News

Peaceful BART Protest Disrupts Monday Night Service

By Erika Heidecker (BCN)
Tuesday August 16, 2011 - 10:33:00 AM

Sharlana Turner, a student and city worker in Berkeley, hoisted a sign that read "You can jail a revolutionary, but you cannot jail the revolution" at a San Francisco BART station Monday evening as demonstrators around her chanted "No justice, no peace -- disband the BART police." -more-


Updated: BART Officials React to Attacks, Plan Response to Today's Demonstration

By Dan McMenamin (BCN)
Monday August 15, 2011 - 03:25:00 PM

A BART spokesman defended today the agency's interruption of cellphone service to prevent a protest from happening at train stations in downtown San Francisco last week and said he hopes another protest planned for this evening remains peaceful. -more-


BART Rider Records Hacked
in Retaliation for Cell Phone Blackout
Another Protest at 5 Today

By SaraGaiser/ScottMiller (BCN)
Wednesday August 10, 2011 - 03:37:00 PM

Members of the MyBart.org website have been notified of a data breach in which personal details of hundreds of users were stolen and posted to the Internet, BART officials said Sunday. -more-



Telegraph Property Owners Move People's Park "Re-vitalizing" Proposal Closer to University Planners Tuesday at TBID Monthly Meet

By Ted Friedman
Wednesday August 10, 2011 - 02:48:00 PM
Some Telegraph Avenue businessmen at their monthly meeting at Durant Hotel near campus. Craig Becker at center--presiding--Doris Moskowitz to right. Roland Peterson at other end of table (not pictured).

A proposal for "revitalizing" present conditions in People's Park is headed for the university vice-chancellor's office as early as today,; but that proposal was put through a democratic meat-grinder at Tuesday’s Telegraph Avenue property owners monthly meeting before it emerged as more conciliatory to the university. -more-


Is Public Health and Safety Being Considered in the Construction of LBNL's New Biolab in Berkeley? (News Analysis)

By Jeremy Gruber, Tina Stevens and Becky McClain
Monday August 08, 2011 - 06:05:00 PM

In April of this year, U.C. Berkeley researchers announced the creation of the U. C. Berkeley Synthetic Biology Institute (SBI), which will ramp up efforts to “engineer” cells and biological systems.1 Part of its research will include experiments that insert manufactured stretches of DNA into existing organisms to create new, self-replicating artificial life forms—experiments that pose implications for worker safety, public health and environmental safety. A collaboration of university and industry, the SBI enterprise is designed to catapult basic research into profit making applications. From a press release, “SBI will be an important link in a constellation of research centers focused on synthetic biology at UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), both of which have made the field a research priority. SBI is unique in its planned collaborations with leading companies, designed to translate leading research on biological systems and organisms efficiently into processes, products, and technologies.”2 -more-


Press Release: DHS to Pursue 'Secure Communities' Deportation Plans
Dismisses Widespread Protest of Dragnet Program

From the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Friday August 05, 2011 - 03:34:00 PM

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that they would be rescinding the Memoranda of Agreement with over 40 states that allow the sharing of fingerprint data between local police and DHS under the Secure Communities (S-Comm) program. The announcement came as a surprise to immigrant community organizations and advocates who have sought an end to S-Comm and appeared to dismiss formal protest from a number of states, including Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York, about participation in the program. California is poised to pass legislation to halt its participation in Secure Communities. -more-


Press Release: UC Students Call for Implementation of State Auditor's Report

From Darius L. Kemp, Director of Organizing and Communications, University of California Student Association
Monday August 08, 2011 - 03:42:00 PM

On July 28, the California State Auditor released an Audit reviewing the University of California’s information related to public funds, auxiliary enterprises, student tuition and fees. UC students were very pleased with the Audit and are calling on the UC Office of the President to fully implement the Audit’s recommendations. -more-


Save The Bay's 50th Honored at Saturday Work Party

By Joe Eaton
Monday August 08, 2011 - 02:55:00 PM

It’s been 50 years since three extraordinary Berkeley women—Kay Kerr, Sylvia McLaughlin, and Esther Gulick—set out to halt the filling and degradation of San Francisco Bay. Save the Bay, the organization they founded, marks that milestone on Saturday August 13 with a “county fair” celebration at Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline in Oakland. The event, from 9 am to 1 pm, will feature volunteer weeding along the shoreline, food, and games, including “wetland bingo.” -more-


Model Garage's 30th birthday party: Music, Good Food and Cars!

By Jane Stillwater
Wednesday August 10, 2011 - 03:07:00 PM

Many years ago I used to own a Volvo. First I had inherited it from my parents, and then my son drove it after that. It was blue—and a really sweet ride. And whenever it needed mechanical surveillance, I always took it to the Model Garage on Shattuck Avenue near Ashby. But then I bought a 1990 Toyota and had to switch to Campus Auto on Shattuck and Delaware, the Toyota's best friend. -more-


Avoiding Psycho Machete Hackers, Sneakers-Uppers, and Other Berkeley Crimes

by Ted Friedman
Tuesday August 09, 2011 - 01:38:00 PM
How safe are these students at Telegraph Avenue Monday? See any robbery opportunities?

In 1971, Berkeley was abuzz over a psycho machete hacker who sliced-and-diced Berkeleyans with his machete, and one night I barely beat him back to my car before he came after me on lower Hearst. I never forgot that avoided crime. I might have really hurt that guy. -more-


Historian of Science Roger Hahn Dies at 79

From UC Berkeley Office of Media Relations
Monday August 08, 2011 - 06:05:00 PM

Roger Hahn, emeritus professor of history at the University of California, Berkeley, and a leader in shaping the academic field of the history of science, died unexpectedly on May 30 in New York City. He was 79. -more-