POINT REYES DROWNING PROMPTS WARNING ABOUT HIGH WAVES: POINT REYES  (AP) — Authorities are warning beachgoers to be careful after a man was swept out to sea by a large wave and drowned while trying to save his dog on a Northern California beach.

The Marin Independent Journal reported that 59-year-old Charles Quaid, of Richmond, and his wife were walking on the beach near Point Reyes on New Year's Day when the wave overtook the dog. That's about 30 miles northwest of San Francisco.

The San Francisco Chronicle  reports the couple went into the water to rescue the dog, but the man was swept away. The wife and dog made it safely to shore.

The incident comes more than a month after three people drowned in roiling surf while trying to save their dog at another Northern California beach.

COURT REJECTS REQUEST TO HALT CALIF. SHARK FIN BAN: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal court has rejected two Chinese-American groups' request to halt California's ban on the selling and possession of shark fins.

U.S. District Court Judge Phyllis Hamilton on Wednesday denied the request, rejecting Chinese-American groups' argument that the ban, which took effect Jan. 1, 2012, violated their civil rights by targeting a food item used in traditional weddings and festivals.

California's shark-fin soup market was once the largest outside of Asia.

Critics of shark finning estimate that 73 million sharks are killed annually for their fins, removing a key predator from the marine food chain.

Hawaii, Washington, Oregon and Guam already have bans in place, and the practice is restricted in U.S. waters.

Plaintiffs' attorney Joe Breall said he would not appeal Hamilton's ruling, but would move forward to trial.

2 KILLED WHEN CALIFORNIA SHOOTING SUSPECT CRASHES: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Police say two people were killed and another injured when a shooting suspect fleeing police slammed into another vehicle that then hit a pedestrian in San Francisco.

Police identified the suspect on Wednesday as 19-year-old David Morales of San Francisco. Police say he is a convicted felon and a gang member.

Police spokesman Gordon Shyy says police tried to pull over Morales on Tuesday morning after he shot at three people from a car at a housing complex. None of the three was wounded.

As police approached, the car sped off and broadsided a Toyota.

A female passenger in the Toyota was killed. A pedestrian struck by the Toyota also died.

The Toyota's driver has been upgraded from critical to serious condition.

Morales was booked on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Shyy did not know whether he had an attorney.