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

Computer problems trigger delays at DMV offices

SACRAMENTO (AP) - The computer network at the California Department of Motor Vehicles went down for several hours Tuesday, triggering delays as clerks at field offices throughout the state processed driver's licenses and registrations by hand. DMV spokeswoman Jessica Gonzalez said the problem was fixed around noon Tuesday and state workers were catching up on the backlog created by network problem. She ...

Congressman Cardoza resigns

Bay Area briefs

Home of late Steve Jobs burglarized

New geek chic: Mohawks in, pocket protectors out

Californians told to go easy on air conditioning

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Californians were urged to ease off the air conditioning to conserve electricity, and schools in inland areas closed early Tuesday as the state sweltered through another day of triple-digit heat. Operators of the state electricity grid declared a Flex Alert, calling on people to set their thermostats at 78 or higher and to avoid using major appliances until ...

State news briefs

WOMAN CHARGED WITH LEAVING BABY, TOT IN HOT CAR: LOS ANGELES (AP) - Los Angeles County prosecutors have filed charges against an 18-year-old mother who allegedly left her 2-week-old daughter and 1-year-old son in a locked car to go dress shopping last weekend in the midst of California's heat wave.

Brown’s twin tunnels better than nothing

If there's such a thing as a sure thing in politics, it is this: If the water plan announced late last month by Gov. Jerry Brown ever passes the state Legislature, it will surely become ...

Camp aims to lift clown frowns during slow economy

Camp aims to lift clown frowns during slow economy

Audit of state’s oil spill fund finds accounting errors

209 News

Modesto police shoot suspect in stabbing MODESTO (AP) - Modesto police have shot and killed a man suspected of stabbing a teenager and intentionally crashing into a home. Police say two officers opened fire at the unidentified man after he put his vehicle in reverse and tried to accelerate early Tuesday morning. Witnesses said the man had fought with ...

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