Construction on the Harrison Skate Park is underway again more than a year after the project was abruptly halted when the carcinogen Chromium 6 was discovered in groundwater on the site. -more-
Editor: -more-
Music
It’s the underwear, stupid! -more-
Gerta Farber of Oakland (11/29) muses how easily Osama bin Laden could sneak anywhere under a burka. Maybe that's why everyone's keeping an eye out for a 6-foot 5-inch Pashtun woman...... -more-
The holidays are rapidly approaching and Harry Potter toys are disappearing like magic. But all hope is not lost. Stevanne Auerbach, PhD., better known as “Dr. Toy,” can recommend 100 safe, creative and educational alternatives. -more-
The Daily Planet received a copy of the following letter written to the mayor and council: -more-
You’ve read up on how solar panels work, and now you’re considering installing them on your building to reduce your monthly electrical bill, or perhaps to have power during an emergency. But what do you do first? -more-
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Police in Berkeley say that a domestic disturbance led to the arrest of two people on suspicion of assault in what is being considered a minor standoff situation. -more-
Editor: -more-
MENLO PARK — Ten years ago, a Stanford University physicist created the first U.S. Web site — three lines of text, with one link to e-mail and another link to a huge scientific database. -more-
SAN JOSE — Bankrupt Excite@Home reached a tentative deal to keep its fast Internet service up and running for many of its subscribers but not those with AT&T Broadband, which scrambled Monday to restore access for 520,000 accounts. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — MedImmune Inc. said Monday it will pay more than $1 billion in stock to acquire Aviron, the maker of a promising nasal-spray flu vaccine now awaiting government approval. -more-
OAKLAND — Oakland police have arrested the estranged husband of a San Jose Mercury News photographer found dead on Nov. 25. -more-
Fifty-seven of Berkeley’s public school teachers, or 9.5 percent of the 599 on staff, are not fully credentialed, according to preliminary school district figures obtained by the Daily Planet. -more-
When a team commits 32 turnovers and shoots 17 fewer free throws than its opponent, one wouldn’t expect a victory. But that’s just what the Georgia Bulldogs got on Sunday against Cal in the championship game of the Oakland Tribune Classic at Haas Pavilion. -more-
By Hank Sims -more-
South Florida’s two stars - forward B.B. Waldon and guard Altron Jackson - combined for 41 points and 25 rebounds, leading the Bulls to a 79-59 rout of Cal Saturday night. -more-
The City’s energy officer presented the City Council with an overview of a developing plan that will initiate dramatic changes in the city’s energy sources, building materials and energy education programs. -more-
Coughlin sets NCAA mark in 100 backstroke -more-
The city of Berkeley and AC Transit officials have announced that Berkeley will become the first East Bay city to launch a bus pass program for its employees. -more-
The California Highway Patrol reported a collision between two trucks that left loaves of bread strewn across the freeway in Berkeley early Saturday morning. -more-
Study: Hispanics segregated from rest of the city -more-
SAN FRANCISCO – Long before Sept. 11 brought terrorism to the top of every federal prosecutor’s agenda, U.S. attorneys and FBI agents in California were going after terrorists at one of the highest rates in the country. -more-
LOS ANGELES – Last year, hundreds of immigrant janitors marched through the streets with raised fists chanting “si se puede!” – yes, it can be done – after winning raises from employers. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO – At least 16 percent of customers on ExciteAtHome’s high-speed Internet service were without access Sunday, after the bankrupt company cut off service to AT&T Broadband subscribers. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO – When San Francisco Examiner Publisher Ted Fang was fired by his own mother just before Halloween, it punctuated a year of humbling setbacks in a local newspaper industry that once mirrored the Silicon Valley’s exuberance. -more-
About 100 activists gathered in West Berkeley Friday to condemn the economic policies of the pharmaceutical industry and to demand a new system for the manufacturing and distribution of essential medicines. -more-
Nestled above the south bank of Strawberry Creek, and somewhat hidden behind Barrows Hall on the UC Berkeley campus, is a small, one-story residentially scaled building with a bronze sculpture of a Pelican standing in front. Two readers have recently inquired about this quiet, but intriguing building. -more-
Though he was part of pop music’s most storied group, George Harrison formed significant and memorable partnerships with other musicians, including Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton. -more-
Three games into the season, the Berkeley High girls’ soccer team scored its first goal of the year on Friday against Livermore, then proceeded to score three more on its way to a 4-1 victory. -more-
Leaders of the Berkeley Small Schools movement looked to middle school parents and teachers to help strengthen their base of support during a meeting at Longfellow Middle School Thursday where they geared up for a possible political battle with the Board of Education. -more-
• Feb. 25, 1943 – Harrison is born in Liverpool, England, to Harold and Louise Harrison. -more-
At its last meeting the City Council postponed a decision on whether to approve the Draft General Plan before or after its Christmas break. -more-
NEW YORK — It’s a touching tale of hope and goodwill, of believing in something overwhelmingly good. It takes place in New York 54 years ago, but it’s as meaningful today as it was then. -more-
MIAMI — John Knowles leaves behind a legacy that included nearly a half-century of writings and nine novels, but none matched the success of “A Separate Peace” — considered an enduring study of an adolescent’s inner conflict. -more-
Q. Cindy asks: Could you please tell me what is the best way to get cat urine stains out of a wooden floor? -more-
“Texas Rangers” isn’t exactly storming into theaters with guns blazing. -more-
Got a door that was trimmed off and rehung without getting repainted? Wood doors must be painted on all six sides (front, back, top, bottom and on both edges) because unpainted tops and bottoms – especially on exterior doors – allow moisture to be absorbed, which causes cracking, warping and paint failure. Bottom edges commonly are left exposed when new carpeting is installed or when a new threshold is put in place, and the door is trimmed for greater clearance. -more-
SACRAMENTO — Californians these days are seeing dreamy, romantic TV commercials inviting them to visit ... California. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — A judge cleared the way for bankrupt ExciteAtHome to turn off its high-speed Internet cable network as early as Friday night, which could affect more than 4 million subscribers around the country. -more-
Mcki Weinberg, of the Israel Action Committee, was quoted out of context in Friday’s Daily Planet. His chant, “We don’t want you anyway,” was not in response to the Students for Justice in Palestine’s chant asking Ariel Sharon “how many kids have you killed today.” The full text of the IAC chant is: “Suicide bomber go away/We don’t want you anyway.” -more-
The Berkeley Daily Planet received this letter addressed to City of Berkeley Project Manager Carmella Rejan, as well as Berkeley taxpayers. -more-
Berkeley Video and Film Festival showcases two Berkeley artists during its 37-film run -more-
Jason Han glided across the floor with a series of fast round-house kicks delivered so powerfully that the UC Berkeley martial arts studio echoed with each blow. -more-
In early October George Lakoff began to receive hate mail. The correspondences followed a Wall Street Journal op-ed piece, which quoted the UC Berkeley linguistics professor as an illustration of the “imbecility” with which university professors responded to the Sept. 11 attacks and the aftermath. -more-
Cal soph holds marks in both 100- and 200- meter backstroke -more-
While the number of new AIDS cases are down in Alameda County, two Berkeley clinics are among those still fighting a pitched battle to suppress the deadly disease, which continues to increase in the county’s most vulnerable communities. -more-
The United States Soccer Federation announced this week that Cal freshman Troy Roberts has been selected to participate in the Under-20 National Team Training Camp to be held January 2-12 in Chula Vista. -more-
Editor: -more-
If all goes according to plan, the next Tom Brokaw may emerge from Washington Communications and Technology Magnet School. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — A state appeals court on Thursday limited the defenses available to California employers whose managers are accused of sexual harassment in the workplace. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Contra Costa County government was cleared Thursday in a federal suit accusing it of discriminating against women- and minority-owned businesses in awarding contracts. -more-
A rally against the pharmaceutical industry will be held today at noon. -more-
Along with free and anonymous HIV testing on Saturday, the Berkeley Free Clinic will also offer free testing for the rising scourge of Hepatitis A, B and C. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Elections officials spent Thursday counting 240 ballots found more than three weeks after Election Day, another in a string of embarrassments that has infuriated some city leaders. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Police have arrested two San Francisco men in the slaying of state Sen. Bruce McPherson’s son. -more-
PASADENA — Recent photographs from NASA’s Galileo spacecraft provide supporting evidence to the theory that Callisto, Jupiter’s outermost moon, may hold an underground ocean, scientists said Thursday. -more-
SAN RAFAEL — A serial rapist who was the first man to successfully complete the state’s sexually violent predator treatment program will be released Saturday unless state officials can come up with new evidence to keep him locked up. -more-
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis said Thursday that he supports placing a $10 billion to $12 billion school bond measure before voters next year. -more-
ONTARIO — A man who says he uses marijuana for medicinal purposes received $5,525 from his insurance company after arguing that the backyard crop police ripped up was covered by his homeowner’s policy. -more-
Putting up holiday decorations is fun. Taking them down is not. -more-
It’s special to bring out treasured holiday decorations each year, but it’s also fun to have family members cooperate on some new ones to add to the mix. Besides lending a holiday look to a home, it adds to the festive spirit of those living there. Pine cone parade -more-
What do an oak door, walnut mantle and a cherry rocker have in common? -more-
Muck has some bad connotations, but it’s really wonderful stuff. Plant roots revel in this fluffy material, and the result is dazzling flowers, luscious fruits and cushiony, green lawns. Other words for muck are “humus” and “organic matter.” Compost is a kind of muck. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Just months ago, Enron Corp.’s dominance of the nation’s energy markets prompted California Gov. Gray Davis to accuse the company of profiteering and holding his state hostage with high prices. -more-
LOS ANGELES — Last year, hundreds of immigrant janitors marched through the streets with raised fists chanting “si se puede!” – yes, it can be done – after winning raises from employers. -more-
NEW YORK — A new survey suggests that the Internet is not cutting into the time people spend with their friends and families. Rather, it’s cutting into their time for television. -more-
PORTLAND, Ore. — After swelling the ranks of Oregon high-tech manufacturing and helping shift the state economy from its dependence on timber to a new base in computer chips, Fujitsu announced Thursday it will close its only U.S. semiconductor plant and lay off 670 workers. -more-
Storm plods across Mississippi Valley after leaving snow on Plains -more-
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The FBI severely underestimates the number of crimes of bigotry and racism, from petty vandalism to murder, a report released Thursday says. -more-
NEW YORK (AP) — More than 50 AT&T Corp. employees or former employees in nine states have filed complaints against the company alleging discrimination based on race, gender, disability or national origin. -more-
The rhythms of Afro-Cuban dance, the history of the Brazilian slave trade and the finer points of big sisterhood – these are just some of the lessons Elisabeth Newton, 13, a freshman at Berkeley High School, is learning through her World Arts and Movement Class at Common Ground, a school-within-a-school at BHS, which focuses on social justice and multi-culturalism. -more-
Cal has depended on freshman Jamal Sampson to score points so far this young season, but on Wednesday night the Bears got the points they needed from some old heads. -more-
21 Grand Nov. 29: 9 p.m., Lemon Lime Lights, Hillside, Moe! Staiano, $6; Nov. 30: 9 p.m., Fred Frith, Damon Smith, Marco Eneidi, Sabu Toyozumi Ensemble, Phillip Greenlief, $10; Dec. 1: 9 p.m., Toychestra, Rosin Coven, Darling Freakhead, $6; All ages. 21 Grand Ave., Oakland. 444-7263 -more-
Three people were among those attending the orientation workshop at the Berkeley WorkSource One Stop Career Center Wednesday morning: one holds a doctorate in history, another is homeless and a third has worked as a computer assistant. This is the face of unemployment in Berkeley and it’s not going to change soon. -more-
The Cal women’s basketball team squandered a big lead but recovered to defeat Fresno State, 62-55, Wednesday night at Haas Pavilion. -more-
Editor: -more-
Before a vocal audience Tuesday, the City Council scrapped a controversial, seven-week-old redistricting ordinance and decided to start the contentious process from scratch. -more-
St. Mary’s senior Danielle Stokes committed to run track for Cal State Northridge this week, according to her high school coach. -more-
Officials at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory announced Wednesday that lab researchers are working on three projects that could strengthen homeland security and help combat terrorist activities. -more-
EAST MEADOW, NY - Cal’s Natalie Coughlin, the 2001 Pac-10 and NCAA Swimmer of the Year, added another accolade to her outstanding career Tuesday at the FINA World Cup in East Meadow, NY. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — They were walking corpses, the once-beautiful men who dragged themselves to pray at the Metropolitan Community Church each Sunday. Too sick to sit, many would drape their gaunt, lesion-covered bodies across the pews. -more-
Spencer Dornin was among five Golden Bears receiving All-MPSF honors this week. The senior two-meter man from Laguna Beach was named to the All-Conference First Team. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Police arrested two AIDS activists Wednesday for allegedly stalking and threatening newspaper reporters and Public Health Department workers. -more-
SACRAMENTO — A coalition attacking suburban sprawl and urban disinvestment rallied Wednesday around a bill aiming to curb both by making cities share sales taxes. -more-
ROSEVILLE — The nation’s preoccupation with security after this fall’s terrorist attacks could help revive the hard-hit high technology industry, experts from top tech firms said Wednesday. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — A bitter battle between the creditors and business partners of bankrupt ExciteAtHome threatens to unplug the cable network’s high-speed Internet service for 4.2 million subscribers as early as Friday, depending on the outcome of a pivotal court hearing. -more-
In early October, Keith “Kiki” Bell, a junior at Berkeley High School, found out that two of his friends are HIV positive. The news was devastating. -more-
In a rematch of last year’s hard-fought Northern California Regional championship game, the Berkeley Yellowjackets used their inside power to beat Oakland, 64-50. -more-
MUSIC
UC Berkeley student Andy Katz, perhaps the first student ever appointed to the Zoning Adjustments Board, took a seat on one of the city’s most influential governing bodies Monday. -more-
OAKLAND – Tuesday’s pre-trial hearing in federal court for brothers Vijay and Prasad Lakireddy centered on one disputed point: does the defense have the right to subpoena documents that would show how much time a certain translator/ interviewer spent with the witnesses to the Lakireddys’ alleged misdeeds? -more-
The Daily Planet received the following letter to the president. (Spelling has not been edited.) -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — An investment real estate agent accused of bilking more than $20 million from four Bay Area banks has been sentenced to 5 1/2 years in prison by a judge in Israel. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — A 20-year-old San Bernardino man has been arrested and charged with threatening three people by sending them letters he claimed were laced with anthrax. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Now may be the time to buy for those who have always wanted to own a house in the San Francisco Bay area. The cost of mid-priced homes fell in October to less than a year earlier, marking the first time since 1995, but that trend didn’t hold true in Southern California, a real estate firm reported. -more-
MARTINEZ — A trio accused of killing five people, including the daughter of blues guitarist Elvin Bishop, wanted to bring truth to the world through a self-awareness program, prosecutors say. -more-
LOS ANGELES — An attorney for former Symbionese Liberation Army fugitive Sara Jane Olson says he was partly to blame for his client pleading guilty to attempting to blow up police cars when she is really innocent. -more-
LOS ANGELES — A breakaway San Fernando Valley city would own nothing except streets and would have to buy parks, libraries and other assets from Los Angeles, according to a legal opinion for the agency overseeing possible secession. -more-
LOS ANGELES — A memorial to California journalists who died while pursuing news stories was given a new home and an 18th name on Tuesday at California State University, Northridge. -more-
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gray Davis plans to meet with Mexican President Vicente Fox in Mexico City next week in an effort to boost the slumping economies of California and its southern neighbor. -more-
SAN SIMEON— In a dressing room in the remote recesses of Hearst Castle, Diane Marchetti glanced at a mirror, and had to like what she saw. Her evening gown shimmered like silver and sheathed her slender figure like a second skin. She tucked her hair beneath a curly blond wig and checked the mirror again. -more-
FRESNO — State Sen. Jim Costa, a longtime politician who has served 23 years in the Legislature and cannot seek re-election because of term limits, said Tuesday he is leaving public office and will not run for Congress. -more-
MEMPHIS, Tenn.— Harvard molecular biologist Don Wiley was last seen leaving a banquet in Memphis just before midnight on Nov. 15. His rental car was found a few hours later, abandoned on a Mississippi River bridge with the keys in the ignition and the tank full of gas. -more-
NEW YORK — Most major airlines plan to maintain a fuel surcharge of $20 on each one-way ticket even though the price of jet fuel has dropped by half during the past year. -more-
The words came to Ann Travers as she watched her husband sleep that night: “He’s going to make an excellent father.” -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Chronicle announced plans Tuesday to cut 220 jobs, adding Northern California’s largest newspaper to the list of media companies jettisoning workers to offset steep advertising losses. -more-
MONTEBELLO — Once a week, Tim Moynahan makes a half-hour drive from the San Fernando Valley to a small dairy east of Los Angeles. -more-
SAN JOSE — A leading maker of diabetes monitors has agreed to pay $45 million to diabetics across the country to settle a class-action suit that alleged its products were dangerously defective. -more-
LOS ANGELES — A judge refused Monday to allow Sara Jane Olson to withdraw her guilty plea in a Symbionese Liberation Army bomb plot. -more-
SACRAMENTO – Check state tax board member Dean Andal’s campaign finance reports and you’ll find a $50,000 contribution from the Taxpayers Political Action Committee. -more-
Shopping for children’s furniture can be an atypical adventure -more-
Michael Rogin, a political science teacher at the University of California, Berkeley for more than three decades, has died after contracting hepatitis in Paris. He was 64. -more-
UC Berkeley mechanical engineer Werner Goldsmith is on a mission to reform the way doctors and prosecutors view the thousands of suspected cases of shaken baby syndrome each year, according to a university press statement. -more-
HOUSTON — Sitting at his desk at Enron Corp.’s 50-story world headquarters, Nathan Will knows his days are numbered, but he isn’t worried about losing his job. He is worried about finding another. -more-
SACRAMENTO — For years, FBI agents probing possible terrorist activity have worked under restrictions meant to protect the free-expression rights of political and religious groups that might come under investigation. -more-
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA called off Thursday’s launch of space shuttle Endeavour to the international space station because of danger from a Russian supply ship hanging from the orbiting outpost. -more-
MORRISVILLE, N.C. — The Babymoon Cafe has witnessed an unhappy miracle of sorts: The recession has turned wine into water. -more-
NEW YORK — The holiday shopping rush has just begun and there is already a shortage of hot toys, particularly those inspired by “Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone.” -more-
