The Week
News
People protest for ownership of utility
Calling for public ownership of power, more than 75 people crowded onto the sidewalk at Center Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way in front of the PG&E payment office at noon on Thursday. -more-
Youth violence at BHS exaggerated
Our society is based on violence. Looking back on U.S. history, it is plain to see that our society was built on a racist, sexist, and violent foundation. Out in Santee and pretty much every middle-class bedroom community, there is an attitude that they are safe. So when it hits home, when their child is lying in a hospital bed, or in a coffin, that is when there is this outrage. No one knows what happened – they were such good kids…. -more-
Sunshine Ordinance pulled from agenda
The City Council postponed considering a recommendation for a Sunshine Ordinance, intended to allow the public greater access to government information, until it’s determined whether it’s needed. -more-
Nonprofit helps cops discipline juveniles
Berkeley Police are relying heavily on the nonprofit Donald P. McCullum Youth Court program to make sure first-time juvenile offenders, cases the understaffed District Attorney’s Office often don’t get to, face some concrete consequences for their actions. -more-
Energy costs and politics escalate in California
Gov. Gray Davis on Thursday asked lawmakers to approve spending $500 million more to buy power for two struggling utilities as Republicans escalated their criticism of the Democrat’s handling of the energy crisis. -more-
Pipe sound may not be serious but needs to be checked
Q: We have a slow knocking sound coming from inside a wall. The sound occurs when the upstairs bathroom faucet is turned on. I have been told that this could be the pipes banging against the wall. Is this a serious problem? -more-
No nonsense choices for gardening
British-born Pamela Harper has been gardening in the United States for over three decades, and gardeners in all parts of the United States have much to learn from her latest book, “Time-Tested Plants: Thirty Years in a Four-Season Garden.” -more-
Jupiter moons show volcanic plumes
PASADENA — Twin volcanic plumes that rise 250 miles above the surface of Jupiter’s fiery moon Io appear in images taken by two NASA spacecraft and released Thursday. -more-
Education, training stressed to battle hate crimes
The Associated Press -more-
Democrats gather, prepare for campaign 2002
SACRAMENTO — State Democrats are descending upon the traditionally Republican stronghold of Orange County for what they bill as a weekend-long “Bush-bashing” fest. -more-
No change, no problem / Go ahead and charge that candy bar and soda from the machine
LAS VEGAS — The days of fumbling for enough change to buy that candy bar from the vending machine are over. Whip out your cell phone, call a number and charge the candy bar to your bill. -more-
Gateway plans on shutting 27 stores to help bottom line
Market Table
NEW YORK — Earnings worries thwarted the stock market for a second straight session Thursday, making for a choppy and ultimately directionless day on Wall Street. -more-
Market Table
NEW YORK — Earnings worries thwarted the stock market for a second straight session Thursday, making for a choppy and ultimately directionless day on Wall Street. -more-
Medical pot plan allows 10 plants
The City Council adopted a Medical Marijuana Ordinance Tuesday that advocates called conservative and a disservice to the chronically ill, while city officials described it as responsible and mindful of public safety. -more-
State-assisted suicide: the execution and triumph of Robert Massie
I am guilty of a homicide. -more-
Souders pitches ’Jackets to win
On a perfect day for baseball, it was almost a perfect game for the Yellowjackets. Almost. -more-
Bears can’t hold on to lead against Pacific, lose in 13th
In a game that featured more plot twists and suspense than an Academy Award-winning drama, the Bears were unable to come up with the requisite happy ending. Pacific’s Jason Walker smacked an opposite-field homerun to give the Tigers (16-15) a 9-8 victory over Cal in 13 innings at Evans Diamond. -more-
Parking permit restrictions tightened
Residential neighborhoods may soon begin to feel some relief from the influx of illegal parkers. -more-
Parents educated on BHS pitfalls
By Ben Lumpkin -more-
Judges say threats against abortion doctors protected
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court threw out a $107 million verdict against anti-abortion activists Wednesday, ruling that a Web site and wanted posters branding abortion doctors “baby butchers” are protected by the First Amendment. -more-
Critics claim medical waste incinerator still spews toxins
Popular author making Berkeley appearance
“Heck fahn” literally means “Eat rice” in Chinese, and the connotation is that it’s time to eat, time for something important and nutritious. -more-
Internet shakeout lowers S.F. office rents
SAN FRANCISCO — The dot-com meltdown is flooding the San Francisco office market with vacant space and lowering average rents in the city’s main business district for the first time in more than two years, according to a new real estate study. -more-
Market Brief
NEW YORK — Wall Street made an expected retreat Wednesday, sending technology and blue chip stocks sliding on a mix of earnings worries and profit-taking from the Dow Jones industrials’ big three-day rally. -more-
More showing of irrational exuberance
Home improvement firm fires 2,600 workers
IRVINE — The slowing economy will force HomeBase Inc. to fire more than 2,600 workers and close 25 home improvement centers originally listed for conversion to home furnishings centers. -more-
Ideas diverse to keep pedestrians safer
A recent pedestrian fatality has highlighted the problem of pedestrian safety in Berkeley. -more-
Public works crew drills into gas main
POLICE LOGS
A man armed with semi-automatic pistol robbed a couple just after midnight Friday morning, police said. -more-
Researchers urge changes to boost affordable housing
The preservation and expansion of California's desperately-needed affordable housing supply will require substantial, stable and consolidated funding, enforcement of existing laws requiring affordable housing, and giving nonprofit developers with proven track records an edge when issuing funds. -more-
State committee set to study chromium 6 in drinking water
School shooting suspects appear in court
EL CAJON — Spare ammunition was found in the home of an 18-year-old student accused of shooting five people at his high school last week, officials said. -more-
Death row inmate executed, hundreds protest
SAN QUENTIN — Robert Lee Massie welcomed death, pumping his fist to expose a vein for his long-awaited execution. After 13 minutes, the lethal injection ended his stint as California’s longest-serving condemned inmate. -more-
Tech money flood turns into trickle
SAN FRANCISCO — In another sign of the technology industry’s jarring about-face, the amount of money flowing into Silicon Valley companies from the public markets is quickly evaporating, according to new data provided to The Associated Press. -more-
market watch
NEW YORK — A better-than-expected consumer confidence report sent stocks climbing Tuesday on hopes that Americans’ spending could revive company profits earlier than anticipated. The Dow Jones industrials picked up 260 points, their third straight triple-digit gain. -more-
Study challenges ‘crack baby’ phenomenon
CHICAGO — The “crack baby” phenomenon is overblown, according to a study that suggests poverty and the use of cigarettes, alcohol and other drugs while pregnant are just as likely as cocaine to cause developmental problems in children. -more-
National effort to save Pacifica Radio
Protests that began in Berkeley two years ago against the Pacifica Foundation governing board – which holds the license to five listener-sponsored radio stations – have spread across the country, with demonstrations at New York’s WBAI against the firings and bannings of staff and volunteers, pickets at Houston’s KPFT and a mass meeting of supporters of Los Angeles’ KPFK. -more-
Board may have violated Brown Act
The Berkeley School Board may have violated a state law governing public meetings when it voted March 21, to approve a new “small learning community” program at Berkeley High School, according to one expert. -more-
Public safety building contract tops agenda
By John Geluardi -more-
State’s longest-serving death row inmate to die
SAN QUENTIN — The “Dean of California’s Death Row” spent what he hoped would be his last day alive Monday as a small group of lawyers tried against his wishes to block his looming execution. -more-
Secretary of State challenges Davis for governor
SACRAMENTO — Republican Secretary of State Bill Jones announced Monday he will challenge Democratic incumbent Gray Davis for governor in 2002. -more-
White supremacists gets life for Jewish center shooting
LOS ANGELES — White supremacist Buford O. Furrow apologized for wounding five people at a Jewish center and murdering a postal worker, and was sentenced Monday to life in prison without possibility of parole. -more-
Assembly GOP votes for new minority leader
SACRAMENTO — Assembly Republicans voted unanimously Tuesday to oust their leader, Orange County Assemblyman Bill Campbell, and replace him with Sacramento area Assemblyman Dave Cox. -more-
Gates makes rare visit to Silicon Valley
MOUNTAIN VIEW — Microsoft Corp. increased its Silicon Valley presence Monday by launching a new technology center that the software titan hopes will help its expansive new strategy for Internet-based services. -more-
When misery is deep, opportunity may be bright
market Brief
NEW YORK — The Dow Jones industrials scored their second straight triple-digit gain Monday, as investors grew more optimistic that Wall Street might be recovering after two weeks of heavy losses. -more-
Claremont students chain selves to protest growth
CLAREMONT — Six students protesting development of open space chained themselves to cement-filled trash cans and blocked college administrators from their offices Monday. -more-
Bears hammer WSU to salvage weekend
Cal hitters chase three Cougar pitchers in first inning -more-
Power to the people
Nearly 50 people attended a rally at Civic Center Park Saturday afternoon to call for public ownership of the utilities. -more-
Council tries to roll up medicinal marijuana ruling
Berkeley High School library long overdue
Librarians, school administrators and book-lovers from across the city happily perused hundreds of donated books at the reopening of the Berkeley High School Library Thursday. -more-
Cannabis club defending pot therapy at Supreme Court
OAKLAND — A few years ago, an author writing about death asked ailing AIDS patient Michael Alcalay how he was accepting dying. -more-
Adobe to unveil professional software to create 3-D worlds
SAN JOSE – Much of cyberspace today is still two-dimensional: click on a Web site or chat room and you get text or pictures. -more-
Energy trading floors represent ground zero in electricity crisis
SAN FRANCISCO – In Houston, it’s simply known as “the power corner.” Separated by just a few city blocks, four major power wholesalers run Byzantine trading systems that sway energy prices across the nation with minimal oversight from the government. -more-
’Jacket swimmers big winners in first ACCAL meet
The Berkeley swim team has a rough history, losing most of its league matches in the past few years. Going up against some of the best teams in the country, this year’s seniors have known very little victory. -more-
UC Theatre shutting its doors
The UC Theatre – the beloved repertory cinema on University Avenue – will shut its doors Thursday fter 83 years, according to its management. -more-
Johnson, Corley get invites to WNBA pre-draft camp
Clash over ‘school in a high school’
By Ben Lumpkin -more-
Soccer fields part of air quality study
Residences, businesses existing together in west Berkeley
By Susan Cerny -more-
At Catholic university, conservatives feel silenced
Judge sets September trial date in Ford recall case
Educators of HIV targeting young black gay men
SAN FRANCISCO — In the wake of soaring HIV statistics surrounding the nation’s gay black men, a panel of educators came together Thursday to admit their failures and discuss strategies to help curb the rate of contraction. -more-
Laura Bush calls on military retirees to consider teaching
SAN DIEGO — With the nation’s schools facing a shortage of teachers, first lady Laura Bush urged retiring military personnel Friday to consider a new career in teaching. -more-
Student says suspect made ‘Columbine’ threat
EL CAJON — A student accused of opening fire at his high school and wounding five people this week simulated guns with his hands and made a reference to “Columbine” in class earlier this year, another student said Friday. -more-
Foreign born population may be higher than thought
$60 billion in immediate tax relief is a tall order
WASHINGTON — Getting immediate tax relief to Americans might not be as easy as it sounds, even if Congress and President Bush can bridge political differences and agree on $60 billion in tax cuts this year. -more-
Household finances aren’t weathering economic storm
The financial report card of American households is not good as they deal with the first substantial economic slowdown in nearly a decade. Already deep in debt, many may be forced to borrow even more. -more-
Businesses fear losses from rolling blackouts
LOS ANGELES — So far, rolling blackouts have been more of an annoyance for California business owners than a serious economic problem. -more-
Opinion
Editorials
Better management may have prevented Tosco refinery fire
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal review of an explosion that killed four workers at the Tosco refinery in 1999 has concluded better management could have prevented the fire. -more-
Power regulators approve 46 percent rate hikes
The Associated Press -more-
Power regulator proposes 42-46 percent rate hike
SAN FRANCISCO — California’s top power regulator proposed immediate electricity rate hikes of up to 46 percent Monday, saying this should encourage customers to cut back on usage and conserve enough power to avoid blackouts this summer. -more-