209 News

STOCKTON RETIREES SUE TO STOP HEALTH BENEFIT CUTS: STOCKTON (AP) - Stockton city retirees are suing the bankrupt California city in an effort to stop cuts to their health benefits. Stockton has told retirees that were promised lifelong health benefits that they must now begin paying their premiums of medical coverage will be canceled. The federal Bankruptcy ...

Both parties block quick votes on Obama tax plan

Judge lets startup relay live TV to iPhones in NYC

Yoga teacher fired after glare at Facebook worker

State news briefs

SHERIFF WANTS POLITICIANS TO RETURN BADGES: LOS ANGELES (AP) - Sheriff Lee Baca is recalling about 200 official-looking badges that were given to politicians for use during disasters.

Placer County wildfire forces evacuation of homes

FORESTHILL. (AP) - A 120-acre fire in a steep, heavily wooded area of the American River Canyon is forcing the evacuation of several homes. The evacuations were underway Wednesday night in the Foresthill area about 50 miles northeast of Sacramento. Mendocino Forest wildfire spreads to 16,000 acres <p ...

Bay Area briefs

Berkeley voters to decide sidewalk-sitting ban

San Diego freeway sign sitter surrenders

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A man who perched on a San Diego freeway sign for more than eight hours, jamming traffic for miles, has surrendered to authorities. He climbed down a fire truck ladder on Interstate 805 in the Clairemont area shortly before 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. The California Highway Patrol says the man climbed onto a freeway exit ...

It's not lunacy: Not-a-planet Pluto boasts 5 moons

High-powered lesbians create own PAC

Feds target popular Oakland pot shop for closure via property seizure

House Democrats fall short in blocking food stamp reductions

Governor issues furloughs for last 2 labor groups impacting 11,000 state workers

SACRAMENTO . (AP) - Gov. Jerry Brown issued a furlough order Wednesday for more than 11,000 California workers whose unions have yet to reach a deal for a 5 percent wage cut. Brown's order forces employees to take one day of unpaid leave a month, which amounts to a pay cut of about 5 percent. Bruce Blanning, executive ...

Another California city opts for bankruptcy

State news briefs

POLICE: TRACY MOTEL OWNER, 62, KILLED BY NAKED MAN: TRACY (AP) - Tracy police are investigating the death of a motel owner who was allegedly killed by a naked man in her business office.

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

&bull; 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.