CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SAUSALITO : Bullets Kill 3 Sea Lions

Four injured California sea lions picked up in the Santa Cruz and Monterey areas during the last two weeks had been shot, the California Marine Mammal Center said. One of the animals arrived at the center dead, two others died later and the fourth is paralyzed, the center said. The last animal died Thursday, and bullet fragments were found in its left side, said center spokeswoman Denize Springer. A reward is being collected for information leading to the arrest of the people responsible, Springer said. Sea lions are protected by law. Civil penalties for shooting one can range up to $10,000, while a criminal conviction could cost $20,000 and a year in jail.