Hello again Berkeley! We're bringing you the latest town highlights. Don't miss out, keep going! ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: New To You: a premiere gallery exhibition and 13 more events.
Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. Vegetation fire near I-580 in Berkeley closes Frontage Road (berkeleyside.org) — A vegetation fire near I-580 in northwest Berkeley shut down West Frontage Road between University Avenue and Gilman Street this afternoon, disrupting travel along the shoreline. Smoke pushed inland, driving air quality readings above 250 in parts of Berkeley, including near the UC Berkeley campus, raising short-term health concerns as officials monitored conditions.
2. City Council raises height limits on San Pablo Avenue (berkeleyside.org) — Berkeley's City Council has raised height limits along San Pablo Avenue from three to seven stories, clearing the way for larger apartment buildings and new public spaces in West Berkeley. Supporters say the change will boost housing and foot traffic for businesses, while critics worry about gentrification, displacement, and whether enough affordable units and tenant protections are guaranteed.
3. Berkeley City Council upholds ban on tear gas in narrow vote (berkeleyside.org) — Berkeley's City Council has narrowly decided to keep the city's full ban on police use of tear gas, smoke, and pepper spray for crowd control, directly shaping how future protests and emergencies are handled here. A proposal to allow tightly limited tear gas use in extreme situations failed 5–4 after hours of emotional public comment from residents and police.
4. UC Berkeley is the No. 1 public university in North America in Times Higher Education rankings (berkeley.edu) — UC Berkeley has been named the top public university in North America in the 2027 Times Higher Education rankings, reinforcing the campus's global reputation right in your backyard. The university also led major entrepreneurship rankings and tied for top U.S. public status in U.S. News, with dozens of Berkeley programs earning national recognition.
5. Berkeley ticket misses Mega Millions jackpot by one number (sacbee.com) — A Mega Millions ticket sold at Dream Fluff Donuts on Ashby Avenue in Berkeley came within one number of winning a $300 million jackpot, instead paying out $45,387. The story explains the winning numbers, the new jackpot amount, and reminds residents about odds and responsible gambling resources.
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Ok Berkeley! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
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