Local News and Opinion from The Berkeley Daily Planet

News Updates

Pacific Steel Appeal of Court Decision Begins

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday April 18, 2008

Posted Sat., April 19—Pacific Steel Casting’s appeal of a small claims court decision which went against the company in November began this week, and is expected to go on for the next two months, a spokesperson for the steel foundry told the Planet Friday. -more-

News

Downtown Parking Meters Might Be Enforced at Night

By Richard Brenneman

Friday April 18, 2008

Drivers who park at Berkeley’s pay-and-display parking meters could soon be shelling out money until 10 p.m. if Mayor Tom Bates and two city councilmembers have their way. -more-

Judge Gives Green Light To ‘Trader Joe’s’ Project

By Richard Brenneman

Friday April 18, 2008

A county judge has rejected the contentions of a legal challenge by Berkeley homeowners to the approval of the so-called “Trader Joe’s” building in downtown Berkeley, paving the way for construction. -more-

Hancock-Chan Race Gets a Little Testier

By J. Douglas Allen-Taylor

Friday April 18, 2008

The race to succeed Don Perata as the Senator from California’s 9th State Senate District—already one of the feistiest of the campaign season—got a little testier last week as former 16th District Assemblymem-ber Wilma Chan traded direct mail and e-mail charges with her opponent, current 14th District Assembly-member Loni Hancock. -more-

Sunshine Law Draft Heads to Hearing

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday April 18, 2008

Despite requests from citizens to postpone the public hearing on the Berkeley city attorney’s draft sunshine ordinance—designed to provide citizens with greater access to local government—the City Council Agenda Committee refrained from rescheduling it. -more-

UC Berkeley Faculty and Students Demand Open Textbooks

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday April 18, 2008

California Student Public Interest Research Group (CALPIRG) members joined UC Berkeley faculty and the Associated Students of the University of California on the steps of the Martin Luther King Student Union Tuesday to demand open textbooks in colleges across United States. -more-

35 BUSD Teacher Layoffs Rescinded

By Riya Bhattacharjee

Friday April 18, 2008

Berkeley Mother Sentenced For Murdering Her Son, 9

By Richard Brenneman

Friday April 18, 2008

Density Bonus Measures Returns to City Council Agenda

By Richard Brenneman

Friday April 18, 2008

Planet Reader Report: Bills on LBAM Spray Get Hearing in Capitol

By Lynn Davidson and Jane Kelly

Friday April 18, 2008

The Wells Fargo Building, Berkeley’s original high-rise, has a new owner, a company owned by heirs to the Hills Brothers Coffee fortune. Seagate Properties, the previous owner, retains its other properties in the city.

Wells Fargo Building Sold to Hills Bros. Coffee Heirs

By Richard Brenneman

Friday April 18, 2008

Richard Brenneman

Visitors to downtown Berkeley may soon be paying for the on-street parking spots a little longer—until 10 p.m. at the computerized pay-and-display spaces if a proposal now before the City Council wins approval.

Editorials

Editorial: Being Green: It Ain’t All That Easy

By Becky O'Malley

Friday April 18, 2008

As Earth Day approaches, Berkeley’s ever-growing Earth Day celebration is scheduled to take place this Saturday in newly-renovated Martin Luther King Park, right between the two city halls, Old and New, and next to the Farmers’ Market. It’s a perfect location to consider a few facts about sustainability, today’s buzz word for doing whatever we can not to harm Mother Earth any more than we already have. -more-