Opinion

UNION CITY — An explosion at a pipe factory late Wednesday afternoon injured at least 12 people, rescue officials said. -more-

Energy shortages have strained electrical and natural gas supplies, prompting the state to ask residents to keep their holiday lights off in the early evening and leading utilities to warn customers of skyrocketing heating bills. -more-

SAN JOSE — Those afraid of needles may breathe easier with news of an experimental flu vaccine that takes the form of a nasal spray. -more-

The Pacific Film Archive and Berkeley Art Museum will undergo a $4 million seismic retrofit starting in April of 2001, the University of California at Berkeley announced Friday. -more-

OAKLAND — In a case that could lead to more drilling near a marine sanctuary or could leave up to 1 billion barrels of oil untapped, a federal judge has stepped into a dispute between California and federal officials over offshore oil exploration. -more-

ATLANTA — A survey of what people know about AIDS found that four out of 10 mistakenly believe it is possible to get the disease by sharing a drinking glass or being coughed or sneezed on by an infected person. -more-