LA reopens City Hall park trashed by protests

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Trampled during weeks of anti-Wall Street protests, City Hall Park reopened Thursday after a $1 million makeover that left fences in place to block campers. "We're going to ask Angelenos to respect this park, to respect the native plants, to make sure that when you're walking on the park, that you walk softly and enjoy immensely," Mayor Antonio ...

Service members to march in uniform in gay pride parade for first time ever

Sexual harassment lawsuit roils Silicon Valley

State news briefs

POLITENESS POLICY DIES AMID CITY COUNCIL BICKERING: MENIFEE (AP) - A proposed politeness policy that asked the Menifee City Council to remain civil during meetings died after council members spent 15 minutes arguing about the idea.

Feds OK equipment change at nuke plant

Attorney General Harris endorses illegal immigrant’s bid for California law license

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Sergio Garcia completed law school with the help of odd jobs and proceeds from a self-help book. Then he passed the state law exam on the first try.

Bay Area briefs

Murder defendant says she was performing exorcism

Father accused of shooting adult son over karaoke singing

SHINGLETOWN AP) - A Northern California man is accused of shooting his 50-year-old son because he didn't like his country karaoke singing. A Shasta County judge on Tuesday ordered 70-year-old William Henry Oller Sr. to stand trial on attempted murder and assault charges in the January shooting, The Record Searchlight of Redding (http://bit.ly/Piyyss) reported. Oller is accused of ...

State news briefs

ENCINO MAN ACCUSED IN WINDOW-SMASHING SPREE: LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Beverly Hills investment adviser was arrested on suspicion of being the mysterious gloved man who used a slingshot to smash dozens of windows in the wealthy area and the San Fernando Valley, police said.

Bullet train faces funding, legal challenges

Company to pay nearly $50M for wildfire

Bay Area briefs

OAKLAND PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM NOT WORKING: OAKLAND (AP) - An Oakland city report says a new radio system for police and firefighters has numerous deficiencies and has given officers trouble even communicating with each other.

UC board: If tax initiative doesn’t pass tuition could increase 20%

Police force tests online chat system

California home prices climb 8% in June

Brown: Public still confident in Bay Bridge

209 News

MINN. HIKER FOUND DEAD AT CLIFF BOTTOM IN YOSEMITE: YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK (AP) - A hiker who went missing in Yosemite National Park has been found dead at the bottom of a cliff, authorities said.

Groups want details on license plate readers

Brown mystified at continuing prison legal case; faces possible contempt

Court: Cities can ban medical pot shops

State news briefs

Background on the case, recent developments and what happens next: What is the court case at issue?

CPUC: PG&E should pay $2.25B for blast

Crews mop up coastal mountain wildfire as rain falls

Truckee River flows peak, 3rd lowest in four decades

TRUCKEE (AP) - Some of the lowest season flows in the Truckee River in four decades are raising concerns about Nevada's lingering drought.

If you buy over Internet you’re probably a tax cheat

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Buy anything on the Internet lately without paying sales tax? In all but a few states, you're probably a tax cheat.

Central Coast rancher wins right to help homeless after court fight

SAN LUIS OBISPO (AP) - A Central Coast rancher and local hero to the homeless vowed to finally to build the Sunny Acres sober living facility after more than a decade in court and conflicts.

Rolling Stones launch tour with energetic set; youngest member now 65 years old

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Rolling Stones must have passed through a time machine before taking the Staples Center stage to kick off their "50 and Counting" anniversary tour.

State news briefs

• 2 DEAD, 5 HURT AFTER VAN CRASHES ON HIGHWAY 99: FRESNO (AP) - Two men died and five others were hospitalized with injuries early Saturday after a van carrying farmworkers overturned on a Fresno highway, authorities said.

Brown, Demos in Medicaid expansion tiff

SACRAMENTO (AP) - California was an early booster of President Barack Obama's health care reform law and was the first state to authorize a health insurance exchange in 2010. It also was quick to commit to the optional Medicaid expansion that has been rejected by some Republican states.