Gay marriage: all eyes on 9th Circuit panel

A moderate judge is considered pivotal in the appeal of a judge's ruling against the state's ban.

Criminal's letters leave San Diego woman in fear

A patient at Patton State Hospital has been sending unwanted correspondence, and administrators say privacy rights and other laws keep them from doing much about it.

Getting an A in overcoming the odds

California schools are not as good as they should be, but they are significantly better than their reputation.

Sun Valley pot operation goes up in smoke

A commercial building that authorities say held stores of marijuana is burned in an overnight fire. The legality of the business and cause of the blaze is under investigation.

L.A. County libraries in a bind

The system is facing at $22-million deficit per year over the next decade. If an increase of a special tax isn't approved by voters, there could be deeper cuts to services and hours of operation.

Festival has Olvera Street crawling with clowns

Colorful, quirky performers roam the plaza, entertaining children and drawing laughs from the crowd in celebration of the Mexican holiday Dia de los Payasos.

Overnight storm forecast for Southern California

Rain and snow expected in areas, along with gusty winds. Conditions are expected to clear for Monday morning's commute.

When layoffs come to L.A. schools, performance doesn't count

After the budget ax fell, hundreds of the district's most promising new instructors were laid off. Campuses in poorer areas — such as Liechty Middle School in the Westlake neighborhood — were disproportionately hurt.

Brawl in Rose Bowl parking lot sends two to hospital, three to jail

The drunken melee before the annual USC-UCLA football game leaves two men hospitalized with stab wounds and three people in jail on suspicion of attempted murder, authorities say.

Bill targets Vernon's cityhood

Assembly speaker wants to dissolve the small municipality after a series of civic scandals.

New Legislature session means a new crack at state's financial mess

Leading lawmakers hope to reorganize state services and assign many duties to county governments. Meanwhile, clout in the Senate shifts to business-friendly moderate Democrats.

Detectives say Santa Monica actress dialed 911 moments before she was killed

Prosecutors and police investigating Juliana Redding's 2008 death tell a grand jury that suspect Kelly Soo Park left DNA evidence in the victim's home and then tried to blow it up.

Lee Harvey Oswald's coffin seeks a final resting place

A Brentwood auctioneer is selling it and other artifacts from JFK's assassin.

At climate summit, they're feeling like deserted islands

Members of the Alliance of Small Island States, already suffering the ill effects of global warming, are furious that the large nations that are the big emitters of greenhouse gases aren't doing more to ensure their survival.

L.A.'s slow trickle of bedbugs may turn into a flood

County officials are already confirming as many as 55 bedbug cases a month, but exterminators fear that holiday travel and gift-giving will cause the problem to explode.

Thousands turn out for Watts/Willowbrook Christmas Parade

This year's grand marshal was Lee Wesley Gibson, 100, a former Pullman car porter. Edna Aliewine, who turns 90 New Year's Day, founded the parade in 1964 and was on hand to greet dignitaries and keep order.

A private enclave clings to its splendid isolation

Bay Island, once the only isle in Newport Harbor, has 23 houses and no public access. Residents want to keep it that way.

Charities often need middlemen

Nonprofit charitable organizations may legitimately need help with fundraising. But there's still a way to get more direct aid for your money.

Schwarzenegger's wild ride ends quietly

The outgoing governor takes one more stab at the state's budget deficit, but Brown has already begun taking charge of fiscal policy.

Century-old oaks may make way -- for silt

Protesters are trying to keep L.A. County from clearing an 11-acre grove near Arcadia to spread debris dredged from a reservoir.

Man who killed himself may not have connection to Ronni Chasen slaying

Beverly Hills police wanted to question Harold Martin Smith because a tipster called "America's Most Wanted" saying that the ex-convict had claimed involvement. But police say it's unclear if that's true.

Man charged with smuggling tarantulas

Suspect allegedly earned more than $300,000 by illegally importing hundreds of the creatures into the United States.

Camp Pendleton honors 14 troops killed in Afghanistan

Eleven Marines, two Navy corpsmen and a British soldier assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment are praised for their dedication to duty.