Berkeley Tenants Union Accuses Landlord Group of Illicit Campaign Tactics Amid Rent Control Battles

Berkeley, Calif. – The Berkeley Tenants Union, a local advocacy group representing around 70 tenants, is escalating its dispute with the Berkeley Property Owners Association (BPOA) by lodging formal complaints to municipal and state election watchdogs over alleged inappropriate campaign practices and financial disclosures. The union accuses the BPOA of obfuscation in its recent initiatives on the city’s ballot, particularly in relation to campaign contributions linked to the National Association of Realtors. The bone of contention largely centers on the campaigning for Measure CC in the November 5 election, which was defeated after securing only … Read more

Berkeley County Grand Jury Issues Over 100 Indictments, Including Serious Felony Charges

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – The Berkeley County Judicial Center recently concluded a major grand jury session, resulting in 108 indictments across a range of serious offenses. This significant legal proceeding highlights the ongoing efforts to address crime in the region and brings several alleged offenders one step closer to trial. The grand jury, which convened for its October 2024 term, deliberated several days before returning the indictments against individuals accused of crimes including drug trafficking, severe assault, and child abuse. Notably, these legal accusations are part of the judicial process and should not be interpreted as … Read more

Law School Dean at UC Berkeley Faces Controversy Over Free Speech Clash at Home

BERKELEY, California – A controversy has erupted at the University of California at Berkeley involving Erwin Chemerinsky, the dean of the law school, and a Muslim law student named Malak Afaneh. The incident occurred during a dinner event hosted by Chemerinsky and his wife, law professor Catherine Fisk, in their backyard. Afaneh disrupted the event to make a pro-Palestinian speech, advocating for the university to withdraw investments supporting Israel. Chemerinsky and Fisk confronted Afaneh, leading to a heated exchange that was captured on video and spread widely on social media. Chemerinsky, a renowned constitutional law … Read more

Berkeley Reaches Settlement, Putting an End to Natural Gas Ban in New Buildings

Berkeley, California – The city of Berkeley has settled a lawsuit and agreed to put an end to its ban on natural gas in new buildings. The ban, which would have required all new construction projects to use electric power instead of natural gas, has faced opposition and legal challenges since it was initially implemented in 2019. The settlement comes after the city faced legal pressure from a group of restaurant owners and the California Restaurant Association. Under the terms of the settlement, Berkeley will rescind the ban on natural gas and will instead focus … Read more