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.

Lawmakers pass bill inspired by Penn State

Rail authority passes plan for bullet train

Court: Managers don't have to ensure workers take lunch breaks

More wear found on tubes at ailing San Onofre nuclear power plant

State game official avoids fine from cougar hunt

SACRAMENTO (AP) - California regulators on Thursday issued a warning letter to the president of the state Fish and Game Commission over a mountain lion hunting trip he took earlier this year, but they decided against issuing a fine. The Fair Political Practices Commission took the action against Dan Richards, a Republican commercial real estate developer from San Bernardino County. It said ...

Push launched to keep Silicon Valley above water

Bay Area briefs

1 dead, 1 injured in Fairfield bar fight FAIRFIELD (AP) - Police say one man was killed and another injured in a shooting stemming from a fight at a Fairfield bar. The shooting occurred around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday after two groups of men began fighting inside Perk's Place Bar and Grill. Two men were found with gunshot wounds to ...

Dad of dead girl says he's unsure why home shot up

Navy official removed from job for flirty texts

Analyst pegs revenue $3.2B higher than Brown

Canada trying to lure Bay Area tech workers

California unemployment rate drops to 9 percent

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