Two area businesses destroyed but no one injured -more-
In a letter to the editor printed last week several juveniles were named in allegations made by one parent regarding a schoolyard altercation. -more-
Romanian-French playwright Eugene Ionesco’s 1959 play “Rhinoceros” is a theater-of-the-absurd fable about the conflict among human beings between impulses towards individuality and desires for conformity. -more-
Cal can’t pull off another miracle comeback -more-
Looking out a café window at the stop-and-go procession of cars, trucks and buses on University Avenue, the city’s new assistant city manager for transportation sipped coffee and spoke about reducing personal automobile use. -more-
The Cal women’s basketball team finally put up some decent offensive numbers on Saturday against Arizona. Unfortunately, they ran into a Wildcat team that was just a little too big and strong for the Bears to beat. -more-
Copwatch: the name conjures up street battles of yore, with proud and defiant demonstrators asserting their legal rights to lunky, baton-wielding police. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — About 200 friends and supporters of Diane Whipple held a candlelight in a rain-soaked park Saturday to show they hadn’t forgotten the popular woman mauled to death by dogs at her doorstep last year. -more-
WALNUT CREEK — Generose Yambao is accused of stealing the identities of 22 people and nearly $400,000 in goods and services before she was arrested in Florida. -more-
OAKLAND — Deaf and hearing impaired students at two University of California campuses are suing, claiming the schools don’t adequately accommodate their disability. -more-
WASHINGTON — When Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan’s interim leader, meets President Bush on Monday, he is expected to seek a continuing U.S. commitment to help restore the peace in his violence-torn country, Afghan officials say. -more-
SANTA CLARA — A long-awaited new wireless handheld from Palm Inc. was set to hit store shelves Monday, giving the world’s leading PDA maker an important weapon in the fight against encroaching rivals. -more-
The City Council will meet in closed session Tuesday to discuss a developer’s threat to sue the city over its affordable housing ordinance. -more-
High on a Berkeley hillside stands an unusual structure. Called Temple of Wings it served as the home and dance studio for Florence Treadwell Boynton and later for her daughter and son-in-law Sulgwynn and Charles Quitzow until the mid-1980s. -more-
Editor: -more-
Many people think writer-director Todd Solondz’s films are about outcasts and the heartbreaking things people do to them. They’re not, and they wouldn’t be so good if they were. -more-
The St. Mary’s Panthers played one of their worst games of the season on Friday night. Luckily for them, their opponent played even worse. -more-
West Contra Costa County School Board member Charles Ramsey and former Berkeley Mayor Loni Hancock are so far raking in the lion’s share of campaign money for the 14th District Assembly seat according to the most recent disclosures. -more-
BEVERLY HILLS — Robert Redford is getting an honorary Academy Award. -more-
The St. Mary’s boys’ soccer team lost its first BSAL game of the season Friday, falling 1-0 to rival Kennedy in Berkeley. -more-
Earlier this month, at the Jan. 9 meeting of the Board of Education, board President Shirley Issel officially welcomed Jerry Kurr as the Berkeley Unified School District’s new associate superintendent of business. -more-
Is it true that nice guys always finish last? If so, there’s something missing from “The Gold and the Blue: A Personal Memoir of the University of California (1949-1967),” by Clark Kerr, who was chancellor of the Berkeley campus from 1952 to 1958, and president of the university from 1958 to 1967… while at the same time working as a highly-respected professional labor arbitrator in some of the biggest labor-relations conflicts in America. -more-
Electrical service in the downtown area went on the fritz for about an hour and a half Wednesday afternoon. Lights began to flicker on and off, and people rushed to their computers hoping to save files before they disappeared. -more-
Debate over the city’s proposal to build a new fire station in the Berkeley Hills erupted once again at Thursday’s meeting of the Zoning Adjustments Board. -more-
Q. Steve asks: We’ve put laminate flooring in the living-dining area. I have located replacement stair treads (oak) and have cut them to length, finished and varnished them. The stringer is routed for the treads and risers. The treads and risers are installed from underneath. The underneath area of the staircase is accessed from within our shop area. I can access four of the five steps and treads. I anticipate the fifth will be cut out in pieces because it is not accessible from below (due to finished wall that encloses the shop). -more-
This last holiday season one Carey brother finally broke from tradition and purchased an artificial Christmas tree. Turns out to have been a good move. The tree stands 10 feet tall and comes in four sections. It has collapsible branches that are prewired with hundreds of twinkle lights. The prospect of never having to string another set of lights or add water to the reservoir, along with future annual savings, was all it took. -more-
The kitchen takes a beating during the holidays with food preparation for dinners, brunches, parties and food gifts. So now, with that season behind us, it’s a good time to take stock of what works and what doesn’t in the most-used room in the house. -more-
WASHINGTON — With little worry about their own re-election, some members of California’s congressional delegation are playing active roles in party primaries for the two U.S. House districts in which no incumbent is running. -more-
SACRAMENTO — Gray Davis has donated money to GOP gubernatorial candidate Richard Riordan’s campaign, but it’s not exactly how it looks. -more-
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — For some Alaska Natives, Gravina Island equates to the Costco of traditional food. A short skiff ride from Ketchikan, the island feeds families with abundant deer, salmon, Dungeness crab and goose tongue seaweed. -more-
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., which operates the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, is laying off an unknown number of its 1,025 workers as it reorganizes amid flat North Slope oil production. -more-
HOUSTON — A former Enron Corp. executive who reportedly complained about the company’s questionable accounting practices and resigned last May was found shot to death in a car Friday, an apparent suicide. -more-
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The father who beat another man to death at their sons’ hockey practice was sentenced to six to 10 years in prison Friday after the dead man’s 13-year-old boy urged a judge to “teach him a lesson.” -more-
BALTIMORE — King Herod, the bloodthirsty Judean ruler who reputedly tried to kill the infant Jesus, died an excruciating death, brought on by kidney disease and finished off by gangrene, a medical sleuth said Friday. -more-
Federal judge to decide who oversees the energy utility and handles its rates -more-
GLENDALE — The beverage division of Nestle USA and Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. have agreed to share production and purchasing operations in order to trim costs. -more-
ImClone Systems Inc.’s woes mounted Friday and its stock tumbled to the lowest level in a year after the company disclosed two federal agencies are investigating the biotechnology firm. -more-
An artificial rose and an empty bottle of Hennessey cognac sit on a porch at 3331 King St., right next door to the scene of the double shooting Tuesday morning that took the life of Rammar Johnson and left Noel Turner, Jr., in critical condition. -more-
Controversial Japanese action film ‘Battle Royale’ drops in on Berkeley -more-
LOS ANGELES – Shantay Legans’ 3-pointer with three seconds remaining in overtime lifted California to a 92-91 victory over No. 23 Southern California on Thursday night. -more-
Superintendent Michele Lawrence called for a controversial change in school policy Wednesday night at a Board of Education meeting, suggesting that Berkeley High School close its doors to transfer students from outside the district, starting as early as next year. -more-
Editor: -more-
The Berkeley High girls’ soccer team continued their undefeated run in ACCAL play on Thursday with a 3-0 win over El Cerrito, getting two goals from junior forward Annie Borton and one from sophomore Maura Fitzgerald. -more-
One day melanoma, the most deadly forms of cancer, will be cured. And two patients at the East Bay Cancer Center in Oakland, part of a national study at 13 medical clinics, are working stridently toward making that happen. -more-
Going into the second half down just two points, the Cal women’s basketball team looked as if it had a shot at beating Arizona State, the Pac-10’s second place team. But first the Bears went slack on defense, then went absolutely limp on offense on the way to a 56-40 defeat in Haas Pavilion. -more-
Venture capital researchers say new money is stuck in old investments. -more-
Enrolling at BHS -more-
Because of an editing error, an article in Thursday’s Daily Planet, “Council gives Outback the go-ahead,” contained incorrect information. -more-
The deluge of credit card offers on campuses nationwide, with pitches in person, by phone and e-mail, has some college students and their schools looking for ways to stop the flood. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer said Thursday they will support Dennis Cardoza in his bid to replace Rep. Gary Condit. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — The judge in the dog mauling murder case has released a letter one of the defendants wrote to his inmate client and adopted son in which he calls the dog’s victim a “little mousy blonde.” -more-
SACRAMENTO — Republican gubernatorial candidate Richard Riordan collected more than $600,000 and outpaced Gov. Gray Davis during a frenzied fund-raising period in the first three weeks of the year. -more-
SAN JOSE — A former Los Alamos National Laboratory computer expert awaiting trial on hacking charges violated his bond agreement by accessing the Internet, a prosecutor alleged Thursday. -more-
OAKLAND — Edy’s Grand Ice Cream has recalled 5,000 cartons of its Limited Edition Girl Scouts Samoas Cookie Ice Cream because they may contain peanuts and egg not identified on the label. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Death row inmate Stephen Wayne Anderson lost another round Thursday in his legal battle to stay alive. -more-
Everyone is familiar with the ominous looking leaves of the Venus’ flytrap, spiked at their edges, hinged at their centers, and ready to clamp shut around unwary prey. There’s little chance of a fly alighting on the leaf this time of year, so you might consider dropping in a piece of hamburger. -more-
If your New Year’s resolution to lose weight or get organized already fell prey to old habits, it’s not too late to make important commitments where they’re really needed — your home. -more-
LOS ANGELES — Graphic artist Dan Simon scored when the biggest football game of the year needed a new logo to reflect the mood of the nation after Sept. 11. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — A divided California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that law enforcement authorities may conduct warrantless searches on motorists who do not possess identification or proof they own the vehicle. -more-
SALT LAKE CITY — The way Tom Price sees it, Olympic organizers missed a golden opportunity to make the Winter Games the most environmentally friendly international event ever. -more-
SACRAMENTO — A tax-sharing and regional planning bill aimed at metropolitan Sacramento cleared a significant legislative hurdle Thursday and picked up a key endorsement from state Treasurer Phil Angelides. -more-
LOS ANGELES — Unocal Corp. has opened a new chapter in its legal battle to collect royalties on sales of cleaner-burning gasoline by suing Valero Energy Corp. for alleged violations on its patent for the fuel. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Consumer advocates claim Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s plan to emerge from bankruptcy could cost ratepayers an estimated $20 billion more than they would pay if the utility remains regulated by the state. -more-
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Shorn of his long hair and beard, John Walker Lindh quietly faced his government’s charges Thursday that he conspired to kill fellow Americans in Afghanistan. -more-
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — There have been some notable additions to the city jail since Sept. 11. -more-
A roomful of neighborhood activists went home disappointed Tuesday night, after the City Council approved funding for a housing project for seniors. -more-
St. Mary’s scored three goals in the first half, then held on during an uninspired second half to beat St. Joseph, 3-1, on Wednesday in Berkeley. -more-
Editor: -more-
The Berkeley Police Department is investigating the first murder case of the year, after one of the victims in a south Berkeley shooting early Tuesday morning succumbed to his wounds later that afternoon. -more-
Yesterday local nurses were applauding the end to a 10-year long battle to attain safe nursing standards statewide and were lauding the new 4-1 nurse-to-patient ratio as being essential to the current staffing crisis that has plagued the industry. -more-
The City Council voted to activate the Public Safety Building tower antenna Tuesday night after hearing public comment from city staff and police officers who said the tower is critical for public safety and from neighbors who argued it’s an eyesore and was erected without public process. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — John Walker Lindh’s lead defense lawyer said he’s hired a team of former federal prosecutors to represent the American Taliban, and one of their first orders of business will be to challenge Lindh’s alleged confession to FBI agents in Afghanistan. -more-
WASHINGTON — Local and federal officials signed an agreement on Wednesday aimed at cleaning up hazardous waste and building new housing at San Francisco’s old Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. -more-
LOS ANGELES — Given new urgency by Enron’s collapse, the debate over auditor independence is shifting to corporate shareholder meetings. -more-
SAN JOSE — Scientists at Hewlett-Packard Co. and UCLA said Wednesday they have patented a means of getting around a significant hurdle in the race to build computer chips at the molecular level. -more-
SAN JOSE — With a stern rebuke in a newspaper ad and a scathing report to shareholders, sons of Hewlett-Packard Co.’s late founders hit hard Wednesday at the company’s $23.8 billion plans to acquire Compaq Computer Corp. -more-
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Nearly 13 years after the tanker Exxon Valdez ran aground, spilling 11 million gallons of crude oil into Prince William Sound, federal scientists estimate about 10,000 gallons of oil remain buried under the shoreline. -more-
NEW YORK — CNN has hired Connie Chung away from ABC News to be the anchor of a nightly news show, ratcheting up the stakes in a heated competition among cable news networks. -more-
SAN JOSE — The first GOP gubernatorial debate left the landscape of the campaign essentially unchanged, analysts said, leaving the candidates six more weeks before the March 5 primary to sway voters. -more-
A two-alarm fire raged through the Fox Court apartment building at 1472 Universtiy Ave. early Tuesday, displacing seven residents and causing $300,000 in damage. -more-
Early in Tuesday’s game against Encinal, the ’Jackets wowed the crowd with their athleticism. Late in the game, they impressed their coach with their developing composure. -more-
Editor: -more-
The Dance Theatre of Harlem is coming to town this week (January 23-26) at UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall for a series of Bay Area and West Coast Premieres. -more-
Two people were shot in the head and gravely wounded near the corner of King and 63rd streets early Tuesday. -more-
Berkeley sophomore Kamani Hill posted two goals and had six assists despite playing only the second half on Tuesday, leading the ’Jackets to a 13-0 win over Encinal. -more-
Editor: -more-
With the school district in financial trouble, elementary school librarians, already part-time employees who operate part-time libraries, are worried about further cuts. -more-
Editor: -more-
On Jan. 17, a residential robbery and assault occurred on the 3300 block of Claremont Avenue. The suspect entered the residence and demanded and confronted the 60-year-old female resident. -more-
SAN JOSE — Secretary of State Bill Jones came out swinging in the first statewide debate of the Republican gubernatorial candidates. -more-
LOS ANGELES — Gov. Gray Davis released proposed government ratios Tuesday that would mandate the number of nurses to patients in California hospitals. -more-
A new study by a San Francisco-based consulting firm says the University of California at Berkeley is the fifth-largest employer in the Bay Area and contributes more than $1 billion annually overall to personal income in the region. -more-
PORTLAND, Ore. — A city that marketing analysts say is loaded with Internet shoppers can now cruise Safeway aisles electronically in a test the grocery chain hopes will show it can succeed where online competitor Webvan failed. -more-
SAN JOSE — Back in the early days of the World Wide Web, Netscape Communications Corp. pioneered the commercial development of Internet browsers and even charged for the software. -more-
SAN BRUNO — San Francisco International Airport is trying to secure explosive-detecting luggage scanners before an ordering rush from other airports. -more-
Rosa Parks students, staff adorn school in colorful tiles -more-
Editor: -more-
Neighbors of Berkeley’s new Public Safety Building will get a chance to sound off tonight on the 170-foot emergency radio tower they say is not only an eyesore but was erected without proper public review. -more-
Editor: -more-
About 300 people shook the pews with their cheers Saturday night as three familiar voices from Free Speech Radio spoke about the U.S. war in Afghanistan and their own war with Pacifica Network News. -more-
The Berkeley Daily Planet is seeking local columnists to appear on the Forum pages on a regular basis. If you have an idea for an interesting and regular column, please send a column sample and the topics you would like to raise to readers to: -more-
The City Council will consider a number of issues during the regular meeting tonight including a study of reduced access to recreation for the city’s youth, approval of $2.3 million for the construction of five affordable housing projects and a schedule for adopting the remaining elements of the Draft General Plan. -more-
OAKLAND — A Sacramento couple accused of torturing, sexually assaulting and strangling a Pleasanton student in a minivan is scheduled to go on trial starting Tuesday. -more-
SAN JOSE — A coalition of scientists and technology companies is asking people around the world to use their computers’ extra processing power to help search for a cure for anthrax. -more-
Information inundation being what it is these days, culling what’s valuable from media listings – TV and radio programs, news bulletins, movies, music – is a daunting, time-consuming chore. -more-
PALO ALTO — A mutual fund with 1.1 percent of Hewlett-Packard Co. shares has endorsed the $24.3 billion plan to buy Compaq Computer Corp., giving HP valuable support as it prepares for a proxy fight over the deal. -more-
MOUNTAIN VIEW — IBM Corp. and network security provider VeriSign Inc. have formed a broad technology and marketing partnership aimed at improving authentication and access-control services for businesses. -more-
SACRAMENTO — He’s likely still out there, somewhere. He is probably gray as middle age settles in and he escapes his radical past. -more-
RENO, Nev. — Reno and Las Vegas rank near the middle nationally but continue to boast some of the most-affordable housing in the West. Santa Cruz, Calif., edged out San Francisco for the least-affordable housing in the nation. -more-
RENO, Nev. — Blustery winds could not snuff the Olympic torch or the enthusiasm of thousands of people who lined northern Nevada streets on Monday to cheer the flame as it makes its way to the Winter Games in Utah. -more-
LOS ANGELES — As many of his kin hibernate, a black bear dubbed Arthur is as active as the debate that persists over his fate. -more-
A year later, many families have not been compensated in $1.3 million fraud, breach of contract lawsuit against landlords -more-
Proposition 40: -more-
A very vital part of the ongoing battle about Berkeley City Council district boundaries has been the 32,000 students at UC Berkeley, and that’s just the way the Associated Students of the University of California want it, says Vice President of External Affairs Josh Fryday. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — John Walker Lindh’s parents had the first word in the battle to shape his image, calling him a “good kid,” releasing cute family pictures and suggesting he was brainwashed by the Taliban. -more-
STANFORD — Nearly 34 years after black students stormed a stage at Stanford University, grabbing the microphone and demanding change, several are returning to the school this week to discuss whether their demands have been met. -more-
