A Berkeley man is accused of killing his roommate after an argument over who should occupy a bedroom. Authorities say the suspect, Caleb Murphy, is now in custody on a $2 million cash-only bond and facing first-degree murder as well as armed criminal action charges.

In a decisive move to bolster fire safety, Berkeley has passed the EMBER proposal, mandating residents to remove vegetation close to their homes by year’s end. The new regulations require the clearance of any plants within a 5-foot perimeter of a dwelling, aiming to reduce fire hazards in the community.