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


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

Reader Commentaries

Letters to the Editor

Thursday October 15, 2009

Stray chihuahua-terrier mix in the kennels at Berkeley Animal Care Services.

Animal Shelter: Still A Doggone Dilemma

By Jill Posener
Thursday October 15, 2009

Happy Birthday, China

By Marvin Chachere
Thursday October 15, 2009

Iran and the New US Bunker Buster Bomb

By Kenneth J. Theisen
Thursday October 15, 2009

Berkeley Does Not Need a Charter School

By Priscilla Myrick
Thursday October 15, 2009

Like a Fish Needs a Bicycle

By Dave Blake
Thursday October 15, 2009

Beyond UC vs. Sacramento: It’s Relationships That Matter

By Hillary Violet Lehr
Thursday October 15, 2009

Don’t Let the University Interfere with Your Education

By Eugene E. Ruyle
Thursday October 15, 2009

In Response to Fouda on Israel-Palestine

By Janna Sundeyeva
Thursday October 15, 2009

A Few Facts Concerning Olmert

By Jim Harris
Thursday October 15, 2009

KPFA: A Response

By Henry Norr
Thursday October 15, 2009

Columnists

Dispatches From The Edge: Afghanistan: ‘We Deeply Regret . . .’

By Conn Hallinan
Thursday October 15, 2009

UnderCurrents: Loma Prieta: How You Miss History While in the Midst of It

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor
Thursday October 15, 2009

UC tree scientist Matteo Garbelotto held his Oct. 7 SOD workshop under an oak near Tolman Hall. Tree owners, arborists, media reps, birds, and this squirrel attended.

Green Neighbors: Workshops for Tree People on Sudden Oak Death

By Ron Sullivan
Thursday October 15, 2009


Arts & Entertainment

Arts Calendar

Thursday October 15, 2009

Ragged Wing Builds on Greek Tragedy

By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet
Thursday October 15, 2009

They Left a Light, Susan Waterfall’s multimedia program of music composed in Nazi prison camps.

Jewish Music Fest Spotlights Work Composed in Nazi Camps

By Ken Bullock Sepcial to the Planet
Thursday October 15, 2009

Dancing with ‘Dead Boys’ at Zellerbach

By Ken Bullock Sepcial to the Planet
Thursday October 15, 2009

Joana Carneiro Debuts as Berkeley Symphony Director

By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet
Thursday October 15, 2009


Around the East Bay: Sonic Harvest

Thursday October 15, 2009

Events Calendar

Community Calendar

Thursday October 15, 2009