LATEST CALIFORNIA NEWS
Divided court rejects Proposition 8
The 9th Circuit panel declares that California's gay-marriage ban is unconstitutional.Reporting from San Francisco and Los Angeles -- A federal appeals court has declared California's 2008 voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, concluding that the prohibition served no purpose other than to "lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians."
Oakland City Council votes against resolution to...
"I'm disappointed we couldn't give port customers the assurance that we value them and Oakland residents the assurance that we will protect them," said Councilmember Libby Schaaf, who co-sponsored the resolution.
Oakland police chief pleads for community to join...
The bloody tally of death and injury in the past week prompted Chief of Police Howard Jordan on Tuesday to say he is using extra patrols, partnerships with other law enforcement agencies and technology to combat the violence.
California ban on same-sex marriage ruled...
The voter-approved law is on track for likely consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court.
San Jose police auditor launches cable television...
The IPA Roadshow will appear at 7 p.m. Wednesdays on CreaTV's Silicon Valley Channel 30, which is available to Comcast customers in San Jose and Campbell.
Stanford on alert after two women are assaulted on...
Stanford University police are investigating back-to-back early-Sunday assaults in which one woman was tackled while walking on campus and another was attacked while sleeping in her dorm room bed.
Piedmont Measure A: Voters turn down sewer tax
City officials said it would have provided money to meet environmental mandates
California gay marriage ban struck down, appeals...
"Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples,"
California was ahead of the curve on gay marriage...
California's early granting of same-sex marriage licenses led to the backlash culminating in Proposition 8, banning the unions. Meanwhile, other states have passed the state by on the rights issue. California's turbulent relationship with gay marriage can be traced back eight years, almost to the day, when San Francisco abruptly began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. So many people ...
Appeals court reverses California gay marriage ban
A US federal appeals court struck down a California law that strips gays and lesbians of the right to marry in the latest round of America's long-running battle over same-sex marriage.
Appeals court rejects California's Proposition 8
A federal appeals court ruled against California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage Tuesday, arguing the ban unconstitutionally singles out gays and lesbians for discrimination.
California's Same-Sex Marriage Ban Is...
The decision on "Prop 8" by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is now expected to be appealed to the Supreme Court.
Court overturns California gay marriage ban,...
SAN FRANCISCO - An appeals court on Tuesday found California's gay marriage ban unconstitutional in a case that may lead to a showdown in the Supreme Court. Supporters of the ban said they would appeal the judgment, calling it "out of step with every other federal appellate and Supreme Court decision." Their appeal is likely to keep gay marriage in the state on hold pending future ...
California's gay marriage ban nullified
In a historic ruling, but one that the judges insisted was narrow in scope, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday nullified California's ban on marriage for same-sex couples, finding "Proposition 8" amounted to a form of unconstitutional discrimination against a "disfavored" group.
We Forgive You, California
Today's 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that California's Proposition 8, the gay marriage ban, is unconstitutional "all but ensures" (according to The New York Times) that the case will go the Supreme Court, meaning it's leaving California and going national. All California judicial authority has said no to this thing, so now it's getting kicked upstairs to management. Which means at least ...

Alum Rock schools get into health care business
A partnership between school district and insurer allows the community to benefit from discount prescriptions
Firefighters quickly put out two structure fires
Firefighters responded to two small fires in Orange County Saturday night.Both were knocked down without injuries.The Orange Fire Department responded to a report of smoke at 7:42 p.m. at an apartment at 304 E. Almond Ave., near Chapman University...
Lake Forest listings: 56% distressed homes
Homes in Lake Forest sell faster than the countywide pace as its listings have a higher share of distressed properties than the rest of Orange County -- including O.C.'s distressed hot spot.The overall Lake Forest home market -- older parts of...
Crystal Cathedral sold to Catholic church
The Crystal Cathedral, one of the nation's best-known Protestant churches, is now owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange.Escrow closed Friday afternoon on the $57.5 million court-ordered sale, the diocese said.The congregation led by Robert...
O.C. man's death sentence overturned
The California Supreme Court on Thursday overturned an Orange County jury's death penalty recommendation for an Anaheim pimp convicted in the burning death of one of his prostitutes in 1995.The Orange County District Attorney's Office said it is...
Great Park used for TV shows, commercials,...
What do Jack Bauer, Mercedes and Verizon 4G have in common? The Orange County Great Park.Cars racing down the old runways or the appearance of the hero in Fox's 24 are not out of the ordinary at the former El Toro Marine base. Companies have...
O.C. Hispanic Chamber briefs community leaders
The Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce held a "State of the Chamber" briefing on Thursday before about 65 business and community leaders.The event, organizers said, provided an update on chamber activities for the coming year, and to outline...
Half-marathons help homeless train for life
Five months ago, Elmee Cockrell couldn't run for 13 consecutive minutes, let alone 13 miles.The 39-year-old mother was homeless, living in the Orange County's Rescue Mission's Village of Hope, looking for exactly that - hope. Cockrell said she...
San Clemente's police chief leaving for new duties
After nearly six years as chief of police services in San Clemente, sheriff's Lt. Paul D'Auria has been promoted to captain and will leave to oversee operations at Orange County's James A. Musick jail in Irvine.D'Auria's last day with the city will...
O.C. home of Heisman Trophy winner burglarized
LAGUNA NIGUEL - Burglars made off with about $50,000 in jewels and sports memorabilia from the home of a Penn State Heisman Trophy winner, authorities said Tuesday.Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff's Department believe John...
Resident reports prowlers with body bag
A Dana Point resident said early Monday that someone was looking into the resident's home and had been there, hiding behind a tree, for almost an hour, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. The resident reported an hour and a half...
Person injured in San Clemente bar fight
A bar fight broke out at Avila's El Ranchito Mexican restaurant early Saturday in downtown San Clemente, and paramedics were called to treat someone who suffered a head injury, according to a report from the Orange County Sheriff's Department.The...
Orange blotter, Jan. 9 to 15
The Orange Police Department encourages residents and business owners to subscribe to a community e-mail notification system to help connect with residents and businesses in the city. The system, called i-Watch, is subscriber-based and free....
Suspicious package prompts street closure
ANAHEIM - The Orange County Sheriff's Department bomb squad cleared a suspicious package left at the Social Security Administration office in Anaheim Tuesday morning, police said. The call came in about 7:40 a.m. after a package with the word...
Weekly hot meals start Tuesday for homeless in...
Starting Tuesday, the Orange County Rescue Mission's Mobile Chili Van will visit Dana Point every Tuesday evening to provide hot meals along with service referrals and resources to homeless people.The new services are scheduled to be available from...
Girl, 14, tells mom she was sexually assaulted
A woman said her 14-year-old daughter arrived home from the beach in San Clemente drunk and told her she was sexually abused or raped, though the girl's story changed repeatedly, the Orange County Sheriff's Department said.The incident was reported...
'Jesus glasses' case featured in new documentary
IRVINE - A new documentary chronicling a New Jersey student's battle with his teacher over religious comments also features Orange County's clash between Capistrano Valley High teacher James Corbett and his former student.On Saturday night,...
Smoke from Camp Pendleton fire seen in O.C.
A fire of unknown origin broke out Friday afternoon on the interior of the Camp Pendleton Marine base, generating a plume of smoke visible in some parts of Orange County."It's in a training area," Lt. Ryan Finnegan, a base spokesman, said shortly...
Cars vandalized on 2 San Clemente streets
Several cars were reported vandalized Wednesday morning in San Clemente.Two incidents were reported at 7 and 7:16 a.m. on the 800 block of Camino de los Mares. Another was reported at 8:27 a.m. on Calle Prospero, the Orange County Sheriff's...
Deputies union offers reward in homeless killings
The Orange County sheriff's deputies union announced a $5,000 reward Friday for information leading to the arrest of a serial killer targeting local homeless men, as authorities continue to search for the person suspected in three recent slayings....
Bipartisan cheer among O.C. House members
Compliments across party lines seem all but forbidden in Congress these days - and that is particularly true among Orange County's delegation. So when I heard that two of the county's most polarizing House members - Dana Rohrabacher, R-Costa Mesa,...
Postal worker shot with BB gun
A postal worker in San Clemente reported being shot by a boy armed with what the worker believed was a BB gun. The boy was hiding behind a wall, the man told the Orange County Sheriff's Department.The incident was reported at 3:09 p.m. Tuesday on...
2012 OC Music Awards best live acoustic showcases...
The battle for Orange County's top artist continues tonight with the 2012 OC Music Awards best live acoustic showcase at 7 p.m. at the District at Tustin Legacy. The evening will feature performances by Nicole Vaughn, Erick Macek, Allensworth...
Police need help to find van suspected of fatal...
LAKE FOREST - Police are seeking the public's help to find the driver of a van accused of hitting a bicyclist and leaving him to die in early December.Deputies from the Orange County Sheriff's Department will hand out fliers from 5 to 7 p.m. on...
Photos: 'Surf tribes' gather at San Onofre
Once a year, Orange County's Doheny Longboard Surfing Association invites 19 California longboard surfing clubs to San Onofre for a friendly weekend competition known as the Gathering of Tribes.This year's event, held Saturday and Sunday at San...

  Dozens of campers participate at Orange Lutheran...