Tom Rathman, whose nine-year NFL playing career included a season with the Raiders, has joined the Silver and Black coaching staff as running backs coach, the team said Thursday.

OAKLAND — Shannon Stewart and the Oakland Athletics agreed to a $1 million, one-year contract Thursday, giving the club the additional backup outfielder it sought before the start of spring training.

Justin-Siena High School won its first-ever wrestling championship Thursday night, crushing Tamalpais-Mill Valley in the North Gym, 68-7, to complete a perfect Marin County Athletic League dual meet season.

The Amgen Tour of California is many American cyclists’ biggest race of the season — but not for 2002 Napa High graduate Lucas Euser.

The Justin-Siena High School girls basketball team finished its Marin County Athletic League season with a 40-38 win on the road against Redwood-Larkspur Thursday night. Vicky Deely led the Braves with 13 points and 18 rebounds while Courtney Heathcote chipped in 13 points as well. Jessica Futo scored seven points and grabbed 13 boards while Kyleigh McAhren and Rachelle Whitehead pulled down 10 and eight rebounds, respectively.

This is one of the biggest years in the history of the Champions Tour.

The Amgen Tour of California is making a new stop in the Golden State this year.

Today

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK— President Bush’s federal budget sets aside money to study the benefits of draining and restoring Hetch Hetchy Valley, which provides water to 2.4 million residents in the San Francisco Bay area.

TRUCKEE — In California history class, I daydreamed through the missions, and the Big Four were a bore — but I perked right up when we got to the Donner Party.

WASHINGTON — After five years of trying, Democratic lawmakers say they are confident this is the year Congress will finally approve a Wild Sky Wilderness northeast of Seattle.

BOISE, Idaho — Idaho’s wolves will be even cheaper to kill than originally planned, according to state wildlife managers preparing to hold legal public hunts for the predators once Endangered Species Act protections are lifted.