Audit finds problems with specialty plates

Settlement reached in bullet train lawsuit

Man charged after alleged naked crawl through dog door

PERRIS (AP) - A Riverside County man has pleaded not guilty to burglary and indecent exposure after he allegedly crawled naked through a neighbor's dog door to seek sex. The Riverside Press-Enterprise says 41-year-old Philip Garcia of Perris was arrested on April 10. Sheriff's Sgt. Glenn Williams says the neighbor told authorities her husband had left for night ...

Panel affirms firing of Stockton teacher over her porn sites

STOCKTON (AP) - State officials have affirmed a Stockton school district's decision to fire a 37-year-old high school teacher accused of using a school-issued laptop to help set up pornographic websites. A three-member panel from the state Office of Administrative Hearings said it found that numerous files on the Lincoln Unified School District laptop once used by Heidi Kaeslin were pornographic, lewd, ...

Assembly OKs money for gun-seizure program taking aim at felons, others

Bay Area briefs

CALIF. BOY HURT IN BOSTON BOMBINGS MAY LEAVE ICU: MARTINEZ (AP) - The mother of an 11-year-old Northern California boy injured in the Boston Marathon bombings says he has taken a huge step forward. Katherine Hern said in a Facebook posting on Thursday that Aaron may be able to leave the intensive care unit of Boston Children's Hospital as soon as ...

Bay Area briefs

APPEALS COURT HEARS CHALLENGE TO GAY THERAPY BAN: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - California's novel law seeking to ban licensed counselors from trying to turn gay teens straight is boiling down to a question over whether the therapy is free speech or a medical treatment ...

Bay Bridge bolt problems noted years ago

Bill to ban smoking in condos, apartments defeated

SACRAMENTO (AP) - A proposal that sought to ban smoking in apartments and condominiums has failed in an Assembly committee. The bill from Democratic Assemblyman Marc Levine of San Rafael was rejected Wednesday on a 5-2 vote. AB746 would have created designated smoking areas outside the complexes. The area would have to be at least 20 feet from ...

Bay Area briefs

SAN JOSE COUNCIL APPROVES CORPORATE JET FACILITY: SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Despite complaints by residents, the City Council has approved an $82 million facility for corporate jets at Mineta San Jose International Airport.

School couldn't expel accused teens

SARATOGA. (AP) - A school superintendent said Wednesday that officials could not expel three teenage boys charged with sexually battering a classmate at a party last fall, even after she hanged herself and her family complained that a humiliating photo of the assault was being circulated.

Army allowed police shooter to resign

209 News

BOY ARRESTED WITH GUN AT LODI SCHOOL: LODI - A 13-year-old boy is in juvenile hall after being found with a .22 caliber revolver and four bullets at his Lodi school Tuesday, according to the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department.

Democrats push wide-ranging gun control bills

LA sheriff's commander disciplined over using mock Asian voice ringtone

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A Los Angeles County sheriff's commander has been disciplined for having a ringtone with a mock Asian voice and for comments he made after his personal cellphone rang during a meeting with top brass. The Los Angeles Times says a colleague reported that Cmdr. Paul Pietrantoni's ringtone was "The Oriental Riff" accompanied by a stereotypical Asian voice saying: ...

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.