Gas prices rise to near average $4 a gallon

Cleaner cars helping reduce LA pollution

Bay Area briefs

MODESTO HOMEOWNER SHOOTS AND KILLS MARIJUANA BURGLAR: MODESTO (AP) - Investigators say a homeowner has shot and killed a burglar who broke into his Modesto indoor marijuana garden.

Chevron refinery fire highlights pollution concerns; one of state’s 10 worst emitters

California official replaced after killing Idaho mountain lion

Lawmakers order audit of state parks funds

New call for conservation as Southern Cal bakes

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Southern California Edison is ramping up the number of crews available to respond to possible power outages as sweltering temperatures send electricity use climbing. The company said Wednesday that high electricity use - particularly from air conditioners - is straining distribution equipment, but no power outages have been reported. Local officials have been preparing ...

Critics blast state retirement plan for private workers that could cost billions

Romney equates California to Greece

Official: Budget cuts to blame for fire's spread

SACRAMENTO . (AP) - A Sacramento fire official said budget cuts are in part to blame for the spread of a fire in a city neighborhood. Assistant Chief Niko King told the Sacramento Bee the temporary closure of the fire station closest to Wednesday morning's blaze in the Oak Park neighborhood delayed the arrival of an engine with a hose and water. ...

Lawmakers demand audit of mental health initiative to see if voters’ will is being ignored

Temperatures soaring in Southern California

LOS ANGELES (AP) - After weeks of mild summertime temperatures, Southern Californians are sweltering in a heat wave expected to last for days and potentially test an electrical grid lacking one major power plant. Temperatures topped 100 degrees Tuesday in many valley and inland areas but moderated closer to the coast, where beach cities had readings in the high 70s or low ...

NASA gives a peek of rover's Mars journey

Get ready to be burned by higher gas prices

Police: Woman stole baby after faking being pregnant

State taxes coming in $4B above forecast

SACRAMENTO (AP) - California is on track to collect $4 billion more in personal income taxes than Gov. Jerry Brown had expected, giving a potential boost to education funding, the legislative analyst's office said Tuesday.

Los Angeles settles with women fired on in manhunt

Davis man spends week in wilderness on pine nuts

Burger King delivers it your way in San Francisco & LA

Bay Area briefs

WOMAN UNINJURED AFTER BART TRAIN PASSES OVER HER: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A woman escaped uninjured after a commuter train passed over her but did not hit her on tracks at a San Francisco station, transit officials said.