News

The first annual Peace Heroine Awards for women peace and social activists over age 70 will be awarded at noon on Mar. 9 at the Marine Recruiting Station, Shattuck Sq. Berkeley. As Pamela Sihvola said when nominating Gene Bernardi, these women “personify peace and social justice.” The 41 award winners include veteran members of EBCOSSI (East Bay Coalition to Support Self-Rule for Iraqis), Grandmothers Against the War, Women for Peace, Veterans for Peace, the Committee to Minimize Toxic Waste, Gray Panthers, Old Lesbians Organizing for Change, California Alliance for Retired Americans, CODEPINK, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Women in Black, Cop Watch, US Labor Against the War, the women's movement, the single payer health care movement, and many more. -more-

[Sent at 5:17 p.m.] On March 8, 2011, just after 1:00 pm, the Berkeley Police Department received a call of “loud reports” in the area of the 1600 block of Blake St. -more-

The Contra Costa Times has reported that a dead man was found this afternoon in the back yard of 1634 Blake Street in Berkeley. -more-

Poets David Gitin and George Mattingly will read for free at Moe's Books, 7:30 p. m. Wednesday March 9 (849-2089; moesbooks.com ), Gitin from his new collection The Journey Home, Poems 1962-2010, a Blue Wind Press book, published by Mattingly in Berkeley, who has also published other titles among Gitin's nine other books of poetry. -more-

Tonight at 5:30 the Berkeley City Council will take part in a special meeting in the council chambers in the Maudelle Shirek Building (Old City Hall) to discuss a controversial consultant’s report, the Sloan-Vasquez report on solid waste recycling -more-

Here is the information we are able to share at this time regarding the barricaded subject incident which occurred for several hours last night and this morning on the 1800 block of Marin: -more-

The City of Berkeley Police Department (BPD) BPD Communications Center began receiving many 911 calls at approximately 4:28 p.m. the afternoon of March 7, 2011. -more-

Two female pedestrians were injured this afternoon in Berkeley when one of the women was struck in a crosswalk by a University of California shuttle bus and the other injured herself trying to gain the bus driver's attention, police officials said. -more-

Eight protesters have retreated from the ledge of the University of California at Berkeley building where they have been perched for several hours, according to campus police. -more-

Protesters on top of Wheeler Hall hoist a bag containing water and oranges.

The Daily Californian reports in a live blog that student protesters have taken over Wheeler Hall on the UC Berkeley campus. Heliocopters have been circling the campus area since noon. The Daily Cal also has a twitter feed: See twitter.com/dailycal -more-

Classes inside Wheeler Hall have been canceled as eight student protesters, six of whom are chained together, stand on its ledge on the University of California at Berkeley campus, a UC Berkeley spokesman said. -more-

Six student protesters are chained together on the ledge of a building on the University of California at Berkeley campus, a UC Berkeley spokesman said. -more-

Police have identified a man alleged to have struck an officer with his vehicle while trying to escape with a stolen wallet on Tuesday, Berkeley police Sgt. Mary Kusmiss said. -more-

Officers arrested 17 protestors that refused orders to leave a University of California at Berkeley campus building on Wednesday night, according to a campus police officer. -more-

At about 4:38 p.m.today, the City of Berkeley Police Department (BPD) received a call regarding the theft of a wallet from Ecole Bilingue French School in the 1000 block of Heinz Avenue in West Berkeley. A witness provided a description of the suspect and car to a BPD dispatcher who broadcast it to BPD officers. Suspects often use debit/ATM and credit cards soon after their crimes, thus officers began doing area checks of convenience marts and gas stations. -more-

In June of 1908, as Berkeley prepared to ceremonially lay the cornerstone of a new City Hall, a group of local women registered a protest. They weren’t against the building itself, but wanted to use the occasion bring attention to the cause of Women’s Suffrage, the campaign to achieve voting rights for women. -more-

Back from reporting on Wisconsin's historic labor rally this weekend, KPFA news producer John Hamilton arrived in Berkeley to a layoff notice this week from the station's interim program director Carrie Core. Hamilton, who has worked at KPFA for three years, was told his last work day would be March 30. -more-

Leave it to the wonderful Oakland Museum, particularly the History Guild Department, to offer informative and exciting trips, many of them planned by Helen Tryon, a long-time tour leader. Last week's trip had an added feature, as we travelled on a luxurious "Daytripping" bus with the very knowledgeable and well known Tour Guide, Gary L. Holloway, a member of the California Historical Society. What Gary doesn't know about the Valley isn't worth knowing! -more-

In a Feb. 25, 2011 ruling, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Section 8 project-based tenants are allowed to remain in their rental units at the Park Village Apartments in Oakland at 3761 Park BLVD Way, as long as they keep paying their current share of rent. -more-