Gaza protest draws hundreds of students at Cal graduation
Nearly 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students received their degrees on Saturday in a ceremony that was at times interrupted by protests over the war in Gaza.
Pedestrian, bike bridge opening at Gilman Street and Interstate 80
No pedestrians are allowed underneath the freeway during the current phase of construction. When completed, there will be two roundabouts on Gilman Street, one on either side of Interstate 80.
latest stories
Shop Talk: Nonprofit art institute turns 50; a ‘dream’ of a yarn store comes to Elmwood
Conceived at a cafe in Paris, Kala Art Institute celebrates 50 years of being a vital hub for Bay Area art. Catch up on this and other Berkeley retail and small business news.
Election 2024: District 4 candidates answer Berkeleyside questions
Four candidates competing to fill the seat left vacant by Kate Harrison’s resignation explain their views on housing, homelessness, property crime and more.
Berkeley Unified hit with new civil rights complaint over anti-Palestinian and Arab racism
The district now faces allegations of antisemitism and “severe and pervasive racism” against Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students and staff.
Kids bike ride at Lake Merritt will be 100% fun
Organizers expect this Saturday’s “Kidical Mass” bicycling event to be the biggest yet. And there will be snacks!
Uji Time closure comes sooner than expected, Bangkok Noodles shutters after 24 years
A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland and beyond.
Around Berkeley: Music at Babette Café, Eisner Prize film showcase, Bay Area Bike to Work Day
Other events include a pirate and witch-themed book launch, poetry reading with Berkeley’s poet laureates and a tea party at the Berkeley Rose Garden
Eco-expert shares tips and tools for dealing with unwanted stuff
RE:Source guide provides local options for reuse, repair, recycling and safe disposal for hundreds of items.
Berkeley Fire ‘street trauma prevention’ position closer to reality
Can a city both increase bike and pedestrian safety and keep emergency response times down? If the budget allows, Berkeley will hire someone to do just that.
City
UC Berkeley investigating discrimination, abuse claims after student’s Gaza protest speech at law dean’s private dinner
The law student, who made an unscheduled speech at the Jewish dean’s home, said she was discriminated against because she is Muslim and Palestinian.
Heyday books at 50: The page-turning tale of a Berkeley original
Founder Malcolm Margolin wrote, designed, typeset and laid out the first Heyday book from a rented house in Berkeley in 1974. Fifty years later the press is moving beyond its regional focus while remaining grounded in the hippie ethos that inspired its beginnings.
Remembering Priscilla Anne Myrick: Lifelong learner, beloved friend and advocate
Myrick earned a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from UC Berkeley and an MBA in Accounting and Finance from Columbia University before auditing 18 additional courses at Cal.
Berkeley City Manager Dee Williams-Ridley has resigned
In a prepared statement, the city’s top administrator said she would stay on until July 10. The announcement came an hour after the City Council was scheduled to meet to evaluate her performance.
Crime & safety
Berkeley advances plan to spend $40K a year on cancer screenings for firefighters
The City Council has moved ahead a still-pending pilot program for cancer screening at BFD. It’s just one component of the department’s rigorous program of maintaining its personnel’s physical and mental health.
schools
Berkeley superintendent testifies before Congress: ‘Antisemitism is not pervasive in BUSD’
Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel was grilled by lawmakers during a congressional hearing on antisemitism in K-12 schools but avoided the most intense scrutiny reserved for NYC schools chancellor.
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ARTS
Dramatic world premiere of ‘Red Red Red’ explores unrequited gay love
William Hodgson adeptly directs this play based on Greek scholar Anne Carson’s 1989 novel-length poem, Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse. Now playing through May 19 at the Oakland Theater Project.
Business
Some Berkeleyans may lose landlines if AT&T clears regulatory hurdle
AT&T wants to abandon much of its landline telephone network, but some residents in the hills say that’s their only reliable means of communication.
Community
Rattlesnake season is here. Here’s how to stay safe
East Bay Regional Park District has issued a rattlesnake advisory.
Nature
Update: Annie and Archie are parents of four new peregrine falcon chicks
The fourth chick hatched Wednesday as people watched on the big outdoor screen at the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive.
Berkeley Wire
News about Berkeley from around the web.
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Opinion
Opinion: My family was the victim of a traffic collision. It was preventable
As Berkeley citizens, there are actions we can take today to move our city toward achieving Vision Zero.
Opinion: In combating antisemitism in our schools, what’s needed is education, not interrogation
However well-prepared Berkeley’s school superintendent might be in testifying before the congressional Committee on Education and the Workforce, it would seem to be a no-win situation.
Opinion: Why Pamela Price’s recall should be held in November
Fairness, predictability and efficiency are reasons why the vote should be held in the general election. A special election would fail on these metrics.
Opinion: New data shows why cars should be banned from Telegraph Avenue
Numerous studies have shown that car-free streets and protected bike lanes boost the economic vitality of retail corridors.
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