/QUITO (Reuters) – Thousands of people fled their homes along the California coast on Friday as a tsunami triggered by the massive earthquake in Japan began hitting the U.S. West Coast after rolling through Hawaii.

But the giant wall of water appeared to have lost much of its energy as it roared thousands of miles (km) across the Pacific Ocean toward North America, according to initial reports from officials in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

OAKLAND, California (Reuters) – People fled their homes in parts of northern California on Friday as a tsunami triggered by the massive earthquake in Japan began hitting the West Coast after rolling through Hawaii.

Initial reports from U.S. civil defense officials and residents of coastal communities suggested the force of the tsunami, a giant wall of water, had dissipated as it sped across the Pacific Ocean toward North America.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Under California’s new carbon trading system, big polluters will be paying through the nose for the privilege.

And so will everyone else in the state.

The basic premise is “no pain, no gain” — when the price starts to pinch, that will spur innovation and California will lead the world in green technology. Or at least that’s the plan.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Under California’s new carbon trading system, big polluters will be paying through the nose for the privilege.

And so will everyone else in the state.

The basic premise is “no pain, no gain” — when the price starts to pinch, that will spur innovation and California will lead the world in green technology. Or at least that’s the plan.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Under California’s new carbon trading system, big polluters will be paying through the nose for the privilege.

And so will everyone else in the state.

The basic premise is “no pain, no gain” — when the price starts to pinch, that will spur innovation and California will lead the world in green technology. Or at least that’s the plan.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – A U.S. judge on Tuesday ruled that a secret locker room audio recording about injections, urine tests and Barry Bonds could be used at the baseball home run king’s perjury trial next month.

The slugger, accused of lying to a grand jury and hampering investigation of a steroid distribution ring in professional athletics, goes on trial on March 21.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – A U.S. judge on Friday considered whether to throw out government evidence in the perjury case of Barry Bonds, a day after prosecutors dropped more than half the charges against the home run king.

The government in a new indictment charged Bonds with four counts of lying to a grand jury about his use of performance-enhancing drugs and one count of obstruction of justice. It dropped six other perjury charges based on the same testimony.

AUSTIN, Texas/SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) – Texas Governor Rick Perry treated guests at his inauguration to a barbecue lunch paid for by a wealthy businessman. California’s Jerry Brown served taxpayer-funded hot dogs.

The stark contrast in inaugural menus last month highlights the different approaches the two most populous U.S. states are taking to deal with massive budget deficits.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Governor Jerry Brown pressed California lawmakers in his state-of-the-state address on Monday to let voters decide on his budget plan, saying any attempt to block a special election on the issue would be irresponsible.

California, the most populous U.S. state, faces a more than $25 billion deficit caused by the combined effects of recession, high unemployment and turmoil in financial and housing markets.