Angelides Puts Iraq on Table -- In a move to bolster his appeal among Democrats, state Treasurer Phil Angelides said Saturday night that on his first day as governor, he would call on President Bush to withdraw California's National Guard troops from the war in Iraq. The Democratic nominee for governor said in a telephone interview that he would take court action against Bush if necessary to extract the state's National Guard members from Iraq. He said he would also urge other governors and members of Congress to join his effort. Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times Andy Furillo in the Sacramento Bee Bill Bradley NWN weblog -- 9/24/06

Angelides struggles to save campaign -- Consider, for a moment, the past week of the California governor's race. There was Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in the elegant Los Angeles Central Library signing an education measure as two top Democratic politicians beamed behind him. A few days later, he toured a Sunnyvale fuel cell company with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, his moderate Republican ``soul mate.'' Kate Folmar in the San Jose Mercury -- 9/24/06

Arnold's broken vows: A rendezvous with reality? -- Throughout his tenure as a politician, Arnold Schwarzenegger has made a lot of promises. From candidate to governor, he has pursued a grand vision with vows to tackle everything from reforming the state pension system and the redistricting process to protecting money for education and increasing the minimum wage. But in the ensuing three years - and as he faces a November re-election bid - many of those promises have been abandoned or ignored. HARRISON SHEPPARD in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 9/24/06

Governor to voters again: Trust me -- Three years ago, when he first ran for governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger refused to be drawn into a discussion about how he planned to fix the state's ugly fiscal mess. He was specific only when it came to promises that would actually make his problem worse: twin pledges to roll back an increase in the car tax, which would cost the treasury about $4 billion a year, and to give the schools at least as much money as mandated by Proposition 98, in the state Constitution. Daniel Weintraub in the Sacramento Bee -- 9/24/06

Insurers Liking the Coverage of Schwarzenegger's Policies -- With a onetime State Farm official and a former insurance lobbyist in top staff jobs, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is repeatedly siding with insurers in legislative battles as they maneuver to fend off fees, fines and concessions to policyholders. A veteran insurance lobbyist, Dan Dunmoyer, is now the governor's deputy chief of staff, helping to craft his entire policy portfolio. Former State Farm official Kathleen Webb is Schwarzenegger's insurance advisor, vetting insurance-related bills that reach his desk and recommending which he should sign into law. Peter Nicholas in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/24/06

An Insurance Veteran Put the Industry's Image at a Premium -- Before he became a top aide to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dan Dunmoyer, then an insurance lobbyist, wrote a report laying out a "strategic plan" for the industry through 2010. The document, written for his employers and obtained by The Times, is a revealing look at how Dunmoyer — who now helps shape the governor's overall policy agenda — sized up the political terrain. Peter Nicholas in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/24/06

Party hearty -- The state Republican Party is so emboldened by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's surge in the polls that it's turning its attention -- and money -- to the down-ticket races such as lieutenant governor and attorney general. The first beneficiary of the newfound GOP largesse was Tom McClintock, the conservative GOP nominee for lieutenant governor whom the new, more moderate Arnold seems to be avoiding like the plague. He got a GOP-paid TV ad slamming rival Democrat John Garamendi. Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/24/06

Politically divided San Jose couple agree schools top priority -- Now that their son Ryan, 16, a junior at Pioneer High School, is just a year away from applying to college, and daughter Heather, 19, is already a student at Humboldt State University, it's no wonder the couple are looking hard at the views on education of the two major candidates in the Nov. 7 contest for California governor. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/24/06

Politics, Angelides linked since childhood -- Phil Angelides has been a political junkie since his dad made him watch televised presidential budget speeches in the 1960s. He had no other choice - his father would quiz him on the speech afterwards. Hank Shaw in the Stockton Record -- 9/24/06

Package of bonds may be too much for state's voters -- After years of criticism about failing to invest in infrastructure, lawmakers now face questions about whether they are trying to do too much. The Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger placed a record $37.3 billion package of public-works bonds on the Nov. 7 ballot for roads, schools, housing and flood control. Ed Mendel in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 9/24/06

Reforming California -- Many groups have big ideas on the critical issues facing the state, but are they thinking too small? Peter Schrag in the Sacramento Bee -- 9/24/06

California conundrum: Widening gap between voters, nonvoters -- Two decades ago, in a series of articles for The Bee that later became a book about California's socioeconomic, demographic and political trends, I noted the increasing disparity between the state's rapidly changing population and its relatively static electorate and reached this conclusion: "And as the state moves into the 21st century, the most likely political scenario is for dominance by an affluent, politically active overclass using its position to protect its privileges against the larger but weaker underclass." Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 9/24/06

Middle ground for health plan? -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has hired two consultants from polar ends of the political spectrum to help draft his long-awaited plan for dealing with skyrocketing health costs and California's 6 million uninsured residents. Aurelio Rojas and Clea Benson in the Sacramento Bee -- 9/24/06

Governor signs bills to punish street racing, replace car keys -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill Saturday that cracks down on illegal street racing and another that allows motorists who lose their car keys to get a replacement from a locksmith instead of a dealer. The item is in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/24/06

Tribe enjoying its lower-key success -- It's not the glittering mega-gambling palace that the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians once persuaded Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to approve, but the tribe wants the public to know that Casino San Pablo is doing just fine, thank you. Herbert A. Sample in the Sacramento Bee -- 9/24/06

50th District sees rematch, without hoopla -- Just over three months ago, the special election to fill the vacancy left by congressman-turned-inmate Randy “Duke” Cunningham was a political rock concert. It was national news, big money poured in from both parties and Washington pundits touted it as a barometer of the national mood. That was then. Philip J. LaVelle in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 9/24/06

Valley vote key in gubernatorial race -- One need look no further than Modesto to gauge the flow of this year’s race for governor. Home to E&J Gallo wines and the setting for the film classic “American Graffiti,” this city of 208,000 is the fourth-largest in the San Joaquin Valley behind Fresno, Stockton and Bakersfield. But it is more than that. Hank Shaw in the Stockton Record -- 9/24/06

The IRS Works in Mysterious Ways -- Pastor William Turner Jr. is a robust man with an unshakable set of beliefs, and he's never been shy about sharing them with the congregation of his New Revelation Missionary Baptist Church in Pasadena. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/24/06

Churches struggling to keep politics out of pulpit -- Be careful when voicing your political opinion. The Internal Revenue Service may be listening. Since 2004 and the re-election of President Bush, the IRS has cracked down on nonprofit organizations, including churches, that outwardly or tacitly support political candidates. MARK BARNA in the Bakersfield Californian -- 9/24/06

Falwell Says Faithful Fear Clinton More Than Devil -- Nothing will motivate conservative evangelical Christians to vote Republican in the 2008 presidential election more than a Democratic nominee named Hillary Rodham Clinton — not even a run by the devil himself. Peter Wallsten in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/24/06

GOP Mines Data for Every Tiny Bloc -- And the stealth campaign to woo the thousands of working-class, historically Democratic Michiganders whose cold-weather passion is snowmobiles is just one small example of a technique known as "micro-targeting" that GOP strategists are using across the country as they try to pull off another election day victory against the odds. Tom Hamburger and Peter Wallsten in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/24/06

Lifestyles of Lear Jet liberals -- Limousine liberals, move over. You've been out-glammed by Lear Jet liberals who burn beaucoup fossil fuels in the sky as they soar around the planet fighting global warming. Debra J. Saunders in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/24/06

If GOP is in trouble, Missouri will reflect it -- Deep in south-central Missouri, where wooded cattle farms mingle with Wal-Marts, Jesus billboards dot the highways, radio runs from Rush Limbaugh to Dr. Laura and carrying a concealed weapon is legal, a rebellion is brewing -- against Republicans. Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/24/06

Officials Wary of Electronic Voting Machines -- A growing number of state and local officials are getting cold feet about electronic voting technology, and many are making last-minute efforts to limit or reverse the rollout of new machines in the November elections. IAN URBINA in the New York Times -- 9/24/06

Corruption: How to secure homeland if some guardians have turned? -- Consider: On the California border, at least nine immigration officers have been arrested or sentenced on corruption-related charges in the past 12 months. One of those officers turned out to be an illegal immigrant himself. On the Texas border, at least 10 officers have been charged or sentenced in corruption schemes over the past year, including four Border Patrol agents who admitted taking money to let both drugs and migrants pass. OTAY MESA AP -- 9/24/06

Frist wants vote on immigration bill -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on Sunday said he wants a Senate vote soon on an immigration bill focusing primarily on border security, but acknowledged that quick passage is doubtful. AP -- 9/24/06

HP attempting damage control -- It was bad enough when Hewlett-Packard Co.'s corporate espionage scandal erupted 18 days ago, splattering the reputation of the venerable Silicon Valley company. But in the past week, a barrage of revelations has depicted HP's forays into spying as even more aggressive, ethically troublesome and legally questionable than when they first appeared. With congressional hearings coming up this week in Washington, the story promises to get hotter. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/24/06

A Change in Strategy -- Bloodied by a long strike and lockout that left Southern California supermarket workers with higher health insurance expenses and without regular raises, their union has a new strategy: Divide and conquer. In a departure from previous contract talks, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union plans to negotiate with each major grocery chain separately rather than bargaining with the employers as a group. The current contract expires March 5. Jerry Hirsch in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/24/06

As economy blooms, job growth wilts -- Region's evolution is drawing residents and retailers, but officials say employment opportunities must follow. Rowena Coetsee and George Avalos in the Contra Costa Times -- 9/24/06

Tutors Prepare Them -- for Preschool and Kindergarten -- Facing an emphasis on testing and the desire to get their children into good schools, parents are turning to private sessions for kids as young as 3. Carla Rivera in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/24/06

Prof's Disappearance Unsettles a Community -- The last time friends saw retired UC Davis sociology professor John Finley Scott was nearly four months ago when the 72-year-old bicycle pioneer and resident contrarian tooled away from a local bistro on his beloved two-wheeler. Scott fired off a few e-mails over the next few days but then went silent. After friends reported him missing, Yolo County sheriff's deputies went to his rural ranch home, where they found blood in the bedroom and foyer but no sign of a body. Rone Tempest in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/24/06

'Freaking' packs gym with parents -- More than 700 people discuss reasons behind the dancing ban at Aliso Niguel High with Principal Charles Salter. SALVADOR HERNANDEZ in the Orange County Register -- 9/24/06

Gem of a gym teacher -- Anaheim teacher earns state award and $10,000 grant. CELESTE NAVEJAS in the Orange County Register -- 9/24/06

Kaiser redesigns its health plans -- Kaiser Permanente -- which helped shape the way health care is delivered in the United States -- was founded on the principle that all members are entitled to the same level of coverage, whether they are entry-level employees or corporate CEOs. Now, though, under pressure from a rapidly changing market, the nation's first health maintenance organization has rolled out an array of coverage options that mark a major departure from its traditional comprehensive-care coverage. Victoria Colliver in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/24/06

UCLA Lab to Quickly Track Infectious Diseases -- Scientists at UCLA and the Los Alamos National Laboratory will be developing a high-volume lab that will use robots to quickly test samples for infectious diseases. Test results would be cut from a month to a couple of days or a week at most, the scientists said. AP -- 9/24/06

Hospital Backers Concede Choices Tough -- A day after Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center resoundingly failed a "make or break" federal inspection, some of the iconic public hospital's most vocal supporters conceded that it may not be fixable — at least not by the county. Supervisor Gloria Molina, who long maintained that King/Drew could be revamped, now believes that the county should hand it over to a private firm to run. Tracy Weber and Deborah Schoch in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/24/06

E. Coli Effects Can Last a Lifetime -- For some who survive infections such as the one recently linked to spinach, lingering ailments include kidney damage and diabetes. Mary Engel in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/24/06

As Children Suffer, Parents Agonize Over Spinach -- The hardest moment came when Elaine and Dennis Krause’s 9-year-son, who had stoically undergone kidney dialysis, blood transfusions and drug treatments that made him hallucinate that spiders were all around him, quietly asked his parents whether he was going to die. MONICA DAVEY in the New York Times -- 9/24/06

Stem cell breakthrough turns out to be a lot less than first advertised -- Some fuzzy statements to the press have landed the stem cell field back in the soup just when researchers appeared to be winning new public acceptance. Carl T. Hall in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/24/06

State red tape trips up green energy efforts -- As Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger prepares this week to sign into law the nation's most ambitious effort to address global warming, a key component of California's push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions -- increasing the use of renewable power to create electricity -- has faltered. Mark Martin in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/24/06

Gasoline prices fall 13 cents this week -- The remarkable decline in gasoline prices continued this week, with prices falling an additional 13 cents per gallon. The cuts have been driven by falling prices for crude oil – themselves declining as fears of shortages diminish – and by cuts in margins reported by petroleum refiners. Craig D. Rose in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 9/24/06

At Crossroads of Growth and Preservation, Redlands Peers Into the Future -- The quaint community in San Bernardino County seeks to balance its agricultural heritage with the inescapable pressures of growth. Gary Polakovic in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/24/06

Chavez drives a hard bargain, but Big Oil's options are limited -- On the hot, shrub-covered plains around this dusty, dingy town, an odd courtship is being carried out between the world's most prominent revolutionary and the world's biggest oil companies. Just as there is no love between President Hugo Chavez and the Bush administration, there is little love lost between Chavez and the foreign oilmen who are pumping up the huge reservoirs of underground oil. But they need each other. Robert Collier in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/24/06

Condo conversion craze grinds to halt -- Oversupply of units hurts prices, leaves investors in limbo. Lori Weisberg and Mike Freeman in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 9/24/06

AC Transit foresees hydrogen-cell future -- For a bus company, it's a lofty vision: "Imagine a world without smog. Imagine clean air and clear blue skies. Imagine your neighborhood without the noise of internal combustion engines. "Then take away global warming. Then take away dependence on foreign oil." Erik N. Nelson in the Oakland Tribune -- 9/24/06

Real estate industry adjusts to slump -- Responses range from consolidating companies to opening a branch office. Jim McLain and Jenni Mintz in the Ventura Star -- 9/24/06

A Boat Racing on Biodiesel, but Running Low on Money -- In early July, Pete Bethune, an amateur sailor from New Zealand and a recent convert to environmentalism, stepped aboard his new $2.4 million speedboat, filled up the tank with a fuel made from animal fat and headed east from Auckland. JESSE McKINLEY in the New York Times -- 9/24/06

Garcetti's Hold on L.A. Council Presidency Could Be Challenged -- After more than two months of controversy surrounding a star-crossed move to ease term limits for his colleagues, Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti said he has heard talk that he may be ousted from the top post. Steve Hymon in the Los Angeles Times -- 9/24/06

For first time, children must get passports -- New anti-terrorism rules will soon require American children under the age of 16 to obtain U.S. passports to return home by air or sea from visits to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. Stewart M. Powell in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 9/24/06

Other arenas go awry -- Portland, Seattle may offer cautionary tales as forces here push for a new Kings venue. Mark Kreidler and Jon Ortiz in the Sacramento Bee -- 9/24/06