Bay Area briefs

UC Berkeley behind stadium fund-raising goal BERKELEY. (AP) - The University of California, Berkeley is behind its fund-raising goal to pay for the $321 million renovation of its football stadium. The university was aiming to raise $270 million by summer 2013 for the Memorial Stadium project, but so far has only $35 million in cash. University officials say there ...

Around the state

• PG&E fined $16.8M for failing to check gas pipes: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - California regulators upheld a $16.8 million fine against Pacific Gas & Electric for the utility's failure to adequately check for gas leaks in its pipelines as required by state law.

Southern California teacher fired over porn video acting

OXNARD (AP) - A Southern California science teacher was fired Wednesday night for performing in a pornographic video, school district officials said. Oxnard School District trustees voted in closed session to dismiss Stacie Halas, who taught seventh- and eighth-graders at Richard B. Haydock Intermediate School. Veronica Robles-Solis, the board president, said the trustees voted unanimously to dismiss Halas. <p style="line-height: 18pt; background: ...

Ryan Seacrest is heir apparent to Dick Clark's pop music influence

Suspended SF sheriff disputes DA's version

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Suspended Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi disputed prosecutors' version of events that led to domestic violence charges against him, saying much of the case was a fabrication and he was the victim of politics. Mirkarimi was accused of bruising the arm of his wife, Venezuelan actress Eliana Lopez, during a dispute on New Year's Eve. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor ...

Older Asian, Hispanic populations growing

State news briefs

STOCKTON (AP) - The civil lawsuit accusing a Central Valley priest of child abuse is continuing despite the fact that the priest has fled to his native Ireland. The Diocese of Stockton learned this week that Michael Kelly left the country. A civil jury had found Kelly, a former priest in the diocese, liable for the molestation of an altar boy who ...

Analysis: Prison medical costs too high

Lottery pulls ad with slap-happy Lady Luck

LA police union sues over unlicensed driver policy

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Los Angeles police officers' union has sued the city and police chief over a new policy that allows some unlicensed drivers to keep their cars instead of having them impounded for 30 days. The Police Protective League sued Wednesday in Superior Court. The suit asks the court to block Chief Charlie Beck's new order, which was endorsed ...

Bay Area briefs

TRANSIT WORKER GAVE NEEDY TEEN BART TICKETS: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A San Francisco transit worker is in trouble for giving a needy teenager free BART tickets to get to school.

Around the state

&bull; More bee swarm encounters in Bay Area: VACAVILLE (AP) - A Vacaville elementary school was briefly invaded by tens of thousands of bees in what beekeepers say is a rising number of encounters between bee swarms and people in the San Francisco Bay area.

San Diego scientist uses physics to dodge $400 traffic ticket

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A University of California San Diego scientist was able to use his math and physics knowledge to argue his way out of a $400 traffic ticket.

UC Davis police chief resigning after pepper spray

DAVIS (AP) - The police chief who oversaw the University of California, Davis, police department during its notorious pepper-spraying of Occupy protesters said Wednesday that she is stepping down.

Bay Area news briefs

FUNERAL PLANS FOR DEPUTY KILLED IN EVICTION ATTACK: MODESTO (AP) - Funeral services for a Stanislaus County sheriff's deputy who was shot and killed while serving an eviction notice are planned for Friday.

Bill would prohibit ticket-buying software

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Music and sports fans would have one less obstacle in buying tickets to popular events under a bill advancing through the California Legislature. Legislation by Democratic Assemblyman Richard Pan of Sacramento would prohibit the use of robotic ticket-buying software. Supporters of AB329 say scalpers use the software to bombard online box offices and then resell tickets at higher prices. Lawmakers previously deleted a provision that would have allowed transfers of paperless event ...

Professor assigns students to make ad for his campaign

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A San Francisco State University professor considering a run for Oakland mayor is drawing scrutiny for a class assignment that asked students to create a political campaign ad and gave them the option of developing it for him. Joe Tuman said he would use the ad if it were good, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Thursday. But ethics experts said any such use of the students' work could run afoul ...

Bay Area briefs

SWALLOWS LAWSUIT MAY DELAY PETALUMA BRIDGE WORK : PETALUMA (AP) - A lawsuit accuses state and federal regulators of causing the death of dozens of migratory cliff swallows by placing nets on a Sonoma County bridge during a highway widening project.

State releases health reform plans, pricing

OC seeks state permission to charge for rescues

OC seeks state permission to charge for rescues

Injured volunteer seeks payment from lost hiker

6 plead not guilty in school embezzlement

Driver impaled by metal rod on I-580 near Livermore.

Snacking deputy's crash costs Santa Clara County $5M

Brown defends California's business climate

State news briefs

POSTAL WORKER SENTENCED IN MAIL THEFT: SAN CARLOS, Calif. (AP) - A San Francisco Bay area postal worker accused of stealing thousands of pieces of mail to obtain credit cards has been sentenced to 18 months in jail.

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