California home sales, prices jump in May

Dispute over $1.2B in CalWORKS puts Democrats at odds with Brown

Fraud alleged at acclaimed Oakland charter schools that has some of state’s highest scores

OAKLAND (AP) - A nationally recognized charter school organization in California could face a criminal investigation after a state audit found evidence of financial fraud, conflicts of interest and other illegal activities. The report released Wednesday detailed allegations of unscrupulous activity at Oakland-based American Indian Model Schools, which operates three public schools whose standardized test scores are among the state's highest. <p ...

Lawmaker calls proposed legislation catch and release for drunk drivers

Bicyclist to be charged in death of SF pedestrian

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - San Francisco prosecutors plan to charge a bicyclist who fatally struck a 71-year-old man in a San Francisco crosswalk with felony vehicular manslaughter. District Attorney George Gascon said Thursday his office plans to file the charge against Chris Bucchere early next week. Bucchere, 36, is expected to turn himself in in the next few ...

Bay Area briefs

POLICE SAY COUPLE KILLED SUSPECTED PIMP SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A San Francisco couple faces murder charges for allegedly killing a man last week they suspected of pimping their teenage daughter. Barry Gilton and his girlfriend Lupe Mercado appeared in court Wednesday on murder and other charges for the shooting death of 22-year-old Calvin Sneed. Both are being held on $2 million bail. ...

NASA launches telescope to seek out black holes

Lake detected near equator of Saturn's Titan

Former 'Goodfellas' gangster Henry Hill dies in Los Angeles

Daughter's alleged Mother's Day attack recounted

DENAIR (AP) - A judge heard grisly details of blood-splattered walls and a mother's cries during a preliminary hearing for an 18-year-old Northern California woman accused of attacking her parents last year on Mother's Day. Susan Wills testified Tuesday that her daughter Shanna Will had been acting strangely for a week leading up to the assault, claiming she was the "Messiah." <p ...

SF to unleash puppies-for-panhandlers program with pay up to $75 a week

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - San Francisco hopes a cold nose and a warm heart will help end the problem of panhandling. In what could be the first program of its kind in the nation, the city beginning in August will offer panhandlers up to $75 a week to stop begging and foster puppies from the city animal shelter until the pups are ...

Falling rock risk forces Yosemite closures

State news briefs

THOUSANDS OF POT PLANTS SEIZED IN TULARE COUNTY: TULARE (AP) - Authorities in the Central Valley have seized more than 8,500 pot plants that would have produced marijuana with a street value in excess of $25 million.

California's prison population now eclipsed by Texas; down to 136,000

Southern California home prices, sales rise during May

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Sales in expensive coastal regions pushed Southern California home prices to a 20-month high in May as low-priced foreclosed properties made up a smaller part of overall sales, a research firm said Wednesday. The median price for new and existing houses and condos reached $295,000 in May, up 5.4 percent from $280,000 the same period last year, DataQuick ...

Bay Area briefs

OAKLAND FREEWAY REOPENS AFTER FATAL SHOOTING: OAKLAND (AP) - A freeway has reopened early Friday after a shooting left two men dead.

Brown defends education spending in LA

Wildfire forces school lock down

14-year term for doc promising cancer cure

State news briefs

BILL CALLS FOR CONSIDERING BRIDGE SUICIDE BARRIERS: SACRAMENTO (AP) - Suicide barriers could be included on more California bridges as a result of a bill advancing through the Legislature.

Judge will hear lawsuit over high-speed rail bonds

No spike in parolee arrests found in state prison realignment aftermath

Salinas man arrested in kiddie porn case; child is rescued

Delta management plan embraced by Stewardship Council

California fuels $550M Powerball jackpot

Ripon crime lab analyst pleads in drug theft case

Brown: Review UC graduation rates

Major budget infusion for education

Body of missing 9-year-old found

State news briefs

HIKERS WON'T HAVE TO PAY $160K RESCUE COSTS: SANTA ANA (AP) - Two hikers lost for days in the Southern California wilderness won't be charged the $160,000 it took to find them.