Napa, St. Helena and Calistoga students are improving in math and English, based on the latest statewide assessments.

The last holiday of the summer will find the California Highway Patrol (CHP) vigorously enforcing DUI, speed and safety belt laws. Be sure to use seat belts, designate a driver if you are drinking, obey all speed laws and be patient in holiday traffic./Register

American Canyon police arrested Diego Meza Murillo, 44, of Vallejo after he bolted from his vehicle after hitting another car.

No water mixed with the oil? Check.

WASHINGTON -- Searching for terrorists, the FBI and the Education Department's investigative arm have secretly vetted people applying for college aid, documents show.

SALT LAKE CITY -- President Bush stood before graying soldiers of wars past and framed America's national security options this way: Stay in Iraq and wage a difficult war that will cost the lives of more U.S. troops, or pull out and live under a growing threat of terrorism at home.

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. -- A teenager accused of killing his father and opening fire outside his former high school was obsessed with school massacres and sent e-mail to the principal of Columbine High School in Colorado warning of his attack, authorities said Thursday.

CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- A man convicted of sexually assaulting an Indonesian housekeeper and keeping her virtually as a slave was sentenced Thursday to 28 years to life in prison.

WILMINGTON, N.C.-- Tropical Storm Ernesto picked up steam with surprising speed in the warm waters of the Atlantic and built toward hurricane strength Thursday as it swirled toward the Carolinas, forcing the closing of ports and campgrounds.

As you enter the world famous Napa Valley wine country from the south, you'll be greeted by an old-time diner. At the almost half-century old HWY 29 Cafe there is no wine list and no boutique olive oil for dipping artisan bread in before noshing upscale cuisine. And serving up the hearty food are waitresses -- not food servers and runners.

Appeals court releases

SACRAMENTO -- California would become the only state to offer its residents government-operated health care under a bill sent Thursday to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, although it's unlikely the governor will sign it.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A barrage of coordinated bomb and rocket attacks on eastern Baghdad neighborhoods killed at least 47 people and wounded more than 200 within half an hour on Thursday, police and hospital officials said.

OSLO, Norway -- Police recovered the Edvard Munch masterpieces "The Scream" and "Madonna" on Thursday, two years after masked gunmen grabbed the national art treasures in front of stunned visitors at an Oslo museum.

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico -- Tourists fled hotels and desperately sought flights home, while at least 15,000 residents were ordered to higher ground Thursday as a slightly weakened Hurricane John bore down on the resort of Cabo San Lucas.