A 9,300-acre wildfire burned out of control in central California’s wine country today, as another blaze in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada destroyed 11 homes.

A US appeals court today postponed California’s October 7 election, ruling that the poll cannot proceed because some votes would be cast using outdated punch-card ballot machines.

Six years after they identified Sudden Oak Death syndrome, scientists are still struggling to understand the disease that’s killing thousands of trees in California.