Berkeley

A report by the University of California, Berkeley is urging the International Court of Justice to review Mexico's conduct under former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The document reportedly raises concerns about governance and rule of law during his 2018-2024 administration. The call is drawing attention to how López Obrador's legacy is being judged internationally as Claudia Sheinbaum's government continues his political movement.

Databricks has agreed to pay $22.8 million for naming rights to the University of California, Berkeley's football field, a landmark corporate deal for college sports. The data software company, founded by Berkeley alumni, is framing the investment as part of a broader push tied to its Bay Area roots, its growth ambitions, and its deepening relationship with the university's talent pipeline.

Berkeley Research Group (BRG) has appointed Marc Metrick, the former CEO of Saks Global, as a managing director in its corporate finance practice. Metrick led Saks through a period of major change in luxury retail, and his move to an advisory firm signals continued demand for executives with deep retail turnaround and restructuring experience.

Berkeley Haas is highlighting Tash, a startup building the infrastructure that lets people invest in trading cards as an asset class. The company is positioning collectible cards alongside stocks and other alternative investments, and the business school coverage frames it as part of a wider wave of startups turning hobbies into investable markets.

Doctors, nurses and therapists employed by LifeLong Medical Care walked off the job across the East Bay, disrupting clinics serving low-income and uninsured patients in the Berkeley, Oakland and Richmond area. The stoppage is part of a wave of health care labor actions as medical workers press for better pay and staffing. It is not yet clear how long the strike will last or how services will be affected.

The Berkeley Homeless Union is asking a court to hold the city of Berkeley in contempt over its clearing of a homeless encampment on Harrison Street. The move suggests the union believes the sweep violated a prior court order or agreement protecting encampment residents, escalating a legal dispute between homeless advocates and the city over how Berkeley handles unsanctioned camps.

Former California Governor Gray Davis, now regarded as an elder statesman, is reviewing his decades in public life as part of a major oral history project at the University of California, Berkeley. The undertaking documents his career, including his time as governor and the 2003 recall that ended it, preserving his account for researchers and the public.

The 2026 Berkeley City Council elections are shaping up around two dominant issues: public safety and housing development. Candidates are staking out positions on policing levels and neighborhood growth as they compete for council seats in the California city. Local coverage highlights how these debates are dividing the field ahead of the vote.