Northern California local news and information from The Sacramento Bee

Bay Bridge S-curve death highlights safety concerns

By Tony Bizjak - Published: 12:00 am

The dramatic fatal crash of a big rig Monday on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge has spotlighted yet another safety concern on the troubled span.

Schwarzenegger: This year's budget gap may hit $7 billion

By Kevin Yamamura and Dan Smith - Published: 6:22 am

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger estimated Monday that California's budget will fall out of balance by $5 billion to $7 billion this fiscal year, on top of a $7.4 billion gap already projected for 2010-11.

Sacramento officials push for Capitol Mall redesign

By Ryan Lillis - Updated: 8:03 am

Paris has the Champs-Élysées. In Barcelona, it's Las Ramblas. And in Washington, D.C., it's the National Mall. Sacramento has an underachieving Capitol Mall.

Schwarzenegger signs legislation for giant water bond

By Robert Rodriguez - Updated: 6:43 am

California water bill signing -- schwarzenegger

With Millerton Lake as a backdrop, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an $11.1 billion water bond Monday that proponents acknowledged will be a tough sell with voters.

Refuge policies clash in San Francisco

By Suan Ferriss - Published: 12:00 am

In California, the word "sanctuary" prompts talk of Edwin Ramos, a 22-year-old Salvadoran accused of a brutal triple murder last year.

Democrats face abortion fight they'd hoped to avoid

By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar - Published: 12:00 am

WASHINGTON – Abortion opponents in the Senate are seeking tough restrictions in the health care overhaul bill, a move that could roil a shaky Democratic effort to pass President Barack Obama's signature issue by year's end.