McClatchy Sells 4 Newspapers to MediaNews -- McClatchy Co. said Wednesday it is selling four newspapers to MediaNews Group Inc., publisher of The Denver Post and dozens of other newspapers, for $1 billion in cash. The deal will strengthen MediaNews's presence in northern California, where it already owns several papers in the San Francisco Bay Area. The complex deal involves financial backing from Hearst Corp. SETH SUTEL AP Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle Pete Carey in the San Jose Mercury George Avalos and James Temple in the Contra Costa Times -- 4/26/06

A glance at the McClatchy-MediaNews deal -- AP

MediaNews' chief a shrewd bargainer -- MediaNews Chief Executive Dean Singleton has gained a reputation as a shrewd bargainer over the past 30 years. Starting with one small paper, he built a publishing empire that became the country's seventh largest newspaper company by circulation, with about 2 million daily subscribers. With the Denver company's agreement Wednesday to acquire the Mercury News and three other Knight Ridder papers, Singleton will preside over the nation's fourth largest newspaper company and the biggest newspaper publisher in California. Pete Carey in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/26/06

MediaNews-McClatchey deal has many nervous about Singleton -- In Detroit, a union leader said employees were disappointed at voluntary buyouts and a decision not to print a Sunday edition of The Detroit News, owned by MediaNews. In San Jose, Calif., where the Mercury News is part of Wednesday's deal, a union leader said he's concerned about staffing levels. CATHERINE TSAI AP -- 4/26/06

"United 93" brings back emotional memories for two Sacramento insiders -- Both Margita Thompson, the press secretary to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and California deputy secretary of state Ashley Snee Giovannettone were working inside the White House on September 11, 2001 -- as United 93 headed toward the nation's capital. Both were ordered to run out of the buildings and flee for their lives. Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 4/26/06

April revenues -- Today at the Franchise Tax Board, clerks opened checks totalling $1.6 billion in personal income tax payments. Since, as of yesterday, the state had already met its projection for the month, all of today's take is found money. And there are still two days to go in April, three if you consider that next Monday, they'll still be counting money that comes in over the weekend. Dan Weintraub SacBee Weblog -- 4/26/06

California Channel snared in fake lottery scheme -- The California Channel, which broadcasts Legislative meetings on cable TV, on Wednesday became the second local entity to reveal that it is the victim of the British International Lottery scam. Edgar Sanchez in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/26/06

Minimum Wage, Sans Legislature? -- The author of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's preferred method for raising California's minimum wage today suggested the governor could pretty much get what he wanted without the Legislature, using a dormant-- but not dismantled-- state commission. John Myers KQED weblog -- 4/26/06

Court overturns 'Guru of Ganja's' cultivation conviction -- A federal appeals court on Wednesday overturned the self-proclaimed "Guru of Ganja's" pot cultivation conviction because of jury misconduct, but otherwise upheld federal powers to charge marijuana growers. DAVID KRAVETS AP -- 4/26/06

Divorce bill would allow judges to redact financial information -- An Assembly committee voted Wednesday to allow judges to edit personal and financial information out of divorce records if a spouse requests the information be kept private. SAMANTHA YOUNG AP -- 4/26/06

Intel joins group in favor of Internet legislation -- Intel Corp. has waded into the debate over the future of the Internet, joining major Web companies in supporting legislation that would force Internet service providers to treat all traffic equally. AP -- 4/26/06

Big Oil donates big bucks to Schwarzenegger's re-election campaign -- No sooner did Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger call for a state investigation of price gouging at the pump than his critics jumped in feet first -- noting that the "no special-interest money" governor has taken nearly $2 million in campaign contributions from the very oil companies he wants investigated. Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/26/06

Governor taps lame duck to conduct gas price investigation -- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger this week called on California Energy Commission Chairman Joe Desmond to investigate possible price gouging by big oil companies, as gasoline prices across much of the state topped $3 a gallon. But Desmond has only two weeks left on the job--and likely won't be there to see the investigation through. Shane Goldmacher in Capitol Weekly -- 4/26/06

Lawmakers hold key to energy aide's job -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's top energy adviser will lose his job next month amid disagreement with Democratic senators over several environmental policies, including the governor's proposal to build a interstate electricity transmission line that lawmakers say could increase air pollution in the West. Mark Martin in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/26/06

Angelides presses tax-hike goals -- Candid if not popular, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides told the state's business leaders Tuesday that if he's elected, he'll be asking them to "invest in our people" by paying more taxes - a campaign pledge that didn't exactly play well with his audience. It even caused a few in the crowd to walk out. Andy Furillo in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/26/06

Democratic duel finally heats up, but Angelides now underdog -- The duel between Democrats Phil Angelides and Steve Westly for the right to challenge Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's bid for a second term is finally cranking up, but not in a way that those who deign to predict what will happen in politics - including those who scribble for publication - had expected. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/26/06

Can Phil Angelides Come Back? -- That’s the question just two days before delegates gather in the Democratic gubernatorial candidate’s hometown of Sacramento for the annual California Democratic Party convention. The party’s pre-primary endorsement once seemed his for the taking. Bill Bradley NWN weblog -- 4/26/06

Schwarzenegger douses firefighter bosses -- After reports of pension loopholes, the governor Tuesday reversed course to stop firefighter bosses from retiring with pensions higher than their salaries and a drain of supervisors as fire season nears. Democratic critics say the overall policy was aimed at old political enemies — California Department of Forestry firefighters who battle virtually all big California blazes. Steve Geissinger in the Oakland Tribune Clea Benson in the Sacramento Bee Ed Mendel in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 4/26/06

Delgadillo's TV Ads to Target Brown on Abortion Position -- Trailing badly in the primary race for attorney general, Rocky Delgadillo unveiled plans Tuesday to hit the airwaves for the first time in the campaign with a bare-knuckle attack accusing Democratic foe Jerry Brown of waffling on abortion rights. Eric Bailey in the Los Angeles Times Herbert A. Sample in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/26/06

Congressman Revels in His Ultra-Liberal Rating -- Forget Berkeley, Cambridge, Santa Monica or those other left-wing bastions. To find the most liberal member of the U.S. House of Representatives, come here to the blue-collar side of San Francisco Bay where, amid the sprouting subdivisions and ethnic neighborhoods, Fortney "Pete" Stark (D-Fremont) has charted an unswerving leftward course for more than three decades. Mark Z. Barabak in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/26/06

Primary moves could put state first -- Two bills that could shake up presidential politics by giving California one of the earliest primaries in the nation and undercutting the Electoral College were approved Tuesday by the state Assembly Elections Committee. The bills' author, committee chairman Tom Umberg, D-Anaheim, said the measures were designed to increase California's clout in determining who sits in the Oval Office. STEVE LAWRENCE AP -- 4/26/06

Vernon Fights to Keep Records Private -- Officials of the tiny city are opposing the district attorney's attempt to review once-public documents as part of a corruption probe. Hector Becerra in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/26/06

`Mixed race' option on state documents clears Senate panel -- California is poised to become the first state to allow people of mixed ethnicity to officially identify with more than one race. Steven Harmon in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/26/06

Sex-offender bill dies in committee -- A bill to prohibit sex offenders from living in counties without prisons died in a legislative committee Tuesday, sparing Orange County from becoming one of the few Southern California outposts they could live legally. BRIAN JOSEPH in the Orange County Register -- 4/26/06

Feds 'not getting message' on levees, governor says -- Federal officials still are not taking seriously the threat of a failure in California's aging levee system and are risking another New Orleans-style disaster by failing to provide funding for repairs, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said yesterday. Juliet Williams AP -- 4/26/06

Mandatory flood insurance bill dies -- Legislation that would have required thousands of San Joaquin County property owners to pay about $35 a month for mandatory flood insurance died this week without a vote. Hank Shaw in the Stockton Record -- 4/26/06

L. A. Mayor fumbles MTA clout -- A bill that would reduce Los Angeles' influence on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board sailed through a legislative committee Tuesday after nobody from L.A. City Hall showed up to oppose it. HARRISON SHEPPARD in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 4/26/06

A more nimble governor -- Whether or not Kennedy's influence is the responsible factor, this much has become clear: The administration is becoming faster-paced, more nimble and capable of switching more quickly from offense to defense than before. Timm Herdt in the Ventura Star -- 4/26/06

GOP leaders to put weak lobbying bill to House vote -- House Republican leaders plan a vote on a lobbying reform bill this week, but critics say the toughest provisions already have been stripped from the measure and claim it won't change the cozy ties between lobbyists and lawmakers that have fueled recent ethics scandals in Congress. Zachary Coile in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/26/06

States' voices in immigration -- While Congress debates a comprehensive immigration overhaul bill in Washington, states across the nation have been hammering out legislation of their own. AMY TAXIN in the Orange County Register -- 4/26/06

Finding common ground on immigration -- Senate leaders emerged from an hour-long meeting with President Bush on Tuesday saying they believe an immigration bill will be voted on by Memorial Day and sent to the White House by the end of the year. DENA BUNIS in the Orange County Register -- 4/26/06

Deputy snapped protest pictures -- As dozens of anti-war demonstrators heckled President Bush outside an Indian Wells resort last weekend, a plainclothes Riverside County sheriff's deputy and another man moved through the crowd, the deputy waving a protest sign as the two snapped digital photographs of the demonstrators. MICHAEL FISHER in the Riverside Press -- 4/26/06

Boycott to silence disc jockeys -- Riverside Spanish-language radio station KDIF 1440 AM will run its regular music programming Monday, while observing a national call for a "Day Without an Immigrant" by having its disc jockeys work in silence. SHARON McNARY in the Riverside Press -- 4/26/06

Immigration sweep rumors spark fear -- Rumors of immigration sweeps and deportations happening across the East Bay kept illegal residents away from work, school, markets and even doctor's appointments Tuesday. Kelli Phillips in the Contra Costa Times -- 4/26/06

Legislators want UC to reveal all about exec perks -- State lawmakers demanded Tuesday to know who was responsible for policy violations at the University of California, after an independent audit found the university system gave extra pay and perks to dozens of top executives without reporting the pay to the public or seeking approval from the governing Board of Regents. Todd Wallack, Tanya Schevitz in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/26/06

Experts debate lasting benefits of preschool measure -- Experts are dueling over the effect of a state ballot measure promising free preschool for all 4-year-olds. While many remain solidly behind the idea, one Bay Area research group contends the program's benefits are being oversold -- especially for children from middle- and upper-class families. Sara Steffens in the Contra Costa Times -- 4/26/06

L.A. Unified Achieves Quality in Quantity -- An unprecedented 32 schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District were recognized as 2006 California Distinguished Schools on Tuesday, almost triple the district's record number in 2004. Twenty-five are Title I schools, which receive federal assistance and enroll students living below poverty levels. Hemmy So in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/26/06

Studious Approach to Decathlon Victory -- Taft coach knows the difference between winning and finishing second. Now he wants his state champions to top the nation. Valerie Reitman in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/26/06

Bill would require Californians to buy health insurance -- An Assembly committee approved a bill yesterday that would mandate that Californians buy health insurance much as drivers are required to purchase auto insurance. Samantha Young in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 4/26/06

Jump in middle-income Americans who go without health insurance -- Forty-one percent of adults with incomes between $20,000 and $40,000 a year did not have health insurance for at least part of 2005, up from 28 percent without coverage in 2001, according to the report by the Commonwealth Fund, a New York-based health care policy foundation. Victoria Colliver in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/26/06

Budget plan calls for cuts to mental health programs -- Impassioned speakers told Contra Costa supervisors Tuesday that many of the cuts proposed by the county administrator ultimately will cost more than they save. Rebecca Rosen Lum in the Contra Costa Times -- 4/26/06

Doctors' Pay Is a Focus of UCI Inquiry -- Five physicians' records have been subpoenaed, says one source, who adds that investigators are looking into the liver unit's billing practices. Christian Berthelsen and Sara Lin in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/26/06

Despite Law, State Agency Slow to Post Nursing Home Data on Internet -- Officials cite a variety of reasons for the delay in making inspection reports accessible. They hope to have an online system by April 2007. Evelyn Larrubia in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/26/06

Self-help for chronic ailments / Stanford model offers relief to sufferers when pills can't -- Arthritis has made almost every aspect of Mike Bowen's life difficult: walking, opening a jar, holding a toothbrush. Pain sometimes radiates through his fingers, back, neck and hips. Bowen's arthritis as well as other physical problems forced him to quit working at 57. He became depressed and grew increasingly sick. Carrie Sturrock in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/26/06

Wet weather could boost West Nile virus -- Record rains that have soaked much of California this year could lead to a "banner year" for breeding mosquitoes that carry West Nile virus, a state health official said Tuesday. The item is in the San Francisco Chronicle Edie Lau in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/26/06

Why Gas Prices Won't Go Down -- The steps proposed by President Bush on Tuesday to rein in soaring gasoline prices would do little to cut fuel costs for outraged motorists before the summer driving season, industry experts said. That's because the factors driving today's record gasoline prices are varied and complex — and beyond the reach of presidential dictate. Elizabeth Douglass in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/26/06

Bush's gas plan seen as too little, too late -- President Bush tried to offer short-term relief Tuesday to Americans suffering from gasoline price sticker shock, but his efforts aren't expected to have a significant effect. Edward Epstein in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/26/06

Pinch at pump becomes a pain -- As gas prices hit a record $3.14 a gallon in California on Tuesday, evidence mounted that the latest oil shock is hurting farmers, plastics manufacturers, construction managers and anyone who runs a fleet of vehicles - or struggles to keep just one car going. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/26/06

Trucking firms cope with costs -- You may pout when you pump $50 worth of gas into your car every morning but try looking at it from the perspective of Terry Klenske. The owner of Dalton Trucking in Fontana brings in a tanker full of 7,500 gallons of diesel each day to fill a fleet of 200 trucks. And with each gallon of diesel costing more than $3, that adds up to more than $22,000 each day. Joe Florkowski in the San Bernardino Sun -- 4/26/06

Soaring gasoline prices forecast -- California's average gasoline price jumped two cents Tuesday to $3.14 a gallon, and some analysts said drivers could be paying $3.35 or more by Memorial Day, May 29. Gary Richards in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/26/06

Risk lurks in Sierra waters -- Bay Area hikers heading to the Sierra Nevada this summer should be extra careful about where they find their drinking water, particularly if cows are nearby. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/26/06

Farmers Seek Ways to Meet Stricter Water Rules -- In Ventura County, experts suggest growers team up to test irrigation runoff to save money. Gregory W. Griggs in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/26/06

State leads feds on climate but not gases -- California's Republican governor and top Democratic lawmakers are talking tough, prompt action to battle climate change, yet unlike its pioneering restrictions on air pollutants, the state is taking more measured steps in regulating greenhouse gases. In fact, Sacramento could end up pushing Washington into action but lagging behind the federal government when it comes to curbing greenhouse emissions. Ian Hoffman in the Oakland Tribune -- 4/26/06

San Joaquin Valley nears an air goal -- The California Air Resources Board announced Tuesday that the San Joaquin Valley no longer violates federal health standards for dangerous dust, soot and chemical specks. Mark Grossi in the Fresno Bee -- 4/26/06

Suit Demands GE Modify Its Romoland Power Plant -- A school district and environmentalists want lower particulate emissions at the Riverside County site. Cynthia H. Cho in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/26/06

Deaths of 7 Rare Frogs Are Blow to Rescue Effort -- The San Diego Zoo was hoping the amphibians, found after a brush fire, would start a colony. Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/26/06

Leak suit targets truck stop chain -- Truck stop operator Flying J Inc. breached the state's underground storage tank laws and tampered with leak detection devices at six of its California outlets, Attorney General Bill Lockyer alleged Tuesday. Andrew McIntosh in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/26/06

Turlock gains ally in Wal-Mart fight -- A powerful state Senate committee on Tuesday supported Turlock's effort to recover hefty legal fees from Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which sued the city over a "big box" ordinance and lost twice. MICHAEL MELLO in the Modesto Bee -- 4/26/06

Conviction for Son, Mistrial for Father in Lodi Terror Case -- A federal jury Tuesday convicted a 23-year-old Lodi man of attending a terrorist training camp in Pakistan and returning to the United States to commit violent jihad against his fellow citizens. Rone Tempest and Eric Bailey in the Los Angeles Times Demian Bulwa in the San Francisco Chronicle Denny Walsh and Dorothy Korber in the Sacramento Bee Jeff Hood in the Stockton Record DON THOMPSON AP-- 4/26/06

Local Muslims fear suspicions will linger -- The sense of relief local Muslim leaders felt Tuesday morning after Umer Hayat's terrorism trial ended in a hung jury was obliterated later in the day by the news that his son, Hamid, had been convicted on all counts. Stephen Magagnini and Crystal Carreon in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/26/06

Deputy's Gun Is Latest Twist in Ferrari Crash -- Detectives are trying to figure out why a handgun belonging to a reserve deputy for the Orange County Sheriff's Department was found at the Bel-Air mansion of the former European video game executive accused of crashing a rare Ferrari Enzo in Malibu in February. Richard Winton and Christine Hanley in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/26/06

New Signals to Light Way for L.A. Left Turners -- Mayor adds more traffic officers too, trying to ease the commute at scores of intersections in the city where drivers can only sit and fume. James Ricci in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/26/06

Gatsbies and the Wannabes -- The roving Xenii parties give members who pay to play a chance to rub shoulders with celebrities, or at least to catch a glimpse. David Pierson in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/26/06