Banning Police Follow Debris Trail to Hit-and-Run Suspects
A couple were in custody Wednesday for allegedly leaving their two young children home alone and then getting involved in a pre-dawn hit-and-run crash that injured a woman sleeping in her home, Banning police said.
http://www.KESQ.com/global/story.asp?s=8611000

Celebrate Independence Day with fireworks
What can you do to celebrate our nation's Independence Day today?
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080704/NEWS01/807040315/-1/RSS01
4 Jul 2008 at 2:30am

Disposal services will not collect trash today
Palm Springs Disposal Services and Desert Valley Disposal Inc. will not serve trash and recycling collection routes in Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs today because of the holiday.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080704/NEWS01/807040324/1143/RSS27
4 Jul 2008 at 3:04am

Barry Bonds' 756th Homer Ball Lands in Hall, Finally
The ball Barry Bonds launched for his record 756th home run nearly a year ago arrived in Cooperstown, New York, Tuesday night, complete with an asterisk. The donation was finalized after a strange day of back-and-forth statements between its owner, fashion designer Marc Ecko, and the shrine.
http://www.KESQ.com/global/story.asp?s=8610587

Authorities seek public's aid in search for three suspects
A boyfriend's jealousy almost turned deadly last year as he tried to shoot his girlfriend's ex while the man walked with a child. No one was hit by the gunfire, but the incident was enough to get Jose De Jesus Legaspi on Riverside County's Most Wanted list.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080704/NEWS01/807040310/-1/RSS01
4 Jul 2008 at 2:18am

Police searching for man reported missing
A 21-year-old Palm Springs man has been reported missing under "suspicious circumstance," according to the Palm Springs Police Department.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080704/NEWS08/807040325/1143/RSS27
4 Jul 2008 at 2:59am

Doctor: Brangelina Twins Could Be Weeks Away
Angelina Jolie's doctor at a French Riviera hospital says her twins may take a few more weeks to arrive.
http://www.KESQ.com/global/story.asp?s=8585031

Venus will play Serena in third all-in-the-family Wimbledon final
A spot in her seventh Wimbledon final already secured, Venus Williams headed back to Centre Court to catch the end of the next match. And when Thursday's second semifinal ended, Williams stood, smiling and applauding for the woman who won, the woman she will have to beat to earn a fifth champions...
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080704/SPORTS07/807040326/-1/RSS01
4 Jul 2008 at 3:03am

Get a good spot for Fourth of July fireworks displays
With fireworks standing in for "the rockets red glare" and "bombs bursting in air," most of us will be at family gatherings or backyard barbecues today to celebrate our nation's 232nd birthday.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080704/NEWS01/807020393/1143/RSS27
2 Jul 2008 at 9:30pm

Felony Trial Ordered for Alleged Cat Torturer
A homeless man is facing trial for allegedly soaking live cats in gasoline and torching them in the Rancho Cucamonga area.
http://www.KESQ.com/global/story.asp?s=8610106

Sona Babai is oldest to earn U.S. citizenship
Sona Babai came to the Coachella Valley from Iran about 10 years ago. "She enjoys the life here," her son Antoine said, noting that his 108-year-old mother appreciates how genuine people are in the valley.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080704/NEWS01/807040317/-1/RSS01
4 Jul 2008 at 2:55am

Palm Springs merchants thrilled about biker event
The Palm Springs Police Department can handle any potential violence that might ensue during October's American Heat motorcycle weekend, some merchants said this week.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080704/NEWS01/807020390/1143/RSS27
2 Jul 2008 at 9:31pm

Two Charged with Slaying Four in Antelope Valley
Two men have been charged with beating and stabbing to death a NASA engineer, a woman and two children whose charred bodies were found in a burned Antelope Valley home.
http://www.KESQ.com/global/story.asp?s=8610156

What event will Woods decide to try first in 2009?
It seems like everything with Tiger Woods these days is a guessing game. First, we were asked to guess what shape Woods would be in for the U.S. Open.
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080704/COLUMNS05/807040316/-1/RSS01
4 Jul 2008 at 2:49am

SF Gate

California neglected to save for a fiery day
California spent a record $392 million fighting fires across the state in the fiscal year that ended Monday, burning another hole in the state's already strained finances and forcing officials to dip into shrinking cash reserves to pay firefighting bills....

Contra Costa Times: Bay & State

Devil's Slide tunnels to be named for Lantos
This week, the California State Legislature honored the congressman's legacy by approving a bill to name the twin highway portals the "Tom Lantos Tunnels at Devil's Slide."
by editor@contracostatimes.com (Julia Scott / San Mateo County Times)
4 Jul 2008 at 10:32am

Proposed California budget cuts affecting most vulnerable
In the end, Nick Robinson just couldn't afford the Bay Area. And with pending state budget cuts threatening the foster care counselor's programs and salary, he decided to pack his belongings and leave Walnut Creek for Boston.
by editor@contracostatimes.com (Matthias Gafni / Contra Costa Times)
4 Jul 2008 at 7:29am

Fireworks laws should be uniform
AS WE CELEBRATE the Fourth of July today, we should remember that less than a week ago, Bay Area residents were coughing and sneezing through some of the worst smoky air on record.
by editor@contracostatimes.com (BAY AREA NEWS GROUP)
3 Jul 2008 at 1:26pm

Sacramento Bee Local News

Sac City candidate hopes to become first Iu Mien elected to public office in ...
A young woman in yellow Reeboks sprints from house to house in southeast Sacramento, trying to make history.
Theresa Moung Hinh Saechao, a candidate for the District 4 seat on the Sacramento City Unified School District board, talks to children while campaigning door to door in south Sacramento last week. From left are Justina Reynosa, 9, her sister, Xiana, 7, and her cousins Vincent Ortiz III, 3, and Leticia Ortiz, 6.
Theresa Moung Hinh Saechao checks off addresses she has visited in her campaign for a seat on the Sacramento City Unified School District board.
Theresa Moung Hinh Saechao, a candidate for the area 4 seat on the Sacramento City Unified School District board, hands a flier to longtime resident Robert Luke while campaigning with her manager, Tom Bhe.
by smagagnini@sacbee.com (Stephen Magagnini)
4 Jul 2008 at 2:00am


With bullet in her head, girl's close call sends message to the trigger-happy
Forgive little Yamile Leon, whose favorite color is "rainbow," for still being in her pajamas at 11 a.m. Thursday. She was sleeping.
Yamile Leon, 7, takes it easy on Thursday – with a bullet in her head that someone fired into the air.
by blindelof@sacbee.com (Bill Lindelof)
4 Jul 2008 at 2:00am

Yolo judge will ask state's chief justice to intervene in trial of man accuse...
California Chief Justice Ronald George will be asked to intervene in Yolo Superior Court's controversial handling of the case against a man accused of murdering a sheriff's deputy last month, Presiding Judge David Rosenberg said Thursday.
by hsangree@sacbee.com (Hudson Sangree)
4 Jul 2008 at 2:00am

Motorist hit by off-duty detective gets $4.5 million
A Sacramento Superior Court jury has awarded a Loomis man $4.5 million for injuries he suffered in November 2005 when his car was rear-ended by an off-duty sheriff's detective.
by afurillo@sacbee.com (Andy Furillo)
4 Jul 2008 at 2:00am


Redding command center works to predict hot spots, coordinate fire crews
REDDING – Gazing out a wall of windows, Mike Lococo watched lightning stab the horizon, over and over, like a bizarre light show gone awry.
Fire intelligence officer Mike Lococo works to analyze wildfires and predict hot spots.
Mike Lococo, left, looks over infrared maps with other staff members at the Redding center where they track wildfires and deploy fire crews.
by menkoji@sacbee.com (M.S. Enkoji)
4 Jul 2008 at 2:00am

Mosquito district warns: Watch out for West Nile Virus
The message from Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District for the Fourth of July is simple: protect yourselves from West Nile Virus.
by wdeberry@sacbee.com (Wesley DeBerry)
4 Jul 2008 at 11:33am

Hurry and enjoy cool weather
A string of 100-degree days is just around the corner for the Sacramento region. But temperatures will remain more civilized - in the low 90s - for the Fourth of July holiday, according to the National Weather Service.
by dkollars@sacbee.com (Deb Kollars)
4 Jul 2008 at 11:38am


Downtown's projects rise in face of downturn
Standing at the corner of 10th and K streets, in the heart of downtown Sacramento, there's little sign of the real estate free fall slamming the suburbs.
Mark Friedman, explaining a building plan in 2007, says urban developers are in better shape than those who placed all their bets on suburbia.
by mlvellinga@sacbee.com (Mary Lynne Vellinga)
4 Jul 2008 at 2:00am

Yolo grand jury report alleges misconduct at Davis Fire Department
The Davis Fire Department has been hit by the Yolo County grand jury over alleged misconduct, including accusations of off-duty firefighters sleeping off drinking bouts at the downtown station.
by nlofing@sacbee.com (Niesha Lofing)
4 Jul 2008 at 2:00am

Nationwide recall of youth beds issued after Roseville tot's death
A toddler's death in Roseville prompted the voluntary nationwide recall Thursday of two makes of youth beds.
by dkasler@sacbee.com (Dale Kasler)
4 Jul 2008 at 2:00am

LA Times: California

L.A. Unified principal posed as a girl in chat room, authorities say