San Francisco Sheriff Michael Hennessey and immigration rights advocates are renewing their call to allow San Francisco to opt out of a new federal fingerprint reporting program aimed at criminals suspected of being in the country illegally. Federal immigration officials said they would consider the request.

A Nevada travel agent who sued United and Continental airlines to block their merger testified in federal court in San Francisco Wednesday that she joined the case because she feared higher fares and reduced flights. Jan Marie Brown of Carson City, Nev., is one of 49 people who filed an antitrust lawsuit in June seeking to stop the proposed combination of the nation's third- and fourth-largest airlines.

With light winds and warm temperatures predicted to linger throughout the Bay Area until the end of the week, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has declared Thursday another Spare the Air day, the fourth of the summer. Air quality officials believe that ground-level ozone pollution will continue to be unhealthy on Thursday and are asking Bay Area residents to consider making adjustments to their driving habits to help prevent producing more smog.

Apple Inc. announced a smaller, cheaper version of its Apple TV device for streaming movies and television shows over the Internet and into the living room. It also unveiled a new line of iPods, including a touch-screen Nano model.  The new Apple TV announced Wednesday will only let people rent, not buy, content.

A Qantas jet headed for Australia returned safely to San Francisco International Airport early Tuesday after a problem with one of the engines forced pilots to turn back.  Flight 74, carrying 212 passengers and a crew of 18, left San Francisco for Sydney at 11:05 p.m. PDT Monday and returned at 12:45 a.m. Tuesday, San Francisco airport duty manager Carol Spear said.

The amount of raw sewage that spilled into the Redwood Shores Lagoon last week when an underground pipe ruptured is expected to be much greater than was initially estimated, a city spokesman said Monday.The pipe ruptured near Davit Lane and Anchor Circle at about 3 p.m. Wednesday and was not repaired until around 10 p.m. Thursday.

Warning signs are up at Linda Mar Beach in Pacifica after witnesses report seeing a shark in the area. Pacifica police say several people reported seeing a large shark attacking a sea lion about 200 yards west of the Taco Bell Restaurant at about 1:00 p.m. Monday. Authorities say two men went up and down the coast in a boat after the sightings warning surfers and swimmers to get out of the water.

California lawmakers want to put a plug in the earsplitting roar from modified motorcycles. The state Senate on Monday voted 21-16 to pass SB435. The bill makes it a crime to operate a motorcycle manufactured after Jan. 1, 2013, that fails to meet federal noise-emission control standards. Motorcyclists whose vehicles lack the proper U.S. Environmental Protection Agency label would be subject to a fine.