Religious leaders like Brown's tax plan for taking from rich & giving to poor

Researcher spies odd lava spirals on Mars

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A researcher has spotted lava flows shaped like coils of rope near the equator of Mars, the first time such geologic features have been discovered outside of Earth.

Governor signs bill extending pet license sales

Bill lets governor, local officials meet behind closed doors away from public

Brown tells corrections to mull one drug in lieu of three for lethal injection

Bay Area briefs

Regulators: PG&E higher-ups aware of snooping

State news briefs

TITLEHOLDER OF LONGEST WITH BULLET IN HEAD DIES: TURLOCK (AP) - The man who holds the Guinness World Record for living the longest with a bullet in his head has died in Central California at age 103.

Parents sue school over cheating policy

REDWOOD CITY (AP) - The parents of a Northern California high school sophomore are suing the school district for kicking the teenager out of an honors class because he cheated. When he started classes at Sequoia High School in Redwood City, the boy signed an Academy Honesty Pledge warning him that cheating is grounds for immediate removal from the advanced-level English class. ...

Callenbach, 'Ecotopia' author, dies at 83

Zynga reports 1Q net loss, higher revenue

Federal judge files for bankruptcy

LOS ANGELES (AP) - U.S. District Judge Otis Wright has been on the federal bench only five years and now is facing bankruptcy because he's unable to pay his existing debts. While Wright and other district judges are making roughly $174,000 annually, they are being outpaced by many other federal employees who are earning more than $200,000 each year, according to statistics ...

Sanctuary says killer elephant still welcome

Poll shows slim majority favor governor's tax hike ballot plan

Yacht accident survivor wants more focus on safety

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A survivor of the fatal grounding of a racing yacht on rocky islands west of San Francisco is calling on the sailing community to make safety a higher priority. In a lengthy letter posted online Tuesday, Bryan Chong, 38, offered a detailed account of what happened the day the sailboat Low Speed Chase wrecked during an April 14 ...

Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts critical of President Obama policies

Cellphone thefts accounts for half of all SF robberies

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Disturbed by the nationwide epidemic of cellphone robberies and thefts, law enforcement officials across the country are looking to the wireless industry to help find a cure.

Beach bonfire spat gets hot in Southern California

HUNTINGTON BEACH (AP) - Anna Abderhalden and her siblings woke before dawn to stake a claim to a coveted beachfront spot where bonfires blaze each night as a rite of summer in this surf-crazy Southern California city.

Fever hits thousands in Valley

FRESNO (AP) - California and federal public health officials say valley fever, a potentially lethal but often misdiagnosed disease infecting more and more people around the nation, has been on the rise as warming climates and drought have kicked up the dust that spreads it.

Cooler weather aids fight against wildfire

CAMARILLO. (AP) - Cool, moist air moving into Southern California on Sunday helped firefighters build containment lines around a huge wildfire burning through coastal mountains.

5 women die in limo fire on San Mateo Bridge

HAYWARD (AP) - A limousine taking nine women to a bachelorette party erupted in flames, killing five of the passengers, including the bride-to-be, authorities and the mother of one of the survivors said Sunday.

State news briefs

SHEEN SUPPORTS SONS' REMOVAL FROM EX-WIFE'S CARE: LOS ANGELES (AP) - Charlie Sheen's spokesman says the actor supports a decision to remove his twin sons from the care of his ex-wife and have them live temporarily with another ex-wife, actress Denise Richards.

Crews seek more success saving homes

Experimental Air Force aircraft goes hypersonic

Drug find means hikers may be charged for search

Bay Area briefs

NO CHARGES FOR TEACHER ACCUSED OF TYING KID: PLEASANTON (AP) - Prosecutors in Northern California have decided not to pursue any criminal charges against a former teacher accused of tying up a 2-year-old girl when she worked at a preschool.

209 News

CALIFORNIA ALMOND CROP TO SURPASS 2B LBS IN 2013: MODESTO (AP) - Federal agricultural officials are predicting another bumper crop for California's almonds this year.

Detectives study knives in girl's stabbing

Solar plane leaves NorCal on start of cross-country trip

California prison crowding plan still falls short

State news briefs

SAN BERNARDINO BANKRUPTCY SPARKS RECALL EFFORT: SAN BERNARDINO . (AP) - San Bernardino's bankruptcy has sparked a recall campaign against the mayor, city attorney and the entire City Council.