Court upholds California affirmative action ban use race, ethnicity, gender for college admission

Drones coming to a sky near you as interest surges in pilotless air craft

BERKELEY (AP) - Sharp-eyed dog walkers along the San Francisco Bay waterfront may have spotted a strange-looking plane zipping overhead recently that that looked strikingly like the U.S. stealth drone captured by Iran in December.

Coast Guard sends helicopter to stricken yacht

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The U.S. Coast Guard sent a helicopter to rescue three injured sailors aboard a battered yacht about 270 miles off the California coast, authorities said Sunday.

State news in brief

• WINDOWS BROKEN DURING OAKLAND PROTEST: OAKLAND (AP) - Oakland police are asking for the public's help in identifying suspects after windows were broken and slogans were spray-painted on buildings during an Occupy Oakland anti-police march Saturday night.

Immigrants ordered deported often released

Bodies linked to Speed Freak Killers

State news briefs

CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE CAN ID SELF AS ASTRONAUT: SACRAMENTO (AP) - A Sacramento County judge has ruled that a candidate for U.S. Congress from the Central Valley can use the ballot designation "astronaut."

Brown signs casino compact with tribe

ROHNERT PARK (AP) - A Native American tribe's plans for a Las Vegas-style casino about 50 miles north of San Francisco got a big boost on Friday when the governor signed a gaming compact with the tribe. The deal between the state and the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria calls for a casino on 254 acres near Rohnert Park in Sonoma County. ...

Bay Area news briefs

SF considers enforcing parking meters on Sunday

State news briefs

LONG BEACH OWED $18M IN UNPAID PARKING TICKETS: LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) - A councilwoman says Long Beach is owed $18 million in unpaid parking tickets.

California. lawmakers don hoodies for slain Florida teen during Capitol session

Another finalist booted from 'American Idol'

Bay Area briefs

$1.5B deal approved to electrify Caltrains SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A $1.5 billion deal has been approved to electrify Caltrain lines for eventual sharing with California bullet trains. The Metropolitan Transportation Commission voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve the two-track sharing plan. Using two tracks rather than the proposed four tracks will mean slower travel times and fewer trains. ...

Mojave Desert parents wage legal fight against local district over school reform

Rescuers free entangled gray whale off coast

Bay Area briefs

NO BACKPACKS ALLOWED AT 2013 BAY TO BREAKERS IN SF: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - No backpacks, large bags or containers will be allowed at this year's Bay to Breakers footrace in San Francisco as officials heighten security in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.

Vulnerable inmates ordered out of 2 Central Valley prisons

Nesting swallows could delay Petaluma bridge work

State news briefs

SANTA CLARA THREATENS AMBULANCE TERMINATION: SAN JOSE. (AP) - Santa Clara County officials are threatening to terminate the contract of an ambulance company that they say has repeatedly responded too slowly to emergencies.

Killer on the loose: Valley Springs on lockdown

Lawmakers consider moratorium on oil fracking in San Joaquin Valley

3 divers killed over weekend abalone diving off California