State news briefs

PLACER COUNTY FIRE DESTROYS HOME, 3 OUTBUILDINGS: FORESTHILL (AP) - Firefighters are bracing for an another day of high temperatures and strong afternoon winds as they battle a wildfire burning in a rugged area of thick woods near the Placer County community of Colfax.

Aging anti-war sculpture debate

SANTA MONICA . (AP) - For decades the big, black mass of chain link that's piled up outside the Civic Center has alternately awed and inspired, annoyed and confounded, and, perhaps most often, simply divided residents of this otherwise famously tolerant beach town.

Secret buyouts at state parks HQ

SACRAMENTO (AP) - A high-ranking official at the California Department of Parks and Recreation carried out a secret vacation buyout program last year for himself and other employees at the department's headquarters, just as the agency was planning to close 70 state parks due to budget cuts.

State news briefs

CALIFORNIA TOBACCO TAX SUPPORTERS CALL FOR RECOUNT: SACRAMENTO (AP) - Tobacco tax supporters want a recount of ballots in parts of Los Angeles County to see if California's barely-defeated Proposition 29 might swing the other way.

Next SF target: Banning plastic water bottles

Feds to reroute SF Bay ships to protect whales

Two-thirds of voters cast ballots by mail

Solar storm barreling toward Earth this weekend

Oscar-winning producer Richard Zanuck dies

Gov. calls in more resources for north state blaze

FORESTHILL (AP) - Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday called in more firefighters and the California National Guard to help battle a Placer County wildfire that has forced the evacuation of 300 people. Brown said he is sending in a state incident management team to help coordinate the attack on the Robbers Fire, which has grown to nearly two square miles and threatens ...

209 News

2 infants contract salmonella in Modesto : MODESTO . (AP) - The California Department of Public Health is investigating after two babies contracted salmonella poisoning while at a Stanislaus County hospital, county officials said Wednesday. The first infant salmonella case at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto was reported on April 19, and the second case on May ...

State news briefs

NEW SCHOOL BOARD PRESIDENT USED COPS AS CHAUFFEURS: MCCLELLAN, (AP) - A newly-elected Northern California school board president reportedly used police officers to chauffeur him on personal trips and errands.

California teacher pension posts low investment return, adds to shortfall

Wet Seal workers sue retailer for discrimination

80 homes evacuated in Placer County due to fast moving fire instep terrain

FORESTHILL (AP) - About 300 people in Placer County remained under evacuation orders as a fire burning in a steep, heavily wooded area grew in size and intensity Thursday, fueled by hot weather and wind. About 80 homes and structures were threatened by the blaze, and evacuated residents were staying at a Red Cross center in Foresthill, said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman ...

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