 (Susan Tripp Pollard/Staff) Pearl Harbor beacon a new light with a timeless message  Pearl Harbor survivors, volunteers, watch as Mt. Diablo beacon lit for the first time since its repair, to commemorate Dec. 7, 1941 attack |
 Deal or no deal? Once again, congressional Republicans and Democrats try to bridge budget differences Congress is haggling again over a plan to keep the federal government running, this time past Jan. 15. And many Americans are hoping the deal isn't simply a "continuing resolution" that will have Democrats and Republicans back at the bargaining table -- and at each other's throats -- a few months down the road. |
 (Karl Mondon/Staff file) Concord council considers 10-year management contract for Sleep Train Pavilion After several years of watching the Sleep Train Pavilion frequently sit idle during the concert season, city leaders wanted a promoter that would bring some buzz back to the 38-year-old amphitheater. |
 ( ) Peak experience: Three years after breaking neck, Livermore police sergeant takes hike of a lifetime Livermore police Sgt. Paul Mayer broke his neck during SWAT training in 2010, and after six months in recovery, he hiked the entire John Muir Trail in two weeks. In September, he and his brother Christian did it again, with a goal in making the 211-mile trek in under seven days. |
BUSINESS  (
DAN ROSENSTRAUCH
) Cassidy: Holiday shopping assault of drones, smartphones and dead-tree catalogs It’s seems Black Friday and Cyber Monday have been with us forever, but this year, somehow, the bombardment of shopping options is more overwhelming than ever. |
SPORTS  (Matt York/AP) Stanford Cardinal headed back to Rose Bowl  Stanford Cardinal blow past Arizona State in Pac-12 title game to secure spot in Rose Bowl on New Year's Day against Ohio State or Michigan State. |
LOCAL NEWS  (Jane Tyska/Staff file) MLB deals setback to San Jose bid to lure Oakland A's League notified Oakland A's in June that it at least temporarily rejected plan to relocate to San Jose, according to court documents in San Jose antitrust case |
 (China Photos/Getty Images) Study suggests fear can be passed on through genes A newborn mouse pup, seemingly innocent to the workings of the world, may actually harbor generations' worth of information passed down by its ancestors. Full Story |
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) Travel top 10: World's best cities for winter vacations Some of the world's cities shine brightly in winter. And they aren't likely to be overrun with tourists between now and February. If you're looking to get away soon, check out this list from CNN Travel of the 10 best cities for a winter vacation. |
 (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Evangeline Lilly upset with magazine's 'butt' reference Women’s Health surprised “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” actress with her cover shot. |
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) Bay Area residents live longer; here's why Bay Area residents are among the nation's longest-lived people, surviving on average more than a decade longer than residents of rural Kentucky, West Virginia or Mississippi. |
 (
Jeff Vendsel
) Mi Pueblo files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Mi Pueblo, the festive Bay Area supermarket chain and icon of family-grown Hispanic businesses, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Monday, citing a dispute with its primary lender, Wells Fargo. |
