News

Police Monday released the names of two suspects who were arrested Saturday after a fatal shooting in Berkeley that led to a vehicle pursuit and crash in Oakland that killed two bystanders. -more-

With a heavy majority of the Bay Area Rapid Transit directors now on record in favor of moving forward with its $550 million Oakland Airport Connector (OAC), proponents of an alternative rapid bus route are shifting their fight to a critical funding source for the proposed project: the Port of Oakland. -more-

Three people are dead and a fourth in police custody after a violent Saturday night that began with a murder in Berkeley and ended with a collision in Oakland that killed a motorist and a pedestrian. -more-

  There were many celebrities at the Berkeley Public Education Foundation’s “Seeding The Vision” spring luncheon Friday, but the real stars of the evening were less conspicuous. -more-

The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered a ban on two controversial sprays used to battle the light brown apple moth (LBAM), ending a lawsuit filed by attorney Stephan Volker on behalf of environmental activists and the mayors of Albany and Richmond. -more-

Berkeley Unified School District sent pink slips to 10 classified employees Thursday, May 14, informing clerks, custodians and bus drivers that they would be losing their jobs at the end of the school year. -more-

Berkeley teachers may have come to terms with the school district over their 2008-09 and 2009-10 contracts. -more-

State schools chief Jack O’Connell released the 2007-08 dropout and graduation rate report Tuesday, May 12, calling for comprehensive reform to address the large number of California students leaving high school before getting a diploma. -more-

With Berkeley City Manager Phil Kamlarz saying that the city’s proposed fiscal year 2010 budget “is balanced and it looks pretty good,” Kamlarz’ office is already making preparations for what he calls “major problems” that are looming two years down the road. -more-

Berkeley’s Board of Education voted unanimously April 29 to ask the school district to review classroom capacities and attendance zones to address overcrowded elementary schools. -more-

UC Berkeley officials announced Friday, May 8, that Social Security numbers and other identification had been hacked from restricted university health services databases, putting students at risk of identity theft. -more-

The Big Tadoo Puppet Crew paid a visit to LeConte Elementary School Tuesday to teach students about traffic safety rules. -more-

UC Berkeley’s search for a dean for its Graduate School of Journalism came to an end May 7 when it selected interim Dean Neil Henry for the position. -more-

State officials announced Saturday, May 9, that the Berkeley Unified School District will receive $2.4 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. -more-

The UC Board of Regents on May 8 approved a 9.3 percent student fee increase for the 2009-10 school year, despite criticism from students about the high cost of tuition. -more-

More than 100 University of California Berkeley workers and students rallied on the steps of Sproul Plaza Wednesday, May 13, to protest the arrest of an undocumented immigrant worker by UC police last month. -more-

The Berkeley City Council is scheduled to take its first formal look at the city’s ambitious Downtown Area Plan (DAP) during a work session on the plan scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, at 5 p.m. -more-

BART’s Board of Directors is scheduled to consider moving forward with a controversial plan for a BART line link between the Coliseum Station and the Oakland Airport when the board holds its regular meeting Thursday morning. -more-

Berkeley’s Landmarks Preservation Commission came away with more questions than answers at the end of reviewing the environmental impact report for Wareham Development’s proposal to tear down the historic Copra Warehouse at 740 Heinz St. and construct a new four-story laboratory building. -more-

The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting that an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.0 struck near Berkeley Wednesday, May 13. -more-

The Berkeley Police Department on May 8 released the name of the victim who died of gunshot wounds in southwest Berkeley earlier this week as 18-year-old Maurice Robertson. -more-

The May 7 story “B-Tech Students on Their Way to College” incorrectly stated that the school has failed to get an Academic Performance Index score for the last several years due to poor participation rates. The school’s API has increased from 311 in 2005 to 596 in 2008, which Principal Victor Diaz said was the second highest API score among continuation schools in Alameda County. Berkeley High School has failed to get an API score for the last several years because of poor participation. -more-

In 1974 I left New York behind to live in Berkeley. I also left behind a young husband, my family and friends, furniture, job and a great antique Chinese carpet. Why? It was the call of peace, the lifestyle, the freedom and possibly a touch of insanity. Nonetheless I arrived at a two-story Victorian house on Ashby looking for Doug, who had assured me on the phone that there was a place for me. “Doug’s gone,” a long-hair told me, “but there’s room for you anyway.” -more-

Walking home last Friday from the City Commons Club noon program, I thought how blessed I am to live so close to the Berkeley City Club, a California Historical Landmark. -more-