Fantasy Studios, internationally renowned film and music studio, to close its doors
Since Fantasy Studios moved to Berkeley in 1971, the company has produced numerous Academy Award-winning films and gold and platinum records.
Frances Dinkelspiel (co-founder) is a journalist and author. Her first book, Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California, published in November 2008, was a San Francisco Chronicle bestseller. Her second book, Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California was published in October 2015 and was both a New York Times and San Francisco Chronicle bestseller. Frances is a former staff reporter for the Syracuse Newspapers and the San Jose Mercury News. Her freelance work has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, People Magazine, Daily Beast, the San Francisco Chronicle, and elsewhere.
Looking for a great book? Here’s what Berkeleyans are reading this summer
Gasp! Summer is almost gone. With Cal starting up in mid-August and BUSD starting Aug. 27, time is running out to get copious amounts of reading in.
23-year-old Berkeley High School graduate pleads guilty to helping ISIS
Amer Sinan Alhaggagi admitted he opened Twitter and Facebook accounts for people connected to ISIS. The FBI said he also had plans to set bombs throughout the Bay Area.
New navigation center is already full; 5 homeless have found permanent housing
The Pathways navigation center opened two weeks ago and offers wrap-around services and support for 45 homeless people.
Historic Caffe Med sign that graced Telegraph Avenue for 50+ years is gone
The sign was taken down to make building repairs. A new café should open in the same location later this year.
Construction starts on 16-story downtown hotel, a block from UC Berkeley
The hotel only went forward after the Council twice agreed to defer fees owed by the developer. That lowered the developers' upfront costs and increased profit margins.
Developer of 1900 Fourth St. says it will sue unless Berkeley fast-tracks development
West Berkeley Investments said Berkeley erred when it decided its project, with 130 affordable units, could not be fast-tracked under SB 35.
Mayor Jesse Arreguín violated Berkeley’s election laws in 2016; must pay fine
The mayor's campaign manager paid for expenses with her personal credit card but did not get reimbursed quickly enough so the payments became illegal donations.
Berkeley celebrates opening of $2.4M homeless navigation center
Residents at the new West Berkeley shelter will have 24/7 access, showers, laundry facilities, the ability to bring pets and store their belongings on site.
Man, 39, found dead in front of the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Berkeley
Kareah Mendoza had been living on the streets of Berkeley for a few years. He had lost touch with his family in recent years.
Leslie Crawford’s new children’s book highlights the intelligence of pigs — in a fun way
In "Sprig the Rescue Pig," aimed at 4- to 8-year-old children, a young piglet escapes from a truck going to the slaughterhouse and finds happiness with a young girl.
Berkeley Public Library to end late fees for teen and adult books
The decision came after the library realized that the 11,000 people blocked from checking out books because of late fees came from Berkeley's lower-income neighborhoods.
