USDA: Number of farmers markets up due to demand

Bay Area briefs

AUTHORITIES FIND GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE CLIMBER: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The search for a man who apparently spent the night atop San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge is over.

Report: Mad cow in Hanford is documented as isolated case

Special funds: No more deceptions

Nurses union gives Brown tax initiative campaign on November ballot $1 million

Pepper spray incident officer fired

DAVIS (AP) - The police chief at the University of California, Davis, overruled an internal affairs panel's recommendation and fired a lieutenant who soaked demonstrators with pepper spray - an incident that sparked protests after it was recorded and posted online, according to documents obtained by a newspaper. The Sacramento Bee reports that investigators concluded Lt. John Pike acted reasonably during the ...

Fire in Plumas National Forest more than doubles

BELDEN (AP) - Dry conditions and rocky terrain are hampering efforts to contain a fire in the Plumas National Forest in Northern California that is threatening dozens of structures, including trailer homes. Fire officials said Thursday the Chips fire near Belden about 120 miles north of Sacramento has consumed almost 4 square miles since it began ...

Court reverses ruling favoring debt collectors

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A federal appeals court has reversed a California ruling that favored debt collectors who send letters to a person's workplace. The 9th U.S. Court of Appeals also took the case away from Sacramento federal Judge John Mendez because of his disparaging remarks. Mendez ruled two years ago that a Southern California debt collector's custom ...

Only 4 challengers for 34th America's Cup

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Only four foreign challengers met the deadline to enter the Louis Vuitton Cup next summer to determine the opponent for Oracle Racing in the 34th America's Cup. They are Sweden's Artemis Racing, Emirates Team New Zealand, Italy's Luna Rossa Challenge and Team Korea. The Louis Vuitton Cup will run from July 4 through Sept. ...

USC plans Schwarzenegger policy think tank

. LOS ANGELES (AP) - Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the University of Southern California announced Thursday they are partnering to create a policy think tank. The USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy will be funded with a Schwarzenegger commitment of $20 million, which will include a personal donation as well as money from fundraising. ...

State news briefs

TEEN SURRENDERS AFTER DAD SPOTS HIM IN PHOTO: LOS ANGELES (AP) - A teenager wanted for stealing nine cash registers from Southern California businesses has surrendered after his father recognized him in a newspaper photograph of the suspect.

Federal government opposes bid by illegal immigrant to gain status as California lawyer

Gas pipe ruptures near site of deadly blast

High court upholds death penalty in school rampage

San Bernardino files for Chapter 9 bankruptcy

SAN BERNARDINO (AP) - Officials in San Bernardino, Calif., which is facing an expected $45.8 million budget deficit this year, have formally filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, a move that city leaders approved last month. Interim City Manager Andrea Travis-Miller said Wednesday that there would be "no immediate service reductions or changes in service to the community as a result of ...

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