State news briefs

INTERNAL REPORT: CPUC SAFETY CULTURE IS LAX: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A consultant's confidential report on the California Public Utilities Commission makes sharp criticisms of its executive director and finds the agency's safety culture severely lacking.

Pro athletes fight limits on workers' comp

Death row inmate dies in apparent suicide

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The death row inmate who killed guitarist Elvin Bishop's daughter and four others died of an apparent suicide, California prison officials announced Monday. Justin Alan Helzer, 41, was found dead Sunday night in his single cell at San Quentin Prison, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said. Corrections Lt. Sam Robinson didn't disclose ...

Attorney general seeks drug database funds

Baseball hits boy, stops heart during game

ROHNERT PARK (AP) - A Northern California family is hailing a set of parents as heroes for helping to save the life of their son after he was hit in the chest during a youth baseball game, causing his heart to stop. The 8-year-old batter was hit by a pitch during a Cal Ripken Baseball game Saturday in Rhonert Park. He took ...

State activates threat review system

Health law expands treatment for addicts

SAN ...

Man killed by explosive called eccentric

State news briefs

BERKELEY FIREMAN ON MEDICAL CALL GRAZED BY BULLET: BERKELEY (AP) - Police in Northern California arrested an 88-year-old man after he started shooting at Berkeley firefighters who were tending to him and grazed one of the responders.

Bill seeks to ban plastic bags at stores

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Business groups are supporting a bill that would ban California grocery stores, convenience stores and pharmacies from handing out single-use plastic bags.

Assembly OKs bill limiting gun permit to individual by excluding companies

Bay Area briefs

EARTHQUAKES 'APPALLED' BY PLAYER'S ANTI-GAY SLUR: SAN JOSE (AP) - The president of the San Jose Earthquakes says he is appalled that forward Alan Gordon directed an anti-gay slur at an opponent.

Assaulted teen had drawings, name on body

Girl saw details online of sex assault

Brown chooses private donors to pay for cost of China trip

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.

SF loses federal grant for new fireboat

LA buildings emptied after devices found

Is boy mature enough to aid murder defense?

6 charged with embezzling $15M from SF schools

‘Fighting chance' for 2013 opening

State news briefs

POLICE: MAN DRESSED AS WOMAN IN RESTROOM ARRESTED: PALMDALE (AP) - A Palmdale man has been arrested for allegedly videotaping women in a Macy's restroom while dressed as a woman.

GOV. JERRY BROWN'S BUDGET PROPOSAL AT A GLANCE

911 caller believed stabbed girl, 8, was alive at the time

VALLEY SPRINGS . (AP) - The parents of an 8-year-old Central California girl who was stabbed to death in her home believed she was fine when they made a 911 call to authorities from another location.

Brown budget: An extra $2.9B to education

Brown takes restrained view of spending

Bay Area news briefs

LIVERMORE LAB JURY AWARDS $2.7 MILLION: OAKLAND (AP) - A jury has awarded more than $2.7 million to five former Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory workers in an ongoing wrongful-termination case.

State news briefs

LA schools consider banning defiance suspensions

Dad wants evidence in girl's stabbing

State Senate OKs ski safety legislation