Lawmakers hand out pay raises amid cuts

LA drivers told to prepare for 'Carmageddon II'

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Remember "Carmageddon"? Get ready for the sequel. Southern California drivers were urged Thursday to stay off the roads when a 10-mile section of busy Interstate 405 is closed this fall. Crews will finish tearing down a bridge in the Sepulveda Pass, which links West Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley and carries nearly ...

State news briefs

3 CHARGED IN OAKLAND SHOOTING THAT KILLED INFANT: OAKLAND (AP) - Three members of an infamous Oakland street gang are facing charges for their alleged roles in a shooting during the filming of rap video that left a toddler dead, authorities said Friday.

Homeless loners run risks as LA stabber lurks

Bay Area briefs

Man accidentally shoots self to death at gun range

Travel tax using tracking devices on private vehicles could raise $15M a day

OAKLAND (AP) - San Francisco Bay area officials are mulling the idea of charging motorists a tax on every mile they drive in the nine-county region as a way to raise money for roads and public transit while reducing traffic and pollution from car emissions. <p style="line-height: 18pt; background: ...

LA reopens City Hall park trashed by protests

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Trampled during weeks of anti-Wall Street protests, City Hall Park reopened Thursday after a $1 million makeover that left fences in place to block campers. "We're going to ask Angelenos to respect this park, to respect the native plants, to make sure that when you're walking on the park, that you walk softly and enjoy immensely," Mayor Antonio ...

Service members to march in uniform in gay pride parade for first time ever

Sexual harassment lawsuit roils Silicon Valley

State news briefs

POLITENESS POLICY DIES AMID CITY COUNCIL BICKERING: MENIFEE (AP) - A proposed politeness policy that asked the Menifee City Council to remain civil during meetings died after council members spent 15 minutes arguing about the idea.

Feds OK equipment change at nuke plant

Attorney General Harris endorses illegal immigrant’s bid for California law license

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Sergio Garcia completed law school with the help of odd jobs and proceeds from a self-help book. Then he passed the state law exam on the first try.

Bay Area briefs

Murder defendant says she was performing exorcism

Father accused of shooting adult son over karaoke singing

SHINGLETOWN AP) - A Northern California man is accused of shooting his 50-year-old son because he didn't like his country karaoke singing. A Shasta County judge on Tuesday ordered 70-year-old William Henry Oller Sr. to stand trial on attempted murder and assault charges in the January shooting, The Record Searchlight of Redding (http://bit.ly/Piyyss) reported. Oller is accused of ...

State news briefs

ENCINO MAN ACCUSED IN WINDOW-SMASHING SPREE: LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Beverly Hills investment adviser was arrested on suspicion of being the mysterious gloved man who used a slingshot to smash dozens of windows in the wealthy area and the San Fernando Valley, police said.

Plastic ocean debris bill dies in committee

Bill would treat e-cigarettes like other tobacco

State Senate election might be headed to runoff in 16th district

LA sanitation ends plans for dump near Joshua Tree