Student Protestors Disrupt UC Regents Meeting

(LOS ANGELES) -- Students disrupted a University of California Board of Regents meeting in Riverside on Thursday.

The board was meeting to discuss various issues including tuition hikes when students sat down, locked arms and began holding their own meeting, causing a disruption. The board left and resumed their meeting in another room while the students continued their protest.

Campus police stood near the students but no one was arrested, as the students eventually left.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Gov. Brown Pushes for Rail Project as State is 'On the Mend'

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- Amid doubt and skepticism from opponents, Gov. Jerry Brown is still pushing for a nearly $100 billion plan that would connect San Francisco with Los Angeles via a high speed bullet train.

Bloomberg News reports that Brown told lawmakers in Sacramento Wednesday that California is “on the mend” and needs projects like the bullet train to boost growth.

“Those who believe that California is in decline will naturally shrink back from such a strenuous undertaking,” Brown, 73, said of the proposed rail network. “I understand that feeling but I don’t share it, because I know this state and the spirit of the people who choose to live here.”

The California High-Speed Rail Authority projected the service to cost $98.5 billion, while the Legislative Analyst’s Office said water improvements could top $12 billion.

To say the Golden State can't afford the rail project is an understatement: California currently faces a $9.2 billion deficit.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Accused Gunman Pleads Not Guilty in Salon Shooting that Left 8 Dead

(LOS ANGELES) -- The suspect accused of opening fire at a Orange County hair salon in October and killing eight people has pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him.

Scott Evans Dekraai entered the plea during a court hearing in Santa Ana on Wednesday. Dekraai is charged with eight counts of murder and one count of attempted murder in connection with the October 12, 2011 shooting. The incident occurred at the Salon Mertage in Seal Beach, Calif. Dekraai's ex-wife Michelle Fournier was among those fatally shot.

In addition to those killed, one other person was injured.

Dekraai is scheduled to appear in court again on January 27.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

HP and Blue Shield Announce New Five-Year Deal

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- Hewlett-Packard and Blue Shield of California announced Tuesday that they have a new five-year contract, which will potentially make Blue Shield's health care more affordable.

HP and Blue Shield have been affiliated for 43 years. The Palo Alto-based corporation will be providing Blue Shield with techology and support to increase efficiency.

The financial terms of the deal were not revealed.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Virgin America Launches LA, SF Flights to Philadelphia

(LOS ANGELES) -- Virgin America announced Tuesday that it will offer nonstop flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco to Philadelphia in April.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the airlines will operate three daily nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Philadelphia, effective April 4. Service to Philadelphia from San Francisco will go into effect April 10, with one-way fares starting at $149.

Virgin America is partly owned by Richard Branson, the founder of the British airline Virgin Atlantic.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Camp Pendleton Marine Killed in Combat in Afghanistan

(WASHINGTON) -- A Marine from Camp Pendleton was among two U.S. troops killed while serving as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, military officials announced Tuesday.

In a release, the Department of Defense said that Cpl. Jon-Luke Bateman, 22, of Tulsa, Oklahoma died on Sunday during combat operations in Helmand province.

Bateman was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California.

Also killed was Lance Cpl. Kenneth E. Cochran, 20, of Wilder, Idaho. Cochran was assigned to the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

California Home and Condo Sales Rise

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- California home sales rose for the third straight month in December, according to published reports.

House and condo sales in Southern California rose 14 percent in December, DataQuick reports. Nearly 20,000 homes were sold last month in the Southern California, the San Diego-based firm announced Tuesday.

The increase in sales is being attributed to record-low prices. Foreclosure prices were a major incentive in many of the deals.

State home sales reached their highest level since January 2011, the California Association of Realtors reported.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Pinkberry Co-Founder Arrested for Assault

(LOS ANGELES) -- The LAX Fugitive Task Force arrested the co-founder of Pinkberry on Monday in connection with an assault with a deadly weapon last year.

According to ABC News affiliate KABC, 47-year-old Young Lee also had an outstanding warrant when he was arrested after getting off a flight from South Korea. Lee is accused of the assault in Los Angeles last summer but it is unclear why he was not arrested then.

Lee founded the low-calorie frozen yogurt store with his then-wife Shelly Hwang in 2005. Lee is in custody on $60,000 bail.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Population Projection: Calif. to Exceed 38 Million in May

(NEW YORK) -- The largest state in the nation is on the verge of reaching a population milestone at 38 million, according to the latest population estimates from The Business Journals' On Numbers.

On Numbers reports that California had an estimated 37,884,602 residents at January's midpoint, and projects that the state will exceed 38 million on May 12.

The estimates were generated by a computer program that projects states’ overall and local populations based on demographic trends since 2000.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Report: State Foreclosure Rates May Increase in 2012

(LAS VEGAS) -- Nevada had the highest foreclosure rate in the nation, says a report released by researchers RealityTrac on Thursday.

Arizona came second followed by third-place California. Las Vegas was at the top of the list of cities with high foreclosure rates followed by four California cities.

Foreclosure filings in Alabama were reported as falling by 21 percent compared to 2010, placing the state in the 31st spot in the nation.

According to the Los Angeles Times, several states may experience an increase in foreclosure rates in 2012 because of delayed foreclosures from previous years.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio