An octopus and a ‘Doof Wagon’ rolled through Berkeley Sunday during annual kart race
The 1.5-block race, which starts on Merced Street, attracted about 100 spectators this year. Prizes were awarded for “best braker” and “safest run.”
Top stories
Daruma Sushi opens in West Berkeley
A running list of new restaurants opening in Berkeley, Oakland, and beyond.
Fantastic Negrito tells his own story in new documentary
‘Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?’ — a feature-length film following the performer’s journey from rural Massachusetts to Oakland — is one of the highlights of San Francisco DocFest, which starts Thursday.
Remembering a Berkeley icon who helped shape the world of cinema
BAMPFA’s six-week tribute to Tom Luddy opens in June, featuring visits by Werner Herzog, Philip Kaufman, Alice Waters and others.
Therapy dog joins Berkeley police oversight office
Lucky, a labrador-cocker spaniel mix, will be available for “animal-assisted interventions” in the Office of the Director of Police Accountability.
CITY
Board tasked with holding Berkeley police accountable is short-handed, feeling the strain
With half the Police Accountability Board’s seats empty, work has been piling up. There’s “a natural limit with how much a person can engage,” the board’s leader said.
A freeway has long separated Berkeley from its waterfront. Is it time to rethink I-80?
From a freeway-covering park to miles of tunnels, Berkeley could seek federal funds to study changes to one of the Bay Area’s most congested roadways.
Evictions cases are rising fast after end of Alameda County moratorium
Oakland’s moratorium is still in place but ends in July. Berkeley’s expires Aug. 31.
Berkeley City Council postpones decision on how it collects surveillance footage
Disagreements on camera and drone usage and how long to keep recordings are holding up the vote on surveillance policies.
Crime & Safety
Haskell Street home under construction catches fire
There were no injuries in the fire. Officials believe it may have started in a roof under construction.
schools
Fashion designs inspired by moss and iridescent frogs win Berkeley High student a national arts award
Senior Gavin Trotmore is one of 20 students nationwide to be honored with a Presidential Arts Award. His teacher, Miriam Stahl, is also being honored.
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ARTS
At Idea Makers: Lively talk about women, technology and the changing definition of feminism
Designer and technologist Mindy Seu, author and podcaster Lauren Schiller, and activist Hadley Dynak were guests at the Berkeleyside event at BAMPFA.
Business
Bay Area Children’s Theatre closes its curtains after 19 ‘charming’ years
The downtown Berkeley theater, burdened by rising operating costs and the end of pandemic relief funds, has announced its closure “effective immediately.”
Community
Around Berkeley: A Robin Hood musical for kids, a tea tasting and bagpipes and fiddles
Other events include a Kwame Alexander book talk and a retrospective of work from Kala Art Institute’s co-founder.
Nature
Live rabid bat found by Berkeley dad wows 4-year-old daughter
“I was just worried about it,” Eliana said of the bat her father found on the stairs of their central Berkeley home. Residents are warned not to touch wild animals.
Berkeley Wire
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Opinion
Opinion: BUSD is failing special education students
The district’s inability to comply with a settlement based on the 1975 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is quite frankly sad.
Opinion: Berkeley should decriminalize psychedelics to promote public safety
As a police officer, I strongly support the measure before the Berkeley City Council to officially make arrests for possession of all psychedelics the lowest priority of law enforcement.
Opinion: Defend public education, keep our libraries open
In the richest state in the richest country in the world, these cuts to public education are unacceptable.
Opinion: Commemorating 50 years of police oversight in Berkeley
This milestone is a testament to the commitment of our community to ensuring that our police department operates in a manner that is accountable, transparent, and just.
