TBS Today, March 17

Who's ready for the weekend? Count us in!

That said, we hope you know by now that The Berkeley Scanner doesn't stop working for you, including on nights and weekends.

That's our commitment to you, in line with our goal of being Berkeley's most trusted public safety news source.

Even sick this week, TBS brought you nine stories, most of which were scoops and exclusives.

This mantra may get repetitive, but we think it bears repeating — because other outlets often don't credit us for our stories (which they then pick up and repackage).

At TBS, we always give credit as a matter of ethics and transparency on the rare occasion that another news outlet surfaces a local story. But, even when that's not reciprocated (which is usually!), we take pride in helping raise the profile of Berkeley public safety news throughout the city and region.

That would sometimes feel like a rather thankless job — without the amazing kudos and support we routinely get from so many of you. TBS readers are the seriously best!

OK, end of soapbox.

Looking forward, we'll be working through the weekend to make up for those sick days and we have some good stories in the works.

One project underway is a deep dive into this year's annual Berkeley crime report. We'll have at least one story on that for you soon and may even break it up into pieces if it gets unwieldy. There's a lot to unpack.

We also have lots of texts and emails to catch up on and appreciate your patience on that front.

Remember, if you're looking for a better view on mobile, just turn your phone sideways to reveal thumbnail views next to our stories. It's like magic!

Today's news

Berkeley man charged with Lo-Cost Liquors shooting
Police say Curtis Verrett Jr., 18, shot the victim three times, leaving him with a gunshot wound to the leg.
Man charged with $10,000 retail theft from Berkeley North Face
Police say Ronald Jefferson, 62, hit the outdoor gear shop twice in about 48 hours and took armfuls of jackets both times.

In case you missed it

We recently got word that Randall Alston, who was charged with groping a woman in Berkeley last week and has a long list of priors, was released on his own recognizance.

Berkeley man charged with groping woman outside market
The Alameda County district attorney’s office charged Randall Alston with misdemeanor sexual battery.
Unhoused man, angry about service at Berkeley Blue Bottle, attacks barista and Cal student
The UC Berkeley student was able to take a photograph of her assailant, which allowed police to identify him, BPD said.
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