TRACY, CA (AP) - The city of Tracy will be allowed to purchase a 200-acre tract of land from the federal government to build a solar energy project after a bill passed giving the stalled deal the green light.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, on Wednesday said the president approved the Tracy land conveyance bill, which waived use restrictions on the land.

The land on Schulte Road was conveyed previously to Tracy 14 years ago with the condition that it be used only for recreational or educational purposes.

Denham said the project will help create jobs in California's Central Valley, one of the most economically hard hit areas in the
nation.

Tracy Mayor Brent Ives said in a statement that the project could create up to 200 jobs.

Today was a very retrospective day. It finally hit me that this dream had actually come true. If for some reason I had to leave tomorrow, this experience will have already exceeded my expectations.

I was standing on the jogging path in Central Park, looking over the lake at the skyline of the East Side. In the background a violinist was playing and I could hear children laughing in the playground. A perfect setting to start the tears flowing, wouldn’t you say? .....

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STOCKTON, CA - Law enforcement officials announced Monday the formation of the San Joaquin Multi-agency Gang Task Force.

The Stockton Police Department and San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department are combining resources to fight gang crime. Officers from each department will be part of The task force which will be comprised of three units: investigative/intelligence resources, enforcement, and prosecution and involve officers from each department, according to Chief of Police Eric Jones and Sheriff Steve Moore.

The task force will also coordinate with the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office. Stockton police spokesman Officer Joseph Smith says other local and federal agencies have also expressed interest in joining the effort.