https://www.berkeleyside.org/ Nonprofit news. Free for all, funded by readers. Fri, 22 May 2026 21:15:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://newspack-berkeleyside-cityside.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/cropped-berkeleyside-favicon-1-32x32.png https://www.berkeleyside.org/ 32 32 198460613 https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/22/grizzly-peak-panoramic-hill-ember-enforcement-inspections Fri, 22 May 2026 17:06:02 +0000 https://www.berkeleyside.org/?p=557251 A state board recently proposed more lenient rules, and a local backlash has fomented a council recall petition. But given Berkeley's geography and the difficulty of evacuating the hills, the city is standing by its “Zone Zero” rules.]]> 557251 https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/22/new-fees-staff-cuts-berkeley-school-district-plan-to-balance-its-budget Fri, 22 May 2026 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.berkeleyside.org/?p=557266 BUSD leaders’ budget woes were eased somewhat last week when they learned they can count on at least $2.7 million in state money the governor had threatened to withdraw.]]> 557266 https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/22/on-calfresh-what-to-know-about-new-june-1-work-requirements Fri, 22 May 2026 12:59:00 +0000 https://www.berkeleyside.org/?p=557181 Starting in June, California will start enforcing new federal guidelines that require some SNAP recipients to work 20 hours a week — or see their food benefits cut.]]> 557181 https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/21/bakar-gateway-robert-reich-uc-berkeley-commencement Fri, 22 May 2026 00:15:00 +0000 https://www.berkeleyside.org/?p=557239 Also: Mary Lovelace O'Neal, an artist, activist and the first Black woman granted tenure in UC Berkeley's art department, has died at 84 in Mérida, Mexico. ]]> 557239 https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/21/university-and-professional-technical-employees-union-uc-berkeley-unionization Thu, 21 May 2026 23:47:41 +0000 https://www.berkeleyside.org/?p=557261 They say they’re worried about waves of layoffs at tech companies, and have the knowledge to help the university find the best uses for artificial intelligence. ]]> 557261 https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/21/california-new-plastic-recycling-rules-food Thu, 21 May 2026 21:30:00 +0000 https://www.berkeleyside.org/?p=557243 Plastic producers have until June to reveal how they’ll meet new state mandates to cut single use plastic, increase recycling rates and pay $5 billion to remedy harms from plastic pollution.]]> 557243 https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/21/fish-and-bird-izakaya-gold-palm-yalis-close Thu, 21 May 2026 19:00:00 +0000 https://www.berkeleyside.org/?p=557226 A running list of restaurants that have recently closed in Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, and beyond.]]> 557226 https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/21/around-berkeley-shakespeare-in-john-hinkel-park-free-but-chancy-haircuts Thu, 21 May 2026 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.berkeleyside.org/?p=557203 Other events include a Bay Area foraging class, a lecture on house music and the Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra’s 60th anniversary.]]> 557203 https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/20/berkeley-budget-deficit-fire-station-close-city-council Wed, 20 May 2026 22:45:14 +0000 https://www.berkeleyside.org/?p=557199 Council members broadly backed the city manager’s plan for plugging a $30 million budget hole, though they said they want to avoid closing a fire station and minimize layoffs.]]> 557199 https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/20/san-francisco-bay-whale-collisions-ai-camera-network Wed, 20 May 2026 20:14:00 +0000 https://www.berkeleyside.org/?p=557177 The state has launched an AI-powered thermal camera network that detects whale heat signatures up to 2 nautical miles away and alerts mariners in real time.]]> 557177 https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/20/rei-anniversary-sale-boycott Wed, 20 May 2026 18:22:03 +0000 https://www.berkeleyside.org/?p=557173 REI has not reached contracts with any unionized stores since bargaining began in 2022. The outdoor retailer insists it is negotiating in good faith.]]> 557173 https://www.berkeleyside.org/2026/05/20/postmark-rules-have-changed-what-to-know-in-casting-your-vote Wed, 20 May 2026 17:21:04 +0000 https://oaklandside.org/?p=474131 A quiet Trump administration rule change in December means it now takes longer for USPS to postmark mail — impacting which mail-in ballots will be counted.]]> 557159