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Shasta county’s Kevin Crye fought off recall effort, but a far-right official who pushed election conspiracies lost the race for his seatShasta county voters returned a mixed verdict on the ultra-conservative politics the rural enclave in northern California has become known for, ousting one far-right local official and offering another a political lifeline.County residents on 5 March resoundingly declined to re-elect Patrick Jones to...

John Feikema and Christopher Arnet, who prosecutors say used high-powered rifles to kill three wild burros, face prison sentencesTwo men who used high-powered rifles to kill three wild burros in southern California’s Mojave desert more than two years ago pleaded guilty on Monday to federal charges related to the shootings, prosecutors said.The men wore tactical gear including night vision goggles as they targeted the...

Outrage over killing of Ryan Gainer, shot three times on Saturday, as sheriff denounced for defending deputies’ use of lethal forceThe San Bernardino, California sheriff released new body-camera footage of the fatal police shooting of 15-year-old Ryan Gainer, who was holding a gardening tool.The Saturday killing of Gainer, who was autistic and having a mental health crisis, sparked national outrage and escalating criticisms, prompting...

Homeowners in wealthy towns watching anxiously in face of heavy storms that have caused flash floods and coastal erosionThe torrents of water coming from the sky are having ripple effects on the cliffs that hold up some of California’s most expensive real estate. In the first two months of the year, nearly 18in of rain has fallen in the southern California area, about 8in...

Shooting on Sunday evening at outdoor gathering in King City left four dead and seven others injured, police sayPolice are offering a $20,000 reward for information on a shooting that took place on Sunday evening when a group of masked men pulled up to an outdoor birthday party in central California and opened fire, killing at least four.Officers responded to a reported shooting at...

Blast occurred in Wilmington neighborhood as spokesperson says ‘the ball of flame was as high as the telephone poles’A truck’s fuel tank exploded on Thursday in a Los Angeles neighborhood, sending a fireball into the air and injuring nine of the 10 firefighters responding to the blaze, including two critically, fire officials said.All nine firefighters were rushed to Harbor-UCLA medical center and were stabilized,...

Weather system brings heavy rainfall, strong winds and mudslides. Elsewhere, Nova Scotia declares state of emergencyDuring the first week of February two storms hit California in quick succession, both featuring intense precipitation thanks to the “pineapple express” atmospheric river.Atmospheric rivers are long narrow channels of very moist air that flow through the atmosphere, transporting impressive amounts of water vapour that eventually fall as heavy...

This blog is now closedCalifornia is grappling with another round of strong storms this week and the dangerous potential for flash flooding, landslides, and furious winds expected to come with them.Much like last year, when record rainfall lashed the state, the storms are attributed to atmospheric rivers (ARs), systems that have long played a role in California’s precipitation levels – both for good and...

Officials say suspects were arrested in the fatal shootings and believe killings were from a dispute over an illegal marijuana tradeAuthorities say arrests have been made in the investigation surrounding six bodies found last week at a remote dirt crossroads in the southern California desert.Five suspects have been arrested in the fatal shootings, according to the San Bernardino county sheriff’s department. Officials say they...

Wenheng Zhao, 26, pleaded guilty in October to passing sensitive military information to Chinese intelligence officerA US navy petty officer who pleaded guilty to providing sensitive military information to a Chinese intelligence officer was sentenced to more than two years in prison on Monday, the US justice department said.Wenheng Zhao, 26, and another US sailor, Jinchao Wei, were arrested in August on suspicion of...

Electra Schrock arrested after alleged incident in Malibu, involving the actor, best known for sitcom Two and a Half MenActor Charlie Sheen has been allegedly attacked in his home by a neighbour who was later arrested by police, US media have reported.Sheen, star of numerous movies and the hit television sitcom Two and a Half Men, was not seriously injured in the assault, allegedly...