Berkeley resident Harrod Blank, 39, was embarrassed to be seen driving a plain white 1965 Volkswagen bug. So he painted a rooster on it. It reminded him of the chickens he grew up with near the Santa Cruz Mountains. But he didn’t stop there. -more-
To the Editor: -more-
They come from Canada, they do fantastic things with trapezes and the human body, they use no animals in their act—and no, they are not Cirque du Soleil. The performance troupe that has descended on Zellerbach Hall is Cirque Eloize, and it is a phenomenon all its own. -more-
A decade of dominance ended Wednesday as the Berkeley High cross country boys defeated Alameda High, the first time the Hornets have failed to win a league meet in more than 10 years. -more-
Berkeley High School’s African-American studies department has been reinstatement, said department Chairman Robert McKnight to wild cheers at a dramatic Board of Education meeting Wednesday night. -more-
The Cal football team is facing adversity for the first time this season following a 23-21 loss to Air Force last weekend. But the Bears haven’t lost any confidence following their first setback of the season. -more-
Green Party candidate for governor Peter Miguel Camejo racked up 9 percent of the statewide vote in the latest polls. Despite growing support, though, Gov. Gray Davis is unwilling to recognize his opponent in a formal debate. -more-
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YAMOUSSOUKRO, Ivory Coast — Waving U.S. flags and shouting ’Vive la France!,” American schoolchildren escaped a rebel-held Ivory Coast city under siege Wednesday, as U.S. special forces and French troops moved in to rescue Westerners caught in the West African nation’s bloodiest uprising. -more-
A dozen protesters picketed outside the Oxford Street Starbucks Wednesday as part of an international campaign urging the chain to buy more “Fair Trade” coffee from farmers. -more-
SANTA CRUZ — Upholding its famously liberal leanings, the Santa Cruz City Council has passed a resolution denouncing any pending military strike on Iraq led by U.S. forces. -more-
MORGAN HILL — Flames burned toward dozens of homes nestled in remote neighborhoods of the lushly forested Santa Cruz Mountains on Wednesday, with firefighters struggling in 90-degree heat to control one of the area’s largest wildfires in decades. -more-
5,000 acre additon to Golden Gate recreation area approved -more-
BERKELEY — University of California, Berkeley, was awarded a $2.1 million federal grant Wednesday to study the economic impact of smoking prevention efforts in China, the largest consumer of tobacco products in the world. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Gov. Gray Davis cleared the way Wednesday for Californians to sue gun manufacturers if they believe the companies have been negligent in the advertising or production of firearms. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Businesses and institutions who bypassed their local utilities to buy cheaper electricity from power sellers would have to pay a surcharge to help the state repay its energy debts, under a plan put forward by the state’s energy regulators Wednesday. -more-
NEW YORK — Sales for Sept. 11 books have dropped substantially since the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks, although a handful of titles remain best sellers. -more-
OAKLAND — A couple accused of abducting, raping and murdering a 22-year-old Pleasanton woman in a minivan rigged for torture was sentenced to death Wednesday. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — A television news report that a major component of the city’s emergency water system had been neglected for more than a decade is prompting changes and a fire department investigation into how the system came to be neglected. -more-
Young people are more conservative than their parents on school prayer, abortion and federal aid to faith-based charities, according to a new nationwide poll by UC Berkeley researchers. -more-
To the Editor: -more-
Although the Berkeley High girls volleyball team had a rough preseason, there’s one thing the Yellowjackets know they can count on: dominating the Alameda Contra-Costa Athletic League. -more-
A proposal by Mayor Shirley Dean to consider moving the UC Berkeley football stadium from under an earthquake fault on the eastern side of campus has caused some pre-election rumblings. -more-
Teachers and activists expressed concern Tuesday about cost-cutting moves that combine Berkeley High School’s visual and performing arts departments and fold the English Language Learners department into other, undetermined programs. -more-
NEW ORLEANS — Cajun fishing towns cleared out, Navy ships steamed out for the open sea and inland hotels began filling up as Tropical Storm Isidore strengthened Tuesday and headed toward the Gulf Coast. -more-
City Council passed a measure Tuesday guaranteeing continued shelter for the 69 residents of the UA Homes left homeless by an Aug. 26 fire. -more-
NEW YORK - The faces said it all. No beaming smiles, only frozen stares. The 252 performers standing on stage at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City had just completed the world premiere of John Adams' “On the Transmigration of Souls,” a meditative tribute to the victims, survivors and heroes of Sept. 11. -more-
RICHMOND – Police say an argument between teenagers on Monday night resulted in two children and an animal control officer being bitten by a pair of pit bulls. -more-
OAKLAND – An attorney for one of three former Oakland police officers on trial for criminal misconduct began his attempt Tuesday to chip away at the credibility of a key prosecution witness in Alameda County Superior Court. -more-
OAKLAND – Preliminary statistics culled from U.S. Department of Justice records show that Oakland ranked fourth last year in the number of homicides among cities approximately the same size and could place higher next year given the rash of recent killings. -more-
SAN LEANDRO – A rookie Oakland police officer is set to be arraigned Friday on charges that he allegedly had sexual relations with two high school students, police said. -more-
School promotes peace with Guinness record handshake -more-
SAN JOSE — Democratic Gov. Gray Davis postponed a second fund-raiser amid sharpened attacks from Republican opponent Bill Simon slamming him for raising money from special interests while considering legislation important to those groups. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Next month, some of the best minds in stem cell science will gather at a conference in San Diego to exchange notes, opinions and suggestions on how to invigorate a promising but struggling research field. -more-
DAVIS – Just in time for the fall harvest, the University of California has published a guide that could help farmers and ranchers solve each others' problems. -more-
After months of negotiations, Berkeley has reached a tentative six-year contract with its four municipal labor unions representing 60 percent of the city’s work force, city and union leaders said Monday. -more-
Recently the City Council heard a request from members of the community to place a charter amendment on the November ballot requiring the school district to conduct performance audits. The city attorney responded by asking an attorney with experience in this area for an opinion as to whether the city has the power to do this. The reply was that the district is already required to provide a “yearly audit of its books and performance,” and that there was no evidence that the current audit structure needed to be fixed or that the request to require a performance audit was workable. As a consequence, the proposal was derailed and sent to the Joint City-School District “2x2” Committee and the superintendent of schools. The council also directed staff to seek a further opinion from the Attorney General. -more-
Teachers and community leaders are fuming about a cost-cutting move to fold Berkeley High School’s historic African-American studies department into one or several other departments. -more-
LOS ANGELES — Citing jury misconduct, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge on Monday ordered a new trial in the Oakland Raiders’ $1.2 billion conspiracy lawsuit against the National Football League. -more-
City Councilmember Linda Maio continues to explore the possibility of spaying and neutering Berkeley raccoons, considered a nuisance by many, despite a public outcry over the proposal. -more-
Frank and Veronica Thomas stood in disbelief on the blood-stained Berkeley street where their 7-year-old granddaughter was struck on her bike by a police car while visiting a relative Saturday. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Al Gore harshly criticized President Bush’s push for war against Iraq, saying it has hurt the United States’ standing and could dangerously undermine the rule of law around the world. -more-
Volunteers with Berkeley’s Ohlone Greenway Group are introducing one of three new public art installations as “four steel cows with distinctive personalities.” -more-
OAKLAND — A $2.4 million federal public works grant to start infrastructure design at the closed Oakland Army Base was announced Monday. -more-
Purchasing a home can be a complex process, especially for first-time homebuyers. There are many forms to read and fill out, including termite inspections, appraisals, and of course, financing details. One form that is often passed on to the buyer is an acceptance of the responsibility for compliance with the Residential Energy Conservation Ordinance (RECO). -more-
LOS ANGELES — California became the first state in the country to enact a comprehensive paid family leave program for workers under a bill signed Monday by Gov. Gray Davis. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — The state Department of Transportation has reversed course on how it will comply with a judge’s order to treat U.S. flags and banners the same, saying Monday it now will remove them all from highway overpasses because of concerns about safety. -more-
Berkeley police say they are looking for people who may have witnessed an armed robbery at the Cambridge Sound Works store at 2350 Shattuck Ave., Sept. 15, even though witnesses may not have known what was going on. -more-
The Pacifica Foundation radio network will return to Berkeley by March, three years after it fled the city amid protests and lawsuits. -more-
For three weeks the Cal football team took advantage of just about every opportunity it had. On Saturday against Air Force Academy, missing out on those opportunities cost the Golden Bears their undefeated season. -more-
For a city that has changed immeasurably since its hippie heyday, Telegraph Avenue can sometimes seem a land suspended in time. But some peace activists say that after this weekend, it will never be the same. -more-
SACRAMENTO – California opened its doors Sunday to stem cell researchers whose research has been restricted by a federal limits on the cells that come from fetal and embryonic tissue. -more-
Cornerstone principles of Berkeley Reads – the city library’s free adult literacy program – are fostering voice and action. A new publication of student writings demonstrates these ideas. -more-
Feminists objected loudly in 1997 to the content of Neil LaBute’s striking but misogynistic film “In the Company of Men.” In that tale, two corporate Gen-X guys abused and humiliated a woman for fun. -more-
The Berkeley Yellowjackets went into halftime of Friday’s game against Liberty High a team looking for their hearts. As they proved in the second half, the Jackets have plenty of it. -more-
Mayor Shirley Dean was dealt a blow by the city’s Fair Campaign Practices Commission Thursday, when commissioners found the mayor, who is rapt in her bid for re-election, to be in “probable violation” of Berkeley campaign finance law. -more-
To the Editor: -more-
PITTSBURGH — When Willie Nelson helped start Farm Aid in 1985, he and the other organizers — John Mellencamp and Neil Young — held out hope their message about the plight of America’s small family farmers would be heard, and Congress would react. -more-
St. Mary’s High squandered a 20-7 halftime lead and lost, 29-20, at El Cerrito High Friday night. -more-
To the Editor: -more-
When Cal has the ball -more-
With Berkeley’s coffers low, Councilmember Betty Olds wants the city to reduce one of its more frustrating expenses: zoning appeals. -more-
To the Editor: -more-
BERLIN — With an oblique but damaging comparison between George Bush and Adolf Hitler hanging over the final hours of his re-election campaign, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder sought Friday to defuse tensions in a conciliatory letter to the U.S. president. -more-
A step in the fight against breast cancer was made last weekend, when sports and entertainment celebrities raised $200,000 at Berkeley’s Alta Bates Summit 2000 Celebrity Classic. -more-
ALAMEDA – Alameda city officials have announced plans for a memorial service for Mayor Ralph Appezzato, who apparently commit suicide Monday. He was 67. -more-
OAKLAND – Three unrelated shootings overnight in Oakland pushed the city's number of homicides this year to 84, police officials said. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — Like any proud father, Ted Benna takes pride in the accomplishments of his brainchild, the 401(k) account. -more-
Educators hope a joint doctorate program between two educational systems will create more accessible and affordable education, while bolstering urban school district leadership throughout the Bay Area. -more-
SACRAMENTO — Rural California counties will receive more than $20 million for crime prevention efforts under two bills signed Friday by Gov. Gray Davis. -more-
SAN JOSE — The Silicon Valley looked itself in the mirror Friday, and what it saw was scary. -more-
SAN FRANCISCO — A new study by two Stanford University scientists could shake up a long-held theory that helps geologists forecast earthquakes. -more-
WASHINGTON — The first northern right whale calf to be seen in the eastern North Pacific Ocean in perhaps a century was reported by the National Marine Fisheries Service on Friday. -more-
To the Editor: -more-
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-
Junior Jeff Spellman will start at quarterback for Berkeley High in the Yellowjackets’ season opener tonight, head coach Matt Bissell confirmed Thursday. -more-
To the Editor: -more-
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-
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-
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-
OAKLAND — The well-known leader of a Black Muslim group was arrested Thursday for allegedly molesting a girl 20 years ago. -more-
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-
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-
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-
LA VERNE — A wildfire in the foothills above Los Angeles jumped from 8,000 acres to 12,000 acres in just a few hours Tuesday, sending smoke pouring over the sprawling metropolitan area and triggering public health warnings. -more-
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is seriously considering lowering the nationwide terror alert back to code yellow because of disruptions in the al-Qaida terrorist network, including the arrest of a suspected Sept. 11 plotter, government officials said Monday. -more-
OAKLAND – Firefighters remained at the scene of a four-alarm fire Friday that tore through roughly 10 acres of brush in the Oakland Hills Thursday evening, a spokeswoman for the Oakland Fire Department said. -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-
