Tougher heat rules for farmworkers?

FRESNO (AP) - With temperatures in the Central Valley recently surpassing 110 degrees and state regulators investigating two possible heat-related deaths in the fields, the California legislature is considering new laws that would strengthen rules for protecting farmworkers from heat.

Special needs kids stay in traditional schools

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The high cost of educating students with special needs is disproportionately falling on traditional public schools as other students increasingly opt for alternatives that aren't always readily open to those requiring special education.

State news briefs

• STATE MULLS DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR YOUNG MIGRANTS: SACRAMENTO (AP) - The California Department of Motor Vehicles is uncertain whether to issue driver's licenses to young immigrants who obtain temporary residency under President Obama's reprieve program.

State news briefs

WASHINGTON MOVES TO RECYCLE TRANSPORT FUNDS IN CA: LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Obama administration wants to recycle $43 million in unspent highway funds in California.

Twice recalled councilman giving it another try

FULLERTON (AP) - A twice-recalled Southern California councilman is giving it another try. Former Fullerton Councilman Don Bankhead is one of three council members ousted in June in the wake of an uproar over the way the city handled a fatal confrontation between police officers and a mentally ill homeless man. Bankhead is now among 12 candidates vying ...

Brown seeks special session on health care reform issues before year’s end

Trio charged with defrauding tribe of $18M at Thunder Valley casino

Thunderstorms trigger mud flows in SoCal

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Fast-moving thunderstorms dumped heavy rain that triggered flash floods and mud flows in rural areas of the San Bernardino Mountains. San Bernardino County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Bachmann says deputies checked on residents in the Forest Falls and Big Falls areas because of reports of significant mud and debris flowing down the hillsides. Bachmann says no structures were damaged ...

Stockton, other cities dispute amount of redevelopment money sought by state

Trade group sues LA to halt ban on dispensaries

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A medical marijuana trade group is suing Los Angeles to stop the city from implementing a ban on prescription pot dispensaries. The suit filed by Patient Care Alliance alleges the ban violates the constitutional right of freedom of assembly, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday. The ordinance passed last month by the City Council ...

Clown had iPad stolen from Steve Jobs' home

Moody's: More cities at risk of bankruptcy

Man dies from rare rodent disease caught in Yosemite

YOSEMITE - (AP) - A man died and a woman became seriously ill after contracting a rare rodent-borne disease that might have been linked to their stay at a popular lodging area in Yosemite National Park, officials said Thursday.

State Side

Police hold 16 people at 2 pot grows in Valley

Backers of Brown's tax measure want opponents to stop criticizing the proposal

Plastic ocean debris bill dies in committee

Bill would treat e-cigarettes like other tobacco

State Senate election might be headed to runoff in 16th district

LA sanitation ends plans for dump near Joshua Tree

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