Document: PG&E noted weld defects on pipeline years before explosion

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - An old memo just revealed by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to California pipeline regulators indicates the company had noted weld defects on the same line that exploded in San Bruno in 2010 years before the fatal blast occurred.

Explosion, fireball in NorCal, Nevada likely meteor entering atmosphere

TRUCKEE (AP) - A loud explosion heard across much of Nevada and California on Sunday morning rattled homes and prompted a flood of calls to law enforcement agencies on both sides of the Sierra Nevada, some reporting fireball sightings.

Action slow so far on Brown’s state employee pension reforms

SACRAMENTO (AP) - It's been six months since Gov. Jerry Brown put forward his proposals to make the public pension system more affordable, yet action on his 12-point plan has been nearly imperceptible.

Stockton diocese settles abuse case for $3.75M

STOCKTON (AP) - The Catholic Diocese of Stockton has agreed to pay $3.75 million to settle a lawsuit by a former altar boy who said he was molested by a priest in the 1980s and church officials didn't do enough to stop it, attorneys for the alleged victim and the diocese said Friday.

Cockfight shooting believed to be sloppy hit

McALLEN, Texas (AP) - Frantic calls to emergency responders described a chaotic scene with people frightened, wounded and fleeing in all directions after masked gunmen opened fire on a Texas cockfight near the Mexico border.

Stockton diocese settles abuse case for $3.75M

STOCKTON (AP) - The Catholic Diocese of Stockton has agreed to pay $3.75 million to settle a lawsuit by a former altar boy who said he was molested by a priest in the 1980s and church officials didn't do enough to stop it, attorneys for the alleged victim and the diocese said Friday.

California treasurer's wife to resign Alameda County supervisor position

HAYWARD (AP) - The wife of state Treasurer Bill Lockyer on Friday said she was resigning from Alameda County's Board of Supervisors following a string of bizarre public incidents she has blamed on her own chemical dependency. Nadia Lockyer plans to resign so that she can focus on raising the couple's 8-year-old son, Diego, she said in a letter to colleagues and ...

State news briefs

BROWN QUESTIONED LEGALITY OF CLOSED LA MEETING: LOS ANGELES (AP) - California Gov. Jerry Brown acknowledged during a closed-door meeting he had with the Los Angeles County supervisors last fall that the meeting may not have been legal, according to a transcript obtained by the Los Angeles Times.

Manhunt that closed freeway continues

SF restaurant known for 'rudest waiter' closing

Jobless rate rises after 2 months of decline

Bay Area briefs

UC Berkeley behind stadium fund-raising goal BERKELEY. (AP) - The University of California, Berkeley is behind its fund-raising goal to pay for the $321 million renovation of its football stadium. The university was aiming to raise $270 million by summer 2013 for the Memorial Stadium project, but so far has only $35 million in cash. University officials say there ...

Around the state

• PG&E fined $16.8M for failing to check gas pipes: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - California regulators upheld a $16.8 million fine against Pacific Gas & Electric for the utility's failure to adequately check for gas leaks in its pipelines as required by state law.

Southern California teacher fired over porn video acting

OXNARD (AP) - A Southern California science teacher was fired Wednesday night for performing in a pornographic video, school district officials said. Oxnard School District trustees voted in closed session to dismiss Stacie Halas, who taught seventh- and eighth-graders at Richard B. Haydock Intermediate School. Veronica Robles-Solis, the board president, said the trustees voted unanimously to dismiss Halas. <p style="line-height: 18pt; background: ...

Ryan Seacrest is heir apparent to Dick Clark's pop music influence

Bay Bridge base rods can’t be easily inspected

OAKLAND (AP) - More than 400 seismic safety rods that may be vulnerable to cracking or breaking are embedded in the base of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and may be difficult to inspect, remove or replace, according to a newspaper report.

One by one, homes in subdivision sinking

LAKEPORT (AP) - Scott and Robin Spivey had a sinking feeling that something was wrong with their home when cracks began snaking across their walls in March.

Judge denies bid to block Dorner reward payout plan

Immigrant raid rumor fuels fear in SJ Valley

Nevada high school choir will back Rolling Stones at concert

Acting Oakland chief replaced after 2 days

4 pit bulls blamed for SoCal jogger's killing

State. moves to comply with 2011 gay history law

Bold turkey: woman hits cop in bid to kick smoking habit

Compton teen convicted in killing mom, stepfather

Judge: No auction yet of Kobe Bryant's stuff

State news briefs

DRIVER REACHING FOR DRINK HITS WOMAN, 3 CHILDREN: SAN DIEGO (AP) - Authorities say an unlicensed driver reaching for a spilled drink ran onto a sidewalk in San Diego and struck a mother and three children.

Deadly America's Cup boat mishap

Oil industry: BLM prevents job creation

Small quake shakes west side of LA