A body of a woman found in an abandoned car outside Milpitas has been identified as 68-year-old Donna Dowell, a nurse whose family reported her missing nearly a year ago, authorities said today. A hiker came across a Honda Accord near Calaveras and Felter... Full Story »
A signed pilot's cap belonging to Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger was sold today for $5,800, which will be donated to three East Bay public schools. A weeklong auction for the cap on eBay drew 68 bids from people hoping to win a souvenir from the Bay Area'... Full Story »
A driver was struck and killed by a light-rail train after turning into its path in Milpitas on Saturday evening, authorities said. The collision occurred about 7 p.m. Saturday when the motorist made a left turn into the train near Tasman Drive and Interstate... Full Story »
While the poor economy has slowed the ambitious redevelopment of Oakland's Jack London Square, questions remain about whether the waterfront district can become a regional food and entertainment mecca even in good times. The premiere of Jack London Market,... Full Story »
A car filled with the personal possessions of a woman who was moving was found ablaze in Richmond early today, in what could be the latest in a series of vehicle arsons in west Contra Costa County. The Toyota Camry was found on fire on the 200 block of South... Full Story »
Subway work about to begin in Fremont. Full Story »
SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco native plant thought extinct by botanists has been discovered near the Golden Gate Bridge. Full Story »
Toyota is rolling out its plug-in Prius hybrid. Plus: 'Dogfooding' the Google phone; eBay v. Craigslist continues; Oracle-Sun deal more likely; Sun stock soars. Full Story »
A Milpitas woman who has been missing for nearly one year has been identified as the person found in an abandoned vehicle by a hiker at Ed Levin County Park in the east foothills near Milpitas, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. Full Story »
Santa Clara police have concluded their investigation into allegations that administrators at Santa Clara's Wilcox High School had been warned of inappropriate behavior by teacher Edward Slate before he was charged with having sex with a 17-year-old female student. Full Story »
A San Francisco native plant thought extinct by botanists has been discovered near the Golden Gate Bridge. Full Story »
California Highway Patrol officers are searching for two men, one of whom pepper sprayed the other inside the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Santa Rosa Monday morning in an incident that sent four people to the hospital. Full Story »
Forty-two former University of California, Berkeley students have received their diplomas nearly seven decades after their studies were disrupted when they were sent to internment camps during World War II. Full Story »
A man who was previously convicted of raping and assaulting an Oakland woman in 1984 went on trial Monday for raping and murdering another Oakland woman in a 1994 case that prosecutors say was solved with DNA evidence. Full Story »
Police were searching for a gunman who shot a man in the city's Southern District Monday morning, Richmond police Sgt. Bisa French said. Full Story »
It's a mobile cupcake dispensary duel in the City today. Full Story »
More than 20 cars have gone up in flames in the East Bay, and cops say they have no answers yet. Full Story »
Donna Dowell was 68 years old when her family reported her missing to Milpitas police on Dec. 20, 2008. Full Story »
A promotion that has a Willy Wonka feel will have you looking up tomorrow. Full Story »
A trail of empty juice and milk boxes leads cops right to four kids suspected of burglary. Full Story »
Benjamin Wayne Diaz, 19, arrested in Bakersfield on suspicion of murder and robbery Full Story »
A daylight shooting left a 19-year-old man in critical condition Monday in south Richmond.Witnesses called about 10:30 a.m. to report the attack at the corner of South 17th Street and Maine Avenue. Full Story »
CONCORD — Three men pistol-whipped and robbed a man in his home over the weekend, police said.The men came to the home in the 1300 block of Lani Kai Drive about 9:50 p. Full Story »
A Pittsburg man was arrested on suspicion of DUI after driving his truck down a Highway 4 embankment Sunday evening, killing the Concord woman who was his passenger, the California Highway Patrol said. Full Story »
Billions of dollars being earmarked to help neighborhoods improve access better, more active lives. Special Report: Where you live matters | Health Disparity Map | Data Full Story »
By KERRY BENEFIELD THE PRESS DEMOCRAT High school students throughout Sonoma County are preparing for final exams this week in the last days before the two-week winter break. Shortened days mark the testing season as most students are released around 12:30 p.m. during final exams. Full Story »
BY RANDI ROSSMANN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT A man armed with pepper spray entered Santa Rosa's DMV office Monday and sprayed at least one customer, sending six people to area hospitals. Full Story »
A taste of simpler times is just the antidote for the harried, commercial frenzy that's come to define December, and what better way to get it than to step into the past for an old-fashioned pioneer Christmas. Full Story »
Holiday sing-alongs, Nutcracker performances and Christmas tree hunts bring holiday cheer and a sense of the season. But perhaps the best way to brighten the holidays is to give something of yourself. With less than two weeks remaining before Christmas, there are still opportunities to lend a hand to those in need. Full Story »
By JAMES GLANZ NEW YORK TIMES The company in charge of a project at The Geysers to extract vast amounts of renewable energy from deep, hot bedrock has removed its drill rig and informed federal officials that the government project will be abandoned. Full Story »
The Washington Redskins took a 17-13 lead into the fourth quarter and just built on it from there. Full Story »
Former NFL star Herschel Walker said he is a big fan of 49er head coach Mike Singletary. Full Story »
The Transamerica Pyramid was awarded LEED Gold Certification, the second highest for energy efficiency rating. Full Story »
The Salvation Army held its 29th annual celebrity bell ringing event in Union Square. Full Story »
Developers have issued a new artist's rendition of the proposed 49er stadium in San Francisco. Full Story »
SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco native plant thought extinct by botanists has been discovered near the Golden Gate Bridge. Full Story »
Llorente must complete one-year jail term, register as sex offender Full Story »
As prices fall, purchasers of second homes prefer rental properties in low-cost communities over vacation sites. Full Story »
Benjamin Wayne Diaz, 19, arrested in Bakersfield on suspicion of murder and robbery Full Story »
A daylight shooting left a 19-year-old man in critical condition Monday in south Richmond.Witnesses called about 10:30 a.m. to report the attack at the corner of South 17th Street and Maine Avenue. Full Story »
A Napa Valley winery has been the subject of more than a dozen lawsuits in the past year, most due to nonpayment for goods and services. Full Story »
Two legal disputes related to St. Helena’s flood control project have come to an end. Full Story »
Sixty years ago and newly married, a young geologist and his wife made a pact. Full Story »
The city of American Canyon continues to look for new sources of water as drought conditions drag on. Full Story »
Are you one of the more than 100,000 people who had an IRS refund check sent back because your mailing address was wrong? Full Story »
SAN FRANCISCO -- A San Francisco native plant thought extinct by botanists has been discovered near the Golden Gate Bridge. The last, wild Franciscan Manzanita was believed to have perished in the 1940s when the city cemeteries where it grew were moved south to allow for neighborhood expansion. Full Story »
SAN FRANCISCO -- A federal appeals court Monday ruled that California wasn't paying group foster care homes enough to cover the cost of taking care of children. Full Story »
California Highway Patrol officers were searching for two men Monday, one of whom pepper sprayed the other inside the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Santa Rosa and sent four others to the hospital. Full Story »
RICHMOND, Calif. -- Authorities say an early morning car fire in Contra Costa County appears to be unrelated to the torchings of more than two-dozen vehicles across the area since late October. Full Story »
RICHMOND, Calif. -- Police are searching for a gunman who shot a man in the city's Southern District this morning, Richmond police Sgt. Bisa French said. Full Story »
A Christmas tree stands in front of the Brandenburg gate in Berlin. AP Photo/Michael Sohn
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