thursday July 17, 2008

Loans Approved for Oakland’s Fox Theater

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Thursday July 17, 2008

Oakland Parcel Tax Would Fund Increased Police Staffing

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Thursday July 17, 2008

Oakland Council OKs Four Finalists for Army Base Development

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Thursday July 17, 2008

Community Questions Berkeley Mayor About Pacific Steel Agreement

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Thursday July 17, 2008

City, University Prepare to Dramatically Reduce Water Usage

By Kristin McFarland
Thursday July 17, 2008

Judge Sentences Hollis to 24 Years for Willis-Starbuck Death

Bay City News
Thursday July 17, 2008

Zoning Board Approves Offices for Ed Roberts Campus

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Thursday July 17, 2008

Software Firm Must Provide Transit Subsidies

By Riya Bhattacharjee
Thursday July 17, 2008

Mary Davis

Mary Davis Presente!

By Karl Kramer
Thursday July 17, 2008

Film Depicts Spring’s Public and Personal Courage

By Judith Scherr
Thursday July 17, 2008

Clarification

Thursday July 17, 2008

Dona Spring declared her support for the treesitters at UC Berkeley’s Memorial stadium on June 22. She was applauded by supporters as she spoke from her wheelchair.
By Richard Brenneman
Dona Spring declared her support for the treesitters at UC Berkeley’s Memorial stadium on June 22. She was applauded by supporters as she spoke from her wheelchair.

Editorials

Could Cody’s Rise Again?

By Becky O’Malley
Thursday July 17, 2008
When downtown shoppers pass the southeast corner of Shattuck and Allston these days, they’re apt to see unhappy-looking people with their noses pressed to the glass in the door of the storefront there. That’s because the last stand of the fabled Cody’s bookstore suddenly closed its doors a couple of weeks ago, leaving books on the shelves and signs announcing upcoming author talks in the windows. A combination of changes in the publishing industry and unsuccessful business decisions with accompanying debts prompted the current owner, a Japanese corporation, to withdraw funding from the enterprise. -more-

Editorial Cartoons

Dona Spring

By Justin DeFreitas
Thursday July 17, 2008

Click Here to Support Your Local Cartoonist!

By Justin DeFreitas
Thursday July 24, 2008

Reader Commentaries

Letters to the Editor

Thursday July 17, 2008

Letters to the Editor

Monday July 21, 2008

BRT: Why the ‘Voter Approval’ Initiative?

By Dean Metzger
Thursday July 17, 2008

Bright Light of Epiphany Shines Through the Trees

By Katlin Moore
Thursday July 17, 2008

Crazier Than Thou

By Ted Friedman
Thursday July 17, 2008

Following in Dona’s Tire Tracks

By Jean Stewart
Thursday July 17, 2008

Dona Spring’s Bevatron Resolution

By Mark McDonald
Thursday July 17, 2008

Columnists

Dispatches From The Edge: Iran and Israel—To the Edge?

By Conn Hallinan
Thursday July 17, 2008

Undercurrents: Media Treatment of Jackson-Obama Flap Obscures Underlying Issues

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Thursday July 17, 2008

Gulf fritillary visiting a Cleveland sage.

Wild Neighbors: Following the Passionvines

By Joe Eaton
Thursday July 17, 2008

About the House: Do You Speak Toaster?

By Matt Cantor
Thursday July 17, 2008

Arts & Entertainment

Arts Calendar

Thursday July 17, 2008

Eclectix Gallery Hosts SNIFF’S ‘Out of the Landfill’

By Osha Neumann Special to the Planet
Thursday July 17, 2008

Wilde’s Humorous ‘An Ideal Husband’ Staged by Cal Shakes

By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet
Thursday July 17, 2008

Woman’s Will Stages Brecht’s ‘Good Person of Szechuan’

By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet
Thursday July 17, 2008

Berkeley Opera Presents Puccini’s ‘Tosca’

By Jaime Robles Special to the Planet
Thursday July 17, 2008

Festival Opera’s ‘Trovatore’ Opens in Walnut Creek

By Jaime Robles Special to the Planet
Thursday July 17, 2008

Berkeley, SF, San Jose Host Midsummer Mozart Festival

By Ira Steingroot Special to the Planet
Thursday July 17, 2008

Moving Pictures: New to DVD

By Justin DeFreitas
Thursday July 17, 2008

Events Calendar

Community Calendar

Thursday July 17, 2008