Firefighters already dealing with extreme heat in Northern California braced Wednesday for the possibility of thunderstorms and strong winds as they tried to conquer several raging wildfires.

A Riverside County school board member must stand trial on charges of rape, pimping, pandering and attempted manslaughter.

Federal prosecutors say a Florida man has been convicted of selling and possessing paintings stolen from a Los Angeles art gallery.

Police say that after hours of investigating no explosives were discovered after a bomb threat at Los Angeles International Airport.

A taxpayer group says Santa Clara County's sales tax measure on the November ballot is illegal.

Sweltering heat and a blanket of smoke from California wildfires are making it a miserable week for Sacramento residents.

Authorities say a reputed Mexican Mafia chief who ran operations in parts of San Diego has pleaded guilty to racketeering charges and could face life in prison.

Prosecutors says Sacramento County sheriff's snipers were justified in shooting to death a gunman who killed two men and led authorities on a five-week manhunt in the woods near Fort Bragg.

Authorities say a man beat his sister with a baseball bat, then set fire to his San Diego County home before surrendering to authorities.

An internal audit shows Orange County officials botched the sexual harassment investigation of former public works executive Carlos Bustamante.

A research firm says California home prices approached four-year highs last month as buyers snapped up more expensive properties.

Ross Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq: ROST) announced today that the Company's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $.14 per common share, payable on September 28, 2012 to stockholders of record as of August 31, 2012.

An unmanned experimental aircraft failed during an attempt to fly at six times the speed of sound in the latest setback for hypersonic flight.

State Senate leader Darrell Steinberg on Wednesday asked for a detailed audit of how counties have spent mental health funding from a 2004 ballot initiative that he co-authored.

A lawmaker on Wednesday questioned whether the attorney general's office is fit to investigate the state parks department, which is embroiled in numerous controversies.

San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore has a message for jail inmates: No more letters.

The San Diego Stock Exchange Index closed higher Wednesday at 116.71, up 0.96 percent from Tuesday. Advancing issues beat decliners 51 to 30 and 59 issues were unchanged.