Opinion

WASHINGTON — Republicans narrowly seized control of the Senate on Wednesday, ousting Democrats in Georgia and Missouri and giving President Bush’s legislative agenda a major boost in the next Congress. -more-

SAN PABLO — More than 400 nurses turned out Monday to strike at Doctors Medical Centers in San Pablo and Pinole, leaving patients under the care of temporary healthcare workers. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco lost its bid Saturday to host the 2012 Summer Olympics. Instead, New York City, the emotional favorite, will be the American candidate to sponsor the games. -more-

Shirley Dean -more-

OAKLAND – U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken is scheduled today to hear challenges to a court decision that awarded two Earth First! activists $4.4 million for First and Fourth Amendment violations by the FBI and Oakland Police Department. -more-

CACHUMA LAKE — Friday, 7 p.m. I feel darn smug, sitting here around the campfire. -more-

Voters in Alameda County will cast votes on an array of ballot measures Tuesday, with voters in Castro Valley poised to decide whether to become an incorporated city and Fremont and Berkeley voters considering raises for local officeholders. -more-