OAKLAND POLICE CHIEF STEPPING DOWN: OAKLAND  (AP) — The chief of Oakland's embattled police department said Wednesday that he is stepping down due to medical reasons.

Chief Howard Jordan said that he told City Administrator Deanna Santana that effective immediately he is on medical leave and is taking steps toward medical retirement. He did not specify his medical condition.

Jordan's announcement came moments before a scheduled news conference where consultant and former New York and Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton was to present a plan on how Oakland could reduce crime.

City officials quickly cancelled the event.

Jordan said the decision was difficult, but necessary. He has served as chief for less than two years after two stints as interim chief.

"Through my 24 years of wearing an OPD badge and uniform, I have emulated the Department's core values: Honesty, Respect, and Integrity - values I observed in the men and women who worked with me and for me," Jordan said. "I know that the members and civilian staff of the Department will carry on these values to generations to come."

FEDS SUE LANDLORD OF BERKELEY MARIJUANA DISPENSARY: BERKELEY (AP) — The federal government is suing Berkeley's largest medical marijuana outlet with the goal of seizing the property from its landlord.

The Contra Costa Times reports the suit accuses Berkeley Patients Group of breaking federal drug laws by allowing the sale of marijuana. It claims landlord Nahla Droubi is subject to seizure of her property.

The suit comes nearly a year after Berkeley Patients Group was forced to close its previous location down the street on San Pablo Avenue when the landlord there received a letter threatening seizure for the same reason. The newspaper says the letter also cited the fact that it was too close to two nearby schools.

Sean Luse, chief operations officer for Berkeley Patients Group, said he looks forward to fighting the suit in court.

UC LIFTS CAPS ON STUDENT HEALTH INSURANCE: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — University of California officials have agreed to lift a cap on health insurance coverage that threatened to leave students with catastrophic illnesses such as cancer with big medical bills, it was reported Wednesday.

UC chancellors reached the agreement last week after hundreds of students and nine members of Congress voiced their opposition to the $400,000 lifetime coverage limit, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.