Ex-guard, friend guilty in Brink's slaying

A former Brink's armored-car guard and a friend were convicted today of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of the guard's partner in Oakland in 2006. Former guard Clifton Wherry Jr., 31, and co-defendant Dwight Omar Campbell, 26, showed no reaction...

Blue Angels ready to roar, soar for Fleet Week

With smoke and a roar, the Blue Angels arrived in high style Tuesday in San Francisco, the star performers in the annual Fleet Week air show that promises to rattle windows, wow thousands of spectators and annoy those whose idea of city life does not include...

Obama drops rule aimed at immigrants' bosses

The Obama administration has repealed a rule that would have threatened employers with prosecution unless they fired workers whose Social Security numbers did not match entries in a government database, ending a two-year battle in a San Francisco federal...

UC Berkeley protesters being let out of Wheeler Hall in small groups

Protesters are being cited for misdemeanor trespassing.

Big cuts in store for Livermore

Citywide service reductions will affect libraries, police and other departments.

Tracy woman's death 'overkill"

San Joaquin County medical examiner testifies in a preliminary hearing that the 58-year-old was stabbed 55 times, struck 13 times, and strangled. A judge will decide if domestic partners will stand trial on murder and robbery charges.

Calculator: What will college cost for your child?

BERKELEY, CA - SEPTEMBER 24: UC Berkeley students carry signs during a demonstration in front of Sproul Hall on the UC Berkeley campus on September 24, 2009 in Berkeley, California. Thousands of students and faculty staged a walkout and demonstration against proposed fee hikes and service cuts at 10 University of California campuses across California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/ Getty Images)

UC is raising annual fees 32 percent. At CSU, fees will rise by a similar amount. The increases are just the latest in a series of fee hikes during the last decade. Use this calculator to see how much it might cost to send your child to a California public college.

Sacto 9-1-1: Galt police arrest Sacramento officer for alleged domestic violence

A Sacramento police officer was arrested in Galt this morning on suspicion of felony domestic violence, according to authorities.

Weekend best bets for leaf color: Fall's finale

These oak leaves in Sacramento's McKinley Park are in full color right now. The colored leaves contrast nicely against a solid blue background. This color should last through the weekend and is just in time to coincide with the deadline for entering our foliage photography photography contest on Nov. 26, 2009.

This weekend will probably be the last weekend of good color in the Sacramento area, especially with winter weather setting in. It's also the last weekend before our foliage photography contest ends.

Let's take advantage of some nice weather and color as the season comes to an end.

Chinese pistache, liquid amber and oaks are all doing nicely and are very recognizable throughout the Sacramento area. The storms might pull some leaves off the trees, but there are plenty to choose from.

The trails in Goethe and Ancil Hoffman parks along the river, William Land Park and McKinley Park should yield some good last color of the season this weekend.

Let us know where you find good color.

Remember, the deadline for contest entries is Thursday, Nov. 26. See the gallery and upload your photos here. Come back Dec. 2-8 to vote for your favorite photo. The winner will be announced on Dec. 9 and the winning photo will be published in The Bee Dec. 10. The winner receives a $100 Fry's gift card.

Thank you for following our fall foliage project this year in the eastern Sierra. We look forward to providing coverage again next year. Send me an e-mail and tell us what you liked most and especially what you would like us to do for next fall's coverage.

Until next autumn, so long and keep sharpening your photographic skills.

Silicon Valley jobless rate rises to 11.9 percent

Valley's jobless rate persists at just under 12 percent; statewide, more than 2.3 million people looking for work

San Jose mayor calls for temporary redevelopment freeze

With a $75 million state money grab threatening a host of projects, Mayor Chuck Reed calls for freezing all but contractually obligated payments until early next year.

Federal jury deadlocks on most of espionage case against two Silicon Valley engineers

Mistrial declared on central charges against two engineers accused to stealing trade secrets with backing from China as jury clears them of some charges

Judith Allen of Kentfield, civic volunteer and bank director, dies

Judith O'Connell Allen, whose wide-ranging civic career included everything from the Kentfield school board to the Bank of Marin board, died Tuesday.

County employees urged to take days off without pay, layoffs likely this summer

Marin Independent Journal Struggling to cut costs and avoid layoffs, the county of Marin is encouraging employees to take up to 12 days off without pay during the current fiscal year.

Former Novato interim manager tapped to help out in Larkspur

Patricia Thompson, former Napa city manager and former interim city manager in Novato, will serve as interim city manager in Larkspur as the city searches for a permanent replacement, city officials said Friday.

Sutter retains residency program

By BLEYS W. ROSE THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Sutter Health is giving up its three-year effort to bow out of sole responsibility for operating a doctors-in-training program because federal Medicare funding restrictions make it financially unworkable.

Man accused of attempted rape in Sebastopol makes court appearance

BY JULIE JOHNSON THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A 27-year-old man suspected of trying to rape a pregnant woman in southern Sebastopol made his first court appearance Friday. Odalis Solano Rosario faces charges of attempted rape, penetration with a foreign object and kidnapping.

Winter Blast arrives Saturday

By MARY CALLAHAN THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The burgeoning arts community that?s grown up along South A Street near Juilliard Park in Santa Rosa is throwing its fifth annual Winter Blast on Saturday night.

Robbery on Soscol appears unfounded

A robbery reported earlier in front of KFC on Soscol Avenue today appears to be unfounded, according to the Napa Police Department.

Lily

NAMES: Lily NICKNAMES: Lola, Lilyboos, Ponchita BREED: Chihuahua-Jack Russell mix FAVORITE 2-LEGGED: Teresa FAVORITE 4-LEGGED: Charlotte TOP TOY: Flip-flops TOP TREAT: Chicken BIGGEST TURN-ON: Long walks on the river trail where she runs like a jackrabbit

Video: John's Exploding Pumpkin

Watch what happend when a 700 pound pumpkin, grown by the Register's John Hawkley, plummets into the newspaper's parking lot.