The Bay Area is expected to be cloudy with patches of fog this morning, before becoming sunny later today. Highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s are anticipated. Southwest winds are expected to be around 10 mph, before becoming west 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Clear skies are expected tonight, before becoming cloudy with patchy fog after midnight. Lows in the lower 50s are predicted. West winds 15 to 20 mph are also expected.

Monday is expected to be cloudy in the morning with patchy fog, before becoming sunny. West winds 10 to 15 mph are anticipated, with highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s.

Semi-Trailer Truck Collides with Amtrak Train

At least two people were killed in Nevada on Friday morning when a semi-trailer truck collided with an Amtrak train headed for Emeryville, according to the rail service. The truck driver was killed when he ran into the side of Train 5 at about 11:20 a.m. at a public crossing east of Reno, Nev., according to Amtrak. An Amtrak train crew member also was killed. Numerous other people were taken to area hospitals.

The rest of the passengers were transported to local schools for shelter and food, according to Amtrak. The train originated in Chicago and was carrying 204 passengers and 14 crew members at the time of the crash. "We are saddened by any injury or loss of life and appreciate the emergency response by local and state agencies," Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman said in a prepared statement. Anyone with questions about friends or family aboard the train can call (800) 523-9101.

Innapropriate Murals at San Francisco Schools 

Murals at San Francisco schools are being looked at more closely after the discovery of inappropriate images contained in some that were created by a local artist who was recently accused of possession of child porn, police and school officials said. Anthony Josef Norris, 46, was the founder of the nonprofit children's art organization Kid Serve, which worked with school children to create outdoor murals at schools and other sites around the city. Norris was arrested June 2 after an investigation by the FBI allegedly found child porn videos posted on the Internet that were traced to his home address. A search of his computer also uncovered at least 600 images of sexual exploitation of pre-pubescent children, according to the FBI.

After his arrest, San Francisco Unified School District officials discovered that at least three of the murals he created at schools and other sites around the city contained inappropriate images, district spokeswoman Gentle Blythe said. The murals are mosaics containing small tiles, and the offensive images "are imperceptible to someone who might just be looking at the mural as a whole," Blythe said. School officials notified San Francisco police about the images June 15, and police have collected evidence to hand over to the FBI, which is handling the child porn case, police spokesman Lt. Troy Dangerfield said. Dangerfield said some of the questionable paintings and sketchings that were part of the mural involved children, but he declined to elaborate. Authorities are continuing to investigate whether there are more offensive images in other murals Norris created around the city. Police Chief Greg Suhr joined other officers and school district officials at a news conference at the San Francisco Hall of Justice Friday morning to announce the information about the murals. Norris faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison if he is convicted of the federal child porn charge. -

World's Ugliest Dog Winner - Yoda!

A 1.8-pound scruffy mutt named Yoda who has been mistaken for a rat has won the World's Ugliest Dog title for 2011 at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma. Yoda won a trophy 15 times her size and $1,000. The beady-eyed pooch also gets a photo shoot and an overnight stay in the Loft Suite at the Sheraton Sonoma County, according to fair officials. Her owner, Terry Devine Schumacher, said her daughter found Yoga in a field 14 years ago when the pup was 2. "I told her to put it down because I thought it was a rat," Schumacher said. Fair officials allowed the audience to vote this year via text. Other favorites in the 23rd annual contest were Icky, Cuda, Handsome Hector and Ratdog.

58-Year-Old Woman Drives Car into San Leandro Marina, Apparent Suicide

Police officers pulled a 58-year-old woman from the San Leandro Marina on Friday morning after she drove her car into the water in an apparent suicide attempt, the department said. The woman sat in the car as it filled with water but then decided to escape through the front driver's side window as officers arrived, police Lt. Jeff Tudor said. Officer Louie Guillen took off his duty belt and entered the water to grab the woman and pull her to shore, Tudor said. Guillen held one end of a K9 leash and his colleagues on the shore held the other end to ensure his and the woman's safety. The rescue began at about 8:45 a.m. when several people saw the vehicle go into the water and called 911, police said. The Alameda County Fire Department dispatched a rescue boat, and responding police officers found the vehicle partially submerged near El Torito restaurant. The U.S. Coast Guard also sent a rescue team. Nobody was injured during the rescue, and the woman was taken to a local hospital, Tudor said. -

Couple Steals Car with 1-month-old Baby - Video Released

A new surveillance video has been released showing a couple suspected of stealing a car with a 1-month-old baby in the backseat outside a Morgan Hill food bank last month. The video shows a vehicle that police believe is still being driven by Maribel Mejia and Enrique Rocha, the couple suspected in the car theft and kidnapping, Morgan Hill police said. The vehicle has been described by witnesses as a dark blue late-model Toyota Camry, with a license plate number of 2HJD721. The driver-side rear passenger window is shattered. Mejia and Rocha were seen walking out of the Reach Out food bank at St. Catherine's Church the afternoon of May 31 as the infant's mother was walking in, police said.

The mother, Maribel Corona, had left her baby in her white Infiniti Q45 with the keys in the ignition as she briefly ducked into the food bank, police said. When she came out, the car and her daughter were gone. Several hours later, the car was found at Toro Park near Salinas by a hiker. The baby was safe inside and was reunited with her mother. Corona's purse was in the car when it was taken, and her credit card was used at a Walmart and a gas station in Los Banos on June 1, police said. Surveillance video from several locations where the card was used show Mejia using the credit card with Rocha and Mejia's 4-year-old son, police said. Police have obtained a $120,000 arrest warrant for Mejia, a 33-year-old Chualar resident, on charges of auto theft, kidnapping, child endangerment and possession of stolen property. She is described as 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

CHP Talked to 2 Would-Be Jumpers Off Golden Gate Bridge This Week

California Highway Patrol officers talked two would-be jumpers off the eastern ledge of the Golden Gate Bridge on two consecutive days this week. The bike patrol officers stopped a 29-year-old man Wednesday and a 49-year-old man Thursday from jumping, the agency said.

A KRON4 news reporter captured the second encounter on film during a media ride-along, according to the CHP. CHP Sgt. Gilbert Osuna said the bicycle patrol unit members take four-day critical-incident training classes to prepare them to identify and interact with people suffering from depression or mental health issues. The bike patrols were implemented in 2001, Osuna said, and have made it much easier for officers to see and contact people trying to commit suicide on the bridge.

"The Golden Gate Bridge gets millions of people a year," he said. "We have lots of people to look at." The number of suicide threats varies, Osuna said. Some days officers won't encounter any, and other days multiple contacts are made.

On Wednesday, a CHP bike patrol officer received a call at about 2:40 p.m. about a man over the railing on the east walkway of the bridge. The officer talked to the man for about 10 minutes and was able to convince him to come back onto the sidewalk, the CHP said. He was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation. The next day, a CHP bike patrol officer who had just transitioned to a patrol car for the KRON4 ride-along received a call at about 11:30 a.m. about a possibly suicidal person sitting on the east walkway railing.

The officer found the man over the railing near the south tower, and after about 40 minutes the man agreed to come back to the sidewalk, the CHP said. He was taken to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation. The officers' critical-incident training includes overviews of schizophrenia, mood disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, cognitive disorders such as dementia and delirium, suicide by cop, and intervention strategies, Osuna said.

Vallejo Man Killed in 1000 Block of Porter Street Identified

Vallejo police have identified 22-year-old Michael Ross as the Vallejo man who was killed in the 1000 block of Porter Street around 4 p.m. Thursday. Police also identified 21-year-old Johnathan Walker, of Vallejo and San Francisco, as the homicide suspect. Walker is also wanted by San Francisco police in connection with an unrelated homicide and by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for a parole violation, Sgt. Jeff Bassett said. Walker, who should be considered armed and dangerous, may be associated with a 1980s, four-door, light brown or tan Honda Accord with a partial California license plate of 6FB_802, Bassett said. The shooting was Vallejo's ninth homicide this year.

Man Arressted in Santa Rosa on Possession of Firearm

Santa Rosa police arrested a Healdsburg man on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm after a pursuit Thursday morning. Lance Gregory Janssen, 45, failed to yield to an emergency vehicle around 3 a.m. at Bicentennial Way and Ventura Avenue, Sgt. Michael Clark said. Janssen sped away on his motorcycle with the officer in pursuit, Clark said. He drove on Bicentennial Way as fast as 65 mph before he lost control of his motorcycle and left the road near Lake Park Drive. Janssen, who was in possession of a loaded handgun, was injured in the collision and admitted in a hospital, Clark said. Police say they plan to ask the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office to file felony evasion, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm charges against Janssen.

Alameda Board of Sups Approve $2.5 Billion Budget

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a $2.5 billion budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year that closes a $138 million funding gap through a variety of measures. Among those steps are eliminating 111 positions and making some cuts to programs in health care, public assistance and public protection. However, county officials hope that there won't be any layoffs, as most of the jobs slated to be eliminated are unfilled and the county will try to shift employees who are in positions that will be eliminated to other jobs.

The budget for the new fiscal year beginning July 1 represents a 1 percent, or $25 million, increase over the current budget. The job cuts leave the county with a workforce of 9,049 fulltime employees.

County Administrator Susan Muranishi said although the budget is balanced, the county probably will have to revise it later this year to deal with likely funding cuts by the state and federal governments, which are both dealing with serious budget problems. Muranishi said that although this is the third consecutive year the county has had to deal with a funding gap of more than $100 million, the county has still been able to maintain vital services for its residents.

"This is a prudent, responsible budget that doesn't rely on gimmicks and instead is based on savings that are in the bank," Muranishi said. Supervisor Keith Carson, who chairs the county's budget work group, said the likely cutbacks in state and funding could impact county programs. "We are continuing on a downward slide in terms of our ability to fund services that are vital to county residents," Carson said.

Salinas Man Facing Attempted Murder Chargers Gets Life in Prison

A Salinas man faces life in prison after being convicted of attempted murder in the gang-related shooting of two high school students, prosecutors said. A Monterey County Superior Court jury on Thursday found Jorge Sanchez guilty of two counts of premeditated attempted murder, two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and being an active participant in a street gang, Deputy District Attorney David Rabow said in a statement. The jury also found true the allegations that the crimes were committed for the benefit of the Norteno street gang, and that Sanchez personally discharged a firearm, causing great bodily harm to both victims, Rabow said.

The shooting occurred Feb. 15, 2008, as the two victims, two boys ages 14 and 15, were leaving Alisal High School, according to prosecutors. Sanchez, 19, was riding with another alleged gang member on Williams Road when he saw the boys, whom he believed were Sureno gang members. Sanchez and his driver waited for the boys in the neighborhood where they expected them to walk. When he spotted the boys, Sanchez challenged them about their gang affiliation, then shouted out his gang's name and fired at them with a 9mm semi-automatic handgun. Two shots struck one boy and two struck the other, while four other shots went through the unoccupied house the boys were standing in front of. Sanchez was identified by a witness and one of the victims, Rabow said. The driver ultimately confessed, entered a plea agreement and agreed to testify against Sanchez.

The jury trial began June 6. Jurors deliberated for several hours. Sanchez is set to be sentenced Aug. 2 by Judge Adrienne Grover. The maximum sentence he faces is life in prison.

Concord Police Search for Home-Invasion Suspects

Concord police are searching for two males and two females in connection with a home-invasion robbery Thursday evening, Lt. Tim Runyon said. Police received a call shortly before 6:45 p.m. reporting a home invasion robbery in the 1100 block of Virginia Lane. Investigators were told that two males and two females had entered the home by force and stole property, Runyon said. They fled before police arrived and were still outstanding Friday afternoon, Runyon said.

Crockett Crash Victim Identfied 

A man who was killed Thursday in a crash in Crockett that started a 4-acre grass fire has been identified as 49-year-old Vallejo resident Albert Kurson, a Contra Costa County coroner's deputy said. The crash was reported at 12:51 p.m. at Winslow and Pomona streets in the unincorporated town of Crockett. Kurson's vehicle reportedly hit a power pole and then caught fire. The flames spread to the surrounding grass, according to the California Highway Patrol. East Bay Regional Park District firefighters received help from the Crockett Carquinez Fire Association, the Contra Costa Fire Protection District, and a helicopter from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. They had the two-alarm fire under control in a little more than two hours, an assistant fire chief said.

Tire-Slashing Suspect Arrested

A man suspected in a 2009 tire-slashing spree that triggered the formation of a neighborhood watch group in San Carlos has been arrested, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office. Ian Anthony Mitchell, 20, was arrested on four outstanding arrest warrants after he was found riding with two other suspects in a vehicle in the 400 block of Walnut Street around 4 a.m., Lt. Ray Lunny said. One of the warrants dates back to a Feb. 21, 2009 "Tire Slash" case in San Carlos, in which the tires were slashed on around 50 vehicles in one night.

The case caused sufficient concern at the time, and it triggered the formation of the White Oaks Neighborhood Watch Program, Lunny said. Mitchell, a transient, was identified as a suspect after a blood sample taken from the rim of one of the victim vehicles was matched to him, and a $100,000 warrant was issued for his arrest. He is 6 feet 5 inches tall, 175 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Investigators are still trying to determine why Mitchell and the two others in the vehicle, none of whom are San Carlos residents, were driving around the city at 4 a.m.

Ice Cream Pushcart Vender Robbed in Concord

An ice cream pushcart vendor was robbed Thursday evening in Concord, police Lt. Tim Runyon said. Shortly after 6:30 p.m., two armed men reportedly robbed the vendor in Meadow Homes Park. The suspects fled before police arrived and remain at large, Runyon said.

San Francisco Bay Area Weather Report

The San Francisco Bay Area is expected to be mostly cloudy today, with patchy fog and drizzle this morning. Highs in the upper 50s to mid 60s are predicted. Southwest winds 15 to 20 mph are anticipated.

Forecasters predict partly cloudy weather tonight, with patchy fog after midnight and lows in the lower 50s. West winds 15 to 20 mph are expected. Cloudy skies and patches of fog are expected on Sunday morning, before becoming sunny in the afternoon. Highs in the 50s to upper 60s are predicted, with west winds 10 to 15 mph.

The removal of a black college football player from a U.S. Airways flight and subsequent arrest in connection with his sagging pants was decried as racist today by his mother and local NAACP officials.

The fact that college football player Deshon Marman was asked to pull up his pants and ejected from a flight from San Francisco to New Mexico on June 15 is "unconscionable" given recent news reports that another white passenger has been allowed to travel regularly in women's lingerie, said Amos Brown, president of the San Francisco chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

The airline clearly targeted Marman because of his race, Brown said at a news conference Friday in San Francisco.

"He's been a victim of racial injustice and U.S. Airways owes him and his mother an apology," he said.

Brown said the NAACP will be seeking an apology from U.S. Airways and action including sensitivity training for employees.

San Francisco police and U.S. Airways officials have said that Marman, a San Francisco resident attending the University of New Mexico on a scholarship, was arrested not because of his clothing, but because he refused requests from airline crew to pull his pants up and then refused to leave the plane when told to do so by the pilot.

But Marman's mother, Donna Doyle, called the charges "bogus," and said the dispute originated with a ticket agent who did not like the way her son looked.

She said Marman was not a threat or exposing any underwear once he was seated, but the pilot chose to "escalate" the situation.

"You don't judge a book by its cover, and that's what they did, they judged him by his appearance," Doyle said.

Marman was not even sporting the "saggy pants" look but was instead wearing pajama pants with a drawstring waist for comfort, she said.

He tried to pull them up when the ticket agent first mentioned them, but had bags in his hands at the time and they fell back down.

"It wasn't a fashion statement, it was pajama pants with a tie on them," Doyle said.

When she saw photos published in newspapers recently of another passenger allowed to travel in women's underwear, Doyle said she was "appalled" that the man was allowed to fly while her son was arrested.

U.S. Airways has said it does not have a dress code for passengers but asks that they "dress in an appropriate manner to ensure the safety and comfort of all our passengers."

A call to the airline requesting a response to today's news conference has not yet been returned.

Brown said he did not approve of the baggy pants look, which has its roots in prison culture, but Marman should not be singled out for sporting it.

Doyle, who said she had four sons, likewise expressed reservations about the look. "I don't condone my son's attire, but that's his choice," she said.

Marman was arrested on suspicion of a felony count of battery of a police officer and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and trespassing.

Police said an officer was injured in a scuffle after Marman was escorted off Flight 488 to Albuquerque.

He posted bail and was released from custody the next day.

He is due to appear in court July 18 and the district attorney's office has until July 16 to decide whether to file charges.

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New security measures will be in place at this weekend's Pink Saturday pride celebration in an effort to prevent another incident such as the fatal shooting that rocked last year's event, a San Francisco police spokesman said.

Attendees of the unofficial Castro District street party will not be allowed to bring alcohol this year, police Officer Albie Esparza said. Security officers will also be checking bags and using wands to search individuals for weapons after 19-year-old Stephen Powell was killed last year when an unidentified man opened fire into a crowd, Esparza said.

"We want to provide a safe environment," he said. "You don't come to Pride expecting to be caught in the crossfire.

It's a celebration -- come enjoy it -- but we don't want any crime." Esparza said the Police Department will have a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol consumption at Pink Saturday, which will be held on Castro Street between 19th and Market streets; 18th Street between Diamond and Noe streets; and Market Street between Diamond and Noe streets.

Officers will also be citing at their discretion any intoxicated or aggressive individuals, and patrols were increased starting today to cover the weekend revelers, Esparza said.

SF Pride official celebrations begin on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the city's Civic Center Plaza with music, booths and large crowds and will continue with the parade on Sunday.

This year's theme is "In Pride We Trust." Tonight the "Trans March" will begin from San Francisco's Dolores Park at 6:30 p.m. to United Nations Plaza near City Hall.

The march intends to "inspire all trans and gender non-conforming people to realize a world where we are safe, loved, and empowered," according to group organizers.

At 8 p.m. the 33rd annual pride concert kicks off at the Everett Auditorium at Church and 16th streets, pride concert spokeswoman Heidi Beeler said.

The concert features the Bay Area Rainbow Symphony, Golden Gate Men's Chorus and other local groups. Commander Zoe Dunning, the first openly gay naval officer, will be honored at the concert.

The Pride Parade is then expected to attract 1 million people onto the streets of San Francisco on Sunday morning, starting in the Embarcadero and ending at Civic Center Plaza, but the celebration of the lesbian, gay, transgender, queer and bisexual community goes beyond the annual parade.

Another visible sign of pride weekend will be the pink triangle displayed on the hillside of Twin Peaks.

The triangle has 200-foot-long sides and is made with 175 pink-painted tarps, said organizer and co-founder Patrick Carney.

This year marks the triangle's 16th year and represents the pink triangle German Nazis forced homosexuals to wear during World War II, Carney explained.

After 120 volunteers install the triangle on Saturday from 6 to 10 a.m., city officials and SF Pride marshals will christen the homemade flag.

Mayor Ed Lee, Supervisor Scott Weiner and other city officials are expected to attend the ceremony at the top of Twin Peaks.

Carney said the triangle can be seen from 20 miles away.

On Saturday night spotlights will illuminate the triangle.

On Saturday afternoon the annual Dyke March will head from Dolores Park into the Castro District where the Pink Saturday party takes place, shutting down the heart of the famously "gay" neighborhood.

The pride activities will close streets, affecting Muni and other transit routes tonight through Sunday night, said SFMTA spokesman Paul Rose.

Golden Gate Bridge District spokeswoman Mary Currie said ferry service would be added from Larkspur into the city for the parade on Sunday.

Bus service through Golden Gate Transit will be disrupted today through Monday, she said.

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A man allegedly stole his friend's car after they got into an argument in San Francisco's Mission District late Thursday night, police said.

The carjacking was reported at about 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of Cesar Chavez and Shotwell streets.

The victim, an 18-year-old woman, is friends with the suspect and the pair were driving in the woman's car, a 2005 gold Chevrolet Malibu, according to police.

When the woman pulled over during the argument, the suspect forced her out of the vehicle and into the street, then got into the driver's seat and drove away, police said.

He had not been found as of this morning, according to police.

Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call the Police Department's anonymous tip line at (415) 575-4444 or send a tip by text message to TIP411.

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San Jose City Council Negotiating City Employee Retirement Benefits

The San Jose City Council will hold a special meeting this afternoon to discuss moving forward in negotiations with employee bargaining units on retirement benefits. The council will defer acting on a declaration of fiscal and public safety emergency and fiscal reform ballot measures until Aug. 2, but will discuss cost analysis on the various proposals for retirement reform and the potential savings of the different plans, as well as potential opt-in reforms. Mayor Chuck Reed announced a proposal to declare a fiscal emergency in May, saying that it would rein in "skyrocketing" retirement costs and help the city avoid further cuts to services and layoffs of hundreds of workers, including police officers and firefighters. His proposal calls for setting limits on retirement benefits for new and current employees and retirees, but because the recommendations require changes to the city charter, they would have to win approval by voters. The city is considering an election possibly in March 2012. Many residents and city workers have already begun showing their disapproval, whether at council meetings or through demonstrations. Thursday evening, labor and community leaders gathered outside of City Hall for a rally organized by the South Bay Labor Council in support of collective bargaining. "They want to encourage City Council to use collective bargaining to solve pension problems rather than to declare a fiscal emergency and go to the ballot box," said Jody Meacham, a communications coordinator for Working Partnerships USA, a nonprofit founded by the Labor Council. Prior to the today's meeting, leaders and members of various faiths will hold a noontime blessing service in front of City Hall in support of collective bargaining.

Gov. Brown Speaks in SF, Optimistic About Balancing Budget, Calls for Special Election

Gov. Jerry Brown sounded optimistic in a speech in San Francisco on Thursday about solving California's budget crisis, while warning that a failure by the state Legislature to reach a deal would bring severe cuts. "It's very hard to herd the cats and get irreconcilable opposites to meet on common ground," Brown told an audience of apartment builders at the annual Pacific Coast Builders Conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. "But I think we have a path forward and I think we can reach it," he said. "We're not there yet but I'm confident we can get there." The Democratic governor is seeking a special election this fall to ask Californians to approve tax extensions to fill a $9.6 billion budget deficit. He needs the votes of four Republican legislators to set an election, but thus far has not been able to win those votes. Brown said he may seek a voter initiative if the Legislature doesn't set an election. But if a tax extension is not enacted through either process, "we must continue to retrench. That's not pretty," the governor said. Brown reiterated his often-repeated vow that he won't use what he called "smokescreens" or gimmicks employed by previous governors to balance the state budget. Brown needs the votes of two Republican Assembly members and two Republican state senators to create the two-thirds majority needed to set a special election, as well as to pass temporary "bridge" taxes that would be in effect until the election. Under his proposal, voters would be asked to approve a continuation of a 1 percent sales tax increase and a 0.05 percent vehicle license fee increase for up to five years. Those increases are scheduled to expire on June 30. Voters would be also be asked to reinstate an already-expired 0.25 percent personal income tax surcharge for four years beginning in 2012.

U.S. Islamophobia Rising: Favorable Rating 30%

Islamophobia is back on the rise in the U.S. despite cautious optimism in 2008 that post-Sept. 11 anti-Muslim sentiments had begun to decline, according to a new report by the University of California at Berkeley and a national Islamic rights group. The authors of "Same Hate, New Target: Islamophobia and Its Impact in the United States 2009-10" found that Americans' favorable rating of Islam is only 30 percent -- down 10 percentage points from November 2001, according to a Pew Research Center study. "Same Hate, New Target," released Thursday, was co-sponsored by UC Berkeley's Center for Race and Gender and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. It takes a in-depth look at intolerant actions and discourse and provided recommendations for combating Islamophobia in the future. "This report shows that Americans who embrace pluralism must act together to prevent Islamophobia from being accepted in mainstream society," CAIR national legislative director Corey Saylor said in a statement. "Islamophobia is the new face of an old hate that has targeted minorities throughout our nation's history." The groups defined Islamophobia as prejudice against or hatred of Islam and Muslims. After years of decline, it spiked after President Obama's 2009 inauguration, according to the report. The FBI found that 8.4 percent of hate crime victims in the U.S. in 2009 were targeted because of anti-Islam bias, according to the report.

Judge Dismisses Felony Hate Crime Charges Against Attackers of Transgender Woman

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon said Thursday he is disappointed in a judge's decision to dismiss felony hate crime allegations against two men accused of assaulting and robbing a transgender woman near San Francisco's 16th Street BART station in April. Lionel Jackson, 32, and Maurice Perry, 37, are accused of attacking the woman on April 1 outside the BART station at Mission and 16th streets. At a preliminary hearing that ended Wednesday, Judge Bruce Chan ordered Jackson and Perry to stand trial on charges of assault, second-degree robbery and violating the victim's civil rights, but dismissed felony hate crime allegations against the pair. Gascon, speaking at a news conference Thursday at the San Francisco Hall of Justice, said he is disappointed in the judge's dismissal "despite a strong set of facts" about "an attack we believe was motivated by hate." Prosecutors said Jackson and Perry allegedly took the woman's smartphone, and when she demanded it back, the pair allegedly punched her, knocking her to the ground and yelling epithets at her. Alexandra Byerly, who was passing out condoms nearby as part of an HIV prevention campaign, testified at the preliminary hearing Monday that as the suspects were running away, one of them said, "Oh, I hate men dressed up as women." The two men were arrested shortly after the attack, which left the woman hospitalized. Gascon and Victor Hwang, the prosecutor in the case, said the district attorney's office plans to re-file the hate crime charge when the case goes to trial. Hwang said he disagrees with the judge's decision on the hate crime allegations, especially since the judge ordered the pair to stand trial on the civil rights violation, and the two charges "share the identical elements as to a biased motive." Chan had ruled that the primary motive for the attack was financial because it had started as a robbery, Hwang said. The felony hate crime allegation can add up to three years in state prison to a sentence, while the misdemeanor civil rights violation can only add up to a year in county jail, Hwang said. Clair Farley of the San Francisco LGBT Community Center said, "This ruling is troubling because it makes all of us feel as though we will not have the same protections and safeties we need if violence happens to us." Gascon said, "If we're serious about being a community of tolerance and a community of equality for all, then we need to start treating all of our citizens with equality, and we believe that this case highlights the lack of sensitivity and the lack of understanding that we have in these areas."

School District Sued for Failing to Protect Black Youths from Gang Attacks, Agrees to Settlement

Oakland civil rights attorney Pamela Price said Thursday that the New Haven Unified School District in Union City has agreed to pay $725,000 to settle a lawsuit that alleged that school officials failed to protect black youths from attacks by a Latino gang. However, school district spokesman Rick La Plante said, "There is no final settlement at the present time and to say so otherwise is premature." La Plante said final approval of the settlement is still pending and "is contingent upon several events taking place that have not yet occurred." But Price said U.S. District Court Judge Laurel Beeler approved the settlement at the conclusion of three settlement conference hearings and the district's school board approved it Tuesday night. Price said the settlement includes 13 remedial policies and programs that will be implemented by the school district to curb racial violence against black youths in its schools. She said the settlement calls for the $725,000 to be split among 12 students from six families. The suit alleged that the school district tolerated a pervasive pattern of racial violence and hate crimes directed at its black students, particularly crimes committed by the Decotos, a Latino gang. Price said the suit's goal was to force the district to take measures to protect black students and stop what she said were gang-inspired racially-motivated attacks in its schools. Price said the attacks began on Dec. 21, 2007, when Vernon Eddins, a 14-year-old black youth, was fatally shot in front of Barnard-White Middle School on Whipple Road in Union City. She said it's suspected that members of the Decoto gang killed Eddins but the case still hasn't been solved. The same plaintiffs have a similar lawsuit pending against the Union City Police Department alleging that it also hasn't done enough to protect black youths, Price said. But the Police Department said after the suit was filed that it has "a long-standing record of being responsive to supporting and defending the rights of all members of our diverse community."

Vallejo Resident Shot, 9th Homicide This Year

Vallejo police said a 22-year-old Vallejo resident was fatally shot in the 1000 block of Porter Street around 4 p.m. The homicide is the city's ninth this year, Sgt. Jeff Bassett said. The victim's name is being withheld until next of kin is notified, Bassett said. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Vallejo police tip line at (800) 488-9383.

Fatal Car Crash Sparks Five-Acre Grass Fire

A fatal vehicle crash in Crockett on Thursday resulted in a five-acre grass fire, according to East Bay Regional Park District Assistant Fire Chief John Swanson. The 12:51 p.m. crash was originally reported as a car fire, according to CHP Officer S. Cakebread. Arriving on the scene, Cakebread said officers found the burning vehicle crashed into a pole at Winslow and Pomona streets. One fatality resulted from the crash, as did the fire, Swanson said. Regional park firefighters got the blaze under control by approximately 2:45 p.m. with assistance from the Crockett Fire Department, the Contra Costa Fire Protection District, and a helicopter from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Swanson said. The fire did not cause any injuries, Swanson said. The cause of the fatal vehicle crash is under investigation. Swanson said that fire personnel will be monitoring the grassy area into the evening.

San Mateo Supes Approve Budget, Reinstate $1.7M in Services

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Thursday afternoon adopted its recommended budget for the next fiscal year after adding back $1.7 million in services that had been slated to be cut. County Manager David Boesch said that the county's $1.69 billion 2011-12 budget, which includes around $27 million in spending cuts spread across every county department, keeps San Mateo County on track to close its ongoing structural deficit, which could total $79 million in 2015 if no further action is taken. Declining tax revenues, a deep economic recession and reduced state funding were the primary contributors to the ongoing deficit, Boesch said. "The darkest cloud hanging over us is really the state budget," Boesch said. Despite uncertain economic conditions, the county was able to combine spending cuts with general fund withdrawals to come up with a budget plan that retained more than 90 percent of the services provided in last year's budget. The retained services were ones deemed priorities by residents, department heads and the board of supervisors, Boesch said. Among the $1.7 million in programs and services restored on the last day of the four-day budget negotiation process were family health services to 1,000 disabled and at-risk children, an aftercare program for foster youth, in-home crisis services for children in the juvenile justice system, and funding for a public health nurse to serve the isolated community of Pescadero.

San Francisco Fencing Studio Celebrates Birth of Olympic Games

A San Francisco fencing studio celebrated the birth of the modern Olympic Games Thursday afternoon with former Olympians and world champions sparring and lunging to motivate future Olympians. Halberstadt Fencers' Club coach Greg Massialas said kids and young adults will listen to former Olympians, world champions and hopefuls talk about the international games and watch them show off some footwork and fencing techniques at the studio at 621 S. Van Ness Ave. "I look at today as more of a motivational thing of what the Olympics mean," Massialas said. "And how you are part of a big worldwide community, all doing similar things." Some of the fencing club's members, many of whom are trying to make the Olympic team for the London 2012 games, will be suited up in their gear. The event serves as an exhibition of fencing, which is often overshadowed by other Olympic summer events such as swimming. The 2011 USA Fencing National Championships are in less than two weeks, said Massialas, a three-time Olympian himself. Thursday in Sacramento, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom celebrated International Olympic Day as he serves as chair of the California Winter Games Committee. State leaders proclaimed the importance of "Olympic spirit" at the Capitol event, Newsom's spokesman Francisco Castillo said. The event was scheduled from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Stinson Beach Will Open to Swimming and Surfing Today

Unless there is another shark sighting, Stinson Beach will be open to swimming and surfing today, according to lifeguard Scott Talmer. The popular Marin County beach was partially closed after an 8- to 10-foot great white shark was sighted around 2 p.m. Sunday. Beach users were prohibited from going more than knee-deep in the water until today.

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A San Francisco group is heating up its fight to protect $8 million in funding for services -- primarily for the city's homeless and low-income populations -- slated to be cut from the 2011-2012 budget with a bake sale fundraiser this afternoon.

The Budget Justice Coalition is holding a "Cookies Not Cuts" bake sale on the City Hall steps from noon to 1:30 p.m. to raise money and awareness for programming for low-income residents.

The funding is on the chopping block according to budget recommendations made by Mayor Ed Lee.

Treats will be sold based upon voluntary donations -- anywhere from $1 to $10 million -- to raise money for homeless, mental health, substance abuse, violence prevention, legal services and other programs, said Jennifer Friedenbach, the director of the Coalition on Homelessness and an event organizer.

"We left it off with the mayor that we would work together to restore reductions," she said.

"And now we are hoping the Board of Supervisors will do that."

The coalition will deliver a special baked good package to each supervisor before a public budget hearing on Friday with the board, Friedenbach said.

Service Employees International Union Local 1021 is part of the coalition hoping to stop another year of cuts.

Four years of reductions have left programs "down to bare bones," according to SEIU 1021 spokesman Steve Stallone.

SEIU represents service providers at a number of community nonprofits that will have to reduce hours, staffing and services if the cuts go through.

"You have fewer people trying to provide the same kinds of services," Stallone said.

"The ones who end up keeping their jobs have bigger case loads.

It's harder to get their work done. It's hard to provide quality service."

Proceeds from today's bake sale will be raffled off to a community nonprofit, Friedenbach said.

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It’s 5:10 a.m, 53° and headed to 62°. Details are here. It’s all about Pride this weekend. And despite the renovations going on at Dolores Park, you’ll safely see most of it if you hang out at the park. Last night it started with the Transgender Parade, tonight is the Dyke Parade, which starts gathering...