Nonprofit group has raised $28.6 million, seeks $56 million

Lamorinda public meetings

MARTINEZ — A Richmond woman facing trial on murder and torture charges in her 8-year-old son's death has been denied visitation with her 5-year-old daughter under a ruling by a state appeals court.

After 25 years of marriage, Donna and John Willy have realized they're a long-winded couple -- and they've put their lung capacities to good use on the bagpipes.

• Long-winded lungs

Police everywhere, fear of hidden microphones

Bay Area water regulators announced today they will file suit against the federal government over pollution from a deteriorating fleet of vessels anchored in Suisun Bay.

MORAGA — A year ago, there were three. Bump, bump, bump along Camino Pablo.Six months later, after hours of public debate, it was down to two. Soon, only one will remain.

n Crime is latest in series of holdups past two months in East Bay

The two names are most popular among the 4,300 freshmen arriving at the college. Among them were two 13-year-old undergraduates, and two 60 or older.

MARTINEZ — Drunken-driving checkpoints will be conducted in El Cerrito and Pacheco during the Labor Day weekend, the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said.

A block-long covered walkway next to a construction scaffold collapsed on Thursday, trapping and injuring 16 pedestrians, three critically. About 25 people were on the walkway when its wooden walls and roof fell in, authorities said. Some scaffolding along...

Republican presidential candidate John McCain decided on a running mate early Thursday, and one top prospect, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, abruptly canceled numerous public appearances. The Arizona senator will appear with his No. 2 at an Ohio rally on...

With Gustav approaching hurricane strength and showing no signs of veering off a track to slam into the Gulf Coast, authorities across the region began laying the groundwork Thursday to get the sick, elderly and poor away from the shoreline. The first batch...

A tip for parolees: Dont want to go back in the clink? Just be careful where you take a leak. One man who ignored that advice today was chased down and arrested after San Francisco police spotted him urinating on a building, and now faces several possible...

One of three suspects being sought in the shooting deaths of a Mountain View man and his sister was arrested today while trying to leave the state, police said. Kim Thien Pham, 19, who is said to live in either San Jose or Morgan Hill, was taken into custody...

Haitian officials are reporting 51 deaths from Gustav, raising the storms overall toll to 59. Civil protection department director Marie Alta Jean-Baptiste says the death count increased fivefold on Thursday as news reached officials from remote areas. At...