University of California system names first Black president

Dr. Michael Drake was chosen Tuesday to be president of the University of California, the first Black leader in the system’s 150-year history.

Pair charged with hate crime after defacing Black Lives Matter mural in Martinez

The July 4th incident, captured on video, has brought national attention, and the man who organized the mural project is relieved that charges came swiftly. 

Cousin says Danville dad killed by gunman had heart of gold

Authorities said the victim, 45-year-old Dr. Ari Gershman, was off-roading in a new jeep, with his 15-year-old son, when Gershman was shot.

A 5.8M earthquake shook between the Sequoia and Death Valley National Parks

A preliminary 5.8M earthquake shook about 10 miles south/southeast of Lone Pine, California Wednesday morning. Lone Pine is located between Sequoia National Park and Death Valley National Park.

California city of Fort Bragg, named for a Confederate general, considers name change

A rugged Northern California coastal city named for a Confederate general may ask voters to change its name as people protesting racial inequality and police brutality tear down monuments honoring former Confederate leaders.

Thermal body cameras to screen LAX travelers for COVID-19 starting Tuesday

Thermal cameras that check passengers' body temperatures will begin operating Tuesday throughout the Tom Bradley International Terminal and arrival areas at LAX as another layer of protection to help keep travelers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Newsom orders Californians to wear masks in most indoor spaces

The order will require people to wear masks when inside or in line for any indoor public spaces, in healthcare settings like hospitals and pharmacies, while waiting for or riding public transportation and in outdoor spaces where its not possible to stay six feet apart from other people.

4 young California residents killed when SUV plunges off bridge

Four young San Francisco Bay Area residents died when their vehicle plunged off a bridge and struck a parked freight train before hitting the ground, the California Highway Patrol said.

18th California prisoner dies of COVID-19

As a result of a lawsuit, the CDCR has agreed to release up to 3,500 more prisoners who have six months or less to serve on their sentences to be let go in order to reduce overcrowding.

PG&E fined $4 million in deaths of 84 people in 2018 fire

The maximum penalty assessed by Butte County Superior Court Judge Micahel Deems was a mere formality, given that PG&E reached a plea agreement three months ago to resolve manslaughter and other charges.

NTSB releases thousands of documents in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash probe

More than 1,700 pages of investigative documents from the continuing federal probe of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others were released Wednesday, but they make no conclusions or findings about what caused the aircraft to go down.

17 California inmates have now died of what appears to be COVID-19

There have now been 17 COVID-19-related inmate deaths in the state prison system, the department said. All but two involved inmates at the California Institution for Men.

Man, 31, accused of drugging, raping minor; holding her against her will

A 31-year-old Loma Linda man is accused of coordinating a meetup location with a runaway minor online before he allegedly held the victim against her will, drugged and raped her, investigators said.

Man charged with poisoning 8 homeless people, filming victims' reactions to eating laced food

The Orange County District Attorney's office Thursday announced charges against a man accused of poisoning eight homeless people, including an elderly person, in a series of attacks that were videotaped to record the victims’ reactions to eating food laced with oleoresin capsicum, which is twice as strong as the pepper spray used by police.

Golden Gate Bridge heard 'singing' over San Francisco Bay

High winds on Friday produced tones that are the side effect of a handrail retrofit designed to make the span more aerodynamic on gusty days.

'Creepy' clowns help boy, 4, celebrate end of cancer treatment: 'It was the happiest I have seen him'

Brodie, a lover of scary movies and clowns, in particular, was surprised on June 7, aka National Cancer Survivor Day, by a slew of ghoulish characters from Turlock’s Ranch of Horror — and the 4-year-old loved every second.