New California law prompted by crash that killed Kobe Bryant, 8 others

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday approved legislation prompted by the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight other people that makes it a crime for first responders to take unauthorized photos of deceased people at the scene of an accident or crime.

Newsom signs law requiring California to house transgender inmates based on gender identity

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law on Saturday requiring California to house transgender inmates in prisons based on their gender identity — but only if the state does not have “management or security concerns.”

Video shows deputy striking man with riot shield during Breonna Taylor protest in West Hollywood

Five of the six protesters arrested during a third night of protests in the name of Breonna Taylor -- the Black woman fatally shot by Louisville, Kentucky police in a botched drug raid in March -- have been cited and released, a sheriff's watch sergeant said Saturday.

White supremacist killed after shooting California deputy: sheriff

The suspect is a convicted felon with an outstanding felony warrant, a history of weapons charges and a member of a white supremacist gang

Feinstein's husband admits to pulling strings in UC admissions

“I did it a bunch of times,” Richard Blum told the Chronicle. “Usually friends. My cousin’s brother wanted to get into Davis. They’d send me a letter and tell me why it’s a good kid, and I’ll send it on to the chancellor. Been doing it forever.”

California governor signs executive order to ban gas-powered cars and trucks

This rule, if not halted by a court challenge by the oil and gas industry and the Trump administration, would make California the first U.S. state with a plan to phase them out completely.

Grandmother surprised with socially distanced parade days before heart procedure

Grace Burns, who goes by Onnie, wasn’t able to see anyone other than immediate family since March due to the coronavirus pandemic. So, her family and closest friends decided to surprise her with a drive-by “good luck parade” on Saturday.

Stanford study: Smoke from California wildfires may be factor in up to 3,000 deaths

Between Aug. 1 and Sept. 10, the unprecedented unhealthy concentrations of wildfire smoke were responsible for at least 1,200 and possibly up to 3,000 deaths in California that otherwise would not have occurred, according to an estimate by researchers at Stanford University. 

Edited body camera footage raises questions about police accountability

Some Bay Area police departments edit police body-worn camera footage before releasing it to the public. Some activists say many departments go too far in manipulating the footage to spin a more favorable story. Others say editing video can provide important context that may not be visible in the raw footage.

Bodycam video released of 88-year-old man shot to death by W. Sacramento police

The department didn’t immediately release additional details about the shooting but released video from three different officer body cameras that shows six officers questioning a man in handcuffs at the front of a patrol car.

State auditor: UC wrongly admitted well-connected students as 'favors' to donors and friends

The California State Auditor also found in the audit released Tuesday that campus staff falsely designated 22 of the applicants as student-athlete recruits because of donations from or as favors to well-connected families.

Vanessa Bryant sues LA County Sheriff Villanueva, LASD over leaked helicopter crash scene photos

Vanessa Bryant, the widow of the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant, is suing Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva and his department after his deputies allegedly took personal photographs on their phones of the bodies of Kobe and Gianna Bryant at the scene of the deadly helicopter crash in Calabasas, according to a lawsuit obtained by FOX 11 Tuesday.

Firefighter who died while battling wildfire started by gender reveal party identified as crew boss

The firefighter who died last week battling the El Dorado fire that was started by a gender-reveal party in Southern California was identified on Monday as a squad boss from a hotshot crew.