Bills: Making coaches mandatory abuse reporters to free online college textbook for state system

to SACRAMEMNTO (AP) - The following are proposed laws that have been approved by either the California Assembly or State Senate for advancement to the other chamber. BILL WOULD CREATE NEW FUNDING FOR STATE PARKS: Bipartisan legislation to create new funding sources for state parks and limit the California Department of Parks and Recreation's authority to close them has passed the Assembly. ...

Lawmakers to amend specialty license plate bills with safeguards

Foie gras feeding frenzy grows as Calif. ban nears

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - This is not a good time to be a duck with a fatty liver in California, though better times are just ahead.

In video, man says he was 'going down' for assault on SF fan

State news briefs

DELIVERYMAN CONVICTED OF TRADING FISH FOR CRACK : REDWOOD CITY . (AP) - A former deliveryman for a Northern California seafood company is facing two-and-a-half years in prison for exchanging a load of fish for crack cocaine and abandoning his employer's truck.

Video draws animal cruelty charges

SANTA ANA (AP) - Prosecutors have filed animal cruelty charges against the owner and seven employees at a Southern California livestock auction house after undercover video shot by an animal rights group showed workers kicking, hitting and tossing the animals as they were readied for sale.

Calif. Senate OKs bill to reduce reliance on pupil tests to determine school performance

New earthquake faults found west of Lake Tahoe

TRUCKEE (AP) - Scientists studying earthquake faults in the mountains west of Lake Tahoe say new, high-resolution imaging technology has helped uncover more substantial seismic hazards than previously thought to exist there. The steep, fault-formed range west of the lake could generate relatively strong earthquakes with magnitudes from 6.3 to 6.9, according to the study led by the U.S. Geological Survey. <p ...

Quake backup power probed at ailing San Onofre nuke plant

State news briefs

GOVERNOR ORDERS AUDIT OF SPECIALTY PLATE PROGRAM: SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Jerry Brown has ordered an audit of California's specialty license plate program after a review by The Associated Press found there was little oversight of the $250 million raised in the 20 years since the Legislature authorized it.

Legislation would allow sports wagering at California card rooms, race tracks, casinos

SACRAMENTO . (AP) - California would be in a position to allow sports betting at race tracks, card rooms and casinos under a bill approved by the state Senate. Sen. Rob Wright says the state could not move ahead until the federal government resolves a lawsuit filed by New Jersey over proposed sports betting there. His SB1390 would limit sports betting to ...

State 9/11 fund raided for deficits

Measure would protect workplace religious freedom

Oakland police, ATF nab 90 suspects, 100 guns in operation

State news briefs

JUSTIN BIEBER WANTED FOR QUESTIONING IN SCUFFLE: CALABASAS (AP) - Justin Bieber is wanted for questioning by Los Angeles County Sheriff's investigators after a photographer complained of being roughed up by the pop star at a shopping center.

PG&E didn't spend $50M for safety

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Pacific Gas & Electric Co. did not use more than $50 million it collected from ratepayers that was meant to improve its gas pipeline network in the decade leading up to a deadly explosion in a San Francisco Bay Area suburb, an audit shows. From 1999 to 2010, the utility regularly failed to use all the money to fix and maintain small gas distribution lines that deliver natural gas to homes ...

Norcal News

DEFENSE SUGGESTS VICTIM FATALLY SHOT HIMSELF: SACRAMENTO (AP) - A defense lawyer suggested a man who was fatally shot at a Sacramento Sikh sports festival five years ago may have fired the fatal bullet himself.

Medi-Cal cuts will limit health access

Bay Area briefs

VETERAN RUNNER DIES DURING MT. DIABLO FOOTRACE: MARTINEZ (AP) - A veteran long-distance runner competing in a 50-kilometer footrace on Mount Diablo died during the competition.

State parks system launching makeover

209 News

TRAIN DERAILS, DAMAGES TRACK ON POPULAR VALLEY ROUTE: DENAIR (AP) - Rail authorities are working to repair damage on Amtrak's popular San Joaquin route after a freight train derailed in the Central California town of Denair.

Zynga to cut 520 jobs amid performance woes

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Online game maker Zynga Inc. said Monday that it is cutting 520 jobs, about 18 percent of its workforce, in a cost-saving move designed to help it adapt to consumers shifting game play from computers to mobile devices. Zynga said it expects the move to save about $70 million to $80 million in annual costs. But the San Francisco-based company behind "FarmVille" and "Words With Friends" also now expects a worse ...

2,800 residents allowed to go home

Mogul to pay $2.5M Big Sur settlement

Bay Area briefs

SFMOMA CLOSES DOORS FOR EXPANSION: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art has closed its doors, as it undergoes a major expansion.

Bills to halt fracking fail to garner support

Winds aid crews by turning back fire

SANTA CLARITA (AP) - For a change, winds helped crews working to contain a wildfire burning Friday in rugged mountains north of Los Angeles. A day earlier, gusts had driven flames toward the rural community of Green Valley and forced people from about 200 homes. On Friday, winds were pushing the fire southward - back into the 2 1/3 square miles that have already burned. "The fire is moving uphill and burning into the black," ...

Bay Area briefs

EX-PG&E WORKER CLAIMS UTILITY MISLED REGULATORS: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A former PG&E manager has filed a lawsuit alleging that he was fired for refusing to participate in the utility's plan to mislead regulators into approving rate increases.

Boy dies after signs of abuse were missed

LOS ANGELES (AP) - An 8-year-old boy who authorities say died after being beaten had remained in the house where the alleged abuse occurred despite six investigations by social workers during the past decade, a newspaper said. Social workers appeared to miss numerous warnings signs at the home, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday, citing county documents. The boy had written a note saying he was thinking about suicide and his teacher told authorities he ...

High-speed rail: Broken promise?