Oakland police radio culprit: cell towers (SF Chronicle)
Oakland officials say they and federal investigators have discovered a major source of disruption to the city's police radio communications system: interference from cell phone towers.
Plan for building a mosque in conservative San Martin divides community (SJ Mercury News)
...an angry debate erupted that lumped religious, environmental and development issues into a confounding ball of fury by high summer. Hundreds of people packed into three public meetings recently, clashing over incongruent concerns about what the mosque might create: terrorism and traffic, the contamination of ground water and the diminishing of American identity, misinterpretations of the Quran and changes to the region's master plan for development.
Todd Akin's rape remark angers GOP women (SF Chronicle)
Jillian Manus Salzman, a powerhouse donor to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign and a proud pro-choice Republican, said she screamed when she heard Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri, a GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate, say that victims of "legitimate" rape rarely get pregnant.
Chick-fil-A buys a site for Novato restaurant (Marin IJ)
Chick-fil-A, the Atlanta-based fast food chain whose president sparked a backlash from gay rights advocates and others last month over his comments about marriage, has purchased a building in Novato with plans for a restaurant there.
Chevron refinery fire a 'close call' (SF Chronicle)
The chairman of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board toured the scene of the Chevron refinery fire Monday and released photos of the gigantic vapor cloud that loomed over Richmond before it caught fire.
Oakland investigates accusations against police monitor (Oakland Tribune)
Potentially just months away from becoming the first U.S. city to lose control of its police department, Oakland has opened an investigation into accusations that the department's federal monitor recently made inappropriate statements to city leaders.
San Francisco 49ers strike $6.8 million-a-year deal for new stadium food, drink sales (SJ Mercury News)
You can smell the garlic fries and beer now: The San Francisco 49ers and Santa Clara leaders have struck a $7 million-a-year deal with a major sports concessions company to sell food, drinks and souvenirs at the new stadium. The contract with Centerplate, which operates concession stands at Candlestick and AT&T parks, will represent one of the biggest ongoing sources of revenue and jobs at the stadium once it opens in 2014. City officials expect to endorse the agreement on Tuesday.
Accumulated state worker leave prompted California's park scandal (Sacramento Bee)
What started as a quiet scheme to draw down excessive leave hours built up by state parks managers quickly spread, first to hardship cases and then to the rank and file, according to recently released state investigative documents.
New Green initiative could put you in a BMW (SF Examiner)
BMW hopes to make driving and parking in The City less onerous by launching a car-sharing service for electric vehicles and a mobile parking system that lets people find, reserve and pay for parking on the go.
Petaluma stays alive, dramatic extra-inning winning (Santa Rosa Press Democrat)
The Petaluma National all-stars, masters of baseball drama and dedicated practitioners of the comeback, one-upped themselves Monday at the Little League World Series, knocking out the Mid-Atlantic champion 5-4 when Danny Marzo jumped on an 0-1 curveball and drove it over the right-field wall to lead off the eighth inning of an elimination game at Lamade Stadium.