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SHUTTLE TO DRIVE HIKERS ATOP EAST BAY PARK: PLEASANTON (AP) A shuttle will soon drive visitors up
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SHUTTLE TO DRIVE HIKERS ATOP EAST BAY PARK: PLEASANTON  (AP) — A shuttle will soon drive visitors up to Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park and officials hope to expand the service across the Bay Area's largest park system.

The pilot project will provide a shuttle van with seats for eight hikers.

It will make three runs departing at 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and noon on May 4 and 15, and June 1. Riders must have reservations.

The goal is to improve access to many of the regional parks in Contra Costa and Alameda counties, which have steep trails leading up hills.

Anne Kassebaum, services manager of the East Bay Regional Park District, tells the newspaper her agency will use the pilot project to determine if there is enough interest in keeping or expanding the program.

PG&E says gunfire damages San Jose transformers

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Several Pacific Gas & Electric transformers in San Jose were damaged after being hit by gunfire early Tuesday, and state officials urged the utility's customers in the San Jose area to conserve electricity in response.

Authorities received multiple phone calls reporting gun shots near the utility's substation at 1:46 a.m. Tuesday, said Santa Clara County Sheriff's Deputy Kurtis Stenderup. PG&E reported two hours later that at least five transformers had been damaged and hazardous materials had spilled, he added.

The California Independent System Operator, which manages most of the state's power grid, issued a statement asking residents and businesses in the area to conserve electricity through midnight Tuesday. Spokeswoman Stephanie McCorkle said the damage will limit electricity transmission in that area of the high-voltage grid.

Fire crews and PG&E workers were cleaning up the hazardous materials and authorities have closed the area to investigate. Stenderup said because law enforcement officials have not yet been able to fully investigate the crime scene, they cannot speculate on who might be responsible.

3 DIE IN 2 SEPARATE SAN JOSE FIRES: SAN JOSE  (AP) — Two separate fires in San Jose have claimed the lives of a 7-year-old girl and two adults.

The first fire was reported around 8:30 p.m. Monday. Fire Capt. Cleo Doss says crews who arrived at the home found an elderly woman in the back. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

They later found a second adult victim. The fire was knocked down a little less than two hours later.

The second blaze was reported around 11:30 p.m. at another residence.

The 7-year-old victim was found inside a structure behind a large home there. Doss tells the San Jose Mercury News (http://bit.ly/11agmn0) a 4-year-old girl suffered burns and an older man had a cardiac event in that blaze.

The three victims have not been identified. What caused the fires is not known

SUSPECT IN THEFT, KIDNAPPING HELD ON $220,000 BAIL: SAN JOSE  (AP) — Prosecutors say a woman charged in last month's theft of an SUV with an 11-month-old girl in the back seat is being held on $220,000 bail after being arraigned in the case.

Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Bret Wasley says 30-year-old Karla Hernandez did not enter a plea when she appeared in court Monday to face charges of kidnapping, child endangerment and stealing a vehicle.

The case was continued until April 22.

Authorities say Hernandez stole the SUV on March 25 from a driveway in San Jose when the girl's mom, Graciela Quintero, walked away to close the garage door. The vehicle was found abandoned hours later with the 11-month-old girl, Gabriella, inside. She was not hurt.

Wasley said Tuesday that Hernandez "clearly knew" there was a child in the vehicle at some point.