By LORI A. CARTER THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Henry Scholten, of Healdsburg, who admitted setting fire to three buildings in 2006 was sentenced Wednesday to 5 years and 4 months in prison, capping a case his attorney says highlights the lack of mental health care in Sonoma County.

By CLARK MASON THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Students at Santa Rosa Junior College are going to have fewer classes to choose from this fall. College officials on Wednesday said there will be about 15 percent fewer classes available for the fall semester that begins Aug. 18.

By JEANNINE AVERSA ASSOCIATED PRESS

Date: 6/24/2009 2:20 PM BC-US--Fed-Interest Rates,3rd Ld/116 Eds: APNewsNow. Will be led. Moving on general news and financial services. Fed says recession easing, inflation not a threat JEANNINE AVERSA AP Economics Writer

By ANNE DINNOCENZIO ASSOCIATED PRESS

The recession steered a new type of customer to Wal-Mart -- deeper in the pockets and suddenly looking for bargains. Now the worlds largest retailer has to figure out how to keep that customer when the economy recovers.

By RAF CASERT ASSOCIATED PRESS

The United States mens soccer team upset the worlds No. 1-ranked team, Spain, 2-0, on Wednesday in the semifinal round of the Confederations Cup.

By DEREK MOORE THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Democrats failed to secure a two-thirds majority vote in either the Assembly or Senate Wednesday for their proposal to cut state programs by $11 billion in an effort to close a much larger deficit.

By GLENDA ANDERSON THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A deadly fire Monday morning near the shores of Clear Lake was accidental, fire officials said. Harry Jon Waner, 58, of Lucerne, is believed to have perished in the fire but there has been no positive identification of the remains found inside the mobile home.

By ALAN ZIBEL ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON - New U.S. home sales fell slightly last month, in another sign that the housing markets recovery is likely to be gradual and prolonged.

By MICHAEL COIT THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A major change in who does appraisals for new loans has shifted the business of determining a homes value from individual appraisers, many based locally, to outside companies.

By STEVEN WINE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WIMBLEDON, England - In the final game, a desperate Maria Sharapova lunged to hit one shot left-handed, and twice challenged calls but lost. Then she lost the match as well.

A 69-year-old man with a cane died in Rodeo after he was hit by his friends pickup truck and dragged 150 feet when a gunman tried to carjack the vehicle, authorities said today. The incident began shortly after 4 p.m. Tuesday when James Gilbeaux of Rodeo...

After going AWOL for seven days, Gov. Mark Sanford admitted Wednesday that he had secretly flown to Argentina to visit a woman with whom he was having an affair. Wiping away tears, he apologized to his wife and four sons and said he will resign as head of the...

A bomb ripped through a crowded market in Baghdads main Shiite district on Wednesday, killing at least 69 people and wounding more than 100 less than a week before a deadline for U.S. combat troops to leave Iraqs urban areas. A series of blasts this week...

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanfords admission of an affair with a woman from Argentina is the latest sign that Republican governors _ once thought to be President Obamas most credible adversaries _ havent quite lived up to their billing. From Louisiana Gov...

A homeless man is on trial in San Mateo County on charges that he smacked a fellow transient in the face with a skateboard as the victim was engaged in a conversation about quantum physics, authorities said today. Jason Everett Keller, 40, allegedly accosted...

San Francisco Supervisor Sophie Maxwell and other African American leaders in the Bayview are not at all happy about how this weeks visit by first lady Michelle Obama was handled. One look at the picture on the front of The Chronicle says it all, Maxwell...