State news briefs

SHERIFF WANTS POLITICIANS TO RETURN BADGES: LOS ANGELES (AP) - Sheriff Lee Baca is recalling about 200 official-looking badges that were given to politicians for use during disasters.

Placer County wildfire forces evacuation of homes

FORESTHILL. (AP) - A 120-acre fire in a steep, heavily wooded area of the American River Canyon is forcing the evacuation of several homes. The evacuations were underway Wednesday night in the Foresthill area about 50 miles northeast of Sacramento. Mendocino Forest wildfire spreads to 16,000 acres <p ...

Bay Area briefs

Berkeley voters to decide sidewalk-sitting ban

San Diego freeway sign sitter surrenders

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A man who perched on a San Diego freeway sign for more than eight hours, jamming traffic for miles, has surrendered to authorities. He climbed down a fire truck ladder on Interstate 805 in the Clairemont area shortly before 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. The California Highway Patrol says the man climbed onto a freeway exit ...

It's not lunacy: Not-a-planet Pluto boasts 5 moons

High-powered lesbians create own PAC

Feds target popular Oakland pot shop for closure via property seizure

House Democrats fall short in blocking food stamp reductions

Governor issues furloughs for last 2 labor groups impacting 11,000 state workers

SACRAMENTO . (AP) - Gov. Jerry Brown issued a furlough order Wednesday for more than 11,000 California workers whose unions have yet to reach a deal for a 5 percent wage cut. Brown's order forces employees to take one day of unpaid leave a month, which amounts to a pay cut of about 5 percent. Bruce Blanning, executive ...

Another California city opts for bankruptcy

State news briefs

POLICE: TRACY MOTEL OWNER, 62, KILLED BY NAKED MAN: TRACY (AP) - Tracy police are investigating the death of a motel owner who was allegedly killed by a naked man in her business office.

Peter O'Toole retires with 'dry-eyed farewell'

Appeals court to examine Calif. ballot numbering

SACRAMENTO (AP) - An appeals court is asking the California secretary of state to explain why Gov. Jerry Brown's tax initiative should be first on the November ballot. The Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento agreed Tuesday to examine a challenge to the decision, one day after the state's chief elections officer assigned numbers to 11 measures on the November ballot. ...

Bay Area briefs

UC tuition could rise sharply if tax measure fails

Family of soldier sues security firm over death

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