News and notes:
- A property assessment appeals board is expected to rule today on Chevron’s efforts to cut the taxes it pays to Contra Costa County for its Richmond refinery. Contra Costa Times
- 49ers quarterback Alex Smith joined the search for missing Morgan Hill teenager Sierra LaMar over the weekend. Mercury News
- State transportation officials sliced the projected cost of California’s bullet train by $30 billion and made other changes in a bid to blunt opposition to the project. Chronicle
- Vandals once again smashed windows and spray-painted slogans on downtown buildings during yet another Occupy Oakland march turned ugly Saturday night. Oakland Tribune
- Stanford’s women lost 59-47 to undefeated Baylor in an NCAA semifinal, marking their fifth straight Final Four appearance without a championship. Chronicle
