LA charges into new territory with express lanes along Interstate 110

LOS ANGELES (AP) - It's familiar fare for much of the country and the world, but new territory for car-crazy Los Angeles County: Freeway lanes that aren't free.

Veterans resurrect cross ending epic legal battle at SoCal desert site

YUCCA VALLEY (AP) - A war memorial cross that once stood on a rocky hilltop in a national park before being deemed unconstitutional and ordered removed was resurrected on Veterans Day at the stunningly stark Mojave desert site, capping a landmark case for veterans fighting similar battles on public lands.

Young voters turned the tide for Prop 30

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Jerry Brown secured a convincing win for his tax initiative on last week's ballot, thanks partly to voters who might not seem like a natural constituency for the 74-year-old, lifelong politician - young voters.

Cal State targets ‘super seniors’ with hefty fees to get them moving & out of college

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - They're called super seniors, and they can be found on nearly every college campus in America.

Food labels multiply, confuse consumers

FRESNO (AP) - Want to avoid pesticides and antibiotics in your produce, meat, and dairy foods? Prefer to pay more to make sure farm animals were treated humanely, farmworkers got their lunch breaks, bees or birds were protected by the farmer and that ranchers didn't kill predators?

Two die from mushrooms despite warnings

LOOMIS (AP) - The deaths of two residents of a Northern California assisted living facility and the hospitalization of four others come despite warnings from health officials not to eat mushrooms picked in the wild.

State news briefs

• RALEY'S, UNION RETURN TO BARGAINING TABLE: WEST SACRAMENTO (AP) - Officials with supermarket chain Raley's and union representatives are back at the bargaining table.

Union reaches tentative pact with Raley's rival

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The union on strike over contract talks with Northern California supermarket chain Raley's has agreed to new terms with a rival grocer - a move that labor experts say will put pressure on Raley's to make a deal. Pleasanton-based Safeway announced on Thursday that it had reached a tentative contract agreement with the United Food and Commercial ...

Democrat wins tight Sacramento-area Assembly race; Berryhill still leading

LA bank robbery chase ends in televised death

LANCASTER, Calif. (AP) - A bank robbery suspect was cornered on a northern Los Angeles County cul-de-sac and shot to death Friday on live television after he apparently fired at sheriff's deputies from his car, authorities said. The man died at the scene at around 10:15 a.m. after televised news reports showed a single bullet trail plowing through the glass from inside ...

GOP Rep. Bono Mack loses House seat

Storm brings 18 inches of snow to Sierra raising skiers' hopes

State news briefs

DEPUTIES SAY SOUTHERN CAL MAN TORCHED FAMILY DOG: CAMARILLO (AP) - Ventura County sheriff's and fire investigators say an 18-year-old has been arrested for dousing his family's dog with lighter fluid and setting it on fire in a ravine near their home.

Two arrested in shooting of deputy with pellet gun

FRIANT (AP) - Two men have been arrested in the shooting of an off-duty Fresno County Sheriff's deputy with a pellet gun.

Oakland pleas with judge not to have police taken over by federal government

Man set on fire on bus faces long recovery

OAKLAND (AP) - A Northern California man faces a long road to recovery after he was set on fire this week as he rode a public bus, but hundreds of people already have donated tens of thousands of dollars to help pay his medical bills. Debbie Fleischman told the Oakland Tribune that her 18-year-old son, Luke Fleischman, will require massive skin grafting. She also said she is torn about whether the fire was a prank ...

Gun-rights advocate challenges Brown

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Republican Assemblyman Tim Donnelly on Tuesday announced his 2014 bid for California governor, wading into a race against Gov. Jerry Brown despite the incumbent's seemingly unstoppable money and campaign machinery.

SoCal politician to plead guilty to bribery

LOS ANGELES (AP) - With his hands tucked behind his head, then-Moreno Valley City Councilman Marcelo Co appeared relaxed with a large stack of $100 bills in front of him on a table.

Teen, 16, arrested after Oakland bus rider is set on fire

News from around the Bay Area

SAN JOSE STATE FORCED TO CANCEL SPRING COURSES: SAN JOSE (AP) - San Jose State University students may have a tough time getting into classes as budget problems force it to make deep cuts to programs.

What is Google building in SF Bay?

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - San Francisco's mayor says he doesn't know what it is. Police say it's not their jurisdiction. And government inspectors are sworn to secrecy.

Man busted for selling rustled Chick-fil-A cow costumes

REDLANDS (AP) - Police in Southern California have busted a cattle costume rustler after he tried to sell the stolen suits online. Redlands police say the two 7-foot cow costumes created for the Chick-fil-A chain were nabbed in separate restaurant burglaries. The costumes turned up for sale for $350 apiece on Craigslist on Oct. 30. An undercover officer arranged to buy the bovine attire in time for Halloween. When the seller produced the black-and-white outfits, ...

News from around california

OC COLLEGE SAFETY OFFICER FIRED OVER HITLER PHOTO: LOS ANGELES (AP) - A public safety officer at two Orange County campuses has lost one of his jobs after being accused of posting pro-Nazi and racist photos on social media.

Deal delays Calif. insurance policy cancellations

SACRAMENTO (AP) - California's insurance commissioner announced an agreement Tuesday with one of the state's major health insurance companies to delay the cancellation of more than 115,000 individual policies under the new federal health care law.

Central Valley man struck by train debris

WINTON (AP) - A Central Valley man is dead after authorities say he was struck by flying debris when a train slammed into a vehicle. Thirty-two-year-old Aaron Schindler was among three people in a Dodge Caravan when it became stuck Saturday night on the tracks in Winton, a town about 10 miles northwest of Merced. He and the other occupants got out before the oncoming Amtrak train struck the minivan. But the California Highway Patrol ...

LAUSD issuing far fewer truancy tickets

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The number of truancy tickets issued to students in the Los Angeles school district has dropped by more than 93 percent during the past four years, as the district changes the way it deals with misbehavior, according to a report. The sharp reduction reflects a move by school police to lessen their presence in schools and instead use positive incentives and mediation, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday. The report by ...

Obamacare going Hollywood for boost

$17.25M fine proposed for pipeline records

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A California public utilities commissioner is proposing that Pacific Gas & Electric Co. be fined $17.25 million for falsely claiming two old pipelines were safe and filing misleading records to downplay the misstep. The California Public Utilities Commission on Monday said it received the proposal from commissioner Mark Ferron; an earlier proposal called for 6.75 million in fines for the violations. Two judges found previously that PG&E ran an aged pipeline ...

Indian casino set to open in wine country

ROHNERT PARK (AP) - One of California's largest Native American casinos is set to open Tuesday in wine country, and its owners are counting on its proximity to San Francisco to help bring people through the doors.

Parents of teen killed by deputy file suit