State news briefs

WATER BOARD OKS $3.6M PG&E TOXIC SETTLEMENT CLAIM: HINKLEY . (AP) - A Southern California water board has agreed to accept $3.6 million from Pacific Gas & Electric to settle claims that the utility failed to stem toxic chromium pollution in a Mojave Desert town that inspired the movie "Erin Brockovich."

Feds settle with PG&E over 2004 forest fires with fine of almost $30 million

Rain, wind lead to at least 1 fatality

Beanbag hit Occupy protester, not gas canister

OAKLAND (AP) - An Iraq War veteran whose skull was fractured during an Occupy Oakland protest last fall was hit by a beanbag round fired by a police officer, not a tear gas canister, his lawyer said. Scott Olsen was struck by a beanbag fired from less than 30 feet away during the clash, Olsen's attorney Mark Martel, told the San Francisco ...

California home sales jump in February

Bay Area news briefs

Report: Squabbling over aging SF ambulances SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The firefighters union say aging San Francisco ambulances threaten the safety of paramedics and the public. KTVU-TV has obtained internal documents showing 24 of the department's 41 ambulances have racked up 120,000 miles or more. And half of the 24 well-worn ambulances are in poor condition. Records also show ...

Gov. Brown reaches California tax deal with group for November ballot measure

CalPERS pension fund expects lower investment return impacting state, schools, local jurisdictions

College tries 2-tier prices for in-demand classes with new classes being four times costlier to take

HBO cancels horse racing cable series 'Luck'

State news briefs

SAN QUENTIN DEATH ROW INMATE DIES IN CELL: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A California death row inmate convicted 23 years ago for a Modesto contract killing has died in his San Quentin cell of natural causes.

Solar debate heats up as California farmland is targeted with 11,000 acres in Fresno County

Bay Area briefs

Rain, wind batter Northern California SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A late winter storm has brought heavy rain and winds to Central and NBorthern California, flooding roads, downing trees and causing isolated power outages. And more rain is on the way over the next couple of days and the weekend, forecasters say, spelling good news for what has been an unusually dry winter. Marin ...

State news briefs

CODA begins production of electric car in Benicia: BENICIA (AP) - CODA Automotive's assembly plant in Benicia has begun production of the carmaker's all-electric sedan.

California lawmakers switch votes often

SACRAMENTO (AP) - By long-standing tradition, lawmakers in California's Assembly who are running for re-election or are seeking a new seat this year will tout their yes or no votes on all manner of bills in the coming months.

Perry disgusted by explosion cartoon

First confirmed Japanese tsunami debris in Calif.

209 News

WILD DOG KILLED BY DEPUTIES: FRENCH CAMP - One of the dogs which may have killed dozens of goats at a French Camp livestock auction yard recently was killed Friday.

Civil rights groups object to 49ers stadium deals

Dangerous wildfire season predicted

Bay Area briefs

SUSPECT WHO ALLEGEDLY KILLED MAN OVER MUSIC CAUGHT: RICHMOND (AP) - A Contra Costa County man who eluded capture for four years after allegedly shooting his neighbor to death in a dispute over loud music has been arraigned on murder charges.

State bill would let legal non-citizens serve on juries

Funding plan would mean cuts to NorCal courts

Transit app can estimate crowds on BART trains

Senate advances bill to tax Internet sales

Racist video stirs anger on UC Irvine campus

SF firefighter makes $221,000 in OT

State news briefs

GOODWILL AGREES TO SETTLE SOCAL SEX BIAS CASE: LOS ANGELES (AP) - Goodwill Industries of Southern California has agreed to settle federal allegations that it discriminated against men in hiring.