Calif. Lawmakers Move Toward Offering Students Cheaper Textbooks

(LOS ANGELES) -- Lawmakers in California approved two measures Wednesday that would make textbooks more affordable for the state’s college students.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the Senate approved a bill that would create an Internet website that posts textbooks online. It would offer students the ability to read textbooks for 50 of the most popular classes for free online, as well as printed copies for $20 each.

The second bill would create a California Open Source Digital Library that would be home to the textbooks.

Textbooks reportedly cost an average of $1,000 a year for students at California State University, University of California and at California community colleges.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

California High Speed Rail Authority Hires New CEO

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- The California High Speed Rail Authority has hired a new CEO, ABC affiliate KABC reports.

Jeff Morales, former director of the California Department of Transportation, has filled the CEO position that has been vacant since January. Board officials said Morales has extensive experience in large and complex transportation issues. He replaces Roelof van Ark.

The board also said that an independent review group found its plan to connect San Francisco with Los Angeles by building upon regional transit systems to be greatly improved, and could save the project $30 million.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

California Soldier Killed in Vehicle IED Attack in Afghanistan

(WASHINGTON) -- A California soldier has been killed in an attack by enemy forces in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense announced on Tuesday.

Officials said 23-year-old Spc. Tofiga J. Tautolo, of Wilmington, Calif. was killed on Sunday in Bati Kot, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, when the vehicle he was traveling in, was attacked by enemy forces with an improvised explosive device.

Tautolo was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division in Fort Carson, Colo.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Radioactivity Detected In Tuna From Japan to California

(SAN FRANCISCO) -- Radioactivity was detected in fish migrating to California from Japan, according to published reports.

Radioactive cesium was reported in Pacific bluefin tuna, though it is well below levels considered unsafe for humans, scientists said. The radioactive contamination was from 2011’s Fukushima nuclear accident.

The levels of radioactive cesium recently found in the tuna were 10 times higher than the amount found in the fish off California in previous years.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Poll: Obama Leads Romney in California

(LOS ANGELES) -- A new poll shows that President Barack Obama, who won the state of California in the 2008 presidential election, has a huge advantage over Republican Mitt Romney.

The University of Southern California Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll shows that President Obama has a 56 percent to 37 percent lead over Romney.

California has the most electoral votes of any state in the country with 55.  The last Republican presidential candidate to win California was George H.W. Bush in 1988.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/05/29/3631687/obamas-lead-in-california-stays.html#storylink=cpy

California Family Rescued 15 Hours After Plane Crashes

(MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho) -- A California family of three awaited rescue for 15 hours after its small Cessna crashed into trees in the snowy mountains of Idaho over the Memorial Day weekend.

The plane was piloted by Brian Brown, a firefighter, who was flying with his wife, Jayann Brown, and adult daughter from their home in Wilton, Calif., to Mountain Home, Idaho, when the plane went down around 9 p.m. Saturday. One of the family members got a signal on a cellphone early Sunday morning and called for help, saying that they had all survived, but had suffered head and back injuries.

The Idaho National Guard dispatched a medical helicopter to locate the downed plane, but heavy snow and white-out conditions prevented the medical chopper from making a rescue, according to Col. Tim Marsano of the National Guard. Rescuers on foot hiked through 6-foot snowdrifts to reach the crash site, and then started a fire and wrapped the family in blankets while awaiting an airlift, he said.

The three survivors were finally flown by helicopter to a medical center one at a time between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, more than 15 hours after their plane had gone down. They were all treated and listed in stable condition.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Governor Wants to Limit Wildfire Funds

(SACRAMENTO) -- California Governor Jerry Brown wants to put a cap on the amount of funds government agencies can receive to battle and recover from wildfires, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

A spokesman for the California Resources Agency says under the new proposal, agencies can still collect money to fight fires and restore land damaged by them, but would not receive "excessive damages," according to the report.

In the past, government agencies have sought to collect payments much larger than the value of land damaged by fires, something companies in California's timber industry have battled through litigation.  Governor Brown's proposal could bring an end to such payments.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Trainer for 'I'll Have Another' Suspended 45 Days

(LOS ANGELES) -- The California Horse Racing Board has suspended Doug O'Neill, the trainer of Triple Crown-hopeful "I'll Have Another," for 45 days after one of his horses tested positive for high levels of carbon dioxide in 2010.

O'Neill, who has professed his innocence, will not begin serving the suspension until July 1. The delay will enable him to train the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner in anticipation of the Belmont Stakes on June 9, where I'll Have Another will attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

The horse in question, Argenta, tested positive after a race at Del Mar in August 2010.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

California Soldier Killed When Patrol Attacked by IED

(WASHINGTON) -- A soldier from California has died while serving as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said on Thursday.

Military officials said 2nd Lt. Travis A. Morgado, 25, of San Jose, Calif., died on Wednesday in Zharay, Afghanistan, from injuries sustained when his patrol group was attacked by insurgents with an improvised explosive device.

Morgado was assigned to the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division on Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Former California High School Football Star Cleared in Rape Case

(LONG BEACH, Calif.) -- A former California high school football star who spent six years in prison for a kidnapping and rape conviction was exonerated on Thursday after his accuser recanted her story.

Brian Banks, 26, broke down and cried in court after prosecutors said they would not stand in the way of his conviction being reversed.

In 2002, when Banks was 17 and being recruited by major Division I football programs, he was accused of raping Long Beach Polytechnic High School classmate Wanetta Gibson.  His lawyers advised him to plead no contest because he was facing 41 years in prison.  Banks had completed his six-year term and was on parole as a registered sex offender.

Banks was exonerated thanks in part to the California Innocence Project, which helps release people wrongfully convicted of crimes.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio