The sordid details of the suspected murder-for-hire plot to kill Mark Achilli sounded as though they spilled from a dime-store paperback seemingly too cheap for Los Gatos.

• PDFs: Statement of facts | Full affidavit

One person died, two were injured and a third was booked into jail after a multiple-vehicle crash shortly before 4 a.

A record number of Indo-American dancers will don richly colored saris and sparkling jewels Sunday to compete in the annual Youthsava dance festival competition at the India Community Center in Milpitas.

• Dancers prepare for Youthsava

A pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle just before 11:30 p.m. Friday near Fremont Boulevard and Clough Avenue in Fremont, police said today.

A person fell off a cliff and died early this morning in unincorporated Sonoma County near Jenner, according to the California Highway Patrol.

A nine-hour standoff with a man who fired a gunshot at police and refused to leave an apartment in Oakland ended without incident this morning when the man voluntarily came out of the building, according to officials.

Doubt cast on a first-grader's version of how a bully fractured his skull. Meanwhile, parents also vouch for Oakland school's safety.

Johnny Dawkins, Trent Johnson's reported replacement, has all the right credentials for Stanford. Ray Ratto.

Dolphins And Rams Go Long

Miami officially takes Michigan's Jake Long, the top overall pick at today's draft. St. Louis grabs Howie Long's son, Chris, from Va.

Facing a $338 mil deficit, city may start charging for Park and Rec activities, and hike fees for everything from parking to visiting landmarks.

Friday night's 4.7 temblor in Reno is the largest quake in a two-month-long cluster of tremors.

Anti-war activist files papers to run for the House speaker's congressional seat.