🌱 Patch AM: Why a Berkeley-linked cold case murder trial is suddenly on hold

Good morning Berkeley! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Why a Berkeley-linked cold case murder trial is suddenly on hold
• Thinking of joining UC Berkeley's 2027 Beahrs ELP? Know refund rules
• Berkeley's Caribou Biosciences is downsizing—what happens to workers and trials?

Also on today's calendar: The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call somebody who crosses the ocean twice and doesn't take a bath? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, with a high of 68 and low of 51 degrees.
• Monday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 70, low: 53.
• Tuesday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, with a high of 73 and low of 51 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Fairfield man charged in two cold case slayings; mentally competency at issue (timesheraldonline.com) — An 80-year-old Fairfield man linked by DNA to two long-unsolved killings, including one involving a victim last seen at a Berkeley encampment, is now undergoing mental competency evaluations that have stalled his trials. He remains held without bail while judges review psychiatric reports, leaving families in Union City, Berkeley, Vallejo, and across the Bay Area waiting even longer for resolution.
   

• Withdrawal, Cancellation and Refund Policy (berkeley.edu) — If you're considering UC Berkeley's 2027 Beahrs Environmental Leadership Program, pay close attention to the strict withdrawal deadlines, partial-refund rules, and hefty administrative fees tied to different payment methods. The policy also explains what happens if UC Berkeley cancels or shifts the Berkeley-based program online, and why you should strongly consider travel insurance for any trip to campus.
   

• Caribou Biosciences Halts Off-the-Shelf CRISPR CAR-T Programs for Lymphoma and Myeloma After Failing to Fund Phase 3 Trial (medicaldaily.com) — Berkeley-based Caribou Biosciences is shutting down its off-the-shelf CRISPR CAR‑T programs, cutting staff and exploring a sale or merger after failing to fund a Phase 3 lymphoma trial. For Berkeley residents, this means potential local job losses and uncertainty around a once-prominent hometown biotech, while patients in trials are advised to stay in close touch with their study sites for follow-up care.
   

📸 Around Berkeley

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Berkeley

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★ Featured events ★

Sunday October 11
• The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde →
  Live Oak Theater, 1301 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley
  2:00 pm
Friday October 16
• Grin & Bear It Featuring Daniel Franzese →
  SF Eagle, 398 12th St, SF
  7:00 pm
Saturday October 31
• San Francisco Halloween Pub Crawl: Crawloween →
  Mayes Oyster House, 1233 Polk St, SF
  2:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Sunday October 11
• Sama-Sama Fest →
  Union Landing, I-880, Union City
  11:00 am
Monday October 12
• Fall 2026 Berkeley Innovation Forum (BIF) →
  Berkeley CA
Wednesday October 14
• Marion Nestle →
  David Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way, Berkeley
  6:00 pm
• A Body in the Bookshop →
  Book Society, 2945 College Ave, Berkeley
  6:00 pm
Friday October 16
• 'Joye des Violes': Lisa Terry and Lynn Tetenbaum play music for two viols →
  Saint Mary Magdalen Church, 2005 Berryman Street, Berkeley, CA 94709
  6:30 pm
Saturday October 17
• Move With Pleasure | A Sensual Movement And Somatic Practice →
  Moon Landing Meditative Arts, 3725 Grand Ave, Oakland
  10:30 am
• Afternoon Social at Kosta Browne →
  Kosta Browne Winery, 200 Morris St, Sebastopol
  3:00 pm
• Telegraph Quartet, presented by Berkeley Chamber Performances →
  Lafayette Library, 3491 Mt Diablo Blvd, Lafayette, CA 94549
  7:30 pm
Sunday October 18
• Journaling Club →
  Book Society, 2945 College Ave, Berkeley
  10:00 am

📣 Berkeley Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Burmese Ginger Salad (Gyin Thoke)
  1/3 cup julienned pickled ginger 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds 1/4 cup baked spiced yellow split peas (recipe below) 1… (Nextdoor Le Conte)
• Any ideas where to take a young marine bird that seemed in need of help?
  ** UPDATE: this little Common Murre was dropped at the International Bird Rescue in Fairfield. So happy he was alive! (Nextdoor SW Berkeley (Dwight-Ashby))

• Balducci's Food Lover's Market posted a job opening for Deli Clerk in Berkeley. Apply here.
• sweetgreen posted a job opening for Emeryville - Core Team Member in Emeryville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Berkeley here.

🗞 Nearby News

Albany

• Oats On the Go (usda.gov)
• Atomic Machines exits six years of stealth with $250 million and a compiler for matter (startupfortune.com)
• No. 12 nationally ranked Soquel boys water polo team advances to semis at Memorial Cup in San Jose (santacruzsentinel.com)

Emeryville

• Scientists engineer microbe to help humanity settle Mars (space.com)
• Oxide Computer raises $445M Series D at scale for on-prem AI clouds (dev.to)
• East Bay camp counselor charged with molesting girl during secret trip to movies (eastbaytimes.com)

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: "What do you call somebody who crosses the ocean twice and doesn't take a bath?" — A dirty double crosser ! (Thank you Theresia F. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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