Bay Area briefs

APPEALS COURT HEARS CHALLENGE TO GAY THERAPY BAN: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - California's novel law seeking to ban licensed counselors from trying to turn gay teens straight is boiling down to a question over whether the therapy is free speech or a medical treatment ...

Bay Bridge bolt problems noted years ago

Bill to ban smoking in condos, apartments defeated

SACRAMENTO (AP) - A proposal that sought to ban smoking in apartments and condominiums has failed in an Assembly committee. The bill from Democratic Assemblyman Marc Levine of San Rafael was rejected Wednesday on a 5-2 vote. AB746 would have created designated smoking areas outside the complexes. The area would have to be at least 20 feet from ...

Bay Area briefs

SAN JOSE COUNCIL APPROVES CORPORATE JET FACILITY: SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Despite complaints by residents, the City Council has approved an $82 million facility for corporate jets at Mineta San Jose International Airport.

School couldn't expel accused teens

SARATOGA. (AP) - A school superintendent said Wednesday that officials could not expel three teenage boys charged with sexually battering a classmate at a party last fall, even after she hanged herself and her family complained that a humiliating photo of the assault was being circulated.

Army allowed police shooter to resign

209 News

BOY ARRESTED WITH GUN AT LODI SCHOOL: LODI - A 13-year-old boy is in juvenile hall after being found with a .22 caliber revolver and four bullets at his Lodi school Tuesday, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department.

Democrats push wide-ranging gun control bills

LA sheriff's commander disciplined over using mock Asian voice ringtone

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Los Angeles County sheriff's commander has been disciplined for having a ringtone with a mock Asian voice and for comments he made after his personal cellphone rang during a meeting with top brass. The Los Angeles Times says a colleague reported that Cmdr. Paul Pietrantoni's ringtone was "The Oriental Riff" accompanied by a stereotypical Asian voice saying: ...

SHUTTLE TO DRIVE HIKERS ATOP EAST BAY PARK: PLEASANTON (AP) — A shuttle will soon drive visitors up

SHUTTLE TO DRIVE HIKERS ATOP EAST BAY PARK: PLEASANTON (AP) - A shuttle will soon drive visitors up to Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park and officials hope to expand the service across the Bay Area's largest park system.

No quick, easy fix for environmental law reform

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Jerry Brown said Tuesday it's unlikely that changes he's seeking to the state's environmental protection law can be accomplished this year, although a top Senate Democrat says he's still pursuing reforms. Brown told California reporters traveling with him in China that interest in changing the California Environmental Quality Act is stronger among groups outside the state Capitol than ...

State news briefs

INTERNAL REPORT: CPUC SAFETY CULTURE IS LAX: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A consultant's confidential report on the California Public Utilities Commission makes sharp criticisms of its executive director and finds the agency's safety culture severely lacking.

Pro athletes fight limits on workers' comp

Death row inmate dies in apparent suicide

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The death row inmate who killed guitarist Elvin Bishop's daughter and four others died of an apparent suicide, California prison officials announced Monday. Justin Alan Helzer, 41, was found dead Sunday night in his single cell at San Quentin Prison, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said. Corrections Lt. Sam Robinson didn't disclose ...

Attorney general seeks drug database funds

State taxes coming in $4B above forecast

SACRAMENTO (AP) - California is on track to collect $4 billion more in personal income taxes than Gov. Jerry Brown had expected, giving a potential boost to education funding, the legislative analyst's office said Tuesday.

Los Angeles settles with women fired on in manhunt

Davis man spends week in wilderness on pine nuts

Burger King delivers it your way in San Francisco & LA

Bay Area briefs

WOMAN UNINJURED AFTER BART TRAIN PASSES OVER HER: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A woman escaped uninjured after a commuter train passed over her but did not hit her on tracks at a San Francisco station, transit officials said.