Bay Area briefs

SUN-POWERED PLANE COMPLETES BAY AREA TEST FLIGHT: MOUNTAIN VIEW (AP) - A solar-powered plane that has wowed aviation fans in Europe took to the skies Friday over the San Francisco Bay area in a successful test flight.

Feds release refinery fire investigation video

RICHMOND (AP) - Federal investigators released an animated video on Friday showing the events that led to a massive fire at Chevron's Richmond refinery last August, providing the clearest picture yet of the accident. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board released the video (http://1.usa.gov/13ytf11 ) ahead of a public meeting in Richmond where it will be shown on Friday evening. <p style="line-height: ...

Law change makes child abuse hard to track

Bullet train agency changed bid criteria

SACRAMENTO (AP) - California's high-speed rail authority changed its rules for selecting a company to build the first phase of the bullet train in a way that allowed a California bidder to emerge as the lead candidate despite having the lowest technical rating for safety and design quality, a newspaper reported Friday. The process was changed without approval from the board that ...

Van Dyke undergoing tests for 'cranial throbbing'

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.

Judge denies bid to block Dorner reward payout plan

Immigrant raid rumor fuels fear in SJ Valley

Nevada high school choir will back Rolling Stones at concert

Acting Oakland chief replaced after 2 days

4 pit bulls blamed for SoCal jogger's killing

State. moves to comply with 2011 gay history law

Bold turkey: woman hits cop in bid to kick smoking habit

Compton teen convicted in killing mom, stepfather

Judge: No auction yet of Kobe Bryant's stuff

State news briefs

DRIVER REACHING FOR DRINK HITS WOMAN, 3 CHILDREN: SAN DIEGO (AP) - Authorities say an unlicensed driver reaching for a spilled drink ran onto a sidewalk in San Diego and struck a mother and three children.

Deadly America's Cup boat mishap

Oil industry: BLM prevents job creation

Small quake shakes west side of LA

State news briefs

LATER, DAWG: RANDY JACKSON LEAVING 'AMERICAN IDOL' : LOS ANGELES (AP) - Randy Jackson out.

District rejects school drug sting claim