Berkeley police were digging for evidence related to an old case in Tilden Regional Park today, according to Berkeley police Officer Andrew Frankel. Frankel declined to elaborate on the circumstances surrounding the case, saying only that he will provide more information through a press release if more information is uncovered

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American Journalists to be Tried in North Korea

Two journalists from the U.S. who have been detained in North Korea will be tried on charges of perpetrating “hostile acts” against the Communist state, a North Korea state-run news agency reported to the New York Times.

Climate Plan Introduced in House

Democrat leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives pitched a wide-ranging plan to reduce greenhouse gases and promote renewable energy, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Pentagon Budget to be Cut

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, a defense committee chairman of the U.S. Senate said the Pentagon will face major program cuts beginning with its 2011 budget.

A 4.6 magnitude earthquake briefly rattled Northern California this morning at 10:40 a.m. The epicenter was located about 16 miles east of San Jose and 11 miles north of Morgan Hill.  Due to the tremors, BART trains were forced to stop for about five minutes.

Edit: More recent assessments say the quake had a magnitude of 4.3.

A daily roundup of the biggest headlines in the Bay Area and national news.

Obama Holds Off on Aid to Automakers

President Barack Obama announced today that General Motors and Chrysler would not receive additional federal aid unless the companies are able to provide acceptable restructuring plans in a limited period of time, The Washington Post reported.

Gunman Married to Nursing Home Employee

The New York Times reported that the gunman who killed eight and wounded three in a shooting rampage at a North Carolina nursing home Sunday was married to a nurse assistant at the home.

Six Dead in Family Murder-Suicide

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, six members of a family were shot and killed in a Santa Clara murder-suicide Sunday evening while another family member remains in critical condition.

The UC Berkeley Office of Student Conduct officially dropped charges against ASUC Senator John Moghtader Wednesday.

In a letter provided to the Daily Californian by Moghtader, the office said the investigation of his participation concerning the Nov. 13 altercation on an Eshleman Hall balcony would not be further pursued. (Click here to read more…)

A few common themes emerged from the UC Board of Regents Meeting this week, hosted by the scenic Riverside campus. Under the specter of a skin-and-bones state budget and looming student fee increases, the regents scratched their heads and then put them together to deal with the one thing on everyone’s mind: money.

Although everyone agreed that times were tough, that cuts had to be made, and that raising the price tag for students was bad, no one could suggest a viable alternative. Even Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, who has come out vehemently against the state’s decision to impose a “stupid tax on students,” did not have an answer as to how the university could deal with the cuts without increasing fees, given the budget at hand.

“Within the university? I would not recommend that,” he said. “Kick it back to the legislature.” (Click here to read more…)

A daily roundup of the biggest headlines in the Bay Area and national news.

Bay Area Counties Experience First Population Growth Since 2000

Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau released Thursday revealed that Bay Area counties had their first population growths last year since 2000, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.  California itself showed “modest growth.”

Auto Parts Suppliers Receive Federal Aid

President Barack Obama’s auto task force made its first move to aid the automobile industry Thursday by creating a $5 billion fund to support troubled parts suppliers, the New York Times reported.  The task force continues to review funding requests from Chrysler and General Motors, which have received loans from the government.

A daily roundup of the biggest headlines in the Bay Area and national news.

Newsom Welcomes Other Mayors in Gubernatorial Race

Governor Newsom, who has been entertaining a bid for California governor by attending town hall meetings across the state, may be up against competitors with similar mayorial experience, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. He has been campaigning in the areas of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and state Attorney General Jerry Brown, who served as Oakland mayor for two terms.

Obama Criticizes Lack of Republican Cooperation

The Los Angeles Times reported that President Obama is asking for more constructive commentary from Republicans in the White House on his economic policies. He also reiterated that he will not focus just on the financial crisis, but will continue with his efforts to reform healthcare and move the nation towards alternative energy.

Russia To Gets More Weapons

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev said the country plans to greatly expand its arsenal in 2011 due to alleged security threats, The New York Times reports. He will meet with Obama in April to discuss weapons policy and Russia’s relations with the United States.

Community Remembers Zachary Cruz Over 150 community members gathered in Wheeler Hall Saturday to celebrate and remember Zachary Michael Cruz, 5, who was struck and killed in a tragic traffic accident on Feb. 27. Members of the University of California Marching Band played “Hail to California” and other songs in memory of Zachary Cruz, who was an avid Cal fan, according to his father and UC Berkeley graduate student Frank Cruz. Several speakers addressed an emotional audience, after which attendees watched a short video presentation dedicated to Zachary Cruz’s memory.

Zachary Cruz’s classmates and friends attended the event. After the service, they were invited to take part in several activities. In an earlier interview with The Daily Californian, Frank Cruz described his son as an adventurous and intelligent kindergartner who wanted to become an astronaut, scientist and doctor.  Zachary Cruz would have turned six on Mar. 12.