Applied Materials says regulators OK Semitool bid

Chip equipment maker Applied Materials Inc. said Thursday that federal regulators have given the green light to its acquisition of Semitool Inc. Applied Materials said the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott Rodino Act, an antitrust law governing mergers and alliances between competitors.

Judge: Schwarzenegger can't furlough prison guards

A judge on Thursday ruled against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's furlough order for thousands of California prison guards in a decision that could cost the state millions. Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch sided with the 30,000-member California Correctional Peace Officers Association and ordered the state to pay prison guards back for the days they worked without pay.

Home sales inching up in California

A tracking firm says sales of homes in California are rising from a year ago, and the median price is also rising for the first time in nearly 2 1/2 years. San Diego-based MDA DataQuick says 35,860 houses and condos were sold statewide last month. That's up 11.5 percent from November 2008.

Oracle expects EU to approve Sun deal next month

Oracle Corp. says that its profit jumped 13 percent in the latest quarter and that it expects the European Union will finally approve its $7.4 billion purchase of Sun Microsystems Inc. next month. Oracle, the world's No. 1 maker of database software, saw its revenue from new software licenses rise 2 percent in the quarter that ended Nov. 30. That was better than the company's earlier prediction and indicates corporations are becoming less reluctant to embark on technology projects.

Pop star finds right note for anticancer song

When Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame was called on to create a song for an anti-cancer campaign, he was surprised at how easily it came to him and with just the right tone. "It's very uplifting," he says of "Stand Up to Cancer," which he started writing and recording on his laptop in bed right after awakening one morning.

Sheriff: Deputy arrived just before murder-suicide

Sheriff's officials say a deputy checking on a domestic disturbance arrived at an Orange County home moments before gunshots were fired in an apparent murder-suicide that left four dead. Sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said Thursday that 67-year-old Bonnie Hoult was outside with her 4-year-old granddaughter Catherine Fontaine on Monday when she saw the deputy and walked briskly in the house. Amormino says within seconds, the deputy heard gunshots.

LA living wage suit to be settled for $6.5 million

A uniform company has agreed to pay $6.5 million to settle a lawsuit claiming it failed to pay its laundry workers a living wage. Ohio-based Cintas agreed last Friday to pay $3.3 million in back wages and interest to more than 500 Southern California workers and another $3.2 million in penalties and attorney fees.

GOP rivals wealth heats up governors race

The 2010 California governors race, already an entertaining reality show, is exhibiting signs of morphing into an expensive, combative new series - Battle of the Super Rich. Republican state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner ensured as much this week...

Whitman has wide lead over her GOP rivals

Republican former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, who has spent more than $20 million in her campaign to become Californias next governor, holds commanding leads over her two GOP competitors, while nearly half the partys likely voters are undecided, a new poll shows...

City to get Treasure Island for $105 million

Mayor Gavin Newsom struck a deal Wednesday with the U.S. Navy to transfer Treasure Island to San Francisco for a $55 million guaranteed payment over several years. Additional considerations could make the package worth more than $105 million to the federal...

Lawmaker: Make violent-attack reports mandatory

A state assemblyman is sponsoring legislation that would make it a crime to not report violent attacks, a proposal made in response to the gang rape of a Richmond High School student in October - and reports that 20 witnesses failed to report the assault...

More judges may be dropped from donors cases

California court leaders, responding to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on judicial conflicts of interest, want to disqualify judges from any case in which they have received at least $1,500 in campaign contributions from either side. The state Judicial Council...

S.F. schools get tougher on credit card use

San Franciscos school superintendent has laid down the law when it comes to the use of district-issued credit cards by school board members, issuing an edict that prohibits spending on personal items and limits gratuities to 15 percent. The new policy,...

Inertia Beverage Group raises $14M
Inertia Beverage Group raised $14 million in venture money.

Wells Fargo finances UC Merced solar project
Wells Fargo & Co. worked with SunPower Corp. to set up a sale leaseback deal to pay for a solar power project at the University of California, Merced. (SPWRA) (WFC)

S.F. official says city would sue to stop A’s move to San Jose
Any Oakland A’s plan to move the team to San Jose would face a legal battle from San Francisco City Hall, according to City Attorney Dennis Herrera.

Cavium Networks raises Q4 outlook
Cavium Networks Inc. raised its guess about fourth-quarter sales growth. (CAVM)

Sonic Solutions raises $27M in stock sale
Sonic Solutions raised $27 million by selling 3 million shares of stock. (SNIC)

Bank of America names new CEO
Bank of America on Wednesday tapped Brian Moynihan as CEO and president to succeed Ken Lewis when he retires at year-end. (BAC)

Alameda Police Dog Attacks Cop, Gets Fatally Shot
A police officer shot and killed a police dog that would not respond to police commands as officers apprehended a burglary suspect on Thursday.

Oakland Father Killed In Raging House Fire
A father was killed in a raging fire at a home in Oakland Thursday morning, according to fire officials.  There were seven people in the home at the time, including three children.  All escaped unhurt except the 44-year-old father.

Driver Hits South SF Building After Police Chase
A driver who led police on a chase overnight ended up crashing his pickup truck in South San Francisco early Thursday morning, damaging two businesses.

Bay Area Home Sales, Prices Show Rising Trend
Sales and prices of homes in the San Francisco Bay area appear to be stabilizing, with fewer foreclosures and more activity in pricier areas than a year ago, a tracking firm said Thursday.

Eroding Pacifica Cliff Prompts Evacuations
A crumbling cliff forced some Pacifica residents Thursday to grab what they could and flee an apartment building atop a coastal bluff over fears it could slide into the Pacific Ocean. Building officials ordered residents at 330 Esplanade Avenue out immediately.

SJ Appears To Be Gearing Up For NBA Courtship
The HP Pavilion was built to accommodate a basketball team, and the groundwork has been laid to bring an NBA team into the venue permanently.