Ex-California lawmaker grounded in NY flyover flap -- Once high-flying with an extensive pedigree, former California Assemblyman turned White House aide Louis Caldera has been grounded. Michael Gardner San Diego Union-Trib weblog JOSH GERSTEIN Politico Scott Wilson in the Washington Post -- 5/8/09

Hollingsworth reenforces GOP's water hand -- Signaling that he has no plans for the budget crisis to overwhelm the water crisis, Senate Republican Leader Dennis Hollingsworth has tapped a familiar name to act as the GOP's top policy adviser heading into intense negotiations over dams, a resurrected Peripheral Canal and fish safeguards. Michael Gardner San Diego Union-Trib weblog -- 5/8/09

Gray Davis has Arnie's back in May 19 special election -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger got some much-needed help from an unusual source today as former Gov. Gray Davis, the man he replaced in the 2003 recall election, endorsed the package of budget measures Schwarzenegger is backing on the May 19 ballot. John Wildermuth Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 5/8/09

Villines for Insurance Commissioner? -- Villines speculated on a statewide run yesterday when he announced his resignation as leader as of June 1. He confirmed his interest in the insurance job at a "Eggs & Issues" breakfast in Fresno hosted by the Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce, according to The Business Journal. EJ Schultz Fresno Bee News Blog -- 5/8/09

UC hacking leaves thousands at risk of ID theft -- Overseas hackers gained access to confidential information belonging to tens of thousands of students and alumni at UC Berkeley and Mills College after breaking into computer databases at the Berkeley campus' health services center, officials said today. Henry K. Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/8/09

Controller: State's revenues $2.1 billion below estimates -- California has received $2.1 billion less this year in tax revenues than projected in the February budget, according to State Controller John Chiang. Kevin Yamamura SacBee Capitol Alert -- 5/8/09

Meg Whitman starts looking beyond the GOP -- Republican gubernatorial candidate and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman is already laying the groundwork to win over select non-GOP voters. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 5/8/09

Podcast: Crunch Time -- The special election campaign pivots towards a controversial theme as crunch time nears... state government's cash crunch appears to be getting worse... and Assembly Republicans crunch up their veteran leader and put a new person in his stead. John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 5/8/09

Retired Vernon official collects a $500K pension–while under indictment -- Bruce Malkenhorst Sr. makes no apologies for collecting the highest municipal pension in California – $499,674 a year. Tony Saavedra in the Orange County Register -- 5/8/09

Five of six propositions losing -- The May 19 special election ballot agenda crafted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders of both parties is in deep trouble, a poll released Thursday by the Public Policy Institute of California shows. John Marelius San Diego Union-Trib weblog Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog BRIAN JOSEPH in the Orange County Register -- 5/8/09

Angry voters aren't state's only budget concern -- On the same day a new poll showed a slate of special election ballot measures that would pump billions of dollars into the state treasury are trailing badly among voters, a respected financial analyst said California could have serious problems paying its bills this summer — even if the measures pass. Mike Zapler in the Contra Costa Times -- 5/8/09

Roberts and Trounstine: A Calbuzz Look Beyond the Obvious: PPIC’s Poll on the Loser Props -- Key nuance: While state pols are basically dead to likely voters (think Al Pacino kissing Fredo in Godfather II) and only 39% approve of the “job” Congress is doing - a staggering 66% of likelies, and 72% of all adults, approve of Barack Obama’s performance as president. Hmmm . . .Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 5/8/09

U.S. threatens to rescind stimulus money over wage cuts -- The Obama administration threatens to rescind billions in stimulus money if Gov. Schwarzenegger and lawmakers do not restore wage cuts to unionized home healthcare workers. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/8/09

Looming state cash crisis seen by California analyst -- California faces the biggest cash crunch in its history unless voters and legislators – with help from the federal government – cut it down to size, state officials said Thursday. Steve Wiegand in the Sacramento Bee Judy Lin AP Matthew Yi in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/8/09

New Republican Leader only GOP lawmaker to take union money -- Judging by the comments we’ve received and what one influential blogger is saying, Republicans aren’t exactly thrilled that Sam Blakeslee was named the new Assembly Republican Leader. BRIAN JOSEPH in the Orange County Register -- 5/8/09

The (new) leader of the pack -- State Assembly Republicans picked Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, as their new leader today. He is considered one of the few Republican moderates in the Assembly and will start the job start next month. Wyatt Buchanan Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 5/8/09

GOP lawmakers pick fiscal conservative as new leader -- Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee of San Luis Obispo succeeds Mike Villines, who drew fire for helping push through a February budget deal. Eric Bailey in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/8/09

Is Sam more moderate than Mike? -- Blakeslee touted himself today as a "fiscal hawk" who does not support tax hikes. But he has a reputation as a moderate on other issues, including the environment. EJ Schultz Fresno Bee News Blog -- 5/8/09

Recall bid against Schwarzenegger gets green light -- An effort to recall Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger moved ahead Thursday when Secretary of State Debra Bowen certified an organizer's recall petition. Glenn Gehlke in the Contra Costa Times -- 5/8/09

Recall of Orange County state Sen. Bob Huff launched -- GOP state Sen. Bob Huff was not among the six vilified Republicans who crossed the aisle in February to help Democrats pass a budget revision with temporary tax increases. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register Rebecca Kimitch in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 5/8/09

Californians in bad mood about state government -- Think California's in a real mess? You have lots of company. John Marelius San Diego Union-Trib weblog -- 5/8/09

Walters: A special exemption on jobless benefits -- Two million Californians are unemployed, and about half of them are collecting federal-state unemployment insurance benefits averaging $272 a week. One of them soon may be the mayor of a small Southern California city – and therein lies a tale. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/8/09

California gay rights group to air ads for same-sex marriage -- The state's largest gay rights group announced plans today to launch a new media and public relations campaign for same-sex marriage in California. Jason Dearen AP Susan Ferriss in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/8/09

Fresno ground zero for rally to support same-sex marriage -- The next skirmish in the battle over same-sex marriage will be in Fresno, where supporters plan a large rally to kick off a campaign they hope will change minds -- and votes. Their goal: to undo Proposition 8. John Ellis in the Fresno Bee -- 5/8/09

Records suggest Pelosi, others were told of harsh interrogations -- Information released by the White House describes dozens of briefings for congressional leaders on CIA methods, including waterboarding and the planned destruction of interrogation videotapes. Greg Miller in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/8/09

Santa Barbara fire changes Schwarzenegger's message -- Schwarzenegger appeared Thursday at the Jesusita fire in Santa Barbara instead. Instead of warning about firefighting cuts, he began reassuring Californians that the state would find the money to protect people. Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/8/09

Roberts and Trounstine: Arnold on Prop. 1A Cuts for Firefighting: Never Mind -- As Calbuzz foresaw several days ago, Gov. Arnold turned up in Santa Barbara Thursday, canceling a staged “Wildfire Awareness Week” event in Riverside in favor of preening for the cameras on the scene of an actual, out-of-control, wind-whipped wildfire that has local residents on the run. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 5/7/09

Villaraigosa pension board appointees quit in SEC inquiry -- Sean Harrigan, president of the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pensions board, says he has 'done nothing wrong.' A colleague, Elliott Broidy, also steps down. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/8/09

Documentary purports to rip GOP's closet doors -- California GOP Rep. David Dreier and a number of other politicians are the unwilling stars of a controversial new documentary with an explosive premise - it's time to blow open the closet door on prominent politicians who have hidden their homosexuality while actively working against gay causes. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/8/09

Fresno prepares to back $2 million loan -- With apparent nervousness, the Fresno City Council on Thursday authorized the city to prepare a $2 million loan application that would benefit a planned housing manufacturing plant but be effectively guaranteed by the city. Russell Clemings in the Fresno Bee -- 5/8/09

Ten years after the bust, how will Central Valley look? -- California's 400-mile Central Valley and its largest metro area, Sacramento, are almost perfect poster children for housing boom excesses that doubled home values, then quickly shredded them in a torrent of foreclosures. Jim Wasserman in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/8/09

UC regents confirm new chancellors, offer big pay hikes -- University of California Regents confirmed new chancellors for UC Davis and UC San Francisco and agreed to give them massive pay hikes over their predecessors. Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee James P. Sweeney in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 5/8/09

St. HOPE turnover concerns Sacramento schools -- Sacramento City Unified School District administrators are concerned that turnover in leadership at St. HOPE Public Schools could jeopardize the nonprofit group's financial stability. Melody Gutierrez in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/8/09

Study: Electric cars may be more efficient than ethanol -- Ethanol from plants can fill up drivers' gas tanks, but people could drive 80 percent farther if we converted those crops into electricity, according to a new study by Stanford and University of California researchers. Michael Torrice in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/8/09

Schwarzenegger touts solar technology in San Jose -- Calling Silicon Valley "the most innovative place in the world," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday told an audience of solar technology executives and industry representatives that "we need to find ways to reduce our use of fossil fuel and use what we have in abundance in California — the sun." Tracy Seipel in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/8/09

Obama administration tries to local salamander -- The Obama administration has reversed a Bush administration decision and is proposing to restrict development on 74,000 acres in Sonoma County that is habitat for the endangered California tiger salamander. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/8/09

Edison offers plan for safer practices at nuclear plant -- In response to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's stern warnings seeking prompt action to cure persistent systemic problems at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, operators of the plant at a packed public meeting here tonight promised corrective action and sweeping changes to ensure safe performance. VIK JOLLY in the Orange County Register -- 5/8/09

BART extension to San Jose moving ahead -- Despite the massive financial crisis engulfing transit agencies across California, the BART extension to the South Bay is suddenly on its most solid footing ever. Gary Richards in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/8/09

Work on virtual border fence to start soon -- ral officials plan to start construction within weeks on a new “virtual fence” along the U.S.-Mexico border that they expect to stretch across most of the nearly 2,000-mile frontier within five years. Arthur H. Rotstein in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 5/8/09

Taxing Those With Insurance to Pay for Those Without -- It is an alluring way to pay for the ambitious plan to expand health coverage to the nearly 50 million people who are now uninsured. Simply put, the government would tax the people who already have the most expensive health benefits, as provided by their employers. REED ABELSON in the New York Times -- 5/8/09

Swine flu precautions keeping California inmates, families apart -- Corrections officials halted visits after a case was confirmed at Centinela State Prison in Imperial. There is no word when the 33 prisons and six juvenile facilities will accept visitors. Raja Abdulrahim in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/8/09

Recession temporarily eases nursing shortage -- Until about a year ago, the governor and hospital administrators were expressing concern about California's protracted and gaping shortage of nurses. Keith Darcé in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 5/8/09

Broussard admits killing Chauncey Bailey -- Devaughndre Broussard, a handyman at the now defunct Your Black Muslim Bakery, admitted on Thursday to killing Chauncey Bailey as part of plea deal in which he agreed to give prosecutors evidence that the journalist's murder and two other slayings were ordered by bakery leader Yusuf Bey IV. Paul T. Rosynsky in the Oakland Tribune -- 5/8/09

Orange County financier used investor funds as 'personal piggy bank,' report says -- Danny Pang accepted $823 million from investors and paid existing investors with new investor money, 'giving rise to claims of a Ponzi scheme,' according to a court-appointed receiver. Stuart Pfeifer in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/8/09

A New Owner, Another Staff Cut at the U-T -- Three days after taking The San Diego Union-Tribune's helm, Beverly Hills-based Platinum Equity gave its most substantive glimpse of what it has in mind for the newspaper's future. It's going to be smaller. ROB DAVIS Voiceofsandiego.org -- 5/8/09

'Eco-kosher' Jews have an appetite for ethical eating -- Choosing organic and locally grown products helps them fulfill a religious obligation to protect the environment. Mary MacVean and Duke Helfand in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/8/09

Tran launches Congressional campaign… in wrong district -- After years of will-he or won’t-he speculation, Assemblyman Van Tran officially launched his quest to unseat Rep. Loretta Sanchez at a press conference this afternoon at a Little Saigon office building in Westminster. Just one thing: the office is in Congressman Dana Rohrbacher’s district, not Sanchez’s. BRIAN JOSEPH in the Orange County Register -- 5/8/09