LA Times' VERONICA ROCHA: "When William Shakespeare penned “Hamlet” around the turn of the 17th century, he probably never imagined his words would one day grace the base of a statue at USC as part of a $700-million project."
"Likewise, how was he to imagine that the spelling of his name would ignite a cross-town debate between two famed Los Angeles universities? Did the Bard spell his name Shakespeare or Shakespear?"
"That last question was asked recently when USC unveiled the new statue of Hecuba, queen of Troy, last week. The statue featured verses from “Hamlet” and the dramatist’s name, which was noticeably missing a final “e."
Bannon, Coulter, Yiannopoulos to speak at UC Berkeley
East Bay Times' GEORGE KELLY: "A University of California Berkeley spokesman said the university has been working with a student organization that plans to bring conservative authors and provocateurs Milo Yiannopoulos and Ann Coulter, as well as recently resigned White House chief strategist Steve Bannon, to campus next month."
"As part of a “free speech week” gathering Sept. 24-27 at UC Berkeley’s Sproul Plaza, a registered student organization called Berkeley Patriot has been negotiating terms for the trio, two of whose speeches earlier this year were canceled by protests."
"They have been good collaborators and attentive to policy,” UC spokesman Dan Mogulof said late Wednesday of Berkeley Patriot, a registered student organization listed as a publication."
Gooooooooooooooal! Democrats beat Republicans in legislative soccer match in Sacramento
LA Times' MINA CORPUZ: "Democratic lawmakers defeated their Republican colleagues, 3-1, in the first Capitol Cup soccer match Wednesday night in Sacramento."
"Proceeds from the hourlong game went to Saint John's Program for Real Change. The nonprofit provides mothers housing, job training and other services to help them escape poverty, homelessness or abuse."
King salmon becomes a luxury product as catch proves elusive
The Chronicle's TARA DUGGAN: "Once a summertime Bay Area staple, local king salmon has become a luxury product. With the impacts of the drought and this year’s severely restricted season, it’s now hard to find the fish for less than $30 a plate in restaurants and $30 a pound in the fish case."
"There’s no doubt that the salmon situation has been stark for a while, but this commercial season — which started Aug. 1 rather than the usual May — is the worst Tom Worthington has seen in his 35 years in the business."
To remain free on bail during his appeal, ex-LA Sheriff Lee Baca must make a better case to judges.
LA Times' JOEL RUBIN: "Former Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca’s efforts to remain out of prison while he appeals his conviction on charges of obstruction of justice and lying hit a snag Wednesday, when an appeals court essentially directed him to try again."
"A three-judge panel from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to overturn a ruling by U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson, who concluded Baca had not made a convincing case for why he should remain free as he awaits a chance to appeal his conviction."
"Typically, such a decision would have meant Baca would be ordered to begin serving the three-year prison sentence Anderson handed down after a jury this year found Baca participated in a 2011 scheme to interfere with an FBI investigation into county jails."
City attorney sues resident for abusing SF housing fund
The Chronicle's DOMINIC FRACASSA: "City Attorney Dennis Herrera on Wednesday sued a licensed real estate broker, accusing him of defrauding the San Francisco’s affordable housing program."
"The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court, alleges that Gregory Garver spent more than four years illegally renting out the below-market-rate condominium he purchased at 1160 Mission Street and at one point attempted to sell it on the open market."
Why Pittsburg native mysteriously died aboard Navy ship
East Bay Times' SAM RICHARDS: "A 2011 Pittsburg High School graduate who died abruptly while serving as a Navy seaman on the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan in October 2016 succumbed to sepsis, according to a Navy 7th Fleet spokesman in an interview with the military newspaper Stars and Stripes."
"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website describes sepsis as “a complication caused by the body’s overwhelming and life-threatening response to infection,” and can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and death. The website also says sepsis is “difficult to predict, diagnose and treat."
"Danyelle Luckey, 23, who was serving as a personnel specialist — provide enlisted personnel with information, counseling and job training related to Navy occupations — died aboard the Yokosuka, Japan-based “supercarrier” on Oct. 10 as it patrolled the Yellow Sea between Korea and China. A Navy spokesman told this newspaper at the time a cause of death was unknown, and wouldn’t comment on Luckey’s medical care."