By Deborah Lohse, San Jose Mercury News, Calif. Nov. 29--A Burger King Whopper combo packs nearly as many calories as the average person is supposed to eat all day. For fast-food eaters in Santa Clara County, that annoying reality may soon be inescapable.

By Deborah Lohse, San Jose Mercury News, Calif. Nov. 29--A Burger King Whopper combo packs nearly as many calories as the average person is supposed to eat all day. For fast-food eaters in Santa Clara County, that annoying reality may soon be inescapable.

By Douglas Fischer A measure banning a broad class of flame retardants from furniture and bedding cleared the Assembly late Wednesday night, while a controversial effort to ban one of the most widely used chemical flame retardants from all consumer products fell short Thursday.

By Douglas Fischer A measure banning a broad class of flame retardants from furniture and bedding cleared the Assembly late Wednesday night, while a controversial effort to ban one of the most widely used chemical flame retardants from all consumer products fell short Thursday.

By Douglas Fischer A measure banning a broad class of flame retardants from furniture and bedding cleared the Assembly late Wednesday night, while a controversial effort to ban one of the most widely used chemical flame retardants from all consumer products fell short today.