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LOS ANGELES Average US price of gas steady at $2.91 per gallon
U.S. gas prices remained steady over the past two weeks and an analyst says the pump price may start to drop later this month.
Trilby Lundberg says the average price of regular-grade gas as of Friday was $2.91 per gallon.
In California, however, the average was $3.63, per gallon up 3 cents from two weeks ago.
The price in the San Francisco Bay Area was even higher while the city with the lowest average was Jackson, Mississippi at $2.51 per gallon.
Consumers may see prices fall 2 to 4 cents per gallon by the end of the month. Lundberg says gasoline supplies are plentiful, growth in demand is weak and refiners are ending their production of summer blend gas that's designed to reduce pollution but is costlier to produce.
MORENO VALLEY 26 sickened at Southern California wedding
Authorities say 26 people fell ill during a weekend wedding in Southern California.
The Riverside County Fire Department says guests were sickened Saturday night in an unincorporated area near Moreno Valley, east of Los Angeles. Some had nausea and vomiting.
The Fire Department says five people taken to the hospital had major symptoms, nine people were moderately ill and a dozen were considered to have minor problems.
A hazardous materials team was sent to the scene but no hazardous materials were found and the cause of the illnesses remains under investigation.
IRWINDALE 2 suffer electric shock at La-area motorsports track
Authorities say two people are in critical condition after suffering electrical shock at a motorsports track near Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department says one of the patients was in cardiac arrest after the incident Saturday at the Irwindale Speedway.
Power has been shut off to the venue and Southern California Edison workers have been called to the scene.
Fire officials didn't have additional details. An email seeking information from speedway officials wasn't immediately returned.
The incident occurred before gates opened to the public for Saturday's night's NASCAR Whelen All American Series event.
The Irwindale Speedway opened in 1999 and features banked oval tracks and a drag strip.
SAN FRANCISCO April trial date set for 2 charged in warehouse fire deaths
A California judge has set an April 2 start date for the trial of two men charged in the deaths of 36 people in an Oakland warehouse fire.
Derick Almena and Max Harris are each charged with 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter.
Judge James Cramer last month scuttled a plea deal, citing Almena's lack of remorse. Cramer said he believed Harris was truly remorseful, but the plea bargain was a package deal, so both were rejected.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday that the judge's firm trial date could crumble if he grants a motion to reinstate the plea agreement or if he decides the case should be moved to another county to ensure an unbiased jury.
Pre-trial hearings have been set for Oct. 12 and Nov. 2.
SACRAMENTO Judge approves tentative settlement in inmate abuse case
A federal judge in Sacramento has approved a settlement in a Placer County Jail abuse case that includes reforms in the county's two jails and a fund of more than $1.4 million to pay off claims by inmates.
The Sacramento Bee reports U.S. Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman signed a tentative approval in a class-action lawsuit against the eastern California county last year.
The lawsuit was filed after Sheriff Devon Bell disclosed that three sheriff's officials had been arrested on allegations of using excessive force on inmates and had tried to cover it up.
A permanent settlement approval is expected in March.
Penn Valley lawyer Patrick Dwyer and Sacramento civil rights attorney Mark Merin, who filed the class-action lawsuit, say the sheriff's office has already made several changes to its training and jails.
FRESNO Man lost part of foot in crash in Fresno, authorities say
California Highway Patrol says a man who appeared to be intoxicated continued riding his motorcycle with a partially-severed foot after he crashed with a big rig.
California Highway Patrol spokesman Victor Taylor says the rider, whose name was not disclosed, hit the truck near Highway 41 Thursday night.
The Fresno Bee reports the trucker involved reported the crash to authorities after he noticed blood on part of his truck.