California

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'Phonehenge' Creator Guilty of Outlaw Building

Alan Kimble Fahey could get years in prison for wacky structure

(Newser) - The druids of Stonehenge never had to worry about construction permits. But now the creator of a modern-day Phonehenge West has been found guilty of violating California building codes and could face years in prison. Alan Kimble Fahey has been found guilty—so far—of nine misdemeanor violations, and the...

Calif. Cops Discover 2nd 'Familycide' in 8 Days

Another family wiped out in murder-suicide

(Newser) - California police believe they've found another case of a family wiped out in a murder-suicide—the second such tragedy in eight days, reports the AP . The discovery of the body of a man who apparently leaped to his death from a highway overpass near San Diego led investigators to...

Woman Busted With Trash Can Full of Body Parts

Calif. woman suspected of killing boyfriend

(Newser) - A California woman found wheeling a trash can full of human body parts down a suburban Los Angeles street has been charged with murder. San Bernardino County cops arrested Carmen Montenegro, 51, after neighbors who saw—or smelled—the dismembered remains alerted authorities, reports the Los Angeles Times . In what...

Calif. School First to Ban Dissections in Software Deal

Students to use free anatomy software instead of frogs

(Newser) - A California high school has put down its scalpels and become the first school in the nation to accept a software offer from an animal rights group. Rancho Verde High School will drop frog dissections in exchange for free "Digital Frog" anatomy software provided by the Animal Welfare Institute...

Feds Seize Suicide Kits Sold by 91-Year-Old Woman

It's helium hoods instead of tea cozies for Sharlotte Hydorn

(Newser) - While lots of grandmas are knitting tea cozies, 91-year-old Sharlotte Hydorn is stitching together suicide kits for her mail-order business. Now FBI agents have raided Hydorn's home in a search for material that could be used in a case against her, reports KTLA . Hydorn's kits consist of tubing...

Hundreds of Violent Calif. Inmates Freed by Mistake

High error rate found in unsupervised parole system

(Newser) - California has been ordered to release tens of thousands of prisoners over the next two years to relieve overcrowding, but it's already failing to release inmates safely, according to the state's inspector general. Some 450 inmates "with a high risk of violence" were mistakenly released on unsupervised...

Quadriplegic Rapist Denied Parole

Calif. board rejects first inmate considered under medical parole law

(Newser) - A convicted rapist paralyzed from the neck down after he was stabbed by another inmate a decade ago has been denied parole in California. Steven Martinez was the first inmate to be considered for medical parole under a new state law aimed at saving the expense of providing medical care...

Family of 4 Killed in Murder-Suicide

Father was strapped for cash, he says in note

(Newser) - The death of two sisters and their parents at their San Diego home has been ruled a murder-suicide, likely by the father. The bodies of Priscilla Pimienta, who was just a month away from her high school graduation, and her baby sister, 9-year-old Emily, were found in the family pool...

Supreme Court: California Must Release 46K Inmates

Upholds federal panel's decision on poor prison conditions

(Newser) - In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court has upheld a panel’s order that California release 46,000 inmates over the next two years to reduce overcrowding in state prisons. In 2009, a three-judge panel called on the state to reduce its prison population to 137% of capacity; overcrowding was...

Riot Breaks Out at San Quentin

4 hospitalized with stab wounds; cause unknown

(Newser) - Some 200 inmates rioted at San Quentin prison last night, leaving at least four hospitalized with stab and slash wounds. Others suffered minor injuries. Guards, who fired non-lethal bullets and pepper spray to halt the violence, found at least 10 inmate-made weapons afterward. The cause of the fight, which occurred...

Newport Beach Lifeguards Rake in ... $200K a Year

California lifeguards reimbursed $400 annually for sunscreen expenses, too!

(Newser) - Life is good for the full-time lifeguard staff at California's Newport Beach, or at least it was, until someone caught a glimpse of their paychecks. Since a newspaper editorialized about salaries, benefits, and overtime pay that in at least two instances top $200,000 (with $400 for sun protection),...

Chihuahua Killer Faces Life
 Chihuahua Killer Faces ... Life 
May 20, 2011 2:19 AM CDT

Chihuahua Killer Faces ... Life

Puppy's death could cost con big time under Three Strikes Law

(Newser) - A California man accused of fatally slamming his wife's Chihuahua against a wall during a domestic dispute could be sentenced to life in prison, according to authorities. Bud Wally Ruiz gave the 6-week-old puppy, Teddy, to his wife for Mother's Day. His wife called police just days later...

Mother of Terminator's Love Child ID'd

Mildred Baena lives outside LA with Arnold Schwarzenegger's son

(Newser) - The mother of Arnold Schwarzenegger's love child has been identified as long-time family housekeeper Mildred "Patty" Baena. Baena, now 50, had the former California governor's son some 10 years ago and lives as a single mom divorcée with the boy and her three other children outside...

California: This Landmark, 69 More State Parks to Close

Budget cuts forcing closure of quarter of state parks

(Newser) - California is planning to close more than a quarter of its 278 state parks and slash services at the rest as part of sweeping budget cuts. Southern California's beaches will stay open but redwood forests, coastal woodlands, and many of the state's historic sites will be shut down...

It's Splitsville for Schwarzenegger, Maria Shriver

They're 'amicably separating,' says power couple

(Newser) - Arnold Schwarzenegger and wife Maria Shriver are, ah, terminating their relationship. The power couple announced they're "amicably separating" after 25 years of marriage and four children. "This has been a time of great personal and professional transition for us. After a great deal of thought, discussion, and...

‘California Grannies’ Busted for Growing Weed

Two women, ages 65 and 72, arrested with 800 pot plants

(Newser) - Authorities have dubbed them the "marijuana grannies." Police in San Bruno, California, arrested Aleen Lam, 72, and Virginia Chan Pon, 65, after officers found 800 pot plants and a bypass to steal electricity from PG&E in the women's house, reports AP . The senior duo faces a...

California Holds Off on Executions for 6th Year

San Quentin warden asks for time to replace execution team

(Newser) - Officials in California have given up on efforts to resume executing convicts this year, meaning that the state will have gone at least 6 years without executions. A review of lethal injection procedures has been delayed until at least January because the new warden of San Quentin prison wants to...

California Neo-Nazi Killed, Son, 10, Held

Jeff Hall shot at home in intentional killing, say cops

(Newser) - A leading white supremacist has been shot to death at his California home and his 10-year-old son has been booked on suspicion of homicide. Jeff Russell Hall, 32, was the regional director of the National Socialist Movement and came to national attention last year when he ran for a post...

Surfing Madonna Makes Waves in California

Is it inspirational or sacrilegious?

(Newser) - A mystery mosaic of a surfing Madonna is roiling the waters in suburban San Diego. Most love the sporty beach gal while city officials worry about those who find the vivid "vandalism" offensive. The 10-foot-square stained-glass mosaic with the message "Save the Ocean" appeared overnight on a wall...

States Suspect Life Insurers Are Screwing the Dead

Some ignoring information showing policy holders are dead

(Newser) - Dozens of states are investigating the possibility that major insurance companies have been less than conscientious about paying out life insurance benefits for their dead customers. The investigations began when 35 states signed up for an auditing firm’s offer to look for unclaimed life insurance benefits that could be...

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