Northern Nevada briefly

Beverly Hills, L.A. councils ban declawing of cats

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Two Southern California cities have voted to ban the declawing of cats, joining San Francisco and Santa Monica which recently outlawed the practice.

The Beverly Hills City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to approve a declawing ban, except in cases of medical necessity.

The Los Angeles City Council also gave final approval to a similar ordinance Tuesday.

Officials in both cities say they wanted to pass the ordinance so it can take effect before New Year's Day 2010, when a state law bars cities and counties from regulating the practice of veterinary medicine.

The California Veterinary Medical Association opposed the ban, saying pet owners should be responsible for declawing decisions in consultation with their vets.

SoCal wildfire 95 percent contained

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. (AP) - Cold weather and calm winds are helping firefighters in their battle against a wildfire in southern Orange County.

Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Greg McKeown says the fire was 95 percent contained Tuesday night. Officials expect to have it surrounded by Wednesday afternoon.

McKeown says helicopters flew the perimeter to map the blaze and determined that it had consumed 145 acres, down from earlier estimates of 250 acres.

The fire is smoldering in a bowl-shaped valley full of dense brush about a dozen miles northeast of San Juan Capistrano. No homes are nearby.

About 200 firefighters are on the scene. Three injuries were reported.