Reflecting the growing clout of the cycling community, Napa now has two "bicycle boulevards" to get people on two wheels through the central city faster and safer.

Napa will hire a $200-an-hour Sacramento lobbyist to fight for flood control money and advance other city interests.

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration's top health official said Thursday that "no one in the world is ready" for a potentially catastrophic outbreak of bird flu as President Bush summoned vaccine manufacturers to the White House to discuss the situation.

Fifth-graders from Napa's Blue Oak School and three other Bay Area elementary schools are a little bit wiser today, as they leave a week-long camp in the redwoods west of Napa.

Perhaps the most emotional and contentious aspect of Napa's quarter-billion dollar flood control project is the taking of private property in order to facilitate construction.

WASHINGTON -- Conflicts between the federal agencies responsible for border protection and immigration have undercut investigations and strained border security, says a draft Department of Homeland Security report that recommends they be merged.

NEW YORK-- Authorities stepped up security Thursday after receiving what city officials called a credible threat that the New York subway could be the target of a terrorist attack in coming days. But Homeland Security officials in Washington downplayed the threat, saying it was of "doubtful credibility."

WASHINGTON -- FBI agents examined computers in Vice President Dick Cheney's office and talked to former and current White House aides Thursday as they investigated an FBI intelligence analyst accused of passing classified information to Filipino officials.

WASHINGTON -- Presidential confidant Karl Rove will testify for a fourth time before the federal grand jury investigating the leak of a CIA officer's identity even though prosecutors have warned they can no longer guarantee he will escape indictment, lawyers said Thursday.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger implored California's mayors Thursday to support Proposition 76, a ballot measure intended to stabilize state finances and end deficit spending. He warned that if the measure fails to pass during the Nov. 8 special election, state lawmakers would likely raid local treasuries for funds to close the state's persistent budget gap.

LOS ANGELES -- High natural gas prices exacerbated by the Gulf Coast hurricanes prompted speakers at a Public Utilities Commission hearing Thursday to urge utilities to expand the number of low-income customers who receive subsidized discounts.