Republican senators back Democrat in House race in LA

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A longtime House Democrat locked in a close race with another Democrat in California picked up a surprising endorsement Monday: the backing of two Senate Republicans.

Judge refuses to order one-drug executions

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A judge turned down a bid Monday by the Los Angeles County district attorney to order the immediate execution ...

Calif. treasurer's wife regains child visitation

State news briefs

PARENTS JAILED FOR SHACKLING TEEN TO CHAIR: TWENTYNINE PALMS (AP) - Investigators say a Southern California couple has been jailed for shackling their teenage son to a chair in the living room each night for about six months.

Air quality bureaucrats failed to alert public to hazards quickly enough

Crews hopeful as conditions improve on fire

Driver dies in crash after fleeing Stockton police

STOCKTON (AP) - Authorities say a car speeding away from Stockton police crashed into a utility pole, killing the driver and critically injuring the passenger. The crash occurred in a residential area after midnight on Sunday. The 53-year-old driver's name was not immediately released. Stockton police spokesman Joe Silva says police had tried to stop the speeding sedan, ...

Something really stinks in SoCal

Private school vaccine opt-outs rise

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Parents who send their children to private schools in California are much more likely to opt out of immunizations than their public school counterparts, an Associated Press analysis has found, and not even the recent re-emergence of whooping cough has halted the downward trajectory of vaccinations among these students.

‘Red flag warnings of high winds, low humidity for NorCal fire crews

UKIAH (AP) - A change in the weather was making things more difficult for the thousands of firefighters who were struggling to contain a series of wildfires burning across California, fire officials said Sunday.

Metrolink victims claim inadequate compensation for long-term health care due to federal regulation

LOS ANGELES (AP) - As the fourth anniversary of a deadly Metrolink crash approaches, many survivors say a federal liability cap has left them inadequately compensated.

Woman killed, second hurt in sidewalk crash

WALNUT CREEK (AP) - A Southern California woman was killed, a second woman was hospitalized and a Walnut Creek motorist faces charges after a pickup truck jumped a curb and hit the two women on a Walnut Creek sidewalk, police said.

GOP nominee Ryan extols free enterprise in Fresno

FRESNO (AP) - Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan extolled the values of free enterprise and self-determination at a Fresno fundraising dinner Saturday as he swept through California during a western campaign swing.

State news briefs

• FIERY CAR CRASH INTO LA PIZZERIA KILLS 3 PEOPLE: LOS ANGELES (AP) - Authorities say a car has crashed into a pizzeria in Los Angeles, killing three people and triggering a blaze.

Sonoma winery to resume wine-making in old buildings

SONOMA (AP) - Jean-Charles Boisset, new owner of California's oldest premium winery, is building the future of 155-year-old Buena Vista Winery on its rich and eclectic heritage.

Bill would prohibit ticket-buying software

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Music and sports fans would have one less obstacle in buying tickets to popular events under a bill advancing through the California Legislature. Legislation by Democratic Assemblyman Richard Pan of Sacramento would prohibit the use of robotic ticket-buying software. Supporters of AB329 say scalpers use the software to bombard online box offices and then resell tickets at higher prices. Lawmakers previously deleted a provision that would have allowed transfers of paperless event ...

Professor assigns students to make ad for his campaign

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A San Francisco State University professor considering a run for Oakland mayor is drawing scrutiny for a class assignment that asked students to create a political campaign ad and gave them the option of developing it for him. Joe Tuman said he would use the ad if it were good, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on Thursday. But ethics experts said any such use of the students' work could run afoul ...

Bay Area briefs

SWALLOWS LAWSUIT MAY DELAY PETALUMA BRIDGE WORK : PETALUMA (AP) - A lawsuit accuses state and federal regulators of causing the death of dozens of migratory cliff swallows by placing nets on a Sonoma County bridge during a highway widening project.

State releases health reform plans, pricing