
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA QUAKE
Some damage reported from 5.7 quake in N. Calif.
GREENVILLE, Calif. (AP) - A moderate earthquake in far northeastern California damaged some homes and caused the rupture of a tank that supplies hundreds of homes with drinking water.
The magnitude-5.7 quake sent items tumbling from grocery store shelves and downed chimneys when it hit at 8:47 p.m. Thursday. Despite the damage, no injuries have been reported.
The quake was centered near Greenville, about 99 miles northwest of Carson City, Nev. Shaking was felt as far away as Oregon and Nevada. About four dozen aftershocks have been reported including a magnitude 4.9 quake that struck early Friday morning.
About 300 people were affected by the damaged water system and were under a boil advisory until further notice.
Plumas County Sheriff Greg Hagwood said it's the strongest quake he's ever felt in the area.
ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES
Bill would treat e-cigarettes like other tobacco
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California would treat electronic cigarettes like any other tobacco product under a bill approved by the state Senate.
Democratic Sen. Ellen Corbett of Hayward says some of the vapors emitted by the e-cigarettes may pose health risks.
SB648 would impose the same limits that apply to other smokers regarding where the devices can be used under California's existing smoke-free laws.
The Senate approved the bill 21-10 Friday, sending it to the Assembly.
Health organizations support Corbett's bill, but the Electronic Cigarette Industry Group objects. It says there is no proof the product emits secondhand smoke that can harm bystanders.
Republican Sen. Joel Anderson of Alpine also opposed Corbett's bill. He said the e-cigarettes are a popular alternative for those who are trying to stop smoking.
PLASTIC OCEAN DEBRIS
Calif. plastic ocean debris bill dies in committee
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A California bill that would have required manufacturers to figure out how to keep the most common plastic junk out of state waterways has died in the state Assembly without a vote.
Assembly Bill 521 was before the chamber's Appropriations Committee on Friday. The panel held it without a vote, effectively killing the legislation for the session.
Each year cleanup crews throughout the U.S. collect millions of pounds of plastic trash from beaches and coastal waterways, with the biggest numbers coming from California's 1,100-mile coastline.
The "extended producer responsibility" bill was seeking to shift the cost of cleanup from local cities and counties to plastic products makers.
It aimed to reduce 95% of plastic pollution along the state's coastline by 2024.
DEBT COLLECTION-MISTAKEN IDENTITY
Bill would require correct ID in debt-collections
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Debt collectors would have to make sure they are going after the right person under a bill working its way through the Legislature.
Democratic Sen. Mark Leno of San Francisco says some unscrupulous debt-buyers don't care who they target.
They might lure innocent parties into court to obtain default judgments that let them seize property or garnish wages - including from consumers who never owed the debt to begin with.
Even a Southern California state lawmaker found himself a victim when a collection agency arranged to have his Senate paycheck garnished to pay off a debt that wasn't his.
The bill was approved unanimously Friday by the Senate. It requires debt-buyers to have documents proving they are going after the right individual.
It now goes to the Assembly.
CALIFORNIA BUDGET-MEDI-CAL
Court denies second hearing on Medi-Cal rate cut
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A federal appeals court has denied a second request by California doctors, pharmacists and hospitals seeking to undo the state's 10% rate cut for treating the poor.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday denied an appeal from medical providers to rehear their case. A three-judge panel had ruled against them in December.
Paul Phinney, president of the California Medical Association, said in a statement that the decision was expected. But he says health providers will continue to press lawmakers to restore the 10% reimbursement rate cut to the state's Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal.
Friday's decision cements a budget victory for Gov. Jerry Brown.
The governor and Legislature approved the cut two years ago. The administration estimates the move saves about $330 million a year.
TAHOE COMPACT
Nevada withdraws threat to leave Tahoe Compact
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Nevada is no longer threatening to pull out of the Tahoe Compact with California.
The Assembly voted 40-1 Friday to pass the bill. The bill was ushered through the Legislature after Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval and California Gov. Jerry Brown announced an agreement to protect Lake Tahoe's delicate ecosystem while also considering the economy when making land use decisions.
The bill repeals a law passed by the 2011 Legislature that paved the way for Nevada to exit the Tahoe Compact created in the late 1960s to regulate development and oversee environmental controls in the Tahoe Basin that straddles Nevada and California.
A regional plan approved in December of last year helped ease some of the concerns that led Nevada to pass the withdraw threat two years ago.
MOLESTER KILLED
Molester found slain in Corcoran prison cell
CORCORAN, Calif. (AP) - Investigators at California State Prison-Corcoran are investigating as a homicide the death of an inmate who was a convicted child molester.
On Thursday corrections officials found the 63-year-old unresponsive in his cell. They have not released his name.
He was serving a 6-year sentence out of Los Angeles County for lewd and lascivious acts on a child under 14, among other crimes.
The inmate's cellmate, 48-year-old Allen Duane Queen, is the suspect. Queen is serving 259 years for convictions in San Joaquin County including attempted murder of a government officer, possession of a weapon by a prisoner, assault with a deadly weapon of a custody officer and making terrorist threats.
Prison investigators are being assisted by the Kings County District Attorney's Office.
Corcoran houses 4,395 inmates.
GIRL KILLED IN HOME
Funeral planned for slain Calif. girl shot in home
NORTH HIGHLANDS, Calif. (AP) - Funeral services are being planned for a 10-year-old Northern California girl who was killed when gunmen fired a barrage of bullets into her family's home while she was drawing and watching television.
The Sacramento Bee reports that the Mexican Consulate is helping Elvira Campos' family pay for a private memorial service that will be held on Saturday and to find a new place to live.
Elvira was shot in the heart and head on Saturday night when gunfire pierced the home in North Highland, located outside Sacramento.
The fifth-grader's parents both were wounded in the arm.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department has described the family as innocent victims and is searching for suspects.
Olga Cruz, Elvira's Bible study teacher, says the girl talked about devoting her life to end violence just hours before she was killed.
MUSEUM THEFT-INDICTMENT
Parolee indicted in theft of Gold Rush jewelry box
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - A federal grand jury has indicted a 45-year-old parolee in connection with the theft of a valuable Gold Rush-era jewelry box from the Oakland Museum of California.
U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag said Friday that Andre Taray Franklin, of Oakland was charged on Thursday with theft of major artwork and unlawful concealment and disposition of stolen major artwork.
Franklin is accused of stealing a 19th century gold-encrusted jewelry box valued at more than $800,000 from the museum in January. The box depicts images of early California history and was originally a wedding anniversary gift from a San Francisco pioneer to his wife in the 1800s.
The rare artifact was returned to the museum in March.
No court date has been set as Franklin remains in jail for violating his parole.
HALF DOME CABLES
Cables are up and Half Dome is open for business
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) - A summer rite of passage is underway at Yosemite National Park, where the handrails on Half Dome are in place and hikers began scaling the granite monolith Friday morning.
Park spokeswoman Kari Cobb says the last of the heavy metal cables were installed late Thursday. Park officials also place wooden boards to act as footholds on the sometimes slippery granite.
In recent years park officials began requiring hikers to have passes for the popular hike to the summit. They were distributed through a lottery in March, but 50 are available through a 2-day-in-advance lottery.
Park officials want to limit numbers to increase safety on Half Dome, where changing weather conditions can be challenging. With fewer people backed up on the cables, it's easier to evacuate if a storm hits.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.