Union, management of San Francisco-area rail system meet in hopes of averting Monday strikeOAKLAND, Calif. — A top Bay Area Rapid Transit official said he was “cautiously optimistic” of averting a crippling commuter train strike as BART and transit union negotiators worked Sunday toward brokering an 11th-hour deal. Union, management of San Francisco-area rail system to meet in hopes of averting Monday strikeOAKLAND, Calif. — The San Francisco Bay area’s commuter rail system and the union representing its station agents and train operators are resuming negotiations to try to avert a strike Monday. California reaches agreement with AstroTurf about lead levels in its productsOAKLAND, Calif. — California officials say they have reached an agreement with the makers of AstroTurf to nearly eliminate lead from its artificial grass. In green Seattle, industry spends big to ensure shoppers won’t pay to choose paper or plasticSEATTLE — Leaders of this famously green city last year passed the nation’s first grocery bag fee, and other cities around the nation quickly followed. Rail union set to strike Monday, potentially crippling San Francisco Bay area commutesOAKLAND, Calif. — The union representing train operators and station agents for the San Francisco Bay area’s commuter rail system said Thursday it would go on strike Monday. Rail union plans to strike Sunday, potentially crippling San Francisco Bay area commutesOAKLAND, Calif. — The union representing train operators and station agents for the San Francisco Bay area’s commuter rail system says it will go on strike Monday. BART union plans to strike Sunday, potentially crippling San Francisco Bay-area commuteOAKLAND, Calif. — The union representing train operators and station agents for the San Francisco Bay area’s commuter rail system says it’s planning go on strike at the close of business Sunday. Lawyer says missing Oakland, Calif., boy’s foster father has agreed to take a polygraph testOAKLAND, Calif. — A prominent San Francisco Bay-area civil rights attorney says the foster father of a missing 5-year-old boy with cerebral palsy will take a polygraph test. Judge OKs tentative $500 million deal in Social Security lawsuitOAKLAND, Calif. — The Social Security Administration stopped sending Rosa Martinez her $870 monthly disability check last year because it said Miami police had issued a warrant for her arrest on drug charges. Feds to pay $500 million in back Social Security payments to recipients wrongly barredOAKLAND — A federal judge has tentatively approved a settlement requiring the government to pay more than $500 million to tens of thousands of people wrongly barred from receiving Social Security payments. Hispanics watching closely as legislators, president wrangle over health care reformOAKLAND, Calif. —Perched at the edge of an exam table, Delmira Maravilla is anxious for a check-up — and for a timeline on the president’s promise of health care for all Americans. Pro-pot activists take first step toward putting legalization question to California votersSAN FRANCISCO — Oakland pot activists fresh off a victory at local polls on the taxing of medical marijuana took their first official step Tuesday toward asking California voters to legalize pot. Real Oakland officer arrests fake officer who tries to pull him overOAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland police say a man impersonating a police officer tried to pull over a real undercover officer and was arrested. Oakland voters approve marijuana sales tax to supplement city coffersOAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland residents overwhelmingly voted Tuesday to approve a first-of-its kind tax on medical marijuana sold at the city’s four cannabis dispensaries. Oakland votes on marijuana sales tax proposed by pot club owners to supplement city coffersOAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland residents voted Tuesday on a first-of-its kind measure that would impose a new tax on medical marijuana sold at the city’s four dispensaries. Lonely Planet offers guidance for travel with childrenOAKLAND, Calif. — Lonely Planet founders Tony and Maureen Wheeler traveled widely with their children from the time they were babies. Baby sea lion found on San Francisco freeway last month takes ride back to oceanSAN FRANCISCO — A baby sea lion who had a brief brush with fame when he wandered on to a busy San Francisco Bay area freeway last month has returned to the sea. 3 months after fatal crash, survivor remembers Nick Adenhart, throws 1st pitch to SuzukiOAKLAND, Calif. — Jon Wilhite survived a horrific car crash and three grueling months of rehabilitation to reach the Coliseum mound on Saturday. His ceremonial first pitch sailed high and true to Kurt Suzuki, the former college teammate who has become Wilhite’s biggest fan. California sprouts marijuana ‘green rush’ amid calls for legalization, taxationSAN FRANCISCO — A drug deal plays out, California-style: Where can U-lock up? As old-style meters expire, cyclists seek new places to park in citiesPHILADELPHIA — Old-style parking meters, reviled over the decades by coin-starved drivers, are currently getting plenty of love from bicyclists worried about their possible demise. Calif. regulators will not list Bisphenol A under Prop. 65, call for more studyOAKLAND, Calif. — A California regulatory board voted Wednesday against placing Bisphenol A, a chemical used to manufacture plastic baby bottles and toys, on the state’s list of chemicals that are believed to cause reproductive harm. Calif. university system chief proposes tens of thousands of employee furloughs to cut costsOAKLAND, Calif. — Tens of thousands of University of California employees would be forced to take furloughs and lose pay under a plan proposed Friday to offset deep funding cuts to the 10-campus system. UC president proposes thousands of employee furloughs to address budget problemsOAKLAND, Calif. — The president of the University of California is proposing to furlough tens of thousands of employees to offset deep funding cuts to the 10-campus system. The thin blue line may get thinner: Police seek record amount of aid to avoid possible layoffsWASHINGTON — The nation’s police departments are clamoring for an unprecedented amount of federal aid to forestall big local tax hikes or the possible layoff of nearly 40,000 police officers — enough to staff the entire New York City Police Department. Which way to San Francisco Bay? Baby sea lion rescued on freeway is malnourished but alertSAN FRANCISCO — A baby sea lion wandered onto a busy San Francisco Bay area freeway Monday morning but, after a ride in the back seat of a police car, was safe and resting at a marine center later in the day. Ex-officer pleads not guilty in California train station shooting, lawyer seeks venue changeOAKLAND, Calif. — A former transit officer accused of murdering an unarmed man at an Oakland train station has been ordered to stand trial in October, and his lawyer is asking to move the emotionally charged case to another city. Judge strikes down Calif. cities’ ordinances banning military recruiting or minorsSAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge on Thursday struck down two Northern California city ordinances banning military recruitment of minors, finding the laws violated the U.S. Constitution. Bay Area transit officer testifies in station shooting, says fellow cop thought victim had gunOAKLAND, Calif. — A Bay Area transit police officer said right after fatally shooting a man on an Oakland train platform that he thought the man “was going for a gun,” a fellow officer testified Wednesday. Southwest flight with 53 aboard returns safely to Oakland, Calif., after lightning strikeOAKLAND, Calif. — A Southwest Airlines plane was struck by lightning but passed a safety inspection after it returned safely to Oakland International Airport. Oakland, Calif., approves ID cards for city residents, including illegal immigrantsOAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland is set to become the third U.S. city to issue identification cards to all its residents, including illegal immigrants. |