State news briefs

STOCKTON OFFICIAL SEEKS BANKRUPTCY AUTHORITY: STOCKTON (AP) - Stockton's city manager is requesting the authority to declare bankruptcy if the city is unable to reach a deal with its creditors by next month.

California approves new energy efficiency rules for homes, businesses starting in 2014

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California officials on Thursday approved energy efficiency standards for new homes and commercial buildings that officials are describing as the toughest in the nation. Members of the California Energy Commission voted unanimously in favor of amended standards that will require improved windows, more efficient air conditioning and lighting systems, and other features intended to reduce energy consumption. <p ...

Panel cuts pay of governor, lawmakers

At the State Capitol

BILL WOULD END CAR IMPOUNDS FOR UNLICENSED DRIVERS: Illegal immigrants will no longer have to fear losing their vehicles during routine traffic stops if a bill passed by the Assembly becomes law.

California voters not hot for legalizing pot

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Legalizing marijuana is gaining traction in many places but apparently not in California, the state where the idea first took root. Half of California voters surveyed say they oppose broad legalization, while 46 support it, according to a University of Southern California Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll released Thursday. The survey found opinions have not measurably changed since 2010, ...

Panel cuts pay of governor, lawmakers

Bay Area news briefs

Suspect killed during San Ramon robbery attempt

Border Patrol agents help boy hit by car in Mexico

JACUMBA (AP) - A 4-year-old boy injured in a car crash in Mexico was lifted over a fence to Border Patrol agents who performed life-saving measures, authorities said. The American boy was visiting relatives in Jacume, Mexico, a remote mountain village about 75 miles east of San Diego, when he was struck by a car Monday night, said Border Patrol spokesman Jerry ...

Ca. Nat. Guard worker gets 2½ years for $15M fraud

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A former manager for the California National Guard has been sentenced to 2&frac12; years in federal prison for arranging $15.2 million in bonuses and other payments to fellow guards who weren't eligible for them.

Raley’s workers move closer to strike as contract for some expires June 6

WEST SACRAMENTO . (AP) - Workers at one of Northern California's largest supermarket chains are moving closer to a possible strike after the supermarket declared an impasse in talks over a new contract. Local 5 of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents the majority of Raley's supermarkets' 7,750 unionized workers, has already authorized a strike. Local 8 of ...

Paper: Group sex for porn movie shot on state owned LA Coliseum football field

LOS ANGELES (AP) - As stadiums went quiet around the country the weekend after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, there was plenty of action on the field at historic Memorial Coliseum and little of it had to do with football. On Sept. 16, 2001, 40 minutes of group sex for a hardcore porn movie was filmed during a four-hour shoot under the ...

Bill creates state retirement for private workers

Judge rejects immediate end to prison oversight

Parolee sneaks on San Diego plane before arrest

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Police arrested a parolee who went through an emergency exit at the San Diego airport and boarded a commuter jet bound for Los Angeles, officials said Wednesday. The man walked off the Sky West aircraft on Tuesday after a flight attendant did a head count, San Diego port spokeswoman Marguerite Elicone told The Associated Press. Police waiting outside ...

Bills expand job protections for family caregivers

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

OC seeks state permission to charge for rescues

OC seeks state permission to charge for rescues

Injured volunteer seeks payment from lost hiker

6 plead not guilty in school embezzlement

Driver impaled by metal rod on I-580 near Livermore.

Snacking deputy's crash costs Santa Clara County $5M

Brown defends California's business climate

State news briefs

POSTAL WORKER SENTENCED IN MAIL THEFT: SAN CARLOS, Calif. (AP) - A San Francisco Bay area postal worker accused of stealing thousands of pieces of mail to obtain credit cards has been sentenced to 18 months in jail.