State news briefs

MAMMOTH LAKES VOTES TO FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY: MAMMOTH LAKES (AP) - Officials in the town of Mammoth Lakes say they've voted unanimously to file for bankruptcy, in the face of a $43 million judgment that's more than twice the town's budget.

Key provisions in state foreclosure bill

rgest government overhaul set to go into effect; may someday save money

La SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Jerry Brown's sweeping reorganization of California state government is expected to become law Tuesday. It will be the largest reshuffling of state agencies, boards and commissions in recent state history. The plan does not include significant cost savings, but the Brown administration hopes the housecleaning will save money down the road by increasing efficiency. <p style="line-height: 18pt; ...

Immigrants express shock at return of Mexico's PRI , may stay in USA

Kinkade estate dispute to remain public for now

SAN JOSE (AP) - Hearings in the dispute between Thomas Kinkade's widow and girlfriend over the late artist's $66 million estate will not be conducted behind closed doors - at least for now, a judge ruled on Monday. Kinkade's widow, Nanette Kinkade, had sought to keep the matter private, asking Judge Thomas Cain to immediately send the case to an arbitration panel ...

Homeowner protection before Brown

Priest assault trial nearing conclusion

Bay Area briefs

Vallejo police shoot, kill robbery suspect VALLEJO (AP) - The Solano County District Attorney's Office is investigating the third fatal shooting by Vallejo police in five weeks. Police shot and killed a robbery suspect on Saturday morning after they say he pointed a gun at officers in a residential neighborhood following a foot chase. Police say the suspect, who ...

Sci-fi policing: Predicting crime before it occurs

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Los Angeles police are aiming to beat suspects to the scene of a crime by using computers to predict where trouble might occur.

California bullet train up for contentious vote this week

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Jerry Brown's ambitious plan to start building the nation's first dedicated high-speed rail line is set for a pivotal vote by the Legislature this week with some state lawmakers still skeptical about spending billions in the Central Valley.

Bicyclist in Climb to Kaiser ride dies

FRESNO (AP) - A Southern California man taking part in what is considered one of America's most grueling bicycle rides has been killed after he lost control of his bicycle and hit a tree.

State news briefs

&bull; ORANGE COUNTY WOMAN SELECTED AS MISS CALIFORNIA: FRESNO (AP) - A 22-year-old Orange County woman will represent California at the Miss America competition in January.

SF mayor: Working with sheriff would be difficult

State news briefs

JUDGE BLOCKS CALIF FROM NUMBERING BALLOT MEASURES: SACRAMENTO . (AP) - A judge has blocked the state from assigning the order of ballot measures for the November election until the court decides if a new law gives Gov. Jerry Brown an unfair advantage.

Former head of troubled City of Vernon found dead

VERNON (AP) - The body of a former administrator of the embattled city of Vernon was found in the water off a San Francisco Bay area island on the same day the California auditor's office issued a report criticizing the way he and others managed the tiny, scandal-plagued industrial town. The body of Eric T. Fresch was discovered Thursday floating off Angel ...

State news briefs

LA schools consider banning defiance suspensions

Dad wants evidence in girl's stabbing

State Senate OKs ski safety legislation

Bay Area briefs

FEDS TO PROBE REPAIR WORK ON BAD BAY BRIDGE RODS: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The Federal Highway Administration on Monday said it is investigating the state's response to broken steel seismic safety rods on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.

State news briefs

15 OF 23 CAL STATE CAMPUSES CHARGE GRADUATION FEES: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Graduating students at more than a dozen California public universities will have to hand over money before they are handed their diplomas, a newspaper reported.

End near for evangelical radio network?

Girl , 7, escapes kidnapper's car trunk in Sacramento

Ginsburg: Roe gave abortion opponents a target

CHICAGO (AP) - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says she supports a woman's right to choose to have an abortion, but feels her predecessors' landmark Roe v. Wade ruling 40 years ago was too sweeping and gave abortion opponents a symbol to target.

Person of interest named in jogger killed by pit bull pack

PALMDALE . (AP) - Sheriff's authorities said a man who was arrested this week on suspicion of growing marijuana is now a "person of interest" in the death of a 63-year-old jogger who was mauled to death by a pack of pit bulls in the Mojave Desert.

Los Angeles, Paris project aims to track big city carbon footprints

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Every time Los Angeles exhales, odd-looking gadgets anchored in the mountains above the city trace the invisible puffs of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases that waft skyward.

Relentless thief still taking Tahoe crawfish traps - 160 stolen so far

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. (AP) - It's not that easy to catch crawfish in Lake Tahoe. Turns out, it may be harder to keep them.

Black student targeted with racist note

IRVINE (AP) - University of California, Irvine officials pledged to work on race relations on campus this week after a black student found a hand-scrawled note in her backpack calling her a slave, making it the second racist incident that has offended black students in recent weeks.

Mom: Accused boy, 12, ‘could never’ hurt sister

VALLEY SPRINGS (AP) - A day before a 12-year-old boy was arrested for the stabbing death of his 8-year-old sister, his mother described him as "protective" of his younger sibling.

State lawmakers debate how to spend $900M in new revenue from loophole

SACRAMENTO (AP) - California schools are expecting a boost from the $900 million to be raised over the next year through the closure of a corporate tax loophole, but Gov. Jerry Brown is locked in a disagreement with state lawmakers over how to hand out that money.

Chris Brown’s scary curbside art irks LA neighbors; city cites him for ‘signage’

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Grammy-winning musician Chris Brown's neighbors are unhappy with what some are calling frightening art he's chosen to have painted along the curb of his Hollywood Hills home.