Wearing bright orange vests, masks and gloves, two five-member teams of young people are tackling one of Berkeley’s ugliest problems: graffiti. -more-
OAKLAND — Lee Stevens hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning as the Cleveland Indians came from behind to beat the Oakland Athletics 8-6 Monday night. -more-
Four new stops south
of San Francisco will
park thousands of cars
-more-
SAN DIEGO — San Diego Chargers general manager John Butler has been diagnosed with lung cancer and started chemotherapy, a team spokesman said Monday night. -more-
Public hearing scheduled Aug. 15 -more-
PALM DESERT — Tiger Woods turned in another prime-time performance. Jack Nicklaus produced one last memorable shot. -more-
Owners must limit
hours of operation, fence
the area, lock premises
-more-
OAKLAND – The Solano County Coroner's Office Monday identified the young Oakley man killed in a solo-vehicle accident on Interstate Highway 780 in Benicia Saturday morning. -more-
Bay Area conservationists said Monday they are seeing an outpouring of gratitude for their move to intervene in a suit by a Sacramento activist group to weaken protection for a threatened bird. -more-
A Bay Area woman is among five of President George W. Bush's nominees to the National Council on Disabilities to be confirmed to the post late last week, the council announced Monday. -more-
SACRAMENTO — More than 3,400 California schools will finally get their bonuses for improving student test scores, state education officials announced Monday. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Venture capitalists continued to tippy-toe through the high-tech wreckage in the second quarter, sending investments in startups to the lowest level in nearly four years, according to an industry report to be released Tuesday. -more-
SAN JOSE — Yosemite killer Cary Stayner has more than 20 signs of mental illness, ranging from sexual fantasies with kids to depression to chronic hair pulling, a psychiatrist testified Monday. -more-
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Two new studies add fresh fuel to a decades-old debate about whether a parchment map of the Vikings’ travels to the New World, purportedly drawn by a 15th century scribe, is authentic or a clever 20th century forgery. -more-
Utility district was fined earlier
this year in Berkeley and Oakland
-more-
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Vice President Dick Cheney conceded Monday that corporate scandals have shaken confidence in the economy but said reforms will “bring out the best of the free enterprise system.” -more-
Company names new CFO -more-
To the Editor: -more-
NAPA – Marques Tuiasosopo is trying not to drop any center snaps in practice. That’s something the official backup quarterback just shouldn’t do. -more-
For those who think of kites as the simple diamond-shaped menaces that caused eternal frustration for cartoon character Charlie Brown, kite flying took on a new meaning at the Berkeley Marina last weekend. For the leagues of professionals that competed there, kite flying was more than just a day in the sun. It was fierce competition. -more-
At Berkeley Marina’s Adventure Playground, adult staffers and a revolving door of local kids did more than just hammer together and paint a wooden doghouse, fighter plane and beagle last Saturday – they rebuilt a piece of Berkeley lore. -more-
To the Editor: -more-
Berkeley is one of the first cities in the state to reject plans for cable service provider AT&T Broadband to merge with its umbrella company. -more-
SAN JOSE – A San Jose radio personality has been suspended after joking about the kidnapping of a 7-year-old Philadelphia girl. -more-
SUNNYVALE – FBI agents have busted a nationwide bribery, money laundering and prostitution ring. -more-
KERNVILLE – The fire raging near California’s giant sequoias grew by another 1,500 acres Sunday, but the ancient redwoods seemed to be largely out of trouble, fire officials said. -more-
WASHINGTON – California finds itself in an awkward position in Congress: hands outstretched for two major water projects but unsure whether it will get enough money even for one. -more-
LOS ANGELES – Officials temporarily evacuated five terminals at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday, after a man bypassed security checkpoints by slipping under ropes. -more-
A new train station could be added to the city’s vision of a new transit hub in west Berkeley and be a depot for bus, ferry, train and taxi services. -more-
A visually pleasing aspect of old downtown buildings is often their elaborate decoration. The modern movement striped the "unnecessary" decoration off buildings in order to emphasize the essence of a structure, but the older buildings in downtown are embellished with examples of architectural decoration that break the monotony of modernism. -more-
Berkeley directors Kathryn Golden and Judith Montell offer two stories of Jewish migration to America in this month’s 22nd annual Jewish Film Festival in San Francisco, Berkeley and Menlo Park. -more-
When Oakland Tech High megastar Leon Powe announced his plans to play basketball for Cal earlier this week, it was more than a recruiting coup for head coach Ben Braun. It marked the first time since Jason Kidd a decade ago that the Bears lured the top local player to Berkeley, a sign that the program has finally recovered from the shameful Todd Bozeman era. -more-
Everything was going to be all right. Now it’s uncertain. -more-
To the Editor: -more-
“I don’t have any really good stories to tell,” said experimental film artist Alfonso Alvarez while sitting outside his garage-cum-studio in Berkeley earlier this week. “I’m more interested in the act of seeing than the act of telling a story.” -more-
OAKLAND – Eric Musselman has youth, boundless energy and a willingness to be patient. -more-
Berkeley’s planning commission criticized city planners Wednesday for making changes to the city housing policy that could limit citizen participation in the approval process of proposed developments. -more-
To the Editor: -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — More grass-roots than Lollapalooza, more political than Lilith Fair, Ladyfest is a summer festival produced entirely by people proud that their styles of feminism, art and music cannot be easily categorized — or commercialized. -more-
An accident involving a young teenager and a car on Ashby Avenue Wednesday (see sidebar) occurred just one night after Berkeley City Council approved a new pedestrian safety measure for the November ballot. -more-
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A new tune about John Walker Lindh by Nashville singer-songwriter Steve Earle has kicked up a fight between critics who feel he’s unpatriotic and defenders who consider him provocative. -more-
A 13-year-old Berkeley resident was struck by a car Wednesday night at the 1300 block of Ashby Avenue, just west of Mabel Street. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court declined to reinstate a lawsuit from Mattel Inc. alleging the rock song “Barbie Girl” infringed on the toy-maker’s doll patent. -more-
The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday that developer John DeClercq will succeed Reid Edwards as chair of the chamber’s board. Edwards is stepping down after a record three-year stint at the helm. -more-
NEW YORK — Wall Street finished a tumultuous week on an upbeat note Friday, with stocks posting a solid advance and raising hopes that after more than two months of selling, the worst of the market’s decline might be over. The gain helped the Dow Jones industrials achieve their biggest weekly advance in 10 weeks. -more-
SAN DIEGO — Pearle Vision, one of the nation’s largest eyeglass retailers, has filed a lawsuit challenging a California law that bars out-of-state companies from selling eyewear and providing eye exams at the same location. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — An assembly of West Coast longshoremen has given union negotiators the power to call a strike vote, though no action is imminent since talks with shipping lines have been postponed until mid August. -more-
A new study of San Francisco Bay Area passenger ferries finds that unless new passenger ferries using cleaner fuels or advanced emission control technologies are put in service, overall air quality in the region will suffer. -more-
Disney has taken the most corn-pone of all theater cliches — “We gotta put on a show!” — and turned it into a foot-stomping, crowd-pleasing, heartwarming G-rated romp with the animals in “The Country Bears.” -more-
NEW YORK — CBS ”60 Minutes II” correspondent Scott Pelley landed a big exclusive when President Bush agreed to an interview about the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. -more-
City officials are considering dismantling the city’s 170-foot public safety communications tower at 2100 Martin Luther King Way and moving its communications components to the top of the nearby Civic Center. Neighbors say the tower is too big, too ugly and a possible health hazard. -more-
About this homeless problem. The poor we have always had with us, and also a certain number of free souls who love fresh air and actually prefer to sleep out in the open, under the stars, at least in summer. But homelessness didn't get to be a major social problem until some time in the 1980s, when the greed of the landlords in raising rents coincided with the greed of employers in holding down wages, and more and more people were caught in the gap between. -more-
’ve dropped by Tuna, Texas, a half dozen times in the past two decades, and on each visit Patsy Cline is still on the radio, Aunt Pearl Burras is still snuffing dogs with strychnine-laced "bitter pills," and Hank Bumiller is still sighting UFOs shaped like giant chalupas after too many drinks down by the bridge. -more-
The Slam ‘N Jam AAU basketball program returns to Berkeley with the Elite 8 Tournament this weekend, welcoming teams from all over North America to Cal’s Recreation Sports Facility and fans to watch five courts of high-flying action. -more-
A 1999 agreement between Gov. Gray Davis and the University of California, providing funding for the university in exchange for progress toward 22 goals, does not allow for true accountability, according to a report issued Thursday by the California State Auditor. -more-
Berkeley Daily Planet co-founders Arnold Lee and Ed Carse have promoted Kurtis Alexander to the position of editor in chief of the Berkeley Daily Planet. -more-
The members of Neighbors for Fire Safety wish to give public thanks to the Berkeley City Council for its 6-0 vote on July 16 in support of the new Hills Fire Station at 3000 Shasta Road. -more-
ANAHEIM – Garret Anderson’s game-winning hit was nothing to brag about – an opposite-field blooper to left. -more-
Four months after its proposal, the idea of reducing speed limits to 20 mph in Berkeley’s residential neighborhoods is now being reviewed by the city manager. The city manager’s assessment could pave the way for City Council to adopt some of the lowest residential speed limits in the state. -more-
Thank you so much for your thorough July 23 article on the ferry study that was before the Berkeley City Council this week. It has been inspirational to see Berkeley come together on what is probably the most important public transportation issue of the next decade. -more-
t took the work of 150 animators and digital artists more than three years to complete the sequel to “Stuart Little.” -more-
City Councilmember Kriss Worthington and mayoral candidate Tom Bates urged the University of California to meet its clerical workers’ contract demands. -more-
LOS ANGELES — The movie industry is hunting down people who swap digital films online and demanding that their Internet service be cut off — all part of an effort to stamp out piracy and avoid the online trading frenzy that has plagued the music business. -more-
Q: I recently moved into a two-bedroom apartment. I received the owner’s permission to move in, but pay rent to my roommate, who has lived here for four years. She originally signed the lease with someone who moved out after a year, so she has had the place to herself for a few years now. She acts like she owns the place, saying I can’t use the living room because she’s writing her “great American novel” there, and has papers all over the place. She further threatens that since I’m not on the lease she has the right to kick me out if I don’t obey her every command. What are my rights? -more-
SACRAMENTO — California pension funds should divest their $752 million investment in companies that have moved their headquarters to tax havens such as Bermuda or the Cayman Islands, and should halt future investments in those corporations, state Treasurer Phil Angelides said Thursday. -more-
NEW MARKET,Va. — Brush up against the wrong characters while working in your garden and it could cost you a lot of scratch. -more-
So you finally found the ideal general contractor for your major home improvement or repair job. The interviews went well. The background checks checked out. You really trust this person. -more-
There is a youth program in Oakland that shows results, and there is a documentary film that showcases the program. “A Place Named Destiny” is a feature-length video about the Destiny Arts Center in west Oakland where young people, mostly from nearby McClymonds High School, are taught martial arts and dance. In the process, they learn how to pursue personal transformation and social activism. -more-
For many in the Bay Area, basketball is more than just a sport. It’s a way of life. On a typical summer afternoon, local parks are filled with players of all abilities, all shapes and all sizes. Games are played not just for an hour or two but all day long. -more-
The City Council voted to oppose an initiative that would further limit the size of buildings, angering a number of Berkeley citizens that say Berkeley’s buildings are too tall and too dense. -more-
If you've been itching to push your acoustical music boundaries look no further than the Freight and Salvage Coffee House tonight. With their three-part harmonies grounded in pop-folk sensibility, the Bluehouse, a trio of female musicians from Australia, is sure to expand your horizons. -more-
Oakland Tech High senior Leon Powe verbally committed to Cal Wednesday, providing the cornerstone of what could be head coach Ben Braun’s best recruiting class ever. -more-
PASADENA — An asteroid more than a mile across could strike the Earth in 2019 but further observations will likely show it will turn out to provide no more than a close shave, astronomers said Wednesday . -more-
OAKLAND – City Council moved Tuesday night to enter into an exclusive arrangement with a developer to build on what has been deemed as the most appropriate site for a new baseball-only stadium without including the Oakland A's in the deal. -more-
OAKLAND – The agency that provides communal cars for Bay Area residents is teaming up with BART in its efforts to expand services. -more-
With little ceremony, the City Council dismissed three development appeals Tuesday night, clearing the way for 179 new units of housing in Berkeley. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Educational toy maker LeapFrog Enterprise Inc. jumped into the turbulent stock market Wednesday with an initial public offering at $13 per share. -more-
SACRAMENTO — A federal judge ordered over 4 million acres to remain as critical habitat for the California red-legged frog Wednesday until a ruling can be made on a dispute between developers and conservationists. -more-
LOS ANGELES — A Superior Court jury awarded $14.9 million to a talent agency that claimed The Walt Disney Co. underpaid commissions to the creator of the show “Home Improvement.” -more-
An ongoing air study at the popular Harrison soccer fields in west Berkeley continues to show elevated levels of particulate matter, which some say can aggravate respiratory problems. -more-
To the Editor: -more-
To the Editor: -more-
Medical staff at Berkeley’s only hospital with an emergency room got the go-ahead from city leaders Tuesday to upgrade the interior of its aging emergency department. -more-
Berkeley playgrounds are among the safest in the country, according to a nationwide study by the Consumer Federation of America and the Public Interest Research Group. -more-
Retro Poll, a new organization planning to find out what Berkeley residents really think about things, is challenging the polling practices of the major media networks by doing some polling of its own. -more-
The Berkeley Police Department and California Highway Patrol arrested a Richmond drug trafficker suspected of supplying Berkeley dealers with significant quantities of crack cocaine last week. -more-
The lead prosecutor in the multiple murder trial of Cary Stayner said in court today that he expects to rest the first phase of his case on Wednesday morning. -more-
LOS ANGELES — The nation’s automakers say they will sue California to block a landmark anti-global warming bill that restricts carbon dioxide emissions from cars. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Although he moved into the top income bracket long ago, billionaire Charles Schwab says he still relates to the small investors who helped transform his discount stock brokerage from a quirky upstart with four employees in 1971 to a financial services icon with 19,100 workers today. -more-
NEW YORK — When Carol Levey got married, her father gave her some investment advice: Buy stock in safe, dependable companies — the kind that pay dividends. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — The state famous for its sunshine and beaches leads the nation in another summertime staple: ice cream. -more-
CHICAGO — Passengers who fly aboard planes that re-circulate cabin air are no more likely to catch colds than travelers on aircraft that pump in fresh air, a study suggests. -more-
HAPPY VALLEY— Olive fruit flies have been discovered for the first time in Shasta County. -more-
PHILADELPHIA — Law school applications are up dramatically — the biggest increase in at least two decades — as more young people are deciding the job market out there is just too rough. -more-
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A jury held two retired Salvadoran generals responsible Tuesday for atrocities committed during El Salvador’s civil war two decades ago and ordered them to pay $54.6 million to three torture victims. -more-
PHILADELPHIA — Authorities said Tuesday that a 7-year-old girl was grabbed, kicking and screaming, from in front of her home and less than 20 minutes later a caller demanded a $150,000 ransom to save the girl’s life. -more-
SIOUX CITY, Iowa — A popcorn plant worker has been diagnosed with a rare lung disease that health authorities have linked to inhaling the artificial butter flavoring used in microwave popcorn. -more-
OAKLAND – A spokesman for the Oakland Fire Department says that a second-alarm fire displaced 17 children and five adults from a Victorian home this afternoon. -more-
BERKELEY — Last fall, with a GPA above 4.0, an SAT of 1300 and a stint as a varsity golf player and student mentor, Jack Graham applied to the University of California campuses of Berkeley, San Diego and Santa Barbara. -more-
Gov. Gray Davis warned today that if the state Assembly doesn't pass the 2002-2003 budget by Aug. 1, there will be a devastating effect on people living with HIV and AIDS. -more-
