Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News Updates

BUSD to Send Out 50 Lay Off Notices

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday March 14, 2008

Posted Fri., March 14—The Berkeley Board of Education approved possible lay-off notices for 50 certificated employees Wednesday to prepare for Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger’s proposed $4.6 billion state education budget cuts. -more-

News

SEIU Hosts Spirited Kickoff for Wage Negotiation

By Judith Scherr

Friday March 14, 2008

Several hundred city workers converged on the steps of the city administration building Wednes-day. Some brought the tools of their trade: garbage trucks, pick-ups and code enforcement vehicles, the latter of which came in handy for blocking off the street for the noontime party. -more-

Police Hold Gun On Teacher Aboard Bus Full of Students

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday March 14, 2008

Several Berkeley police officers jumped on a public bus full of elementary students last week and held a gun on their after-school teacher, misidentified as a robbery suspect, while he was taking students to a basketball game. -more-

Saudi University Joins UC in Controversial Partnership

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday March 14, 2008

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia—which entered into a $28 million partnership with UC Berkeley last week to collaborate on research, curriculum and hiring of faculty—announced Thursday an $8 million grant to Paul Monteiro, professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Berkeley. -more-

Hancock and Chan Vie for Funding

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday March 14, 2008

In the race for money to finance their campaigns to replace Don Perata as State Senator for District 9, Assembly-member Loni Hancock is drawing heavily on businesses, labor organizations, and associations from around the state, as well as on individual contributions from inside District 9, while former Assemblymember Wilma Chan’s main source is Asian-Americans living outside the district lines. -more-

Iraq Veteran Speaks Out Against War

By Judith Scherr

Friday March 14, 2008

Sean O’Neill, who served in Iraq with the U.S. Marines, now opposes the war.

These days, Iraq War veteran Sean O’Neill speaks out against the war. -more-

Willard Vice Principal Under Investigation Resigns

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday March 14, 2008

Code Pink Clashes with City Code Enforcement

By Judith Scherr

Friday March 14, 2008

UC Berkeley Scientists Remain Bullish on Nuclear Power

By Richard Brenneman

Friday March 14, 2008

UC’s Ethanol Partner Delays Annual Report Release

By Richard Brenneman

Friday March 14, 2008

Density Bonus Debate Faces Proposition 98 June Threat

By Richard Brenneman

Friday March 14, 2008

Monday Meeting Focuses on BRT

By Richard Brenneman

Friday March 14, 2008

Hamill Files Papers for Oakland Council Seat

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday March 14, 2008

First Person: A Memoir of Herrick Mental Hospital

By Jack Bragen

Friday March 14, 2008

Fire Department Log

By Richard Brenneman

Friday March 14, 2008

Judith Scherr

Berkeley City Manager Phil Kamlarz, in black shirt, and Human Resources Director David Hodgkins, with tie, stand at the top of the City Hall steps to watch Wednesday’s SEIU rally prior to beginning negotiations.

Editorials

Editorial: How Much Do Race and Gender Matter?

By Becky O'Malley

Friday March 14, 2008

Is it too late to apply a little logic to poor old Gerry Ferraro’s comments about the effect of race and gender on the presidential race? Let’s approach it from the other direction. -more-