California legislators are on an amendment and enactment mode, targeting principally the state's various driving laws. Among the measures under consideration are a prohibition on drivers carrying live animals on their laps while behind the wheel. Another proposal seeks to ban truants and high school dropouts from driving, while one bill urges a study on the danger silent electric cars hold for blind pedestrians.

Several states are planning to kill two bird with one stone by releasing inmates ahead of schedule to cut costs and decongest jails. Leading the pack is California, which wants to set free 22,000 prisoners by 20 months ahead in an effort to reduce by $1. 1 billion over the next two years the state's penitentiary system budget and to ease the overcrowding in the U. S. most populated jail. The early liberty would apply only to inmates who are in for nonviolent and nonsexual crimes.

A map obtained by police from a convicted burglar led to the discovery of buried treasure near the Ronald Reagan Freeway in Los Angeles. The unearthed treasure was a collection of antique watches, necklaces, and diamond rings, including a canary diamond ring suspected to be worth $400,000. Authorities Tuesday followed the directions on a map taken from Robert Caveda, who was imprisoned on December 18 for several charges including residential burglary. The map, police said, was hand-sketched, and had an "X" marking the area where the treasure was buried.

A California man explained that the discovery of the legendary Bigfoot was essential to the further advancement of scientific research and discovery. Daniel Perez, the director of the Center Bigfoot Studies, explained that the discovery of the creature would shed light on the scientific community. Because of this, he had traveled across the country, interviewing people who claimed to have seen the elusive primate.

A Washington man is going all out to show his disdain for Christmas commercialism. In lieu of the traditional snowman or the nativity scene, Art Conrad has put up a Santa Claus nailed to a 4. 5-meter crucifix in front of his house.