Cost to pack state park artifacts will cut into savings from park closures

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Shuttering dozens of California state parks to trim millions from the state budget will take more than simply hanging a "Closed" sign on trailheads and beach parking lots. Many on the closure list house thousands of historical treasures that must be packed up, catalogued and stored if deals are not reached to save them.

Major debates await lawmakers including high speed rail bonds

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Lawmakers will return from their spring recess on Monday to face fast-approaching deadlines for several critical decisions, including whether to make deeper cuts to social welfare programs, reform the public employee pension system and approve borrowing for a high-speed rail system.

LA’s desire is for return of street cars to downtown area

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Half a century after the last of the lost Pacific Electric Red Cars rumbled through Los Angeles, a move has begun to return streetcars to downtown LA.

‘Painter of Light’ Thomas Kinkade dies

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Artist Thomas Kinkade, whose brushwork paintings of idyllic landscapes, cottages and churches have been big sellers for dealers across the United States, died Friday, a family spokesman said.

SF sheriff's wife: Husband victim of coup

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The domestic violence case against San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi was akin to a coup and was intended to bring him down, his wife said in an op-ed published Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle. Eliana Lopez, a Venezuelan actress and Mirkarimi's wife, said her 20 years in that country have taught her much about politics. <p style="line-height: ...

Suspect returned to campus over tuition

Santa Monica Community College votes to delay disputed 2-tier fees

State news briefs

DOG BEATEN TO DEATH, DRAGGED BEHIND BICYCLE: RANCHO CUCAMONGA (AP) - Witnesses say a Southern California man severely beat his dog and dragged the leashed, unconscious animal behind his bicycle.

FEC to deny Senator Feinstein’s money proposal

NRC chief pledges tough probe at nuke plant

Ex-teacher arrested for sex abuse of minor

MODESTO (AP) - A former Modesto teacher who made national headlines when he left his job and family to move in with an 18-year-old student was arrested Friday on suspicion of sexually abusing a different student more than a decade ago, police said. Christopher Hooker, 41, was arrested at his home and booked in Stanislaus County ...

State news briefs

Sheriff's official investigated over inmate golf: LOS ANGELES (AP) - A yellow jail jumpsuit isn't the usual golf wear. But pro golfer-turned-thief Frank Carrillo says that's what he wore when a sheriff's official took him to a Catalina Island golf course to offer pointers.

State news briefs

'Octomom': I'm back on food stamps for 14 kids

Judge dismisses Happy Meal lawsuit

California, Nevada team up for Tahoe's bid for 2022 Olympics

State news briefs

HUGE SHARK CAUGHT BY ANGLER OFF CALIF. WASN'T PREGNANT : LONG BEACH . (AP) - Scientists who dissected the huge mako shark caught off the Southern California coast have found that the female shark had gallons of sea water and a seal or sea lion in her stomach.

Injured dog that saved 2 girls honored

MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Every dog has its day, but few canines get a motorcade on their return home. Kabang, who lost half her face after jumping in front of a motorcycle to save the lives of two girls, received a rousing welcome Monday in Zamboanga, a city in the southern Philippines. The mixed-breed came back from months-long treatment at the University of California, Davis, veterinary hospital, paid for with $27,000 in donations raised in ...

Another limo fire, 10 women escape

Threat forces LA-to-Texas flight to land in Ariz.

PHOENIX (AP) - The FBI says a "telephonic bomb threat" against a Southwest Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Texas led to the plane being diverted to Phoenix on Monday afternoon. Special Agent Manuel Johnson, a spokesman for the FBI's Phoenix division, says Flight 2675 left Los Angeles International Airport at 2:12 p.m. and was heading to Austin before the threat was received by telephone. He didn't elaborate. The plane landed safely at Phoenix Sky ...

Bay Area briefs

SF PRIDE CONFIRMS MANNING WON'T BE HONORED: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Organizers of San Francisco's annual gay pride celebration have confirmed that the U.S. soldier who has acknowledged providing classified documents to WikiLeaks no longer will not be honored during this month's celebration.

Gunman killed 6 in Santa Monica

Senators upset about exchange secrecy

State senator gets subpoena in federal probe at Capitol

Utility to close troubled nuclear plant

Serial killer Richard Ramirez dies

Raley’s website possible cyberattack target

WEST SACRAMENTO (AP) - A Northern California supermarket chain is advising customers who used their credit or debit cards at any of its stores to check their statements, saying its computer network may have been the target of a cyberattack. Raley's said on Thursday it has launched an investigation, and has so far not found any unauthorized access to payment card data. West Sacramento-based Raley's has 128 stores in Northern California and northern Nevada that ...

Eleven life insurers to pay $763M over unpaid benefits

Bay Area briefs

APPLE'S NEW HQ COULD WORSEN AREA TRAFFIC: CUPERTINO . (AP) - An environmental review has found that Apple Inc.'s new headquarters will have significant traffic impacts along a nearby freeway and roads.

State news briefs

DISNEY CRACKING DOWN ON DISABLED TOUR GUIDES: ANAHEIM (AP) - Disneyland Resort is cracking down on disabled guests who sell their right to go to the front of the line on rides.

Obama sees 'glimmers of functionality' in DC during fundraiser in Palo Alto