CAlifornia

Vic Fazio, a 20-year congressional Democrat from California, rose to become an influential party leader in the House. He was 79.

Evidence shows that giant bear is getting a bad rap. And local officials say they're getting so many calls about him that it's affecting their ability to take emergency calls.

The state's plan sets specific goals, such as stockpiling masks, providing wide-scale daily vaccinations and tests and adding 3,000 medical workers within three weeks in surge areas.

Walt Disney World and Disneyland do not require proof of vaccination to enter but Disney says guests who aren't fully vaccinated must continue to wear face coverings in all indoor locations.

New York will no longer require masks in most indoor public settings, but they will still be required in schools and health care facilities. Several other states have made similar moves this week.

The bill had to pass by midnight on Monday to have a chance at becoming law this year but its Democratic author didn't put it up for a vote when he realized it wouldn't pass.

Save the Redwoods League purchased and donated the 523-acre area to the InterTribal Sinkyone Wildnerness Council, a group of 10 tribes that have been connected to the land for thousands of years.

A wind-driven wildfire broke out late Friday in the rugged mountains above Big Sur, forcing residents to evacuate from their homes and authorities to shut down a stretch of Pacific Coast Highway.

The parole panel's recommendation to release Sirhan, 77, in August was based in part on new California laws since he was last denied parole in 2016 — the 15th time he'd lost his bid for release.

So far, nearly 80% of California residents have been vaccinated with at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. The extended statewide mask mandate is set to expire on Feb. 15.