State news briefs

MAN ATTEMPTS TO SMUGGLE METH AS CANDY: LOS ANGELES (AP) - A California man faces federal drug charges for allegedly trying to smuggle more than four pounds of methamphetamine to Japan in what looked like dozens of Snickers bars.

Newest California city may fold after state hijacks half of its revenue

JURUPA VALLEY (AP) - California's newest city could be broke in a year because the state has taken away nearly half its budget.

Marketing aids Catholic schools enrollment

LOS ANGELES (AP) - After 97 years, Our Lady of Lourdes School was closing - enrollment had dwindled to just 35 children last year at what was once one of the West Coast's biggest Catholic schools.

Hundreds decrying police violence during march

ANAHEIM (AP) - More than 300 demonstrators rallied Sunday to denounce two fatal police shootings and to issue a call for community peace.

California companies get creative with 'cremains'

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - More people are taking the remains of their loved ones and having them cremated, and having the ashes turned into other items such as diamonds.

Mental health dollars bypass mentally ill

SACRAMENTO (AP) - As state mental health services have crumbled under budget cuts, tens of millions of dollars raised through a tax designed to help the mentally ill have gone to "wellness" programs like horseback riding for teens and yoga classes for city workers. And that's by design.

Death Valley drive at click of a mouse

DEATH VALLEY (AP) - Imagine being the only driver on a two-lane asphalt highway as the stark desolation of Death Valley National park passes on each side and the crystal blue sky stretches up from the horizon.

Judge hears arguments on San Diego pension measure

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A city employees' labor union on Friday urged a judge to put a voter-approved pension overhaul on hold while it hammers out details of new 401(k)-style retirement plan for new hires.

Ice cream truck driver sentenced for murder

BAKERSFIELD (AP) - A California ice cream truck driver has been sentenced to life without parole in the murder of his brother and the brother's business associate, whose screams while being stabbed were captured on a 911 recording. The Bakersfield Californian reports (http://bit.ly/OrKlE1) that a Kern County judge issued the sentence against 58-year-old Narinder Kumar on Thursday. Prosecutors ...

Oregon wolf looking for love finds none in NorCal from wolves & people

UC regents dropped from deadly lab accident case

Willard says he did nothing to warrant arrest

Legal gun sales on pace to set record

Is there $2.3B laying around in Sacramento?

State news briefs

ELEPHANTS' MOVE HAS TO WAIT FOR COOLER WEATHER: SAN ANDREAS (AP) - A trip to move three elephants from the Toronto Zoo to a Performing Animal Welfare Society sanctuary in Northern California has been delayed because of extreme heat expected in Canada in early August.

State news briefs

LATER, DAWG: RANDY JACKSON LEAVING 'AMERICAN IDOL' : LOS ANGELES (AP) - Randy Jackson out.

District rejects school drug sting claim

Assembly OKs transgender student accommodations

Bay Area briefs

HUMAN HEAD FOUND AMONG RECYCLING DEBRIS: OAKLAND (AP) - A human head has been found in a load of recycling debris at a facility in Oakland.

State news briefs

MAN CHARGED IN BEATING OF SIKH ELDER IN FRESNO: FRESNO (AP) - A Central California man is facing charges of attempted murder and elder abuse in connection with the beating of an 82-year-old Sikh man outside a Sikh temple in Fresno.

SF drops fight for radiation warning law

Bridge repair could cost $10M

209 News

290 POUNDS OF METH SEIZED IN CERES: CERES (AP) - Officials with a Central California drug task force say they've seized hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine in a raid of a San Joaquin Valley home.

Lives on edge part of Golden Gate beat

Move to change 'rainy day' measure

Bay Area briefs

OAKLAND POLICE CHIEF STEPPING DOWN: OAKLAND (AP) - The chief of Oakland's embattled police department said Wednesday that he is stepping down due to medical reasons.

BLM postpones oil, gas lease auctions

Bay Area briefs

TESTS ON BAY BRIDGE BOLTS SO FAR SHOW NO FAILURE: OAKLAND AP) - After dozens of seismic safety bolts on the new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge broke, tests on remaining bolts have so far shown no sign of failure.

San Jose to pay $150k for use of phony lab report

SF Airport won't be renamed Harvey Milk