While most of the United States will celebrate Columbus Day this Monday, Berkeley will remember the consequences of colonialism. For the past 10 years, the city has designated the Saturday nearest to Oct. 12 – the date Christopher Columbus arrived in America – as Indigenous Peoples Day. Today, more than 100 Native American groups will gather at Martin Luther King Jr. Park to dance, sing and remember. -more-

Berkeley is world renouned as a home of knowledge and learning. Our children deserve world-class schools that live up to Berkeley’s superb reputation. Our local school district does a good job with its limited resources. However, if we are serious about bringing a world-class education to every single child in Berkeley we need to make our schools a higher priority and enlist the help of the entire community as well as our county, state and federal officials. -more-

-more-

Ask any musician what kind of music his band plays. You’re likely to get “it’s hard to categorize” followed by some long dizzying string of styles like post-punk-rockabilly-surfer-metal. Even if resisting musical definitions weren’t de rigueur, most musical categories fall short in their attempt to help listeners navigate the CD bins of today’s music stores. -more-

Saturday, Oct. 12 -more-

The Berkeley High Yellowjackets continued to run roughshod over their opposition on Friday, using a 48-point first half to propel them to a 57-0 win over Encinal High. -more-

-more-

To the Editor: -more-

One running back piling up yards the St. Mary’s High defense was able to handle. Two running backs piling up yards the defense was almost too much for the Panthers to handle. -more-

Forty-six anti-war protesters were arrested Friday morning as they tried to block workers from entering the Federal Building in San Francisco, authorities said. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

When Cal has the ball -more-

-more-

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — A man filling up his car at a Virginia gas station was shot to death Friday in what may have been the most brazen attack yet by the Washington-area sniper, committed as a state trooper investigated an accident just across the street. -more-

Lion at S.F. zoo dies -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Federal officials, union leaders and the city of San Francisco hope to match hundreds of soon-to-be displaced airport screeners with jobs elsewhere in the security industry. -more-

The reopening of West Coast ports brought little relief to the Ross Glove Co., which has 70,000 pairs of leather gloves stitched in the Philippines still stuck on a ship in the Long Beach, Calif., harbor. -more-

SACRAMENTO — Household International Inc., one of the nation’s largest lenders, will pay $484 million to settle illegal lending allegations by state attorneys general and state financial regulators, California officials said Thursday evening. -more-

-more-

To the Editor: -more-

It is said that our natural gravitation toward music comes from the first sounds we ever hear – the rhythmic beating of our mother’s heart. If this is true, world-renowned percussion master John Santos must have heard his mother’s heart beating loud and clear. Tonight, the founder and director of the critically acclaimed Machete Ensemble will take his band to the stage of La Pena Cultural Center. In collaboration with four Bay Area poets, the 10-piece group will perform a truly unique combination of Afro-Cuban music and spoken word. -more-

Friday, Oct. 11 -more-

The St. Mary’s High girls volleyball team, down two games to none against Salesian High on Thursday, pulled off a tremendous comeback that might just have saved their season. -more-

The Berkeley Unified School District and Berkeley Federation of Teachers have reached a tentative agreement solidifying the controversial six-period day at Berkeley High School. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

NEW YORK — Frank Gorshin may best be known as The Riddler of the 1960s “Batman” television series, dishing out short, corny verbal puzzles aimed at stumping his superhero nemesis. -more-

-more-

Bay Area activists took to the streets of San Francisco and Oakland Thursday evening to show their opposition to the House of Representatives’ 296-133 vote giving President Bush broad authority to use military force in Iraq. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

LOS ANGELES — Viacom Inc. will use its vast media holdings, including the Paramount studio, CBS and MTV, in a global anti-AIDS campaign, the company said Wednesday. -more-

Girls Tennis – Berkeley 4, Alameda 3 -more-

-more-

Friday -more-

-more-

SAN FRANCISCO — A man with the environmental activist group Earth First! has died after a fall of more than 50 feet from a redwood tree, raising concerns about the dangers of tree sits, often used to stop logging operations. -more-

SACRAMENTO — A Northern California Indian tribe has declared a “state of emergency” over fish kills on the Klamath River, and asked Gov. Gray Davis to issue a similar declaration for the tribe’s reservation. -more-

Members of a gay and lesbian community center say they were shocked to find the find the word “Fag!” and a swastika scribbled on their outdoor bulletin board earlier this week, as reported in the Daily Planet Oct. 8. -more-

Police are searching for suspects in a string of northwest Berkeley residential burglaries and a spate of prowling cases in northeast Berkeley. -more-

Theodore Allen “Ted” Dungan, a chemical engineer, architect, civic leader and conservationist, died at age 93 on Sept. 28 of natural causes. -more-

Assault with pick axe -more-

-more-

OAKLAND — The city of Oakland could become the West Coast headquarters of United Airline’s fuel purchasing and supply subsidiary, United Aviation Fuels Corp. -more-

Date-rape coasters hot item -more-

Fishermen caught -more-

LOS ANGELES — Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon expressed his “sincere regret” on Thursday over his now-disproven allegation that Democratic incumbent Gray Davis illegally accepted a campaign check in the state Capitol. -more-

SACRAMENTO — More students passed the state’s high school exit exam than originally reported, state Department of Education officials announced Thursday. -more-

-more-

-more-

NEW YORK — Two executives who oversaw WorldCom’s financial record-keeping pleaded guilty Thursday to charges stemming from a federal probe of the company’s multibillion-dollar accounting scandal. -more-

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. — Hispanic voters can be found working anywhere from the Microsoft campus in Redmond to the ladies’ wear department in the Sunnyside Wal-Mart. -more-

JERUSALEM — The United States will give Israel three days notice before attacking Iraq, a senior Israeli official said Thursday, giving the country time to prepare for a possible Iraqi strike. -more-

-more-

SACRAMENTO — These are gifts to die for. -more-

-more-

-more-

SACRAMENTO — Saying the energy crisis no longer threatens Californians, an anti-tax group sued Gov. Gray Davis Thursday to end the state of emergency the governor declared nearly two years ago. -more-

Vista Community College wants a home, and soon, the 28-year-old Berkeley school should have one. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

A photography exhibit in downtown Berkeley, commissioned by the Alameda County Community Food Bank, will present startling images of the many faces of hunger throughout the month of October. The 40 photograph exhibit titled “Hunger: What Will You Do About It?” by Berkeley-based documentary photographer David Bacon, will be held at the Civic Center at 2180 Milvia St., and in the Police Review Commission lobby at 1900 Addison St. -more-

Thursday, Oct. 10 -more-

The Cal Golden Bears have made themselves a most unwelcome guest so far this season, and they hope to keep up their rude ways on Saturday against USC. -more-

Berkeley’s lofty goal of recycling 75 percent of its waste might be in jeopardy. But city officials will soon have a chance to do something about it. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

He’s 22 years old. He’s a graduate student at UC Berkeley. And he could be your next City Councilmember. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

City Council took its first step Tuesday to ban smoking within 20 feet of any doorway or air intake vent on public buildings. Council unanimously passed the first reading of the anti-smoking ordinance. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

SAN JOSE — Convicted Yosemite murderer Cary Stayner should die for his crimes, a jury decided Wednesday, rejecting defense pleas to show him mercy because of a traumatic childhood, mental illness and an inability to control his urges. -more-

UC Berkeley lawyers agreed Wednesday to postpone student conduct hearings for 32 pro-Palestinian activists until the Alameda County Superior Court rules on a lawsuit filed by the students against the university. -more-

Two Berkeley High School teachers may face disciplinary action for their role in a student’s detonation of a dry ice bomb on school grounds Wednesday afternoon. -more-

n Grand Theft -more-

Black, Hispanic and American Indian enrollment rose sharply at the University of California’s medical and law schools this fall, although the numbers still were below affirmative action levels. -more-

OAKLAND – A 14-year-old Oakland boy killed his mother's ex-boyfriend with a butcher knife on Monday as the man was attacking the boy's mother and sister, police said. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — A third mediation attempt to resolve the legal tug-of-war over San Francisco Giants’ star Barry Bonds’ 73rd home run ball failed Wednesday as both men claiming ownership of the historic shot could not reach a settlement. -more-

Oakland car tricks continue -more-

SAN JOSE – Colleges around the country are buying millions of coasters that test for “date-rape” drugs in drinks. But some experts say the coasters are ineffective and could lead to more assaults by creating a false sense of security. -more-

LOS ANGELES – The Bush administration weighed in Wednesday on the contentious battle over California’s efforts to clean its air, joining automakers in arguing a state mandate that seeks to curb tailpipe emissions is pre-empted by federal law. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO – A lawyer for the California Department of Transportation argued to a federal appeals court in San Francisco Wednesday that the agency has a constitutional right to allow private citizens to hang American flags but not other kinds of banners on freeway overpasses. -more-

LOS ANGELES (AP) — West Coast dockworkers headed back to work under court order Wednesday, facing a huge backlog of cargo that built up over 10 days but could take more than two months to clear. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Yahoo Inc. said Wednesday its financial recovery picked up steam in the third quarter as its popular Web site persuaded more visitors to pay for online services. -more-

LOS ANGELES — A group that accused Gov. Gray Davis of illegal fund-raising retracted the allegation Wednesday as Republican opponent Bill Simon sought to contain political fallout from having turned the claim into a campaign issue. -more-

FREMONT – The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office announced today that a Fremont couple has been charged with 22 felony counts in connection with an allegedly fraudulent contracting company they owned and operated. -more-

If you’ve driven on Interstate 80 and wondered about the scrawny statues in the waters off Emeryville and the Red Baron plane off the Berkeley coast, Tyler Hoare can explain. -more-

To The Editor: -more-

Wednesday, Oct. 9 -more-

MINNEAPOLIS — Fifty-five thousand screaming fans on their feet, rocking the Metrodome and waving their Homer Hankies. Excellent pitching, timely hitting and a tense one-run game. -more-

At least 3.000 cases of theft have occurred since December on Berkeley streets. That’s what city officials discovered last week when they reported missing and presumed stolen all of the bright orange flags intended for safety-wary pedestrians to brandish as they cross dangerous intersections. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

ST. LOUIS — Kirk Rueter’s smile just won’t go away. -more-

Board of Education members Shirley Issel and Terry Doran traded jabs with four challengers over the school district’s financial management and high school reform efforts during a debate at Berkeley High School Monday night. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

To the Editor: -more-

MISSOULA — Troy Murphy had 16 points and 12 rebounds Tuesday night, leading Golden State past the Seattle SuperSonics 84-75 in the first exhibition game for new Warriors coach Mike Musselman. -more-

Lawyers for UC Berkeley pro-Palestinian activists filed suit in Alameda County Superior Court Monday, seeking to block the use of police reports and videos in student conduct hearings for 32 protesters who participated in the April 9 takeover of the university’s Wheeler Hall. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

KUWAIT — Two Kuwaiti gunmen in a pickup truck attacked U.S. forces during war games Tuesday on an island in the Persian Gulf, killing one Marine and wounding another before they were shot to death by U.S. troops. Kuwait called the assault a “terrorist act.” -more-

City Council stepped back into the realm of foreign policy Tuesday, voting unanimously for President George W. Bush to seek a diplomatic solution to the current stand off with Iraq. -more-

OAKLAND — The first 88 federal baggage screeners at Oakland International Airport took their posts at 4 a.m. Tuesday. -more-

OAKLAND – An Oakland police sergeant testified in Alameda County Superior Court Monday that some of the aggressive stop-and-frisk tactics allegedly used by a group of former officers known as the 'Riders' were improper. -more-

STANFORD – Stanford University's Linear Accelerator Center last week celebrated 40 years of research into fundamental particle physics and synchotron radiation with a special anniversary event this month. -more-

OAKLAND – A Florida man accused of stalking a former college classmate over a nine-year period and burglarizing her home has been bound over for trial in Alameda County Superior Court. Daniel Barbalace, 27, of Boca Raton, was arrested Sept. 7 and is charged with one count of stalking and two counts of burglary. -more-

LIVERMORE – The recent disappearance of a teenage Livermore girl took an ominous turn when her car was found engulfed in flames in the middle of the night outside a remote tavern in rural Alameda County, authorities said Monday. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — A retired judge agreed Tuesday to mediate the dispute between the two men, each of whom claims to be the rightful owner of Barry Bonds’ record-setting 73rd home run ball. -more-

Pot sold at drive-through -more-

LOS ANGELES— A group allied with Republican Bill Simon released two photos Tuesday purporting to show then-Lt. Gov. Gray Davis illegally accepting a campaign contribution, but the veracity of the photos was quickly questioned. -more-

The attorney for Yosemite killer Cary Stayner asked jurors Tuesday to look beyond ignorance and cause for vengeance by showing mercy and kindness to spare his life. -more-

WASHINGTON – President Bush asked a federal court Tuesday to reopen West Coast ports and impose a cease-fire that would end a caustic 10-day labor lockout, which has cost the fragile economy as much as $1 billion a day. -more-

NEW YORK — The U.S. abortion rate dropped significantly during the second half of the 1990s, particularly among teenagers, and experts attribute the decline to better awareness of contraception and a fear of disease that has cut down on sexual activity. -more-

WASHINGTON— A House committee approved a bill Tuesday designed to reduce the threat of wildfires, but key Democrats withdrew their support and left prospects for wildfire legislation this year uncertain. -more-

SEATTLE — Say you’re so hooked to your mouse, keyboard and computer monitor you can hardly tear yourself away from your terminal. -more-

LOS ANGELES — Two new lawsuits have been filed against tobacco giant Philip Morris and other defendants just days after a jury ordered the cigarette maker to pay a cancer-stricken Newport Beach woman a record $28 billion in punitive damages. -more-

Smokers who light up outside public buildings would be subject to $100 fines if City Council passes a tough, new anti-smoking ordinance. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Wednesday, Oct. 9 -more-

OAKLAND – The Oakland Athletics were supposed to put it all together this October. Instead, everything fell apart in six days — and now one of baseball’s sweetest success stories has turned sour. -more-

Tony Award-winning producer Jonathan Reinis is weighing a full-scale performing arts center at the unoccupied UC Theatre on the 2000 block of University Avenue in downtown Berkeley. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

ALAMEDA – The Oakland Raiders are piling up points, as if they’re simply daring other teams to try to keep up. -more-

Green Party candidate for governor Peter Camejo was barred from attending a gubernatorial debate Monday at the insistence of Gov. Gray Davis, Camejo’s campaign manager Tyler Snortum-Phelps said. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Pro-Palestinian activists criticized UC Berkeley Chancellor Robert Berdahl for signing his name to a full-page advertisement in the New York Times Monday that called for an end to intimidation of Jewish students on college campuses. The ad made no specific reference to the protection of Arabs or Muslims. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Berkeley police say they are responding to neighborhood complaints of rampant prostitution on San Pablo Avenue. But merchants say police efforts have made no impact. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

CINCINNATI – President Bush, seeking support for war against Iraq, called Saddam Hussein a “murderous tyrant” Monday night and said he may be plotting to attack the United States with biological and chemical weapons. -more-

OAKLAND – Federal Transportation Security Administration security screeners will be deployed at Oakland International Airport this week following a similar move last week when the federally-trained workers took over security in a Mineta San Jose International Airport terminal and Los Angeles International Airport. -more-

A gay and lesbian community center was the victim of a hate crime Sunday night, when a vandal wrote the word “fag” and drew a swastika on its outdoor bulletin board. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO – As the U.S. Congress wrestles with the president’s bid for military authority to strike Iraq, San Francisco supervisors Monday voted to say no to such action at this time. -more-

n Assault with deadly weapon -more-

Recently a Berkeley resident expressed concern to us that the compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) that she wanted to install to save energy had mercury in it, and this mercury would do more to harm the environment than the incandescent lamp she would replace. (Mercury is used in all fluorescent lamps to start them.) -more-

Man killed by Caltrain -more-

LOS ANGELES – The family of one of the women who died in the crash of Greyhound bus after its driver was stabbed by a passenger has sued the transit company. -more-

WASHINGTON – President Bush moved Monday toward reopening crippled West Coast ports, creating a special board of inquiry to determine the impact of a labor dispute that has brought shipping trade there to a virtual halt and is costing the economy up to $2 billion a day. -more-

SAN JOSE – A jury that will soon decide the fate of Yosemite killer Cary Stayner was told Monday the former handyman deserves the same fate as his three victims. -more-

CLEARLAKE – Lake Konocti is nestled in the center of the rolling, golden Konocti Hills north of Napa, renowned around the world for its fishing, wineries, entertainment and the cleanest air in the state. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Sunday fined a former Petaluma optical company almost $35,000 for hazardous waste storage and record keeping violations. -more-

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – An American and two Britons won this year’s Nobel Prize in medicine Monday for discoveries about how genes regulate organ growth and a process of programmed cell suicide. Their findings shed light on the development of many illnesses, including AIDS and strokes. -more-

LOS ANGELES – The first retail zero-emissions car available in the United States will be delivered to the city by the end of the year by Honda, officials said Monday. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO – The American Civil Liberties Union charged Monday that San Francisco’s police department has done little to follow up on statistics showing that racial profiling may be a problem in the city. -more-

Emeryville’s steady climb from dumping ground to consumer paradise is set to take a giant leap forward next month. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

Monday, Oct. 7 -more-

SEATTLE – Kyle Boller waited his whole life to play such a great game. The way he saw it, the Washington Huskies just happened to be the team on the other side of the line. -more-

Chanting against the impending war in Iraq as they marched to the rhythms of drums and tambourines, about 350 mostly students made their way from People’s Park to the downtown BART station to a Sunday afternoon rally in San Francisco’s Union Square. Organizers estimated the San Francisco crowd at more than 5,000. -more-

-more-

St. Mary’s High junior Fred Hives ran back the opening kickoff 84 yards for a touchdown against McClymonds High on Saturday, giving the banged-up Panthers a ray of hope. But that was the last highlight for St. Mary’s, which was simply run over by the Warriors in a 42-6 drubbing. -more-

After state regulators in August rejected Berkeley’s plan for producing its mandated share of affordable housing – a decision that could cost the city valuable state funds – city planners are insisting the state ruled incorrectly. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

OAKLAND – Not only are the Minnesota Twins here to stay, now they’re going home – to open a most unlikely AL championship series. -more-

Forgive Board of Education candidate Lance Montauk if he is less than intimidated by the Berkeley Unified School District’s $3.9 million budget shortfall. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Phillip Buchanon helped Drew Bledsoe and the Buffalo Bills run out of late-game drama. -more-

Governor Gray Davis may pull out of a televised gubernatorial debate scheduled for tonight if Green Party candidate Peter Camejo is permitted to be a spectator, Camejo told supporters at a rally in Richmond Sunday. -more-

To the Editor: -more-

-more-

-more-

Two Sunday morning grass fires kept the Berkeley fire department busy at the cusp of high fire season. -more-

SAN LEANDRO – A San Leandro man was listed in serious condition Sunday after impaling his head on an iron gate spike in his front yard, a spokeswoman for Eden Medical Center said. -more-

-more-

n Bike theft -more-

-more-

-more-

NOVATO – A priest who was on leave from the seminary where he has taught since 1997 was arrested for allegedly molesting a boy Marin County in 1984. -more-

One dead, two injured in cliff fall -more-

Triple murderer sent back to death row for third time -more-

OCCIDENTAL – Despite overall population growth in this pastoral, wealthy Sonoma County community, the number of school-age children is dwindling, and its schools are going broke. -more-

-more-

-more-

LOS ANGELES – Starting at midnight Monday passengers in two Los Angeles International Airport terminals will navigate security checkpoints manned by federally trained screeners. -more-

-more-

SACRAMENTO – During the past four years, California has screamed along a fiscal rollercoaster – enjoying record surpluses before taking a gut-wrenching plunge deeper into the red than ever before. -more-

Stolen flowers -more-

-more-

About 300 protesters filled UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza Wednesday, toting anti-war signs and banners and chanting “stop the war on Iraq.” -more-

MOSCOW — President Bush’s call for greater pressure on Iraq won guarded support in Asia and Australia on Tuesday, but his threats failed to overcome widespread skepticism in Europe, where most nations are deeply concerned by the prospects of war. -more-

LOS ANGELES – Trailing in the polls a month before Election Day, Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon accused Gov. Gray Davis of auctioning his office for campaign contributions as the two faced off in their first debate Monday. -more-

CAIRO, Egypt – The Arab satellite station al-Jazeera broadcast an audiotape Sunday in which a male voice attributed to Osama bin Laden said the “youths of God” are planning more attacks against the United States. -more-