Man who killed Polly Klaas in 1993 seeks to have death sentence overturned
More than three decades after 12-year-old Polly Klaas of Petaluma was kidnapped and murdered, the man convicted of killing her is seeking to overturn his death sentence.
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More than three decades after 12-year-old Polly Klaas of Petaluma was kidnapped and murdered, the man convicted of killing her is seeking to overturn his death sentence.
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen announced on Friday that he has ordered the county's 15 inmates on California's death row to be resentenced to life without parole.
The Supreme Court rejected Kenneth Smith's argument that it would be unconstitutional for the state to attempt a second execution after a failed lethal injection in 2022.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who three years ago placed a moratorium on executions, now is moving to dismantle the United States' largest death row by moving all condemned inmates to other prisons within two years.
California's top court rejected an attempt to make it harder to impose the death penalty, ruling Thursday in favor of the current system.
The California Supreme Court began hearing arguments Wednesday in the death penalty appeal of Donte McDaniel, a case that legal experts say could impact the future of capital punishment in the state.
California's process for imposing the death penalty "is now, and always has been, infected by racism," Gov. Gavin Newsom declared Monday in a brief filed with the state Supreme Court.
Condemned Inmate John Abel, sentenced to San Quentin's death row after evidence linked him to a 1992 Orange County slaying, has died at a local hospital, prison officials announced Saturday.
When voters passed Prop. 66 in 2016 most believed the measure would speed up state executions, they never thought it would lead to condemned prisoners being allowed to request a transfer off San Quentin's Death Row.
A handyman convicted in the hatchet murders of an elderly couple who employed him and who was sent to San Quentin's death row has died at an outside hospital early Wednesday morning.
Parents of Californians murdered by people now on death row launched a statewide tour to urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to reverse his moratorium on executions.
Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said Thursday that there should be a federal moratorium on executions.
It was a simple sentence posted on the door to San Quentin Prison's death chamber, but its impact sparked a debate across California and the nation.
A former U.S. Marine who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murders of five Southern California women in the 1980s and 1990s by an Orange County jury in October was discovered dead in his cell at San Quentin.
"It became crystal clear to me that the risk of unequal application is high and its effect on deterrence is low," the senator said.
Opponents of a voter-approved measure to speed up executions in California are asking the state Supreme Court to reconsider its ruling upholding the law.
Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said properly trained firing squads are a "foolproof" way to quickly execute an inmate .
Volunteers who have spent countless hours searching, without success, for Morgan Hill teenager Sierra LaMar filled a San Jose courtroom Friday to show support for her family as the man accused of murdering her suspect made his first court appearance since prosecutors announced they would seek the death penalty.
Some of the more high-profile members of Silicon Valley's social and financial scenes are writing big checks in support of the proposition that would abolish capital punishment in California, dwarfing the opposition's fundraising in the process.
Opponents of capital punishment announced Thursday that they have gathered nearly 800,000 signatures for a November ballot initiative that would repeal the death penalty in California and replace it with life in prison without parole.
More than two-thirds of California voters favor keeping the death penalty despite a growing preference for life without parole for certain crimes, a new survey shows.
A long-running challenge to California's death penalty procedures that has resulted in executions being put on hold for five years has been assigned to a new federal judge in San Francisco.
Senator Loni Hancock on Thursday withdrew her bill to replace the death penalty with prison without the possibility of parole before the legislation could come up for a vote.
State Senator Loni Hancock is looking to end the death penalty in California, but victim's families are irate over the proposed legislation.
A report released Monday tallies the cost of carrying out an execution in California, suggesting that the financial impact to California taxpayers since capital punishment was reinstated in the state is in the neighborhood $4 billion.
Three men were arrested after multiple Bay Area law enforcement agencies targeted child predators in a sting operation in Newark this week, police said Friday.
May Day protesters disrupted access to the terminals at San Francisco and Oakland airports on Friday, authorities said.
A Monterey County man is accused of multiple felonies, including attempted murder, human trafficking and weapons offenses, after he allegedly strangled a woman, authorities said.
Police in San Jose released sketches of two suspects as they seek to solve the cold case killing of a teenager.
A more than century-old bridge between Solano and Yolo counties is getting major rehabilitation work, but the fate of the graffiti it's known for remains unclear.
Three men were arrested after multiple Bay Area law enforcement agencies targeted child predators in a sting operation in Newark this week, police said Friday.
May Day protesters disrupted access to the terminals at San Francisco and Oakland airports on Friday, authorities said.
A Monterey County man is accused of multiple felonies, including attempted murder, human trafficking and weapons offenses, after he allegedly strangled a woman, authorities said.
Police in San Jose released sketches of two suspects as they seek to solve the cold case killing of a teenager.
A more than century-old bridge between Solano and Yolo counties is getting major rehabilitation work, but the fate of the graffiti it's known for remains unclear.
At the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University, an incredible collaboration is taking place between a 16-year-old high school student and the medical staff.
Police in San Francisco said a drone unit helped lead to the arrest of two people suspected of robbing a victim of their gold chain earlier this week.
Every artist has a different medium. For Ida Lajevardi, it's metal, and her canvas is teeth.
While Irving the sea lion stole the spotlight earlier this month after he was found wandering the streets of San Francisco's Sunset District, he wasn't the only pup on the loose.
WalletHub published a new ranking that said Pacifica is the worst small city to start a business, but residents of the coastal community are unsurprisingly pretty laid-back about it.
Three men were arrested after multiple Bay Area law enforcement agencies targeted child predators in a sting operation in Newark this week, police said Friday.
A Los Angeles-based jazz trio had to cancel their West Coast tour after a truck containing all of their instruments and equipment was stolen from a hotel parking lot in Oakland.
A multi-vehicle crash on Interstate Highway 580 in Livermore on Thursday morning left one person dead, and authorities were seeking the public's help to find a semi-truck that left the scene.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland announced that more than a dozen churches in the East Bay will be closing amid ongoing financial woes.
The technology uses ultra-low sound waves as a way to extinguish a fire. It was just a theory until 2015, when a pair of students at George Mason University demonstrated the world's first sonic fire extinguisher.
A Monterey County man is accused of multiple felonies, including attempted murder, human trafficking and weapons offenses, after he allegedly strangled a woman, authorities said.
Police in San Jose released sketches of two suspects as they seek to solve the cold case killing of a teenager.
Archaeologists are learning more about one of the oldest Chinese villages in California history, which is part of this reporter's own heritage.
A wayward sea lion pup that was found in the middle of a street in Sunnyvale last month has been rehabilitated and released into the wild, authorities said Thursday.
A man wanted for vandalism on California's Central Coast was arrested by European authorities in connection with an alleged terror attack in Czechia, authorities said.
A whale washed ashore on the Mendocino County coast, as researchers say the numbers of reported whale deaths appear to be rising on the West Coast.
Authorities in Sonoma County are seeking help from the public after a series of copper wire thefts have led to phone and internet service disruptions in the western part of the county.
A rock climber at a remote coastal area in Sonoma County who needed medical assistance after a fall was rescued by a helicopter crew over the weekend, authorities said.
Police in Santa Rosa have arrested a man on multiple felony charges after he allegedly slashed the tires of dozens of vehicles in a neighborhood.
Police are offering a reward for the public's help following an armed robbery and shooting at a Santa Rosa market over the weekend.
The Kentucky Derby will see a full field of 20 horses in the first leg of the 2026 competition for horse racing's Triple Crown.
Kyle Schwarber hit a tying double with two outs in the ninth inning, Alec Bohm delivered with his glove and bat in the 10th, and the Phillies defeated the Giants 6-5 to sweep their split doubleheader.
Justin Crawford delivered his second career walk-off hit to send the Phillies to a 3-2 win over the Giants in the first game of a split doubleheader.
Don Mattingly won his first game as Philadelphia's interim manager, leading the Phillies to a 7-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
Landen Roupp held Miami to two hits in 7 2/3 innings and Casey Schmitt hit a go-ahead home run for the second straight game as the San Francisco Giants beat the Marlins 6-3.
Three men were arrested after multiple Bay Area law enforcement agencies targeted child predators in a sting operation in Newark this week, police said Friday.
A Monterey County man is accused of multiple felonies, including attempted murder, human trafficking and weapons offenses, after he allegedly strangled a woman, authorities said.
Police in San Jose released sketches of two suspects as they seek to solve the cold case killing of a teenager.
Police in San Francisco said a drone unit helped lead to the arrest of two people suspected of robbing a victim of their gold chain earlier this week.
A Los Angeles-based jazz trio had to cancel their West Coast tour after a truck containing all of their instruments and equipment was stolen from a hotel parking lot in Oakland.
As AI-generated music spreads, Spotify says it wants to help users "trust the authenticity" of what they're listening to.
A memory chip shortage is driving up computer prices for consumers, reversing a decades-long drop in hardware costs.
The technology uses ultra-low sound waves as a way to extinguish a fire. It was just a theory until 2015, when a pair of students at George Mason University demonstrated the world's first sonic fire extinguisher.
The new Department of Motor Vehicles regulations allow law enforcement agencies to issue notices of traffic violations to autonomous vehicle companies when their cars commit moving violations.
Elon Musk alleges that OpenAI reneged on a promise to operate as a nonprofit dedicated to human progress.
An ice cream company based in the San Francisco Bay Area is recalling dozens of products after they were sold without labels disclosing potentially dangerous allergens.
Health officials in San Francisco announced Wednesday that an infant who recently traveled outside the United States has tested positive for measles.
A dead bat found at a Fremont home earlier this week has tested positive for the deadly rabies virus, according to authorities.
An East Bay woman is using the sport of pickleball to help find a cure for Parkinson's disease.
An unlicensed cosmetologist from Florida has been found guilty in a California court for providing an injection that killed a model who was known as a Kim Kardashian lookalike, prosecutors said.
May Day protesters disrupted access to the terminals at San Francisco and Oakland airports on Friday, authorities said.
Negotiations over a $500 million dollar government aid package for Spirit stalled after bondholders balked at the terms.
San Francisco is expanding availability of free and low-cost childcare for the city's working families, by adding hundreds of spots for infants and toddlers.
The longest shutdown of a federal department in U.S. history came to an end on Thursday when President Trump signed a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security following a breakthrough on Capitol Hill.
The budget blueprint is the first step in Republicans' two-pronged plan to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
Philz Coffee will once again sport the Pride flag at its cafés after a directive to have them and other flags removed created a backlash.
The Trump administration agreed to restore the Stonewall National Monument's Pride flag in Greenwich Village after it was removed.
Philz Coffee's move to remove the Pride flag and all other flags from their stores is brewing up some strong reaction.
Transgender women athletes are now excluded from women's events at the Olympics after the IOC agreed to a new eligibility policy on Thursday.
The Trump administration has given San Jose State University 10 days to change its policy on transgender athletes or face legal action and possibly lose federal funding.
At Last Rites, the weekly gathering goes beyond simply watching a television show. For fans, it's an immersive experience, one that brings them closer to the world of "Survivor," and to each other.
Jake was at the funeral for one of his closest friends when he learned of his parents' deaths, he said.
Michael Tilson Thomas, the 12-time Grammy Award winning composer and famed conductor who led the San Francisco Symphony for a quarter century, has died.
Pop star Britney Spears has voluntarily checked into rehab following her DUI arrest in Ventura County in March, a representative for the singer told CBS LA.
Adrian Arias's work, entitled "Layers of the Mission: A Celebration of Memory and Resilience," is intended to bring attention to who he describes as real-life neighborhood heroes.
Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Oakland Unified School District has seen an alarming spike in the number of unhoused students in the school system who deal with a host of challenges far beyond what most children face.
Meteorologist and CBS News Bay Area's resident pilot Lt. Jessica Burch got a treat during Fleet Week, taking to the skies with one of the Blue Angels.
A Bay Area man discovered his devastating loss left him with a new opportunity to rethink how he lives -- follow his journey in virtual reality, 360-degree video.
A groundbreaking medical study involving the UCSF Medical Center has shown some colorectal cancer patients can safely skip radiation treatment and enjoy a potentially higher quality of life.
Every day, San Francisco bar pilot Captain Zach Kellerman goes through what might just be the world's most dangerous commute.
A group keen to protect newts from being run over on a rural road is asking the Transportation Authority of Marin for sales tax revenues to support a wildlife crossing project near Laguna Lake. Brian Hackney reports.
Workers and labor groups gathered for a May Day rally at Oakland's Fruitvale Plaza to speak out against the Trump administration's policies. Da Lin reports.
The group Indivisible Portola Valley is making and distributing "Know Your Rights" kits to inform the community on what to do if ICE agents approach you, and how to document everything. Sooji Nam reports.
Meteorologist Darren Peck says by Monday night, Tuesday morning there will be a chance of showers.
A group of parents in Saratoga is fighting to save their school district's preschool program, which is on the chopping block because of declining enrollment and reimbursement shortfalls. Devin Fehely reports.
In 2025, KPIX is moving to a new community service award: the CBS News Bay Area Icon Award. Submit nominations for an outstanding community hero at kpix.com/icon.
It's the most wonderful time of the year for a South Bay woman who has played Mrs. Claus for more than 40 years for the children of North San Jose's Alviso District.
For residents of the Oakland Hills, the prospect of another wildfire always remains a concern. This week's Jefferson Awards winner has made it his mission to make the hills and other high-risk areas safer.
In East Palo Alto -- where state education numbers show more than nine in ten public school students are low income and more than half are English learners -- many are finding hope and connection at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Peninsula.
This week's Jefferson Award winner is Army veteran who continues to live a life of service into his 80s, by feeding hundreds of San Francisco families a week.
A Bay Area man who overcame tremendous obstacles to excel in school has made it his mission to gear up other students for success in the classroom and in life.
For Students Rising Above scholar Josh Collins it took moving across the country to realize the value of his Bay Area family.
Samir Hooker had to grow up fast after his stepfather was shot dead 12 years ago. Now he is watching over his mom and sister while attending UC Berkeley.
It's hard enough to graduate from one of the most prestigious schools in the country when you're the first in your family to go to college. Imagine doing that while you're also trying to protect your parents from being deported?
Some students who are the first in their families to go to college face the challenge of balancing a rigorous academic load while still working to help support their family back home.