South Berkeley murder suspect dies in custody after ‘medical emergency’
Steve Addison, 57, of Oakland was scheduled to appear in court Sept. 19, charged with murder in the July 3 shooting of Matthew Lamont Gullette.
Thai Delight abruptly closes, Tease Southern Kitchen to shutter after the weekend
A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond and beyond.
latest stories
Berkeley police make arrest in Aug. 16 Adeline Street homicide
Darnell Amhil Anding, also known as Marcel Amhil Bible and Saalah Odin, is charged with murdering 52-year-old Corey Dushawn Waters in August. Police said the two men had been in an “ongoing dispute.”
‘The Prom’ at Berkeley Playhouse gets glowing reviews
The musical “hits on all cylinders” with some “downright ‘wow’ moments,” say critics.
Around Berkeley: A talk on California’s catastrophes, potato printmaking, autumn equinox
Other events include a sound bath led by Odeya Nini at BAMPFA and free concert by guitarist Ray Obieo and his Latin Jazz Project on Fourth Street
‘Heartbreaking:’ Coliseum vendors reflect on the end of an era for Oakland sports
The workers who sell merchandise and serve drinks and food to A’s fans share fond memories, tearful goodbyes and an uncertain future.
Remembering Hugh Groman, master of hospitality who catered events for Barack Obama and Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Groman, who died last month at 53, founded popular Berkeley catering and party platter delivery businesses and ran a downtown burger joint called Phil’s Sliders from 2011 to 2017.
Cal Shakes returns after 2-year hiatus with rousing version of ‘As You Like It’
After pausing production in 2023 due to a financial crisis, the nonprofit theater again has audiences laughing at merry Shakespearian mix-ups at the Bruns Amphitheater in Orinda.
Berkeley marks 101st anniversary of 1923 fire with photo installation
Councilmember Susan Wengraf donated the photo, by Gabriel Moulin, that depicts the devastation of the fire that destroyed hundreds of homes and other residential buildings and left thousands of Berkeleyans homeless.
Berkeley approves terms for building housing on Ashby BART station parking lots
Berkeley and BART will still need to clear several legal and procedural hurdles before construction can begin, but BART estimated it could start soliciting developers by year’s end.
City
How to watch Berkeley’s 2024 election candidate forums
A running list of town halls and debates to learn about who’s running for Berkeley mayor, City Council, school board, rent board and more.
Radiation testing to start this month at Cesar Chavez Park
Residents asked tough questions of officials Tuesday as the city prepares to fly a drone over the park to test for unsafe nuclear radiation levels.
Berkeley could acquire one of Ashby station’s parking lots as part of BART housing deal
BART has agreed to give the city a 1.7-acre parking lot as part of a community benefits deal that will allow a long-discussed plan for housing at the station to move forward.
New safety measures, but no ‘quiet zones,’ planned for West Berkeley rail crossings
The city spent nearly $1 million investigating whether it could silence passing trains’ horns. After learning that the price tag could hit hundreds of millions, Berkeley decided not to continue — but a broad range of safety improvements are still coming to the city’s rail crossings.
Crime & safety
Overtime, extra tasks are burning out Berkeley police, consultant says
Persisting vacancies leave more work for sworn staff, which has tanked morale, which makes recruitment and retention more difficult, according to Citygate Associates. Police also don’t feel they have support from the community or the City Council.
schools
California passes bill to limit student cellphone use on K-12 campuses
The Phone-Free School Act requires every school district, charter school and county office of education develop a policy limiting the use of smartphones by July 1, 2026.
Housing & Development
26-story downtown apartment building across from UC Berkeley gets green light
A planned 456-unit building at Center and Oxford streets, with a rooftop restaurant and nearly 10,000 square feet of downtown retail space at ground level, cleared the Zoning Adjustments Board Thursday.
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ARTS
Old-time music will sound out in Berkeley this week as annual festival returns
The Berkeley Old Time Music Convention runs in venues and parks around the city from Sept. 18-22.
Business
Shop Talk: Lacis Museum celebrates 20 years; Solano Avenue Stroll turns 50
Jules Kliot created a museum dedicated to lace and textiles to show his vast collection and honor his late wife. Plus: Standard & Strange, Five Little Monkeys, Dorothy’s Closet, Luna Dance & Creativity.
Community
At La Peña’s 50th reunion party, Chilean president makes a surprise video appearance
Half a century after its founding, and now facing a perilous financial crisis, the South Berkeley cultural center held a lunchtime party where early members celebrated old times.
Nature
Berkeley to answer your questions about radiation testing at Cesar Chavez Park
Berkeley will hold its first public meeting on the radiation issue since it was notified in January that radioactive waste may be buried at the park, a former landfill
Berkeley Wire
News about Berkeley from around the web.
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Opinion
Opinion: Lawmakers must tighten restrictions on rat poisons to protect wildlife
The Poison Free Wildlife Act, AB 2552, would apply common sense controls on certain rodenticides while still allowing their use to protect agriculture, water supplies, and public health in cases of emergency infestations.
Opinion: Honoring Sonya Massey’s legacy by advocating for rigorous police accountability in Berkeley
The killing of Ms. Massey highlights the critical importance of continuous oversight and accountability of police personnel.
Opinion: Demolition ordinance will destabilize the housing market in Berkeley
This ruling will result in the death of the Southside Plan, which the City Council unanimously passed last November.
Opinion: Yes to middle housing, end segregationist zoning and give fair housing a fighting chance
In 1916, Berkeley invented single-family zoning to exclude the poor and non-whites from wealthy neighborhoods.
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