THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Santa Rosa’s average price for regular gasoline was $3.027 a gallon today, according to AAA. A year ago, it was $4.547. Among the area’s typically low-price stations, these prices were reported this morning: --$2.839 at Arco at Hearn and Corby Avenues in Santa Rosa. --$2.839 at Arco at Fourth Street and Brookwood Avenue in Santa Rosa.

By NATHAN HALVERSON THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The recession in Sonoma County might end late this year, but unemployment will continue to worsen in 2010 as companies shed jobs to adjust for decreased consumer demand, according to a new economic report.

By NATHAN HALVERSON THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The recession in Sonoma County might end late this year, but unemployment will continue to worsen in 2010 as companies shed jobs to adjust for decreased consumer demand, according to a new economic report.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK - A bankruptcy judge ruled Thursday that General Motors Corp. can have access to its full $33.3 billion in bankruptcy financing. Judge Robert Gerber gave final approval to the financing after he had given preliminary approval earlier this month for GM to use $15 billion of the total.

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 BLEYS ROSE THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

This Sunday is the last that Sonoma County waste disposal sites will be open on a Sunday.

BY BOB NORBERG THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Federal investigators on Thursday began examining the wreckage of a plane that crashed in Holbrook, Ariz., several hours after leaving Sonoma County’s airport.

By DAN NEIL LOS ANGELES TIMES

Trodding heavily toward you like a 300-foot blue elephant in a band uniform, The Beatles: Rock Band video game will consume much of the industrys advertising bandwidth ahead of its Sept. 9 release.

Facebook is testing new privacy controls that will allow the online hangouts roughly 200 million users to decide who should see each of their personal updates.

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.

The death of a 56-year-old homeless man in Hayward is being investigated as a homicide, police said today. The victim, whose name was withheld pending notification of his family, was found on the 28000 block of Rochelle Avenue (links.sfgate.com/ZHMQ) at about...

A serial bank-robbery suspect was identified with the help of the mother of his children after she recognized his distinctive tattoo - a dark blotch that covered her name at the request of another woman, authorities said. Terrol Alan Casborn, 32, was indicted...

Michael Jackson, who was with a cardiologist when he collapsed at his rented home in Los Angeles, appeared to have suffered a heart attack, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press. The person, who was not authorized to speak...

Two gay rights group and the American Civil Liberties Union are backing a federal lawsuit seeking to restore gay marriage in California. In legal documents filed late Thursday, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal and the ACLU said they agree...

Police investigating Michael Jacksons death looked into his medical treatment Friday, seeking to interview one of the pop kings doctors and seizing a car that they said may contain drugs or other evidence. As medical examiners began an autopsy for Jackson,...