Bay Area briefs

WOMAN, 18, FACING CHARGES IN TORCHING OF BED

Initiative seeks to modify lawmakers' term limits

University files suit over farm encampment by Occupy protestors on 10 acres in Albany

Honda wins appeal of small-claims hybrid judgment

Court victory for ex-Village People lead singer

Ex-transit cop asks court to overturn conviction

‘Liberator of ladies' hair Vidal Sassoon dies at 84

State news briefs

3 ARRESTED FOR HIGH-END CUSTOM BICYCLE THEFTS : LOS ANGELES (AP) - Investigators say three men used Craigslist and Facebook to steal 200 high-end bicycles throughout Southern California.

Obama's gay marriage support resonates with Hollywood donors & gay voters

Coastal panel OKs Pebble Beach area development backed by Clint Eastwood

Bay Area briefs

Skateboarder, 13, dies in pickup crash LIVERMORE (AP) - A 13-year-old Northern California skateboarder has died after slamming into a pickup truck. Livermore police say the teenager was riding his skateboard Tuesday evening when he turned left at an intersection and hit the side of the pickup, which was traveling at about 25 mph. The San Francisco Chronicle ( ...

ABOUT PROPOSITION 28

*WHAT IT WOULD DO: Lowers the number of years lawmakers can serve in the Legislature from 14 to 12, but lets them serve all that time in a single house. Lawmakers currently can serve three two-year terms in the Assembly and two four-year terms in the Senate. The initiative also would close a loophole that allows certain lawmakers to serve up to 17 years in ...

Acton fire burns 126 acres; 30 homes evacuated

ACTON (AP) - A wildfire in northern Los Angeles County burned 126 acres and destroyed several structures Tuesday, and authorities evacuated 30 homes as a precaution.

State news briefs

CALIFORNIA MAY BAN GAY TEEN 'CONVERSION' THERAPY: SACRAMENTO (AP) - A first-of-its-kind ban on a controversial form of psychotherapy aimed at making gay people straight is speeding through the California statehouse.

As deadline nears, proposals surface to save up to 50 of 70 parks set to close

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.