Bay Area briefs

SF BAY AREA CITY LOOKING AT LICENSE PLATE CAMERAS: PIEDMONT (AP) - A small San Francisco Bay area city that has experienced a rash of home-invasion robberies is proposing installing cameras to record the license plate of every vehicle that crosses city limits.

Kayaker helps save family of five after crashing into American River

KYBURZ (AP) - A kayaker was being credited with helping to save a family of five after their SUV had veered off a road and ended up in a Northern California river.

Hiker lost for days released from hospital

MISSION VIEJO (AP) - One of two Southern California teens lost for several days in a rugged mountain wilderness was released Sunday from a hospital after being treated for dehydration and minor injuries.

Church prays for Rick Warren after son’s suicide in Mission Viejo

LAKE FOREST (AP) - Members of Rick Warren's Southern California church began Sunday services with a prayer for the popular evangelical pastor, as he and his family coped with the apparent suicide of his 27-year-old son.

More people tuning out traditional TV sets

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Some people have had it with TV. They've had enough of the 100-plus channel universe. They don't like timing their lives around network show schedules. They're tired of $100-plus monthly bills.

2 shot by officer when person points replica gun

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Two people are in the hospital with what police described as life-threatening injuries after being shot early Sunday by a San Francisco police officer who opened fire when a person pointed what turned out to be an air-powered gun.

Legislation questions hospitals’ nonprofit status

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Some of California's most powerful unions are pressuring nonprofit hospitals to prove that they provide enough charitable care to justify their tax-exempt status.

4 hikers avoid night on mountain thanks to rescue

SAN JOSE (AP) - Four young hikers avoided spending the night on the side of a Santa Clara County mountain thanks to a search and rescue by California Highway Patrol aircraft.

209 news briefs

• GANG-RELATED MURDER IN STOCKTON: STOCKTON - Stockton Police are investigating what appears to be a gang-related murder that occurred Saturday night.

State news briefs

• LAPD VOLUNTEER ACCUSED OF STEALING GAS: VAN NUYS (AP) - Authorities say a longtime Los Angeles Police Department volunteer faces criminal charges for allegedly stealing city gas for his personal vehicle.

Dangers of urban wilderness hiking

Obama apologizes to AG for comment on looks

Doctor to plead guilty in prescription case

SANTA ANA, (AP) - A Southern California doctor has agreed to plead guilty to charges of illegally prescribing drugs to his patients at nightly meetings in Starbucks stores. Court documents show Alvin Mingczech Yee, 44, entered into a plea agreement earlier this week. He is expected to plead guilty to seven counts at an April 17 hearing. The agreement recommends a prison ...

Teen shot by officer is not a suspect

OAKLAND (AP) - Oakland Police say teenage boy who was shot in the face by an officer was not involved in an armed robbery near downtown. Police Chief Howard Jordan said Thursday a preliminary investigation has determined that the 16-year-old and two other teenagers were not responsible for the robbery of a restaurant worker Wednesday night. Meanwhile the ...

Feds to state: Bolster refinery oversight

RICHMOND (AP) - Federal investigators looking into last year's fire at Chevron's Richmond refinery said Friday that the incident shows stronger state oversight of oil refineries is needed. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board, the agency investigating the cause of the Aug. 6 fire, said California workplace safety and the other myriad regulatory agencies charged with refinery oversight lacked the staff and proper ...

Woman faces attempted murder charges for tainting OJ at Starbucks

Inmate-removal order over Valley Fever complicates Calif. prison plan

Bay Area briefs

NO BACKPACKS ALLOWED AT 2013 BAY TO BREAKERS IN SF: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - No backpacks, large bags or containers will be allowed at this year's Bay to Breakers footrace in San Francisco as officials heighten security in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.

Vulnerable inmates ordered out of 2 Central Valley prisons

Nesting swallows could delay Petaluma bridge work

State news briefs

SANTA CLARA THREATENS AMBULANCE TERMINATION: SAN JOSE. (AP) - Santa Clara County officials are threatening to terminate the contract of an ambulance company that they say has repeatedly responded too slowly to emergencies.

Killer on the loose: Valley Springs on lockdown

Lawmakers consider moratorium on oil fracking in San Joaquin Valley

3 divers killed over weekend abalone diving off California

SF Bay Bridge has bolts similar to banned bolts

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The new eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge has more than 1,200 bolts made from galvanized steel that is virtually identical to a high-strength alloy that a nationwide group of transportation officials banned for use on bridges because the bolts can crack, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Sunday.

Fatal stabbing of girl, 8, prompts manhunt

VALLEY SPRINGS (AP) - Residents of a rural Northern California county were being told Sunday to keep their doors locked and report anyone considered suspicious as authorities continued the search for the killer of an 8-year-old girl.

Some are overlooked in overhaul

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Carlos Gonzalez has lived nearly all his 29 years in a country he considers home but now finds himself on the wrong side of the border - and the wrong side of a proposed overhaul of the U.S. immigration system that would grant legal status to millions of people.

California weighs first state ban on lead ammo

SACRAMENTO (AP) - In November, one of the oldest condors in Central California died from lead poisoning after being found with tiny bullet fragments and a .22-caliber slug in his gullet that he apparently swallowed with a mouthful of meat.

Rolling Stones rock small LA club

LOS ANGELES (AP) - For one night only, the Rolling Stones were an up-and-coming band again.

OC officials keep inmate alive they want to ultimately execute

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) - A man charged with raping and killing a woman 30 years ago is being kept alive in Orange County with dialysis treatments until officials can win permission to execute him.