State drivers have seen cost of gas rise 32 cents a gallon in the past month.

Gasoline prices, tracking the historic run-up in crude oil, have risen 32 cents in the past month and are creeping into record territory.

Ocean Beach joins the list of closed beaches

As volunteers stooped over to scoop up fingernail-size splotches of oil from the tainted shoreline at San Francisco's Ocean Beach on Wednesday, a handful of surfers defied warnings and took to the waves.

Racial gap confronted

The politician who heads California's public schools is doing something strange this week: He's leading an enormous conference focused on the biggest failure of the very education system he is in charge of.

Bhutto rules out deal with Musharra

The political crisis gripping this country took a surprise turn Tuesday when former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto called on President Pervez Musharraf to step down, raising the prospect of more violence between her supporters and government forces, and apparently dashing U.S. hopes for conciliation.

Kings' Williams won't be charged

The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office will not pursue sexual assault charges against Sacramento Kings reserve center Justin Williams.

A powerful 7.7-magnitude quake has hit north Chile, cracking roads, bringing down buildings and knocking out power.

The quake hit at 1243 local time (1543 GMT), centring on Quillahua village, about 100km north-west of Calama town.

Alexander Gonzalez defends his controversial tenure

President Alexander Gonzalez says he walked onto the Sacramento State campus four years ago with a big target on his back – a comment on how he views the faculty. And how he sees himself.

House passes $50B Iraq withdrawal bill

House Democrats pushed through a $50 billion bill for the Iraq war Wednesday night that would require President Bush to start bringing troops home in coming weeks with a goal of ending combat by December 2008.

A study of the world's power stations has shown the extent to which developed countries produce more carbon dioxide per head than emerging economies.

Australians were found to be the world's worst polluters per capita, producing five times as much carbon from generating power as China

Tahoe resorts create snow in bid to open soon

If snow-laden storm clouds don't rumble over the Sierra soon, ski resort operators will settle for low humidity and cold temperatures.