Actor James Franco speaks out on misconduct claims, admits to having sex with students

Six months after settling a lawsuit accusing him and two other men of running an acting school that sexually exploited female students, actor James Franco admitted in a podcast that he had sex with some students, but said they were consensual encounters.

Last surviving dog rescued from ex-NFL Michael Vick's dog fighting ring dies in Oakland

The last surviving dog from ex-NFL player Michael Vick’s dog fighting ring died over the weekend in Oakland, local Pit Bull advocacy group BAD RAP announced, saying "The incredible 'Vick dog' era is over." 

Judge rules against California school district in COVID vaccine suit

San Diego Unified is one of several large school districts in California to announce such mandates. Other districts with similar mandates include Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento and West Contra Costa Unified school districts.

San Jose mayor pushes for mandatory booster; could be 1st in California

In what could be an unprecedented move in California, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said he wants to make all city employees and visitors who enter city-owned facilities, to have a booster shot or third round of vaccinations. There will surely be pushback to the plan.

California man gets prison for threats over 2020 election

Robert Lemke, a resident of Bay Point in the San Francisco Bay Area, pleaded guilty in October to one count of making threatening interstate communications.

Elizabeth Holmes: How the evidence stacks up against Theranos founder ahead of closing statements

Attorneys will begin their closing arguments Thursday in the federal fraud trial against Elizabeth Holmes. While there were more than 900 exhibits and testimony from 32 witness, several key points stand out.

Here's why California's population growth is slowing

The study from the California Policy Lab in Berkeley shows that fewer people are moving to the Golden State. The rate is down 38% since the start of the pandemic and, it's even higher in the Bay Area where there was a drop of 45%.

California's statewide indoor mask mandate kicks off as virus cases rise

The mandate requires everyone in California to mask up indoors, regardless of vaccination status, from December 15 through January 15.

Canines in California trained to sniff out COVID from old socks

Dogs in Concord, Calif. are being trained to sniff COVID from old socks. The goal is to eventually use these COVID-sniffing canines in schools.

Judge: Christmas trees aren't religious symbols, menorah won't be displayed

A federal judge in California has ruled that Christmas trees are no longer seen as religious symbols and therefore, a menorah – which is religious – can be refused from being displayed at a school holiday ceremony.

Curious sunfish has close encounter with paddleboarders

Sunfish, also known as mola mola, can grow up to 11 feet in length and can weigh nearly 5,000 pounds, according to National Geographic.

California governor pledges new gun control law modeled off of Texas abortion law

Governor Gavin Newsom announced he’s working on a bill that would allow people to sue the makers and sellers of assault weapons. The move comes after the Supreme Court upheld Texas’ controversial abortion law, which allows people to sue abortion clinics and anyone else who aids in an abortion.

California mother charged for telling daughter to hit opponent during basketball game

A teen was captured on video sucker-punching an opponent during a youth basketball game in California. Now the girl's mother is facing criminal charges for allegedly encouraging her daughter to carry out the attack, yelling, "you better hit her for that." Moments later, the teen punched the 15-year-old victim.