LA sues over Owens Lake dust control

Shuttle Xing: Endeavour treks through LA streets

Congressional race between Demos get physical

Bay Area briefs

CPUC gives initial nod to $2.2B PG&E gas plan

Shuttle provides a unique teaching moment

Right Side

Gas drops for second straight day in state LOS ANGELES (AP) - California's reign of pump pain is easing as prices drop for the second day in a row. The AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report for Thursday says the average price of regular is just under $4.66 a gallon - down more than a penny in two ...

Bone may belong to girl kidnapped in 1988

HAYWARD (AP) - Investigators are trying to determine whether a bone fragment found in a Central Valley well is that of Michaela Garecht, a 9-year-old Hayward girl who was kidnapped nearly 24 years ago, police said Thursday. The 3-inch piece of bone was among the human remains excavated earlier this year from an old Linden well that's believed to hold victims of ...

State news briefs

Over half of schools hit academic score

State news briefs

WARWICK, SEAGAL AMONG THOSE WHO OWE CALIF. TAXES: SACRAMENTO (AP) - Two celebrities are on a notable list in California, but it's not exactly the A-list.

Bay Area briefs

Stolen car in Hercules killing found near Seattle

Political reforms = tight House races

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Denham, Hernandez, Gill, McNerney

Board vote: San Francisco sheriff to retain job

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Officials voted Tuesday to keep San Francisco's sheriff in office, nearly seven months after he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor false imprisonment charge stemming from a New Year's Eve dispute with his actress wife.

State news briefs

TEEN DIES AS CAR COLLIDES WITH PICKUP, HITS HOUSE : UPLAND (AP) - A car collided with a pickup truck, careened into a vacant house and caused a carport to collapse in a late-night accident that killed a 13-year-old boy and sent his mother to the hospital.

40-year-old Sequoia note creates link between men

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A man, his son and grandson climbed a California mountain peak with no name, but there was one on a 40-year-old note they found there. The note read: "Tim Taylor climbed to this peak, Thursday, August 17, 1972. Age 13 years. Anyone finding this note please write." The three were on an 11-day trip ...

Police seize $4M in pot in Bay Area raids

HAYWARD (AP) - Thirteen people are facing possible charges after a major marijuana seizure in the San Francisco Bay Area. Hayward police say they confiscated more than 1,700 marijuana plants with a street value of $4 million during raids Thursday on homes in San Leandro, San Lorenzo and Hayward. Thirteen people were arrested on suspicion of marijuana cultivation, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and utility theft. Sgt. Will Deplitch says the growers were ...

Brown vetoes semi-automatic rifle ban

Governor signs bills protecting Calif. workers

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday signed several bills that seek to protect California workers who are immigrants or victims of domestic violence and other crimes. SB400 from Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara, prevents employers from firing an employee who has been a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking. Employers also must make a reasonable effort to protect victims from their abuser, such as changing a work telephone number or desk ...

Governor signs limo safety bill, vetoes another over costs

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday signed a bill requiring limousines that operate in California to have emergency exits, but vetoed another bill requiring annual Highway Patrol limo inspections, saying it fails to properly pay for them. The bills were introduced after two recent limousine fires including one in May that killed five trapped women on a San Francisco Bay Area bridge. Brown signed SB 109, sponsored by Democratic Sen. Ellen Corbett of ...

Director secretly shoots film at Disney parks

Off-duty SFPD sergeant arrested after possible DUI hit and run crash

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - An off-duty San Francisco police sergeant has been arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after he allegedly rear-ended a parked car and fled the scene. Sgt. Thomas Haymond, a 22-year veteran with the department, was released on his own recognizance. He was booked on suspicion of misdemeanor drunken driving and hit-and-run. Authorities say Haymond was in his private vehicle Tuesday night when he crashed into a parked car, which slammed into ...

Calif. man pleads not guilty in terrorism case

SANTA ANA (AP) - A California man pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of attempting to provide material support to al-Qaida and lying on a U.S. passport application to facilitate an act of terrorism.

Offshore 4.9 quake gives NorCal. a jolt

EUREKA (AP) - A moderate offshore earthquake gave a jolt to cities in far Northern California, but there are no reports of damages or injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-4.9 quake struck shortly after 4 p.m. about 33 miles northwest of the coastal city of Eureka at a depth of about 6 miles. No tsunami warning was issued. Eureka police Sgt. Rodrigo Sanchez says the quake gave the area a sharp jolt that ...

California first state to band lead ammo

Airborne pickup truck spurs fatal So Calif. wreck

FULLERTON (AP) - An eight-vehicle accident that killed one person and injured several others in Southern California began when a speeding pickup truck crossed into oncoming lanes and then flew into the air as the driver tried to swerve back to safety, police said Friday. The crash about 30 miles southeast of Los Angeles happened around 4 p.m. Thursday when the driver of a bright yellow Ford F-150 drove into oncoming lanes to pass cars ...