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• Many county bridges need repair, replacement

• Galt could see major changes over next few decades

• Gail Hall wants to keep the 'country' in country

• Grapevine

• Lodi High, Tokay students take state drafting contest by storm

• Regional Roundup

• West High math teacher accused of anti-gay remarks plans to resign

November 21st, 2009

• Logbook

• Holiday drive spreads cheer to U.S. troops

• Galt High students want board to approve open-campus policy

• Poisoning victims remain hospitalized

• Expert: Half a mushroom cap can be deadly

• Tokay grad files claim over Lodi's Grape Bowl

• Lodi Middle School holds annual Turkey Trot

• Regional Roundup

• No motive or suspect in shooting

• Sacramento cop arrested for alleged kidnapping

November 20th, 2009

• Acampo woman killed

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• Regional Roundup

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• One year after a heart attack, Lodi's Judy Mims thanks rescuers

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

November 19th, 2009

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Chase ends in crash

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Corrections

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

November 17th, 2009

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Regional Roundup

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Clarification

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Regional Roundup

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• The country's mess is our fault (170)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (73)
• Public health care is a Christian option (69)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (50)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Government-run health care is a bad idea (25)
• Young woman fatally shot at Acampo home (18)
• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi (16)

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West High math teacher accused of anti-gay remarks plans to resign

After heavy criticism following reports that he said homosexuality is unnatural in class and told a student in a private conversation that associating with homosexuals is as sinful as being gay, West High School math teacher Richard Thompson plans to quit in June, according to the agenda for Tuesday's school board meeting.

Thompson's motivation for quitting is unclear; he couldn't be reached for comment Friday, and Tracy Unified School District officials refused to discuss the matter.

The news took West High student Justin Daley by surprise.

He is the president of the Gay-Straight Alliance, a student group that pressured the district to punish Thompson for his comments.

When he heard the news of Thompson's resignation, Daley said, "That is so pleasant, but I'm scared for the students in which he teaches in the future," the junior said.

He said Thompson's resignation is just one victory in a war to eradicate intolerance for gay, bisexual and transgender students attending Tracy schools.

"Mr. Thompson is a big part of the problem," he said. "There are still issues."

Students fling around words like "faggot" and "homo" at West and Tracy High School, according to Daley and the Tracy High GSA faculty advisor, choir director Matt Netto.

The two gay-straight alliance groups have united to fight discrimination and intolerance, Netto said.

Tracy High's GSA chapter recently expanded from two members to 18 after students read in the Tracy Press that Daley had talked to district officials April 12 in a closed meeting to discuss Thompson and other issues, Netto said.

Now, members are circulating "school climate" surveys at West and Tracy to gauge student behavior toward gays, lesbians and bisexuals, Netto said.

Several hundred surveys will be sent to the umbrella organization, the Gay-Straight Alliance Network in San Francisco, to show the extent of the problem, Netto said.

Superintendent Jim Franco said he welcomed the information and that the district would take it seriously.

To reach reporter Bobby Wilson, call 830-4221 or e-mail bwilson@tracypress.com.