State news briefs

SALINAS THIEF ASSAULTS, ROBS AND SHOOTS DEPOSITOR: SALINAS (AP) - Salinas police say a man headed for a Northridge Mall bank to make a deposit had to be treated at a hospital after being robbed and shot in the leg.

Dispute over Thomas Kinkade's will heads to court

SAN JOSE (AP) - Thomas Kinkade's widow and girlfriend took their dispute over the late painter's estate to court on Tuesday as handwritten notes allegedly written by Kinkade that could be central to the clash were made public for the first time. Amy Pinto-Walsh was living with Kinkade and found his body when the 54-year-old accidentally overdosed on alcohol and Valium in ...

Guard says he was fired from bar over police call

SANTA ANA (AP) - A false police report by a bar manager triggered events leading to a deadly confrontation between officers and a homeless man in Orange County, a former bouncer alleged in a lawsuit. The bouncer, Michael Reeves, claimed he was wrongly fired from Fullerton's Slidebar Rock-n-Roll Kitchen after speaking out about the manager who called police July 5 and claimed ...

Bay Area briefs

Odor forces flight back to Oakland airport OAKLAND (AP) - Officials say a Southwest Airlines plane returned to Oakland International Airport just after takeoff after a smell was reported in the cabin and a flight attendant felt sick. Crew members alerted the airport around 7:22 a.m. Tuesday - about ten minutes after the flight left for Burbank - that they were turning around. ...

State news briefs

FOOD LABELING, 3-STRIKES JOIN CROWDED NOV. BALLOT: SACRAMENTO (AP) - California's secretary of state has certified two more initiatives for the November election, when voters will have to decide at least eight ballot measures.

DesertXpress Vegas-California rail project renamed

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Developers planning high-speed rail service between Las Vegas and Southern California announced Monday they are giving the project a new name. DesertXpress Enterprises is rebranding the project XpressWest to reflect its goal of a larger rail network across the western U.S. The privately held company wants to build a high-speed line between Las Vegas ...

Gang member accused in attack that killed 4

Ice chunk falls from sky, crashes on Bay Area roof

FREMONT, Calif. (AP) - Federal authorities are investigating whether a chunk of ice that tore through the roof of a Northern California home fell from an airplane. The San Francisco Chronicle reports the basketball-size piece of ice crashed into the two-story house in Fremont around 6 p.m. Sunday. Police say the falling ice shook the four-bedroom house and ...

LAUSD must rate teachers on pupil progress

Bay Area briefs

Alameda County board chooses Lockyer's replacement

NASA rover on target for August landing on Mars

'Escape from Alcatraz' gets anniversary attention 50 years after prison break

DesertXpress Vegas-California rail project renamed

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Developers planning high-speed rail service between Las Vegas and Southern California announced Monday they are giving the project a new name. DesertXpress Enterprises is rebranding the project XpressWest to reflect its goal of a larger rail network across the western U.S. The privately held company wants to build a high-speed line between Las Vegas ...

Fight after Bay to Breakers race ends in death

Democrats talk budget ahead of Friday deadline to address $16 billion deficit

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.

Poor are moving to nation's suburbs

Brown cites safety in possible bridge delay

Brown cites safety in possible bridge delay

Legislation adds community college classes at higher cost

SACRAMENTO, (AP) - Students at California community colleges could see additional class options for short summer and winter sessions under a bill that passed the state Assembly on Monday, but those courses would come with a higher price tag.

Dad of dead girl says he's unsure why home shot up

Navy official removed from job for flirty texts

Analyst pegs revenue $3.2B higher than Brown

Canada trying to lure Bay Area tech workers

California unemployment rate drops to 9 percent