Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) articles from July 2006

Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) archives from July 2006

Crematorium eyes Richmond.
July 1, 2006... Byline: John Geluardi Jul. 1--About 60 North Richmond residents rallied this week against a planned crematorium that would emit several pounds of mercury near homes and youth centers. Stewart Enterprises, owner of the Neptune Society...

Interfaith center offers more than just hot meals.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Chris Treadway Jul. 1--RICHMOND -- The Souper Center, which has served food to poor people in Richmond for more than 20 years, officially has a new home as of Friday. The opening of the $2.7 million Souper Center Family Housing...

City worker jailed in embezzlement: PLEASANTON: Accounting assistant accused of stealing $77,000 through bookkeeping deception.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Sophia Kazmi Jul. 1--A former Pleasanton city worker is in Santa Rita Jail on a felony embezzlement charge after she allegedly used a simple but deceptive scheme to embezzle $77,000 in city funds. According to Pleasanton...

Life's sunny side up at Stable Cafe: . PLEASANTON: Cafe on the fairgrounds a reliable haven for regulars.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Malaika Fraley Jul. 1--It was 5:30 a.m. and daylight had just broke over a foggy Pleasanton Ridge. Inside Barn No. 1 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, Esther Hall had already been pressing bacon on the griddle for a good hour,...

Old controversy follows new chief: ANTIOCH: NAACP requests meeting to discuss accusations against Hyde, who will become head of police next week.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Danielle McNamara Jul. 1--Public allegations of racial profiling and questionable police conduct have followed former Davis police Chief Jim Hyde to Antioch. Months of skirmishes with members of Davis' now-defunct human...

Ferret fanciers live caged lifestyles: As one of only two states where the pets are illegal, owners must constantly look over their shoulders.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Denis Cuff Jul. 1--Kathleen Reardon hid her cuddly, curious and illegal pets for 10 years before burglars kicked down her front door on a cold January night and exposed her to the bite of California's ban on ferrets. "Don't...

Marijuana ruling affects decision on machine guns: Court decides if homegrown marijuana can affect interstate commerce, so must amateur assault rifles.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Chris Metinko Jul. 1--A federal appeals court in San Francisco on Friday reversed its earlier decision concerning homemade machine guns, basing its new opinion on a U.S. Supreme Court medical marijuana ruling. The 9th U.S....

Second quarter not kind to market.
July 1, 2006... Byline: George Avalos Jul. 1--Investors on Friday completed a dreary second quarter that was haunted by inflation fears, rising interest rates, and stubbornly high energy prices. Oil company stocks offered one of the very few bright...

Little profit disclosure from bigger refineries.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Rick Jurgens Jul. 1--When it comes to talking about the profits of the 14 refineries that make most of the gasoline used in California, investors do ask and oil companies do tell -- but only a little. Perhaps the best picture...

Fuel price cap backfires, timing blamed.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Rick Jurgens Jul. 1--After years of enduring the highest prices in the nation, the state of Hawaii set out to rein in fuel costs. Last September, the state imposed a cap on the wholesale price of gasoline. Things didn't go...

EDITORIAL: MICHAEL WEINBERG From the labor community Strike about much more than money.(Editorial)
July 1, 2006... Jul. 1-- Copyright (c) 2006, Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to...

EDITORIAL: Vietnam, Iraq are a lot alike.(Editorial)
July 1, 2006... Jul. 1--Having lived the horrors of wars in my lifetime, I want others to recognize the similarities of Vietnam and Iraq. Both wars started with a lie -- the supposed Gulf of Tonkin attack off Vietnam and the weapons of mass destruction in...

Groups play blame game for ever-increasing costs: Decisions by consumers and producers impact market, and some matter more than others.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Rick Jurgens Jul. 1--California gasoline prices have nearly tripled in five years and remain among the highest in the country. Long an irritant to motorists and businesses, energy costs now crimp consumers and threaten the economy....

Camp founder receives honor for helping others: LIVERMORE: Syndicated TV show highlights people who are helping transform the lives of others.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Betsy Mason Jul. 1--Camp Wonder in Livermore receivedsome well deserved recognition this week when a film crew from "Transformation Nation" visited to do a story on camp founder Francesca Tenconi. "It's wonderful to get that kind...

Young, tall but hardly NBA ready: Warriors' fans must be patient, again, as draft picks O'Bryant, Perovic develop into their roles.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Marcus Thompson II Jul. 1--SAN RAMON -- The two potential centers of the future walked in together, first-rounder Patrick O'Bryant and second-rounder Kosta Perovic, as the Warriors introduced their 2006 draft picks Friday at their...

Sure, they're fast -- but Tour's best don't go it alone: Riders become winners only through the efforts of teammates, support staff.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Tom Barnidge Jul. 1--America owes a debt of gratitude to champion cyclist Lance Armstrong. He not only opened the country's eyes to the Tour de France but also succeeded in annoying a large segment of the French population by...

A's still can't master NL West foes.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Curtis Pashelka Jul. 1--OAKLAND -- Inconsistent may be an accurate word to describe how the A's have been against National League West opponents over the last nine games. Another word describes how the Arizona Diamondbacks have...

Clothing makers happy to sell hometown pride: PITTSBURG: Pair's company sews Bay Area diversity into threads.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Laurie Phillips Jul. 1--Those of us raised in the state within a state that is the Bay Area can appreciate what sets it apart, say a group of friends from Pittsburg: its diversity of backgrounds, lifestyles and attitudes. Now...

Macha learned composure while playing in Japan.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Neil Hayes While in Japan, Ken Macha learned about being thrust into a new culture, a lesson which helps him today as A's manager. Ken Macha slid home safely while playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic in 1976, or so he...

A's lacking punch at the plate.
July 1, 2006... Byline: Joe Roderick OAKLAND, Calif. _ A's shortstop Bobby Crosby called Miguel Batista's stuff "filthy," but the success of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher on Saturday might have had as much to do with the A's recent struggles at the...

When in Rome, text as Caesar allows.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Andrew Becker Jul. 2--A cell phone dictionary typically has tens to hundreds of thousands of words, which linguists help cell phone companies select and revise to stay current on what words are permissible. Zi Corp., a...

Second death in a year befalls grieving family: RODEO: Woman found beaten, strangled was cornerstone for all when her brother died.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Tom Lochner and Karl Fischer Jul. 2--Last summer, Diana Basham helped hold together a family stunned by the sudden, violent loss of her younger brother. This summer, her family must find its way without her. Contra Costa...

Miniature horses in spotlight.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Rowena Coetsee Jul. 2--About four dozen tiny horses are on show this weekend at Antioch's fairgrounds, where they are high-stepping, jumping and trotting their stuff. Sponsored by the Northern California Miniature Horse Club,...

From grief, hope for others rises: Laci Peterson's mother's foundation works to help reunite missing people with families.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Sara Steffens Jul. 2--Nothing can bring her daughter back. But Sharon Rocha, the mother of murder victim Laci Peterson, hopes to help reunite other families with their loved ones through her new charitable venture, the Laci and...

Deputies out in force during Fourth of July: DISCOVERY BAY: Fireworks banned in Contra Costa County, but remain an 'ongoing problem' in East County.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Danielle McNamara Jul. 2--To reduce the number of fireworks-related injuries and fires, Sheriff's deputies will be out in force in Discovery Bay this holiday. "Fireworks are a big, ongoing problem in East County,...

New challenges, new opportunities: OAKLEY: As the city enters its eighth year of incorporation, a loss in funds drives a focus on economic development.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Paula King Jul. 2--After passing the seven-year milestone as a city, Oakley leaders are looking forward to expanding the city limits and making important economic strides this year. Economic development is one of the young...

East Bay real estate is shifting, expert says.
July 2, 2006... Byline: James Temple Jul. 2--Commercial real estate easily made the honor roll in Colliers International's "Mid-Year Report Card," according to panelists at the presentation last month in Lafayette. A flurry of increasingly large office...

Some countries already monitor text messages.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Andrew Becker Jul. 2--As text messaging evolves into a popular method of global communication, some repressive governments are reading along, texting back and even editing messages -- with the help of North American companies. A...

Coaching is their calling: Former big leaguers Mashore and Pico are making an impact with D'backs organization.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Chace Bryson Jul. 2--Damon Mashore was five years removed from his somewhat brief big league career, and had reached a crossroads. After bouncing around different organizations and an independent league, the former A's...

A's lacking punch at plate: Oakland's bats are no match for Arizona's Batista, who is perfect through 6? innings.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Joe Roderick Jul. 2--OAKLAND -- A's shortstop Bobby Crosby called Miguel Batista's stuff "filthy," but the success of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher on Saturday might have had as much to do with the A's recent struggles at the...

Untouched Talent lives up to her name: The filly charges to victory in the Juan Gonzalez Memorial Stakes.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Jay Heater Jul. 2--Horse racing PLEASANTON -- For the first race of her career, 2-year-old Untouched Talent had the perfect name. Pleasanton trainer Jeff Bonde's $500,000 filly dueled through the first quarter mile of...

Device allows for speedy communication in crisis: SAN RAMON: Company tries to help enable networks to be back up and running quickly in emergencies.
July 2, 2006... Byline: Scott Marshall Jul. 2--A San Ramon company has designed a portable, satellite-linked communications device that has drawn quick interest from emergency planners and businesses. The device, called Remote CLOUD, can link to a...

Combating the affliction: Writer puts a face on chronic fatigue syndrome.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Joan Morris Dorothy Wall's Oakland, Calif., home, not far from the UC Berkeley campus, is a model of linear simplicity. Bookshelves line the walls in perfectly straight lines, and the furnishings are sparse both in number and...

Shadows of a lost empire: Cambodia's Angkor temples cast spell.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Anne Chalfant Two things you need when exploring the ancient city of Angkor in Cambodia: First _ hire a quick-witted guide who can snake you in and out of temples without getting tangled with tour bus crowds. The other...

Dublin school district loses longtime leader.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Eric Louie Jul. 3--The Dublin school district has swelled since John Sugiyama took the top post a decade ago, with even more students and schools on the east side of town on the way. Meanwhile, test scores and academic rigor has...

PLEASING PEDAL POWER: WALNUT CREEK: New pedicab has downtown businesses happy while offering shoppers a fun alternative.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Theresa Harrington Jul. 3--Can't find parking in downtown Walnut Creek? Tired of walking from one shop to another? Rob Vanoncini has the answer: "Let's Roll Pedicabs" that let shoppers, diners and theater-goers sit in a...

NOT FORGOTTEN.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Dogen Hannah Jul. 3--EL PASO, Texas -- His smile. That's what many people remember first about Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas: an eager, endearing grin. He wore it in the border town barrio where he first attended church. He...

School mailboxes at center of debate: SAN LEANDRO: District wants group to stop putting political endorsement newsletters in cubbies.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Eric Louie Jul. 3--School mailboxes are at the center of a contentious court fight between an East Bay teachers union and its district. Lawyers on both sides say the decision could set a precedent on whether unions may...

Official aims for diversity in city staff: ANTIOCH: Personnel director plans to recruit at minority colleges in effort to have workers reflect changing community.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Sarah Krupp Jul. 3--Antioch's population has swollen to become a diverse suburbia, but its city staff and police force have remained overwhelmingly white. In her first few months as Antioch's personnel director, Deborah...

Council gives OK to 'tight' city budget: HERCULES: Magnitude of imbalance forces passage of financial plan for only one year instead of two.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Tom Lochner Jul. 3--The Hercules City Council has passed a deficit budget that administrative staff members described as "very tight and conservative." The city's two top administrators consider the budget situation serious...

Get drawn into a black hole exhibit: OAKLAND: Planetarium's computer program shows audience what it is like in a black hole, witness the big bang.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Andrew McGall Jul. 3--The East Bay's premiere planetarium this month will take visitors on a trip into the far reaches of space to witness the big bang and enter a black hole. The show, opening July 15, uses a software program...

Superintendent search may carry over to fall: ANTIOCH: District doesn't expect to announce replacement until August; board also seeks new principal.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Andrew Becker Jul. 3--Antioch schools may be hard-pressed to have a new superintendent by the time school starts in the fall. With the next round of candidates expected to be interviewed July 30, the day before what would have...

Vigil held for girl, 12, who fell into river: CONCORD: Family makes plea for volunteers, donations to continue search for their daughter.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Cassandra Braun Jul. 3--As the summer sun began to set, family, friends and neighbors gathered Sunday night in a candlelight vigil for much-loved Pine Hollow Middle School sixth-grader Veronica McEvoy, also known as "Nani." ...

CalFed reorganization includes new Delta plan.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Mike Taugher Jul. 3--The foundering CalFed effort to fix the Delta and stabilize its delivery of water across the state will be reorganized by the new state budget, with the disbandment of the agency that runs the program and the...

Soldier to lead July 4 parade.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Scott Marshall Jul. 3--DANVILLE -- Wounded warrior Joey Bozik will be the guest of honor in an enduring Danville tradition Tuesday -- the town's Fourth of July parade. Formally introduced to community leaders at a Thursday...

EDITORIAL: Free speech survives.(Editorial)
July 3, 2006... Jul. 3--BURNING OR OTHERWISE desecrating the American flag is a vile and vacuous way to protest anything. It does nothing to advance an argument, reflects badly on the protester and rightfully offends just about everyone. But that is hardly a...

EDITORIAL: Secondhand smoke.(Editorial)
July 3, 2006... Jul. 3--WE'VE ALL KNOWN for some time now that smoking cigarettes increases the likelihood of lung cancer and heart disease. What had been up for debate is just how damaging it is to one's health to breathe someone else's cigarette fumes....

Scientist discovers the genuine dark side.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Betsy Mason Jul. 3--BERKELEY -- Sitting in his office at Berkeley Lab, with his slight frame, thick glasses, slightly wrinkled khaki pants, short-sleeved button-down shirt and sneakers, and surrounded by unruly stacks of papers,...

Building a better mule: When the science of cloning meets equine racing.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Jay Heater Jul. 3--Dr. Gordon Woods was doing embryo research in his lab in Moscow, Idaho, Wednesday when he stopped to race to the nearby off-track wagering facility. He arrived just in time to see Idaho Star, a 3-year-old bay...

Filly shows pop in futurity victory: Sharoana surges to two-length lead, holds off even-money favorite.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Jay Heater Jul. 3--PLEASANTON -- Pleasanton trainer Jeff Bonde was explicit when giving his jockey, Roberto Gonzalez, instructions on tactics for the $50,000 Everett Nevin Alameda County Futurity on Sunday at the Alameda County...

O'Bryant cooks up a winner: Warriors' first-round pick is at home on the court and in the kitchen.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Marcus Thompson II Jul. 3--The personal section of Patrick O'Bryant's draft bio says he "loves to cook." Well, so does uncle Charlie, but everybody knows not to digest his meat loaf. But O'Bryant, whom the Warriors selected...

Diamondbacks complete sweep of struggling A's: Zito pitches well, but a late error and a lack of offense doom Oakland.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Joe Roderick Jul. 3--OAKLAND -- The score was different, but not much else. The A's sparse offense was provided on a home run from Frank Thomas, first baseman Dan Johnson booted another grounder he'd normally gobble up, and a...

Court: Wife entitled to husband's sexual history.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Matt Krupnick Jul. 3--The California Supreme Court ruled today that an HIV-positive woman is entitled to know her husband's sexual history to determine whether he should have known he had the virus when they were married. ...

None hurt as blaze hits Oakland apartments.
July 3, 2006... Byline: George Kelly Jul. 3--Firefighters have contained a two-alarm fire in a four-story East Oakland apartment building this morning, an Oakland fire dispatcher said. The first call came in 5:22 a.m. 45 firefighters, 6 engines and 2...

El Cerrito police plan license checkpoint.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Karl Fischer Jul. 3--EL CERRITO -- Police expect to stop more than 400 cars on city streets Wednesday looking for suspended or unlicensed drivers and unregistered or uninsured cars. El Cerrito police will set up a checkpoint in...

Random shots cause I-580 crash.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Karl Fischer Jul. 3--RICHMOND -- A motorist on Interstate 580 nearly lost his arm in a crash after someone shot his car from a freeway overpass last night in Richmond. "The victim's wife saw a figure standing on the overpass...

Big-rig overturns, blocks I-80 lanes in Richmond.
July 3, 2006... Byline: George Kelly Jul. 3--A traffic alert has been issued after a speeding big-rig truck overturned on eastbound Interstate 80 and backed up traffic, the Highway Patrol said this morning. At 7:25 a.m., officers got word that...

Payton provides fireworks for A's.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Curtis Pashelka OAKLAND, Calif. _ The Oakland A's needed an offensive hero in the worst way coming into Monday night's game against the red-hot Detroit Tigers. It only made sense that it was Jay Payton. Payton's three-run home...

Defendants delay plea in Castro Valley man's killing.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Sophia Kazmi Jul. 3--Two men accused of killing a 25-year-old Castro Valley man in delayed their pleas to murder charges until July 21. Kevin Lynn West, 30, and Andrew James Vance, 22, were scheduled to enter pleas this morning...

CHP reopens I-80 lanes after big-rig crash.
July 3, 2006... Byline: George Kelly Jul. 3--All lanes and an on-ramp on eastbound Interstate 80 in Richmond are clear this afternoon after a solo tractor-trailer overturned, blocking lanes, spilling cargo and injuring its driver, the California Highway...

Albany bicyclist critically injured in collision.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Sophia Kazmi Jul. 3--An Albany man remains in critical condition this morning after he and another bicyclist collided with a pickup truck Saturday morning. The accident occurred about 11:15 a.m. near Collier Canyon Road in...

Taking citizenship oath aboard old carrier.
July 3, 2006... Byline: Peter Hegarty Jul. 3--Some 75 immigrants from 29 countries, including Germany, Croatia and Fiji, became citizens Monday during a ceremony aboard the USS Hornet, the aircraft carrier museum docked in Alameda. In the months...

Condo plan draws opposition: RICHMOND: Shoreline proposal has all the charm of a 'Brooklyn tenement,' says former Assemblyman Knox.
July 4, 2006... Byline: John Geluardi Jul. 4--A developer is reworking plans to build a five-story, 324-unit condominium along the Richmond shoreline. But neighbors are concerned the condominium will still be a jarring eyesore because it is too tall,...

Polk to get help at pre-sentencing hearing: MARTINEZ: Court-appointed attorney scheduled to represent her in proceedings Thursday; she faces 16 years to life.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Bruce Gerstman Jul. 4--MARTINEZ -- Five minutes after a jury convicted Susan Polk of second-degree murder June 16, the Orinda housewife who had spent three months representing herself in court requested an attorney. Polk, now...

Pickup band a marching success.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Jackie Burrell Jul. 4--There may not be 76 trombones, and the uniforms tend more toward T-shirts than anything brocade. But what the world's oldest, largest and possibly only pickup marching band may lack in polish, it more than...

Band's music hits all the right notes for its followers in the Bay Area: Versatile quartet's style runs the gamut, leading to an immense following of all ages who remember to bring their dancing shoes.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Tom Lochner Jul. 4--The West County-based Manny Gutierrez Quartet appeared at the Pinole Senior Center on Friday night to play its special musical style, which band member Jerry Johnson of Rodeo calls "ballroom dancing." ...

Patriotism on display Bay Area communities celebrate Fourth of July with such traditions as eclectic annual parades.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Jeanine Benca Jul. 4--Karen Stepper has seen Danville's 4th of July parade every year since her kids were small. But it was always through the eyes of a spectator -- that is until 2002, when the 32-year Danville resident was...

On eve of July 4, U.S. gains patriots.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Peter Hegarty Jul. 4--In the months before he became a United States citizen, Edwin Guzman-Galdemez would sit with his wife, studying the history and laws of this nation. As she read questions from the citizenship exam, the...

Retiring officer leaves mark: PLEASANTON: Saulsbury, nicknamed 'Hank' after a Jim Carrey character, is a utility player already missed by others.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Sophia Kazmi Jul. 4--Sgt. Don Saulsbury has many faces, say his longtime colleagues in the police department. He's a utility man who has fielded many positions. He's a "cop's cop" who isn't afraid to tell others what he thinks....

Makeover for Antioch schools gets under way: ANTIOCH: Facilities, which are to be completed by Aug. 25, will see improved handicap access.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Andrew Becker Jul. 4--Changes are afoot in Antioch schools. As part of more than $4 million in improvements, renovations and new buildings, construction crews have begun work on more than a half-dozen projects, upgrading and...

Pyramid makes a change at the top: Brewing company, which has locations in Berkeley and Walnut Creek, chooses a new CEO from its board.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Blanca Torres Jul. 4--Pyramid Breweries Inc. announced Monday that its president and chief executive, John Lennon, resigned and was replaced by Scott Barnum, a longtime member of the company's board of directors. Barnum, 50, of...

Business owners also yelling 'Goal!': Stores selling German fare find sales on an upswing, and it's all thanks to the World Cup.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Marton Dunai Jul. 4--Barbecue or soccer? The day their adopted country celebrates its independence, the 30,000 or so Bay Area German-Americans will have to prioritize. Germany plays Italy in a critical World Cup match, and to...

EDITORIAL: Hope's glow still shines.(Editorial)
July 4, 2006... Jul. 4--THERE'S STILL HOPE for the world. Not everyone is greedy and selfish. The me-me-me, mine-mine-mine attitude that so seems to permeate the world has not soaked its entire circumference. The world's richest men magnified hope and...

EDITORIAL: Racial stereotyping As an African-Ameri ...(Editorial)
July 4, 2006... Jul. 4--Racial stereotyping As an African-American male of Cherokee descent, I am appalled over the negative racial stereotypes of young African-American males in this country. When the majority of the people see or think about young,...

EDITORIAL: Editorials Birthday wish for all.(Editorial)
July 4, 2006... Jul. 4--HAPPY BIRTHDAY! It may not be your birthday, but it is the day on which we celebrate the birth of your nation. It was 230 years ago today that the great experiment in self governance was born. All across the country and throughout...

Charity race is island's answer to Bay to Breakers.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Robert Jordan Jul. 4--Jim Franz and the rest of the members on the Fourth of July Parade committee have a vision. It's their own and Alameda's own field of dreams. Franz hopes that today's fourth annual Alameda Mayor's RACE...

Payton provides fireworks for A's: Three-run homer in the sixth proves the difference against the red-hot Tigers.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Curtis Pashelka Jul. 4--OAKLAND -- The A's needed an offensive hero in the worst way coming into Monday night's game against the red-hot Detroit Tigers. It only made sense that it was Jay Payton. Payton's three-run home run in the...

Alameda Pirates win with little things.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Robert Jordan Jul. 4--MARTINEZ -- They did everything the big leaguers do. They bunted. They stole bases -- even an attempt at home. They didn't throw the ball around when it was put in play. They rarely swung at the high ones, and...

High-tech calls help close the distance: ALAMEDA: Freedom Calls Foundation, AT&T team up to let relatives speak to soldiers in Iraq.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Eric Louie Jul. 4--Marine Sgt. Jeffrey Cochran and his wife, Sabrina, have exchanged e-mails almost daily since he was sent to Iraq in January. Once a week, they talk on the phone. But a recent donation has allowed them to go...

A's take down Tigers in 10 innings.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Joe Roderick OAKLAND, Calif. _ His first thought was to slide, but catcher Vance Wilson left him no option. In hindsight, maybe it was a good thing the situation called for a takedown rather than the conventional way of scoring,...

Court: HIV status must be revealed.
July 4, 2006... Byline: Matt Krupnick Jul. 4--The California Supreme Court ruled Monday that an HIV-positive woman is entitled to know her husband's sexual history to determine whether he should have known he had the virus when they were married. The...

Man not married, he's just a liar.
July 5, 2006... Byline: Jann Blackstone-Ford and Sharyl Jupe Q: I just found out my boyfriend of eight months is married. I found this out because I suggested that he move in with my 7-year-old son and me and he said he couldn't because he was married. I...

Professors test worth with Cal pay policy: To keep top members of faculty, UC Berkeley matches offers, creating disparate salaries even within departments.
July 5, 2006... Byline: Matt Krupnick Jul. 5--BERKELEY -- For eight years, Mike Crommie stayed on the sidelines while his colleagues played "the game." Married to a well-paid cardiologist, the UC Berkeley physicist was content to let his salary...

Track could get horse race machines: State bill would permit 2,000 devices that allow people to bet on past races as part of an effort to help the reeling industry.
July 5, 2006... Byline: Alan Lopez Jul. 5--Nearly 2,000 machines allowing people to bet on past horse races would be allowed at the Golden Gate Fields racetrack in Albany under a state bill intended to revitalize the ailing horse racing industry. ...