Arlene Blum pauses during a walk in Berkeley. (Michael Macor/The Chronicle)

Scientist’s target: carcinogenic products

In a UC Berkeley classroom, Arlene Blum dived into a version of a chemistry lecture she has given for most of the past decade.

Arlene Blum pauses during a walk in Berkeley. (Michael Macor/The Chronicle)

Scientist’s target: carcinogenic products

In a UC Berkeley classroom, Arlene Blum dived into a version of a chemistry lecture she has given for most of the past decade.

tonystefani

He used to fight fires. Now, he fights cancer

Tony Stefani used to be a firefighter and a cancer patient. The two, he believes, had something to do with each other.

tonystefani

He used to fight fires. Now, he fights cancer

Tony Stefani used to be a firefighter and a cancer patient. The two, he believes, had something to do with each other.

(Michael Macor / The Chronicle)

U.S. to auction state shale for drilling

A nearly 18,000-acre stretch of land extending from California’s Central Coast to the San Joaquin Valley is the setting for a brewing debate over an oil-extraction method that has little governmental oversight.

(Michael Macor / The Chronicle)

U.S. to auction state shale for drilling

A nearly 18,000-acre stretch of land extending from California’s Central Coast to the San Joaquin Valley is the setting for a brewing debate over an oil-extraction method that has little governmental oversight.

(Paull Chinn / The Chronicle)

Costly, lengthy appeals part of San Francisco’s culture

San Francisco, a 7-by-7-mile square bound by the sea, is bursting at the seams.

(Paull Chinn / The Chronicle)

Costly, lengthy appeals part of San Francisco’s culture

San Francisco, a 7-by-7-mile square bound by the sea, is bursting at the seams.

(Craig Sanders / Associated Press)

Central Valley killer’s maps lead to more remains

From an old well on a Central Valley ranch Sunday, authorities unearthed more remains of people they believe were slain decades ago by a pair of convicted serial killers.

(Craig Sanders / Associated Press)

Central Valley killer’s maps lead to more remains

From an old well on a Central Valley ranch Sunday, authorities unearthed more remains of people they believe were slain decades ago by a pair of convicted serial killers.

ba-redevelopment_SFC0106116774_part6

Cities struggle with ending redevelopment agencies

Thousands of city workers empty their desks. Offices go dark. Rows of deteriorated buildings may sit untouched. This is how California’s redevelopment program dies.

ba-redevelopment_SFC0106116774_part6

Cities struggle with ending redevelopment agencies

Thousands of city workers empty their desks. Offices go dark. Rows of deteriorated buildings may sit untouched. This is how California’s redevelopment program dies.

(Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Medical homes offer a remedy

Amy Gotham had just crawled into bed when the baby monitor shook with an alarming noise.

(Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Medical homes offer a remedy

Amy Gotham had just crawled into bed when the baby monitor shook with an alarming noise.