Around the state

"This is the best of the best that we have in the state,” Schwarzenegger said during a Capitol news conference called to introduce her.

Corrigan, 57, an associate justice on the 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco, succeeds Brown, who resigned in June after the U.S. Senate confirmed her to the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C.

Brown was the only black on the seven-member court, prompting speculation that Schwarzenegger would name another black to maintain the court’s ethnic balance. He also was said to have closely considered Vance Raye, a black Republican sitting on the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento. Corrigan is white.

Accused SF police officers strike back at handling of video flap

SAN FRANCISCO — Two officers under investigation for allegedly participating in video parodies of police life that were branded as racist, sexist and homophobic struck back at city officials Friday, saying the mayor and police chief have mishandled the controversy.

Capt. Rick Bruce, who appeared in one of the video clips, criticized Mayor Gavin Newsom and Police Chief Heather Fong’s decision to publicly air the video this week. Bruce, who denied any involvement with the making of the video, said the move has unfairly damaged his reputation.

"As a result of the past two days, members of the public now believe that I oversaw the production of a video which has been labeled sexist and homophobic,” Bruce said at a news conference Friday.

Bruce was seen rolling his tongue suggestively in one of the clips, which then cut to several unnamed individuals doing the same as they say "Ohhh captain.” The camera cut back to Bruce rolling his tongue several times.

At least 18 officers have been suspended after Fong called the videos, which previously had been posted to a Web site, "egregious, shameful and despicable” for making fun of women and minorities.

Bruce, who supervised the station in the city’s Bayview district, where all the suspended officers worked, said he has been asked to step down as coach of his eighth-grade son’s basketball team as a result of the scrutiny.

Bruce, who is currently on leave from the station for reasons unrelated to the investigation, is not one of those suspended. He said his phone calls to the department have gone unanswered.

Livermore raid nets more than $11 million worth of marijuana

LIVERMORE — Livermore police and agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration seized more than $11 million in marijuana and arrested 32 people who they said raised the crop. Authorities said Thursday it was the largest bust of an indoor cache of marijuana for sale in Alameda County’s history.

Most of the suspects are Alameda County residents, and charges ranged from marijuana possession to conspiracy and manufacturing of marijuana, police Lt. Ken Gardner said. Authorities raided the Livermore warehouse where the pot was being stored on Oct. 29 after receiving a tip about suspicious activity around the building.

In total, they seized 2,300 plants and $988,000 in cash from the site and bank accounts.

"There’s a sense of satisfaction in taken so much illegal contraband off the street,” Gardner said.