Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News Updates

Court Rejects Berkeley Appeal, Police Complaint Hearings Must Still Be Closed

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Wednesday October 08, 2008

A California Appeals Court has ruled that the City of Berkeley’s Police Review Commission must continue to exclude the public from complaint hearings against Berkeley Police officers, and must continue to bar public access to peace officer personnel records or other records relating to Police Review Commission investigations or findings in such complaints. -more-

Dual Tragedy Shocks Apartment Residents

By Richard Brenneman

Tuesday October 07, 2008

The body of a 44-year-old Berkeley man lay decomposing in his studio apartment for at least two weeks, while his aging mother, who suffers from dementia, remained inside, surrounded by an ever-growing mound of garbage bags. -more-

Flash: Suspects Held for June Killing

By Bay City News

Monday October 06, 2008

Berkeley police today arrested a 20-year-old man in connection with the killing of his stepfather in June and another suspect turned himself in later in the day. -more-

Richmond Activists Blast Police Union 'Racist' Flyer

By Richard Brenneman

Monday October 06, 2008

A rainbow coalition of Richmond activists on Monday demanded that the city’s powerful police union rescind an electoral mailer they described as a racist hit piece. -more-

LPC Approves Mills Acts Contracts, Wareham Tries 'Old Industrial' Look for 740 Heinz

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Monday October 06, 2008

The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved Mills Acts contracts Thursday for two historic Berkeley landmarks—the Durant Hotel and the Charles Keeler House. -more-

Three Robberies in an Hour on Tuesday

By Richard Brenneman

Saturday October 04, 2008

Berkeley residents were targeted in three armed robberies that took place within 57 minutes of each other Tuesday evening, police report. -more-

Two Environmentalists Vie For Parks District Vacancy

By Richard Brenneman

Friday October 03, 2008

Two candidates with strong environmental records are facing off for an open seat on the East Bay Regional Parks District. -more-

Commission Spurns DAPAC Parking, Traffic Proposals

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 02, 2008

Even planning commissioners who have fought to defend the downtown plan crafted by a citizen committee are backing away from its parking provisions. -more-

News

Cody’s Workers Charge Store Violated Contract

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 02, 2008

Two former employees of the now-defunct Cody’s Books have filed a complaint with the state Labor Commission alleging that the bookstore violated its contract with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) by not paying its workers paid time-off when the store closed down in June. -more-

Parents Say Teacher Espoused Creationism

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 02, 2008

The Berkeley Unified School District is investigating a report that one of its elementary school teachers might have violated the separation of church and state by teaching creationism to her third-grade class, district officials said Tuesday. -more-

Was McCain A Key Player In Point Molate Casino?

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 02, 2008

Is Republican presidential nominee John McCain the key player in the behind-the-scenes maneuvers that may turn the East Bay into California’s first urban gambling resort? -more-

Dellums Unveils Proposal to Cut Oakland Budget Deficit

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Thursday October 02, 2008

With the nation’s attention focused on the national credit crisis and President George Bush’s proposed $700 billion bailout package, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums released his proposals to address Oakland’s fiscal crisis, a $37.4 million shortfall in the 2008-09 budget. -more-

City Tells Temple, Neighbors To Find Middle Ground

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 02, 2008

Fans of authentic Thai cuisine must wait till Nov. 13 to find out if the city will allow Wat Mongkolratanaram to continue to serve Sunday brunch or ban it. -more-

Planning Commission Gets Few Answers Regarding Bus Rapid Transit Proposal

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 02, 2008

State Budget Will Have Major Impacts for BUSD

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 02, 2008

School District Gets Ready to Sell Sixth Street Property

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday October 03, 2008

BHS Spanish Teacher Lobbies for Diagnostic Testing

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 02, 2008

A Guide to Berkeley’s Library and Disaster Bonds

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Thursday October 02, 2008

Brazen Dorm Room Robbery At UC’s Clark Kerr Campus

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 02, 2008

Police Blotter

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 02, 2008

Donati’s Comet as seen over Paris above the Palais du Justice, the Conciergerie and the Seine on Oct. 5, 1858, from a plate in The World of Comets, 1877, Amèdée Guillemin.

Lincoln, a Comet, and the Politics of a Nation Divided

By Steven Finacom Special to the Planet

Thursday October 02, 2008

CORRECTION

Thursday October 02, 2008

Riya Bhattacharjee

Mediation Urged in Thai Temple Dispute— The Berkeley Thai Temple, at 1911 Russell St., attracts a large Sunday brunch crowd, sparking complaints from neighbors and concern from city officials, who charge that the temple has violated its permit with the weekly brunches.

Editorials

Worry Global, Vote Local

By Becky O’Malley

Thursday October 02, 2008

The on-going exposure of the number and kind of misdeeds perpetrated by the Bush administration and cronies continues to be staggering. On Tuesday alone, we saw the third-in-command CIA official pleading guilty to funneling big contracts to his college roommate, and we heard that a federal prosecutor will investigate the firings at the U.S. Department of Justice. But these shocking revelations had to take a back seat to the news of the slippery financial dealings which are causing the world economy to collapse, all of which took place with the blessings of the Bushies. -more-