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In “Les Miserables” Jean Valjean stole a loaf of bread to feed his starving family and got in big trouble. In Dario Fo’s “We Won’t Pay, We Won’t Pay,” a contemporary housewife struggling to make ends meet helps ransack a grocery store, and gets in big trouble, too – but with a significant difference: “Les Miserables” is earnest, high-flown drama, while “We Won’t Pay” is farce. -more-

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Friday, September 20 -more-

Junior Jeff Spellman will start at quarterback for Berkeley High in the Yellowjackets’ season opener tonight, head coach Matt Bissell confirmed Thursday. -more-

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The Cal women’s volleyball team is undefeated this season – in fact, they haven’t even lost a game. At 9-0 with three tournament championships to their credit, the Bears are off to the best start in school history. But they face their biggest challenge of the season today when they face defending national champion Stanford. -more-

BANGKOK, Thailand — It’s in the running for several Emmys on Sunday. But “Sex and the City” has long been on a winning streak with viewers — and not only in the United States. -more-

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WASHINGTON – President Bush asked Congress Thursday for authority to “use all means,” including military force if necessary, to disarm and overthrow Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein if he does not quickly meet United Nations demands that he abandon all weapons of mass destruction. -more-

The letters KRUDT are etched in scratched, block letters on one of the small windows at Cody’s Books on Telegraph Avenue. The mark, likely the sign of a criminal street tagger, is just one of 17 defaced glass panes at the bookstore. -more-

Nasty shove -more-

OAKLAND — A man died Wednesday night after his car collided with a vehicle driven by a fleeing carjacker. -more-

OAKLAND – Police report that a man was shot multiple times Wednesday evening near the intersection of 98th Avenue and Empire Road. -more-

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Congress considers security bill -more-

OAKLAND — The well-known leader of a Black Muslim group was arrested Thursday for allegedly molesting a girl 20 years ago. -more-

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VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE— The launch of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile Thursday night provided a spectacular light show that was seen over much of California and as far away as Arizona. -more-

Gov signs $9.95 billion bond bill to boost high-speed rail -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — The California Public Utilities Commission voted Thursday to forward SBC Pacific Bell’s request to enter the long distance market to the Federal Communications Commission, but found that Pac Bell does not comply with a state law designed to prevent anticompetitive behavior, Commission Jeff Brown said. -more-

Emeryville’s Wham-O expands -more-

If you’ve been curious about community gardens, composting, and urban agriculture, this weekend may be the chance to educate yourself. -more-

LOS ANGELES — County health officials warned Thursday of a marked increase in cases of whooping cough, the highly contagious disease that can cause weeks of severe coughing. -more-

MOFFETT FIELD — Veteran NASA manager G. Scott Hubbard has been appointed director of the space agency’s Ames Research Center, officials announced Thursday. -more-

Bicycle enthusiasts met with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission Thursday to lobby for access to the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. -more-

OAKLAND — California transportation officials announced plans Thursday to divide the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge project into six separate contracts to involve more small and disadvantaged businesses. -more-

OAKLAND – The Oakland Police Department airport bureau said tonight that officers are investigating a report that an individual listed by the federal government as possibly connected with terrorist activity was inside Oakland International Airport. -more-

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SAN JOSE — On the night he learned his daughter’s charred body had been found in a car trunk near Yosemite National Park, a despondent Jose “Pepe” Pelosso set off to throw himself in front of a freight train. -more-

Last spring residents at 10th Street and Allston Way in west Berkeley demanded help. Their corner had been invaded by out-of-town drug dealers, they said, who intimidated neighbors and forced parents to keep their kids indoors. -more-

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When is it healthy to dream of success, and when does that dreaming turn into dark and pathological obsession? That question comes to mind watching John Guare’s 1971 New York Drama Critics Circle award winning play “The House of Blue Leaves,” which Berkeley Repertory Theater is running. It’s a rich, disturbing production on the Roda stage in downtown Berkeley. -more-

Thursday, September 19 -more-

The Cal football team is a shocking 3-0 to start the season. The Golden Bears just took down Michigan State, considered by many to be a favorite to win the Big Ten. This Saturday they play a service academy team, not exactly a traditional football powerhouse. So why do the Bears sound so worried? -more-

The University of California’s chief budget official said further state cuts and voter rejection of a $13 billion construction bond in November would have grave impacts on the nine-campus system. -more-

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I first saw “A Winter’s Tale” in Shakespeare’s hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon. That was more than 30 years ago, but I still remember the program note informing the audience that both Hermione and her daughter Perdita would be played by an up-and-coming young British actress. -more-

Berkeley High QB still -more-

The taxi driver scheduled to pick up Muslim speakers Wednesday for a UC Berkeley conference on Islam backed out at the last minute. -more-

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A small group of UC Berkeley students and activists called on the University of California to divest from Israel at a UC Board of Regents meeting in San Francisco Wednesday. -more-

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UNITED NATIONS — Bucking an anti-war mood among their U.N. Security Council partners, the United States and Britain began crafting a toughly worded resolution Wednesday that would narrow the timetable for Iraqi compliance with weapons inspections and authorize force if Iraq fails to cooperate, diplomats said. -more-

UC Berkeley students were treated to a celebrity visit Wednesday when professional basketball player Adonal Foyle of the Golden State Warriors spoke about Democracy Matters, a nonprofit organization he founded a year- and-a-half ago. Democracy Matters’ goal is campaign finance reform. Foyle believes politicians should be -more-

The California Department of Forestry has issued a high fire danger alert in the North and East Bay Area hills for today. -more-

n Assault with a 2-by-4 -more-

FOLSOM — Critics say the head of the agency that manages most of California’s power grid could have a conflict of interest because he also serves as attorney for a company that does millions of dollars of business with the grid operator. -more-

OAKLAND — A rookie cop who turned in three fired police colleagues now on trial for beating suspects and falsifying reports, testified Wednesday about how he was taught to “hit corners” and fabricate reports to cover his tracks. -more-

Redwood City tough -more-

Q: I own my home in Berkeley, and I would like to share it with a roommate. Will I have trouble getting rid of the roommate if things don’t work out? -more-

LOS ANGELES — West Coast ports headed toward the brink of a major labor stoppage Wednesday as negotiators for shippers and terminal operators accused dockworkers of staging a work slowdown and threatened to retaliate by locking out workers at all 29 ports. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Sun Microsystems unveiled its latest long-range plan to take another swipe at Microsoft’s desktop dominance as the company took the wraps off “Project Mad Hatter,” a new line of low-cost computers powered by the Linux operating system and geared toward workplace environments. -more-

Judge asks Intel, Intergraph CEOs to appear in court -more-

State Attorney General Bill Lockyer on Wednesday released annual statistics on anti-Arab hate crimes showing a roughly 15 percent spike in such incidents following last September's terrorist attacks. -more-

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Wednesday, September 18 -more-

The county has rejected Berkeley Unified School District’s budget for the second straight year, citing a $3.9 million deficit and a vague financial recovery plan, county officials said Tuesday. -more-

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Cal’s Kirk named Pac-10 Player of the Week -more-

The fight for mayor has a new battleground – campaign finance. -more-

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A BART scheduling change designed to ease travel to the San Francisco International Airport has added up to five minutes to the Berkeley-San Francisco-Daly City commute, raising concern among riders and public transit advocates. -more-

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City Council voted Tuesday to keep West Campus Pool open this winter and to investigate ways to keep Willard Pool open as well. -more-

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Judge orders striking -more-

SACRAMENTO — Nearly all the blackouts that swept California during the state’s 2000-2001 energy crisis could have been avoided, according to a report released Tuesday by state power regulators. -more-

SACRAMENTO — Using the label invisible man, the leading candidates for lieutenant governor accused each other Tuesday of piling up lousy participation records in their current jobs. -more-

Davis signs bills to protect -more-

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Broker Charles Schwab to cut 10 percent of staff -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao reneged on a year-old pledge to help 200 garment workers collect more than $1 million in unpaid wages, the factory employees charged Tuesday. -more-

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LONG BEACH— Trustees of the nation’s largest public university tentatively approved a tough new smoking policy Tuesday for the university’s 23 campuses that includes the authority to cite violators. -more-

Couple marries in a coal mine -more-

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK — It is stone masonry in the sky, and the role model here is the Greek builder Archimedes, who said, “Give me a place to stand, and I will move the earth.” -more-

Armed Robbery -more-

Construction of the $34 million Milvia Buildings at Berkeley High School is five months behind schedule and at least one of the two structures will probably not open by next school year, district officials said. -more-

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Tuesday, September 17 -more-

When Berkeley needs to buy an appliance, it shops around. But not for the lowest price. -more-

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OAKLAND — Miguel Tejada singled home the winning run in the ninth inning as the Oakland Athletics snapped Anaheim’s six-game winning streak and tied the Angels for first place in the AL West with a 4-3 victory Monday night. -more-

At least 30 of the 41 pro-Palestinian students who took over UC Berkeley’s Wheeler Hall in April have decided to face official student conduct hearings rather than accept a probation deal from the university, according to student leaders. -more-

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A $1.4 million budget scare for the Berkeley Unified School District has vanished, district officials said. -more-

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Because the dollars in question will not actually come from the state this year, Kurr said the district can float bonds to raise some of the $1.4 million. The district would repay those bonds once the deferred state money flows to the district during the 2003-2004 fiscal year, likely in July or August 2003, Kurr said. -more-

The late Bill Hicks had a vision for his diverse, west Berkeley neighborhood. The long-time community leader and barbecue fan wanted to showcase the unique cultures of west Berkeley in one big annual blowout. On Sunday, the party began. -more-

BERKELEY – Police arrested one man and were searching for one or two more after a botched armed robbery Sunday afternoon at an electronics store. -more-

ALAMEDA – Ralph Appezzato, the mayor of Alameda and a candidate for the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, died Monday in what authorities described as a possible suicide. He was 67. -more-

BRISBANE — The couple’s driveway is a steep, narrow trail that winds through a sun-drenched landscape of hardy California scrub. Their front steps are rocky footholds in the earth. Their living room is nestled within the shady embrace of a sprawling oak tree. -more-

Alleged gambling operation busted in Redwood City -more-

SAN JOSE — Cary Stayner was sane when he murdered three Yosemite National Park tourists in 1999, a jury decided Monday in what means he could face the death penalty. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — One of the Internet’s leading purveyors of pornography has offered to purchase the Napster trademark and Web site address for nearly $3 million in hopes of cashing in on the bankrupt song-swap company’s notorious reputation. -more-

Credit card scam exposes -more-

SAN JOSE — Despite a lackluster economy and continuing layoffs, California’s high-tech industry grew slightly last year with Oakland, Los Angeles and San Diego accounting for most of the new jobs, according to a report released Tuesday by an industry trade group. -more-

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Berkeley went to sleep Friday night a progressive college town, but it woke up a skateboard mecca. -more-

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EAST LANSING, Mich. – Cal has already exceeded expectations. The Golden Bears are not content, however. -more-

There was nothing moderate about Mayor Shirley Dean’s re-election campaign kickoff Sunday. -more-

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A handful of pro-Palestinian students involved in the April takeover of UC Berkeley’s Wheeler Hall have accepted disciplinary action, according to university officials. -more-

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Cardinal nip Cal water polo -more-

Today is the deadline for Faiz Aldabashi and his brother Ali to clear loiterers from sidewalks around their south Berkeley shop Easy Liquor at San Pablo Avenue and Haskell Street. If they fail, the brothers say, the state will strip them of their liquor license. -more-

LOS ANGELES – California’s Libertarian Party voted Saturday to drop its candidate for governor because he spat on a radio talk show host. -more-

OAKLAND — The alleged ringleader of a violent clique of Oakland police officers known as “The Riders” will be conspicuously absent as defense lawyers launch their case next week. -more-

VALLEJO – Police Department reports that a house fire that sent twin 12-year-old boys to a Sacramento burn unit was started by three or four suspects who lobbed Molotov cocktails through the home's windows. -more-

OAKLAND – A spokesman for the Oakland Police Department says an early morning homicide that claimed the life of an 81-year-old man appears to have stemmed from a family dispute now that a relative is in custody. -more-

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Two years ago, Berkeley received a $450,000 state grant to install two sets of traffic lights along Telegraph Avenue and make several other street improvements. Today, those lights sit dark, covered with yellow caution tape. -more-

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Until the late 1930s the blocks south of the university were a family oriented, residential neighborhood with churches of different denominations. St. Marks Church and other churches in the area are survivors of a residential neighborhood that no longer exists. When St. Marks was constructed, for example, there was a full residential neighborhood across the street, between Bancroft and Allston, where the sports facilities now stand. -more-

The Cheap Suit Serenaders just weren’t made for these times. The impetus for the band came when two collectors of vintage 78 rpm records bumped into each other at an Alameda Flea Market more than 30 years ago. An animated discussion between the two men revealed a shared love for the recorded music of the late 1920s, a boom time in the music industry. -more-

Saturday, September 14 -more-

The St. Mary’s Panthers played 42 minutes of pretty good football on Friday, but it wasn’t nearly enough to make up for six minutes of horrible football. -more-

Berkeley must reduce barriers to development if it hopes to comply with the state’s housing law and retain control of its zoning ordinances, state regulators say. -more-

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Senior midfielder Brittany Kirk had a goal and an assist to lead the Cal women’s soccer team past third-ranked Santa Clara, 2-1, Friday at Edwards Stadium. -more-

A Congressman crusading against weapons in space who is scheduled to visit Berkeley Saturday won’t need to worry about weapons assaults above his head. This week – in a statement of protest – the Berkeley City Council passed a resolution declaring a person’s space directly overhead a weapons-free zone. -more-

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Cal men’s soccer beats St. Mary’s 4-0 -more-

A plan to reduce Berkeley air pollution and possibly save a homeless shelter may have to wait until the city budget crisis clears up. -more-

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A senior water aerobics class canceled by the city two weeks ago was reinstated Friday. -more-

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SAN FRANCISCO — Labor unrest spread further through the University of California’s system Friday, as lecturers from Santa Cruz joined their counterparts at Davis and Berkeley on rotating one-day picket lines. -more-

The future of Reddy Realty, Berkeley’s biggest and most infamous real estate company remained in doubt Friday. -more-

n Assault, robbery -more-

Marin woman escapes injury when car plunges from carport -more-

OAKLAND— In the opening statements of a trial involving three former Oakland police officers, the prosecution attempted to paint the trio as ruthless, egotistical cops out for themselves with no regard for others. -more-

OAKLAND – The Oakland Fire Department has determined that a five-alarm blaze that charred 15 acres and threatened homes Tuesday was accidentally caused by a brush-clearing crew. -more-

OAKLAND – A 27-year-old Florida man charged with allegedly stalking a former college classmate over a nine-year period delayed entering a plea in Alameda County Superior Court this morning. -more-

SEBASTOPOL — A raid on a pot farm on the outskirts of Sebastopol netted federal agents thousands of mature marijuana plants and ended with the arrest of the owner of a Petaluma medical marijuana club. -more-

MONACO — Below the gilded dome of the Cathedral of Monaco lies the body of Princess Grace. Flowers are arranged over the marble slab of her tomb, and a wooden plaque instructs visitors: “Silence and Respect.” -more-

RENO, Nev. — For a few days last month, Nevada’s seventh largest “city” was in the Black Rock Desert. -more-

TEL AVIV, Israel — A Palestinian blew himself up on a crowded bus Thursday in downtown Tel Aviv, killing at least five other people and wounding 49, the second suicide bombing in two days. In response, Israeli tanks charged into Yasser Arafat’s West Bank headquarters. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Berkeley’s Chez Panisse, Washington, D.C.’s Citronelle, New York’s Babbo and Whole Foods Market were among 200 restaurants, grocers and seafood distributors that pledged Wednesday not to buy, serve or sell fish created by biotechnology. -more-

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UNITED NATIONS — Iraq unconditionally accepted the return of U.N. weapons inspectors late Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said, nearly four years after the inspectors left Baghdad. -more-

The Union City Police Department sought to reassure citizens Saturday that a brutal triple homicide this week was not a random outbreak of violence. -more-

NAPLES — Three men reportedly overheard talking about a terrorist plot were pulled over and detained for 17 hours Friday before authorities said the men were apparently kidding around and released them. -more-