LA considers hiring porn film condom cop

Jury says Muslim hotel owner discriminated Jewish group; awards $1.2 million in damages

SANTA MONICA (AP) - A Muslim hotel owner discriminated against a Jewish group during a Southern California poolside charity event by ordering removal of banners and ousting them from the pool and spa, a jury decided in awarding $1.2 million statutory damages. Punitive damages will be determined later. The suit was filed by Friends of the Israel Defense ...

Military probes cause of failed hypersonic flight

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The military has launched an investigation into why its latest unmanned hypersonic flight failed seconds into a test. The experimental X-51A Waverider was designed to reach six times the speed of sound after being released by a B-52 bomber off the Southern California coast Tuesday. The Air Force said the experimental aircraft successfully separated from the B-52 and ...

State news briefs

SYPHILIS AND OTHER STD CASES ON RISE IN CALIFORNIA: SACRAMENTO (AP) - Rises in syphilis and other sexually transmitted disease cases in California have state health officials concerned.

Median home price jumps 12% in July

SAN DIEGO (AP) - The median price of a home in California approached a four-year high in July as buyers snapped up more expensive properties and foreclosed houses made up a smaller part of the sales mix, a research firm said Wednesday. The median price for new and existing houses and condominiums in the state reached $281,000 last month, up 11.5 percent ...

Lawmaker questions AG's role in state parks probe

Brown warns of deep school cuts if tax fails

Refinery fire probe looks at spark sources

Thunderstorms could help or hamper California firefighters

Bay Area briefs

POLICE: BURGLAR MADE OFF WITH STEVE JOBS' WALLET: PALO ALTO (AP) - The burglar who broke into Steve Jobs' house made off with the Apple Inc. co-founder's wallet with a dollar inside and his driver's license in addition to Apple gadgets and jewelry, according to a police report released Tuesday.

Fire crews making progress battling series of Northern California wildfires

State news briefs

Lawsuit filed over Brockovich chemical

GOP lawmaker resigns chairmanship after tax vote

Video shows vapor cloud before refinery fire

Bolts on Bay Bridge that haven't failed may go

OAKLAND (AP) - Long seismic safety bolts on the new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge that haven't failed may have to be replaced nonetheless, a regional transportation official said Wednesday.

State news briefs

GROCER TRIES TO PROFIT OFF BOTCHED BURGLARY: REDDING (AP) - A Northern California grocery store owner is trying to profit from a suspected thief's botched burglary attempt that was caught on video and went viral.

2 a.m. still last call for alcohol in California

Educators sued over English instruction