California Attorney General Kamala Harris joined the nationwide mortgage settlement deal at the last minute this week, after her negotiating team ironed out a side deal with five of the nation's biggest banks. But many Californians are already dubious.

Before the housing market collapsed, upscale homes were planned for a scenic swath of the coast just south of San Francisco. But now, after 10 years of negotiating, Rancho Corral de Tierra is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. We pay a visit to the new park, and find that not all tensions with local residents have been resolved.

Many veterans returning home to California after deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan have a tough time adjusting to civilian life. And their unemployment rate is higher than the state average. But with the right help, some are discovering that the skills they learned to survive in battle can help make a successful transition.

A new exhibit at UC Riverside's Culver Center of the Arts uses sound and music to animate what could be described as a Native American legend. It's the story of Tahquitz, a creature who feeds on human souls and comes from the Cahuilla tribe that makes its home in and around Riverside County's San Jacinto Mountains.

Attorney General Kamala Harris joined the national mortgage settlement deal at the last minute, after her negotiating team hammered out a side agreement with five of the nation's biggest mortgage servicers. Even so, there's concern that the deal could be too lenient on lenders.

Six years ago, a federal judge seized control of medical care in California state prisons and appointed a receiver to fix it. At the time, an average of one inmate a week was dying from misdiagnosis, delayed, or shoddy treatment. Six years later, the receiver says lawmakers must deliver on promises to upgrade facilities before he can wind up oversight.

Kern County supervisors voted this week to oppose high-speed rail, joining a chorus of dissent that includes Kings, Tulare and Madera counties. Perhaps sensing the need to engage in a little positive PR, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood talked up the bullet train in Fresno yesterday.

Fresno County planners are expected to approve a gravel mining operation on Jesse Morrow Mountain, a scenic gateway to Sequoia National Park that's also considered sacred to local Native Americans.