Report: Airborne pesticides in Central Valley carry to Sierra, where they threaten frogs

FRESNO, Calif. — A new study shows frogs in the Sierra Nevada mountains are threatened by airborne pesticides that drift eastward from California’s Central Valley.

Cities and counties counting on $1.5 billion in stimulus funds to help the homeless

FRESNO, Calif. — The U.S. expects to send $1.5 billion in stimulus money Thursday to hundreds of communities around the country to prevent homelessness, including $1 million for Fresno to dismantle tent cities and move residents into privately owned apartments.

With Calif. in turmoil, the spotlight returns to Schwarzenegger’s promises of fiscal reform

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California voters gave Arnold Schwarzenegger a single, blockbuster-sized mission when they sent him to Sacramento six years ago in an unprecedented election: Fix California’s chaotic budget system, once and for all.

Ex-criminal law student in California sentenced to life in PlayStation slaying

FRESNO, Calif. — A former criminal law student has been sentenced to life in a California prison for killing one man and wounding two others in a dispute over a Sony PlayStation console.

Egg fight breaks out over California chicken welfare law requiring bigger digs for hens

FRESNO, Calif. — By one of the biggest margins in California’s rich initiative history, voters decreed last year that egg-laying hens must be able to stretch their wings without touching another bird or a cage wall.

ACLU says California hospital discriminated against gay couple after woman’s collapse at march

FRESNO, Calif. — Civil rights groups are urging a hospital in central California to change its policies after employees briefly barred a lesbian from visiting her partner, who went into seizure at a gay marriage march.

Researchers bet purple carrots will be easier to swallow than petroleum-based dyes in food

FRESNO, Calif. — The ancient purple carrot is returning to its roots, this time to dye processed foods rather than the robes of Afghan royals.

Divided over budget, California legislature finds common ground on farm animal welfare issues

FRESNO, Calif. — California voters’ landslide support last November of an initiative on the treatment of farm animals appears to have helped a state legislature bitterly divided over the budget find common ground.

Gay marriage opponents rally day after hundreds march in support of same-sex nuptials

FRESNO, Calif. — Hundreds of people waived signs and rallied at Fresno City Hall on Sunday to show support for the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage in California, a day after thousands marched in the area against the ban.

Revived gay marriage debate a complication for San Fran mayor’s gubernatorial aspirations

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has been linked to gay marriage ever since he directed city clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004. Now he’s running for governor and trying to broaden his appeal, but fate appears to be working against him.

Gay marriage opponents to rally in Calif. after hundreds march in support of same-sex couples

FRESNO, Calif. — Hundreds of gay marriage supporters marched in rural, conservative California, but before the dusty roads could clear, opponents of same-sex couples planned to take to the streets to renew their resolve.

Gay couples march in California’s rural center, kicking off latest front in marriage fight

FRESNO, Calif. — Hundreds of same-sex couples and their supporters marched Saturday through dusty California farm towns, pushing for gay marriage in the state’s conservative center.

Man locked up once again after police said he stole a ‘prisoner’ T-shirt from Fresno jail

FRESNO, Calif. — A 20-year-old man was locked up once again after being charged with stealing his prisoner T-shirt from a previous stint at the Fresno County Jail. The man was arrested last week on suspicion of child abuse and possession of marijuana. After he was released from jail last Thursday, police said he nearly caused a collision while riding his bike.

5 killed, dozens injured when tour carrying French tourists crashes in central Calif.

SOLEDAD, Calif. — A bus carrying French tourists overturned on a central California highway overpass Tuesday afternoon, killing at least five and injuring dozens of others, authorities said.

The sky falls on America’s old-fashioned purebred chickens; breeding group tries to save them

FRESNO, Calif. — At about the time Foghorn Leghorn appeared on the Looney Toons drawing board in 1946, he began disappearing from America’s dinner tables.

Federal government to release meager water supplies to California farms in time for summer

FRESNO, Calif. — Farmers in California’s drought-stricken agricultural basin finally will get a meager supply of federal water to nurture their crops this summer.

Calif. police seek man who had 7-year-old son forcibly tattooed with street gang sign

FRESNO, Calif. — Police in California are looking for a man accused of holding down his 7-year-old son while another man tattooed the child’s belly with a street gang sign.