Women linked by Manson murders form odd friendship

CORCORAN (AP) - On August 9, 1969, two naive 17-year-old girls were launched on a path that led to the unlikeliest of friendships.

Multigenerational housing trends prompt redesign of new homes

LOS ANGELES (AP) - It's a home within a home - and it could be coming soon to a home near you.

Rare tragedy at sea hits SF’s sailing community

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A century-old tradition, the Full Crew Farallones Race has never been for the faint of heart: Winds averaging 10 to 20 knots and churning 14-foot Pacific Ocean swells are among the rough conditions typically braved by yachts and their crews during the daylong regatta, a spring favorite of skilled sailors.

AG wants mortgage, homeowner protections

SACRAMENTO (AP) - California's attorney general is seeking to build on a recent nationwide bank settlement over home foreclosures by lobbying state lawmakers to advance a package of mortgage-protection bills, which faces critical tests in legislative committees this week.

State news briefs

• COUPLE DIED IN MALL MURDER-SUICIDE, GIRL SURVIVED: SAN JOSE (AP) - Police say two people found dead in an apparent murder-suicide at a Northern California strip mall parking lot were once a couple and that a toddler found nearby is their daughter.

Police: Guns show Modesto double murder suspect set for confrontation

MODESTO (AP) - Police investigating the death of a man suspected of gunning down a California sheriff's deputy and a civilian say they've found equipment indicating he was preparing for an armed confrontation: a ballistic vest, a gas mask and several weapons including a high-powered assault rifle.

State news briefs

WEIGHTLIFTER SHOT, SAYS DUMBBELL DROPPED ON BULLET: MODESTO (AP) - A California weightlifter says he accidentally shot himself by dropping a dumbbell on a bullet.

Brother: Painter Kinkade relapsed into alcoholism

MONTE SERENO (AP) - Painter Thomas Kinkade battled alcoholism over the past several years and had a relapse just before his death this month at his home in Santa Clara County, his brother, Patrick, said. The self-described "Painter of Light" died in Monte Sereno on April 6 at age 54 of what a spokesman has said was natural causes. An autopsy is ...

Charred body found in burned out home in Modesto standoff

Brown tells state lawmakers time to 'man up' on budget cuts

State treasurer's saga takes odd twist with email about supplying drugs

More than 90 rounds fired at freeway chase suspect

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Officers fired more than 90 rounds at a motorist who was killed on a San Fernando Valley freeway after a wild car chase, police said. A partial transcript of a 911 call placed by 19-year-old Abdul Arian during the Wednesday night pursuit shows Arian claimed he had a gun and would shoot officers. He ...

Deal protects 7-mile North Coast property

VENTURA . (AP) - A pristine swath of California coast that includes redwood groves, agricultural fields and picturesque ocean bluffs west of State Route 1 has been sheltered from developers in a deal approved by the California Coastal Commission. The commission's unanimous approval in Ventura on Thursday protects the sprawling 7&frac12;-mile northern Santa Cruz County stretch known as Coast Dairies. <p style="line-height: ...

Bay Area briefs

Officials scramble to keep Lucas studio SAN RAFAEL . (AP) - Marin County officials are scrambling to convince filmmaker George Lucas not to abandon plans to build a sprawling movie studio north of San Francisco, but the company says it's too late. Lucasfilm Ltd. shocked the community Tuesday when it announced it was scrapping the Grady Ranch project, citing regulatory delays and bitter ...

State news briefs

METEOROLOGIST: TORNADO NEAR STOCKTON NOT UNUSUAL: STOCKTON (AP) - The National Weather Service says the tornado that struck five miles outside of Stockton on Wednesday was not unusual for this time of year.

Bay Area briefs

NO BACKPACKS ALLOWED AT 2013 BAY TO BREAKERS IN SF: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - No backpacks, large bags or containers will be allowed at this year's Bay to Breakers footrace in San Francisco as officials heighten security in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.

Vulnerable inmates ordered out of 2 Central Valley prisons

Nesting swallows could delay Petaluma bridge work

State news briefs

SANTA CLARA THREATENS AMBULANCE TERMINATION: SAN JOSE. (AP) - Santa Clara County officials are threatening to terminate the contract of an ambulance company that they say has repeatedly responded too slowly to emergencies.

Killer on the loose: Valley Springs on lockdown

Lawmakers consider moratorium on oil fracking in San Joaquin Valley

3 divers killed over weekend abalone diving off California