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The first of the year is a handy date for putting new laws into effect. So on Jan. 1, expect changes in a range of areas from voice-activated texting while driving to gun sales to financial literacy for school children.

More than 200,000 long-term unemployed Californians are seeing their federal unemployment benefit extension run out. But there are still options to help them stay afloat.

A new California state law for 2014 nullifies any city ordinance that had allowed the practice.

Enrollment in Obamacare is catching on with more than 1 million people signing up. But many Californians are still without health insurance.

A new cost-calculating tool provides detailed estimates of family budgets in each of California's 58 counties.

The Federal Aviation Administration announced Alaska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia will host test sites for drones.

December usually delivers Southern California a few good winter storms, but a persistent ridge of high pressure has kept the region warm and dry.

Desalinated sea water will be flowing into San Diego County homes within two years as construction of huge Carlsbad plant is on schedule.

A citizens group files a lawsuit against the city of San Diego and California over the "foul odor" caused by bird and sea lion poop at La Jolla Cove.

The top story of 2013? Mayor Bob Filner's resignation, no contest. But others also left a big impression on our region, including the closings of San Onofre and San Diego Hospice.

Service dogs trained by Tender Loving Canines can do physical tasks, like picking up dropped phones and credit cards, but also learn to help their owners emotionally.

Members of the South Sudanese community in San Diego are concerned about violence in their homeland.

Many parts of the 52-mile-long waterway resemble a swampy pond: The water is perfectly still and there’s no flow to wash away overgrown plants that have created floating canopies.

Residents with curbside service can leave their trees outside with their other refuse. Those without curbside pickup can take their trees to 16 drop-off locations throughout the city.

Some travelers at San Diego International Airport got an extra holiday gift this year. A special "TSA-Pre" marking on their boarding pass allowed them to skip the regular security line.