Researchers find surprises in Lake Tahoe data

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - (AP) - An annual report released Thursday detailing the status of Lake Tahoe's health and clarity has researchers rethinking some long-held assumptions and focusing on trends that may be linked to climate change.

Sonora fire sweeps Sierra destroys 2 homes

SONORA (AP) - More than 200 firefighters are battling a grass and woodland fire in the central Sierra foothills that has already destroyed two homes. State fire officials say the small but fast-moving fire has also burned an outbuilding, a pickup, three recreational vehicles and two cars since it began in a subdivision about five miles east of the Tuolumne County city ...

NASA rover sends back colorful picture of Mars

Gas prices rise to near average $4 a gallon

Cleaner cars helping reduce LA pollution

Bay Area briefs

MODESTO HOMEOWNER SHOOTS AND KILLS MARIJUANA BURGLAR: MODESTO (AP) - Investigators say a homeowner has shot and killed a burglar who broke into his Modesto indoor marijuana garden.

Chevron refinery fire highlights pollution concerns; one of state’s 10 worst emitters

California official replaced after killing Idaho mountain lion

Lawmakers order audit of state parks funds

New call for conservation as Southern Cal bakes

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Southern California Edison is ramping up the number of crews available to respond to possible power outages as sweltering temperatures send electricity use climbing. The company said Wednesday that high electricity use - particularly from air conditioners - is straining distribution equipment, but no power outages have been reported. Local officials have been preparing ...

Critics blast state retirement plan for private workers that could cost billions

Romney equates California to Greece

Official: Budget cuts to blame for fire's spread

SACRAMENTO . (AP) - A Sacramento fire official said budget cuts are in part to blame for the spread of a fire in a city neighborhood. Assistant Chief Niko King told the Sacramento Bee the temporary closure of the fire station closest to Wednesday morning's blaze in the Oak Park neighborhood delayed the arrival of an engine with a hose and water. ...

Lawmakers demand audit of mental health initiative to see if voters’ will is being ignored

Temperatures soaring in Southern California

LOS ANGELES (AP) - After weeks of mild summertime temperatures, Southern Californians are sweltering in a heat wave expected to last for days and potentially test an electrical grid lacking one major power plant. Temperatures topped 100 degrees Tuesday in many valley and inland areas but moderated closer to the coast, where beach cities had readings in the high 70s or low ...

State Side

FREEWAY SANDSTORM CAUSES MULTIPLE WRECKS, 6 HURT: LANCASTER (AP) - The California Highway Patrol has closed a freeway north of Los Angeles after a sandstorm in Lancaster led to several car wrecks that injured six people.

Calif. bill would expand who can perform abortions

Justin Bieber investigated for reckless driving

CALABASAS (AP) - Los Angeles County Sheriff's detectives are investigating Justin Bieber for reckless driving after witnesses, including former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson, complained. Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore says at 8 p.m. Monday Bieber allegedly drove his white Ferrari at freeway speeds in his north Los Angeles County gated community. Johnson was outside with his 3-year-old daughter who was preparing to get into a small electric car when Bieber zoomed by. Johnson followed Bieber to ...

Norcal News

PG&E SUED OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CANAL BREAK: COLFAX, (AP) - Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has been hit by a pair of lawsuits over its handling of a canal failure two years ago that forced thousands of Placer County residents to ration water.

Bay Area briefs

3 WOUNDED IN SAN FRANCISCO SHOOTING: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - San Francisco police have arrested three people in connection with an early morning robbery attempt that left three others with gunshot wounds.

209 News

BODIES PULLED FROM WATERWAY WEST OF STOCKTON: STOCKTON (AP) - San Joaquin County Sheriff's officials are searching a waterway west of Stockton where an SUV crashed over the weekend.

Wal-Mart guilty in hazardous waste case

Tribal veterans gather to honor sacrifice

SANTA NELLA (AP) - American Indian veterans wearing tribal dress gathered to honor the sacrifice of their fighting men and women in an emotional ceremony at a Central California cemetery.

Surging wildfire forces evacuations in mountains north of Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA (AP) - A surging wildfire forced thousands of people, most of them Memorial Day campers, to evacuate the mountains of California's Santa Barbara County, officials said.

5 die as car slams into tree, splits in half before it catches on fire

NEWPORT BEACH (AP) - Police say five people from a single car were killed when it ran off an Orange County street, hit a tree and split into two pieces.

Squeezing every drop out of Colorado River topic for gathering

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Top water decision-makers from seven Western states plan to join conservation groups and Indian tribes in San Diego on Tuesday to begin hammering out rules for squeezing every useable drop from the overtaxed Colorado River.

Auction of lunch with Buffett starts Sunday

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Warren Buffett has already helped raise nearly $15 million over the years for a San Francisco homeless charity, and the group hopes someone will again be willing to pay more than $2 million for a private lunch with the Omaha, Neb., investor.

Bay Area news briefs

• POLICE SEEK SUSPECTS IN 3 SAN JOSE SLAYINGS: SAN JOSE (AP) - Police are seeking suspects wanted in the shooting deaths of two San Jose teenagers and a man from the southern part of the city who were slain on Sunday.

State news briefs

• MAN SHOOTS DAUGHTER WITH 3 KIDS IN HOME: OROSI (AP) - A California man shot his two adult daughters on Monday, killing one and critically injuring the other before apparently committing suicide while his three young grandchildren were in the home, authorities said.