Nurses union gives Brown tax initiative campaign on November ballot $1 million

Pepper spray incident officer fired

DAVIS (AP) - The police chief at the University of California, Davis, overruled an internal affairs panel's recommendation and fired a lieutenant who soaked demonstrators with pepper spray - an incident that sparked protests after it was recorded and posted online, according to documents obtained by a newspaper. The Sacramento Bee reports that investigators concluded Lt. John Pike acted reasonably during the ...

Fire in Plumas National Forest more than doubles

BELDEN (AP) - Dry conditions and rocky terrain are hampering efforts to contain a fire in the Plumas National Forest in Northern California that is threatening dozens of structures, including trailer homes. Fire officials said Thursday the Chips fire near Belden about 120 miles north of Sacramento has consumed almost 4 square miles since it began ...

Court reverses ruling favoring debt collectors

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal appeals court has reversed a California ruling that favored debt collectors who send letters to a person's workplace. The 9th U.S. Court of Appeals also took the case away from Sacramento federal Judge John Mendez because of his disparaging remarks. Mendez ruled two years ago that a Southern California debt collector's custom ...

Only 4 challengers for 34th America's Cup

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Only four foreign challengers met the deadline to enter the Louis Vuitton Cup next summer to determine the opponent for Oracle Racing in the 34th America's Cup. They are Sweden's Artemis Racing, Emirates Team New Zealand, Italy's Luna Rossa Challenge and Team Korea. The Louis Vuitton Cup will run from July 4 through Sept. ...

USC plans Schwarzenegger policy think tank

. LOS ANGELES (AP) - Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the University of Southern California announced Thursday they are partnering to create a policy think tank. The USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy will be funded with a Schwarzenegger commitment of $20 million, which will include a personal donation as well as money from fundraising. ...

State news briefs

TEEN SURRENDERS AFTER DAD SPOTS HIM IN PHOTO: LOS ANGELES (AP) - A teenager wanted for stealing nine cash registers from Southern California businesses has surrendered after his father recognized him in a newspaper photograph of the suspect.

Federal government opposes bid by illegal immigrant to gain status as California lawyer

Gas pipe ruptures near site of deadly blast

High court upholds death penalty in school rampage

San Bernardino files for Chapter 9 bankruptcy

SAN BERNARDINO (AP) - Officials in San Bernardino, Calif., which is facing an expected $45.8 million budget deficit this year, have formally filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, a move that city leaders approved last month. Interim City Manager Andrea Travis-Miller said Wednesday that there would be "no immediate service reductions or changes in service to the community as a result of ...

Crowds swarm Chick-fil-A stores in support of owner’s free speech rights

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The chicken sandwich became a political statement for a day as supporters of the Chick-fil-A president's stance against gay marriage caused traffic jams at the fast-food chain's restaurants nationwide.

Court rejects developer’s attempt to build new road into Yosemite National Park

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal appeals court sided with environmentalists and ruled a California developer cannot build a new road into Yosemite National Park. The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled that Solvang developer Lewis Geyser does not have the rights to two stage-coach-era dirt roads connecting his property to Yosemite. Geyser wanted to build a resort ...

Deputy scales steep granite slope, saves hiker

PG&E engineer testifies utility knew that natural gas pipeline records were incomplete

REDWOOD CITY (AP) - A senior Pacific Gas & Electric Co. engineer testified that he repeatedly warned his supervisors before a fatal gas pipeline explosion in a San Francisco suburb that the utility's gas records were incomplete, but they did nothing about it. Todd Arnett said in a deposition taken as part of a lawsuit against PG&E after the 2010 blast in ...

State news briefs

LAWYER: TEEN USED 'MURDER KIT' ON GIRL'S PARENTS: LOS ANGELES (AP) - Prosecutors say a teenager accused of murdering his girlfriend's parents was equipped with a "murder kit" to kill the Compton couple.

Montana man dies in Yosemite climbing accident

Unclaimed veterans' remains laid to rest

Bay Area briefs

Bay Area briefs

SF OFFICIALS UPSET OVER ANTI-ISRAEL BUS ADS: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Several San Francisco supervisors want the city transit agency to donate revenue from an anti-Israel bus ad campaign to the city's Human Rights Commission after the agency did the same for an ad campaign that targeted Muslims.

Dolphin finds 130-year-old torpedo off San Diego

Man survives 220-foot jump off Golden Gate

Teacher arraigned on molestation charges

Two suspects mistakenly dial 911 during crime

Judge: Workers at UC hospitals can strike

3 charged in LA-area bank robbery

Hantavirus response followed policy

State news briefs

HOMEOWNER KILLS ROBBERY SUSPECT WITH SWORD: FIREBAUGH (AP) - Authorities say a central California homeowner killed a robbery suspect with a samurai sword during a home invasion.

Senate OKs regulations for medicinal pot

Senate OKs regulations for medicinal pot

Bay Area briefs

LONGSHOREMAN DIES AFTER TRUCK PLUNGES IN SF BAY: OAKLAND (AP) - Authorities have identified a 78-year-old Port of Oakland longshoreman who died after his truck plunged into the San Francisco Bay.