By MATTHAI KURUVILA, San Francisco Chronicle
Berkeley leaders says too much democracy at work in city spatr downtown height limits
Berkeley may take great pride as a champion of free speech and civil rights, but an unusual campaign has been under way -- led by most of the city's top elected officials -- to stop residents from signing a citizen's petition.
Muslims debate limiting contacts with FBI
A petition organized by a nonprofit urging Muslims to limit social outreach with the FBI has provoked a national debate within the Muslim community about how to deal with law enforcement.
Mormon food banks promote self sufficiency
Unemployed for a year and with an ailing wife at home, Mike Hammer stepped out of his truck in a Concord, Calif. strip mall and walked into the heart of one of the most sophisticated private welfare systems in the country.
Mormon foodbanks promote self sufficienty
Unemployed for a year and with an ailing wife at home, Mike Hammer stepped out of his truck in a Concord, Calif. strip mall and walked into the heart of one of the most sophisticated private welfare systems in the country.
Islamically correct investors faring well during financial collapse
As credit markets have imploded, triggering a global economic crisis, Islamically correct investors have seen a change of fortune: The conservative principles this small group of devout Muslims clung to during the economic heyday has insulated them from the worst of the past year's suffering.
Catholics and Mormons came together on Prop. 8
Months before the first ads ran on Proposition 8, San Francisco Catholic Archbishop George Niederauer reached out to a group he knew well, Mormons.
Complex emotions for blacks when contemplating a black president
OAKLAND, Calif. -- The prospect that in a matter of hours an African American could be elected president of the United States has triggered a complex set of emotions for many black people.
Conservative Christians lead push for Calif. proposition
SAN FRANCISCO -- When the singing and the preaching reached a crescendo at the Crossroads Bible Church in San Jose, Calif., Carlos Sarmiento delivered a call to action, vowing that political participation would lead to "an encounter with God."
Muslim supporters of Obama fear boomerang against candidate
SAN FRANCISCO -- Shahed Amanullah registered the domain name for MuslimsForObama.com more than a year ago. But he has waited to develop it as he saw Muslim identity being smeared, his belief system used for political attack.
Metal thieves strip urns, including one holding cremains
UNION CITY, Calif. -- Metal bandits have been pillaging pipes from San Francisco Bay Area homes, eviscerating statues at public plazas and plundering fixtures from private businesses all for the quick cash of recycling metal scrap. Now, Union City police believe, they've even taken someone's remains.
