News Updates

UC Students, Nader Hold Second Teach-In

By Richard Brenneman

Monday October 19, 2009

UC Berkeley students held a second teach-in on Friday, protesting budget cuts, staff reductions and the increasing dependence of public education on corporate funds. -more-

Judge Grants Change of Venue in Mehserle Murder Case

Bay City News

Friday October 16, 2009

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Morris Jacobson today granted a defense motion to move former BART police Officer Johannes Mehserle’s murder trial away from the county because of the extensive publicity his case has received. -more-

West Berkeley Land Battle Heats Up Near Finish Line

By Richard Brenneman

Friday October 16, 2009

With the battle over West Berkeley zoning nearing an end, planning commissioners Wednesday night focused on the list of uses that would be allowed in areas where they had been previously barred. Acting under orders from the City Council majority, the commission has been hammering out a list of uses and definitions which could change the face of the city’s only haven for industry, manufacturing and artisans. -more-

Ferry Plans Steam Ahead

By Richard Brenneman

Friday October 16, 2009

The ferry is coming to Berkeley. WETA—the Water Emergency Transportation Authority—gave planning commissioners a Wednesday night update on its plans to build a new ferry terminal just south of the fishing pier at the Berkeley Marina. -more-

Carjacker’s Blood Leads to Arrest Months Later

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 15, 2009

When a Whole Foods shopper stabbed a would-be carjacker with a pair of scissors, she did more than fend him off: She inadvertently collected the DNA that would lead to an arrest. -more-

News

UC Berkeley Econ Prof Wins Nobel Prize

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 15, 2009

UC Berkeley professor Oliver E. Williamson was awarded the 2009 Nobel Prize in Economics Monday, Oct. 5, along with Indiana University professor Elinor Ostrom for their work in organizational economics. -more-

City Starts Swine Flu Vaccinations

Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 15, 2009

The City of Berkeley received its first shipment of intranasal H1N1 vaccine from the state Tuesday, Oct. 6, the same day it administered more than 2,000 seasonal flu vaccines to the public. -more-

Berkeley Law Students Launch Torture Accountability Initiative

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 15, 2009

A group of UC Berkeley law students launched a torture accountability initiative Tuesday, Oct. 13, dedicated to holding the authors of the infamous Bush torture memos accountable, reinstating respect for the prohibition against torture and ending executive abuse of power and impunity. -more-

City College Students, Faculty, Staff Protest Budget Cuts

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 15, 2009

A Berkeley Community College classified employee speaks out against state budget cuts at Thursday's meeting in the BCC atrium.

Berkeley City College students, faculty and staff joined their counterparts at Laney and Merritt colleges to speak out against state budget cuts to public education at the Peralta Board of Trustees meeting in Oakland Oct. 13. -more-

Partisan Position: Courthouse Athletic Club Demolished, Oakland-Style

By Bob Brokl

Thursday October 15, 2009

The Courthouse Atheltic Club at 2935 Telegraph Ave. in Oakland was demolished Oct. 2.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story inaugurates a new Planet category, Partisan Position. It’s not always possible for staff reporters to cover all the news our readers would like to know about, so we’re soliciting submissions from writers who have a personal interest in stories they want to report. We ask them to try to include all relevant information and various points of view, but the Partisan Position warning label tells readers that the story they’re reading might not be completely impartial. -more-

Berkeley Unified Gets Emergency Preparedness Grant

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Thursday October 15, 2009

Grassroots House members, from left John Selawsky, Henry Norr, Jane Welford, Maya Drooker, Emma Coleman, Andrea Pritchett, Sean Gallager.

Grassroots House Celebrates 40 Years

By Lydia Gans Special to the Planet

Thursday October 15, 2009

Berkeley Quake Preparations Set Pace for Bay Area

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 15, 2009

Council Takes No Action on Cell Tower Ordinance

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Thursday October 15, 2009

Ray of Hope Leads AC Transit to Delay Bus Line Cuts

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Thursday October 15, 2009

Campus Briefs Community on Downtown Lab Project

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 15, 2009

Governor Opposes Point Molate Casino Project

By Richard Brenneman

Thursday October 15, 2009

First Person: Present at the Re-Creation: Memories of Loma Prieta

By Bill Zarchy

Thursday October 15, 2009

Steve McConnell / UC Berkeley

Oliver Williamson accepts the congratulations of a colleague in a morning phone call.

Editorials

Staying on the Path to Peace

By Becky O’Malley

Thursday October 15, 2009

On Saturday morning I wasn’t even out of bed before my family started demanding that I write to someone about the snarky way the newsies have been commenting on Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize. I’m the designated writer in a family of opinionated people, and it seems they’re all mad about this one. -more-