Chris Brown’s scary curbside art irks LA neighbors; city cites him for ‘signage’

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Grammy-winning musician Chris Brown's neighbors are unhappy with what some are calling frightening art he's chosen to have painted along the curb of his Hollywood Hills home.

Bay Bridge base rods can’t be easily inspected

OAKLAND (AP) - More than 400 seismic safety rods that may be vulnerable to cracking or breaking are embedded in the base of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and may be difficult to inspect, remove or replace, according to a newspaper report.

One by one, homes in subdivision sinking

LAKEPORT (AP) - Scott and Robin Spivey had a sinking feeling that something was wrong with their home when cracks began snaking across their walls in March.

Judge denies bid to block Dorner reward payout plan

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A camp ranger who was carjacked by Christopher Dorner lost a bid Friday to block payout of $1 million in rewards for helping track down the killer as he seeks the money. Richard Heltebrake contended that his 911 call to authorities on Feb. 12 helped lead them to Dorner, a fired Los Angeles police officer who went on ...

Immigrant raid rumor fuels fear in SJ Valley

Nevada high school choir will back Rolling Stones at concert

LAS VEGAS (AP) - You can't always get what you want. Unless, perhaps, you're a member of the Green Valley High School choir and you want a chance to sing on stage with the Rolling Stones. The Henderson school's choir will join the Stones at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Saturday night for the encore performance of their hit ...

Acting Oakland chief replaced after 2 days

4 pit bulls blamed for SoCal jogger's killing

PALMDALE (AP) - A pack of dogs remained under quarantine at a Mojave Desert shelter on Friday as investigators tried to determine whether they were involved in a mauling that killed a jogger. By afternoon, Los Angeles County sheriff's homicide investigators had not announced any DNA match between the six pit bulls seized Thursday and the four believed to have attacked the ...

State. moves to comply with 2011 gay history law

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - California education officials have taken the first step toward complying with a law requiring public schools to include prominent gay people and gay rights' milestones in the curriculum. The California Board of Education this week unanimously approved new standards stating that books, handouts and other classroom materials must avoid "pejorative descriptions" based on sexual orientation and gender identity. ...

Bold turkey: woman hits cop in bid to kick smoking habit

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Think you've heard of every way possible to quit smoking? Etta Mae Lopez came up with a new one: slap a cop and go to jail, where smoking isn't allowed. Lopez smacked Sacramento County sheriff's Deputy Matt Campoy in the face Tuesday as he left the main jail at the end of his shift. He grabbed her and took ...

Compton teen convicted in killing mom, stepfather

COMPTON (AP) - Los Angeles prosecutors say a 16-year-old from Compton has been convicted of killing her mother and stepfather while she and her boyfriend were planning to hold a Halloween party in the family's mobile home in 2011. Deputy District Attorney Kristin Trutanich says Cynthia Alvarez was convicted by a jury Friday after three hours of deliberation. <p style="line-height: 18pt; background: ...

Judge: No auction yet of Kobe Bryant's stuff

State news briefs

DRIVER REACHING FOR DRINK HITS WOMAN, 3 CHILDREN: SAN DIEGO (AP) - Authorities say an unlicensed driver reaching for a spilled drink ran onto a sidewalk in San Diego and struck a mother and three children.

Deadly America's Cup boat mishap

Oil industry: BLM prevents job creation

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