Opinion

MARTINEZ — A former foster mother convicted in 1996 of abusing two babies will get a new trial after a judge found the woman’s lawyer erred in his defense. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Federal and state agencies systematically deny benefits to California’s homeless and disabled by failing to evaluate their claims fully, a group of attorneys from the San Francisco Bay area claim. -more-

A two-alarm blaze gutted an unoccupied three-story home on Thousand Oaks Boulevard early Wednesday morning. -more-

SAN JOSE — Hoping to hit high-tech companies where it hurts, an environmental organization is encouraging consumers to buy from businesses that do the best job of warning the public about the toxic chemicals they use. -more-

In response to recent published reports, a University of California provost has denied that California's flagship system for higher education is considering scrapping the Scholastic Aptitude Test. -more-

SAN FRANCISCO — Two ancient Egyptian cities that mysteriously sank into the Mediterranean about 1,500 years ago could have fallen victim to floods or a major earthquake — or a combination of both, researchers said Sunday. -more-