These are excerpts from the San Francisco Police Department's daily log of activities. Incidents are listed by police precincts and the neighborhoods they patrol.

What seemed to be a winning idea instead caused a 71-year-old man to be tricked by two Spanish-speaking women into giving them $3,000 in cash and jewelry, police said.

When Raye Lynn Rapoza's husband intentionally drove her and the couple's 4-year-old daughter to their deaths off of a Moss Beach cliff in 2002, the crime shook Wendy Miller to her core.

The lawsuit-beleaguered city of Half Moon Bay has found help to pay its substantial legal fees.

In what authorities are calling a sign of the economic times, the number of bank robberies in San Francisco and San Mateo counties is rapidly escalating - and investigators do not expect the trend to stop anytime soon.

My greatest golfing experience came at Pebble Beach, the day after the 1992 U.S. Open, when the press was allowed to play the course under the conditions that Tom Kite had to endure in order to become an Open champion. It was humbling.

The dark, filthy water that inundated the entire downtown of Iowas second-largest city was receding Saturday after forcing 24,000 people to flee, but those who remained were being urged to take draconian measures to avoid overwhelming the citys only...

Nearly 23,000 acres have burned and 66 homes destroyed as a wildfire swept through Butte County in Northern California, but authorities were allowing evacuated residents to return to their homes today. The fire, named the Humboldt Fire, continued to threaten...

A female suicide bomber targeted a crowd of soccer fans celebrating Iraqs win in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday, wounding at least 34 people near a cafe north of Baghdad, police said. The young woman, who was covered in a traditional black Islamic robe,...

Black conservative talk show host Armstrong Williams has never voted for a Democrat for president. That could change this year with Barack Obama as the Democratic Partys nominee. I dont necessarily like his policies; I dont like much that he advocates,...

An Italian woman whose family kept her locked in a room for almost two decades after she was accused of becoming pregnant out of wedlock has been freed by police, authorities and media reports said. Police said they found the 47-year-old woman Friday in a...

U.S. and NATO troops aided Afghan forces with reconnaissance in a hunt Saturday for 870 inmates who escaped prison after a sophisticated Taliban assault that even NATO conceded was a success for the militants. A roadside bomb, meanwhile, killed four U.S...

Matson Navigation to raise charges on Pacific routes
Matson Navigation Co. will raise the fuel surcharge on its Pacific routes in July. (ALEX)

Nasdaq warns Zhone Technologies on minimum stock price
The Nasdaq warned Zhone Technologies Inc. that it could be delisted due to the low price of its stock. (ZHNE)

Tamalpais Bank's parent adopts new name
San Rafael-based Tamalpais Bancorp is the new name adopted for the parent company of Tamalpais Bank and Tamalpais Wealth Advisors. (TAMB)

United Airlines, US Airways latest carriers to charge for checked bag
United Airlines and US Airways will become the second and third major U.S. carriers to charge passengers $15 for their first checked bag. (UAUA) (LCC) (AMR)

Yahoo, Google strike ad deal
Yahoo Inc. agreed Thursday to a search-advertising deal with rival Google Inc. just hours after announcing that Microsoft Corp. was no longer in the picture. (YHOO) (GOOG)

Howard Dean Hopes To Unite Dems In Bay Area Visit
In an effort to unite the Democrats, Chairman Howard Dean appeared in the Bay Area Friday night to heal divisions in the party resulting from the primary campaign.

Some Evacuees Back Home As NorCal Fires Still Burn
Many residents evacuated because of a wildfire that scorched over 600 acres and burned at least 10 homes in the Santa Cruz County community of Bonny Doon were allowed to return to their homes Friday.

Controversial Bishop Speaks In San Francisco
An Australian bishop with controversial ideas about the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal spoke in San Francisco Friday night, in defiance of the local Archbishop.

Bay Area Congresswoman Wants To Cut Loud TV Ads
Have you ever noticed how television commercials are louder than the show you're watching? Palo Alto Congresswoman Anna Eshoo wants to do something about that.

Smith Outpiches Zito, A's Beat Giants 5-1
Greg Smith won for only the second time in his last nine starts and got his first career hit as the Oakland Athletics beat their former ace Barry Zito and the San Francisco Giants 5-1 on Friday night.