Amid ethics scandals, Bush lobbies for GOP congressmen -- President Bush attacked Democrats on terrorism Tuesday as he juggled questions about the congressional page scandal and campaigned for two congressmen with links to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In a fundraising swing aimed at maintaining the Republican hold on Congress this November, Bush criticized Democrats who voted against legislation authorizing warrantless monitoring of phone calls and e-mails. LAURA KURTZMAN AP -- 10/3/06

Democrats abandon campaign tour for public works bonds -- The Legislature's Democratic leaders on Tuesday abandoned plans to campaign with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for the massive package of public works bonds on the November ballot, a development that signals an abrupt end to the bipartisan dealmaking that has buoyed the governor's re-election bid. AARON C. DAVIS AP -- 10/3/06

Angelides Doesn't Give Up on Bush Link -- After waiting two hours to watch President George W. Bush's motorcade rush by in 15 seconds and disappear on its way to a country club, I now understand why Phil Angelides is persisting in his efforts to use the Iraq war as an issue in his campaign against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. People care about Bush and Iraq far more than they care about the governor's race. Robert Salladay LA Times weblog -- 10/3/06

The Schwarzenegger IMs -- schatzi47: hey, Don tonySop45: 'sup schatzi47: howz my favorite Democrat stud doing? tonySop45: cool cool schatzi47: we're totally at the Galleria this morning tonySop45: cool. schatzi47: u know what a shoe queen i am     Robert Salladay LA Times weblog -- 10/3/06

Tapegate" Chapter III -- Tomorrow is the "Tapegate" deadline--one issued by the campaign of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's team to release his taped conversations, or face possibly more legal action. Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 10/3/06

Poll confirms governor ahead in spite of being linked to Bush -- With Election Day just five weeks away, bad news keeps mounting for Phil Angelides: Not only is the Democratic gubernatorial candidate trailing Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger by double digits, but one of his key campaign strategies -- trying to link Schwarzenegger to President George W. Bush -- isn't working. Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury -- 10/3/06

Angelides stays focused on Iraq despite polls -- Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Angelides launched what could be a crucial campaign week Monday by renewing his call to bring California's National Guard troops home from Iraq. Josh Richman in the Oakland Tribune -- 10/3/06

Troubled Democrats -- Five weeks before election day, California’s Democrats are in something of a state of disarray. Ticket-topper Phil Angelides trails by double digits in every one of the state’s public polls, reflecting what has been the reality in private polls for many weeks. Nothing he has tried against Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has really worked. With the downdraft from the top, only Bill Lockyer and Jerry Brown have strong leads among the the down ballot positions on the rest of the Democratic ticket. Bill Bradley NWN weblog -- 10/3/06

Bush ties not dragging Schwarzenegger's poll numbers down -- A flurry of recent polls show Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides hasn't gained traction in his efforts to tie Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to unpopular President George Bush, but a new study sheds light on why: Voters in Democratic-leaning California simply don't appear to care that their Republican governor is a Republican. And, the poll suggests, certainly not a Republican who helped elect Bush. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/3/06

Survey & Policy Poll -- Governor's Race -- Bush California

Undecided votes grow in two state elections -- Democrat John Garamendi and Republican Tom McClintock are locked in a tight race for the lieutenant governor's job, while attack ads have cut into Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown's lead in the attorney general's race, according to the latest Field Poll released Monday. JUDY LIN in the Riverside Press -- 10/3/06

Field Poll link here

Feinstein not sweating her re-election -- If voters were wondering when California's Senate race would start, a new poll suggests they may have a long wait ahead. Although a senator from California is automatically one of the nation's most visible politicians, both Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Republican Richard Mountjoy show no signs of waging a statewide campaign blitz. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/3/06

Barrels of Money Fuel Oil Tax Fight -- Five weeks before election day, California oil companies and a rich Hollywood producer are waging an $85-million battle over an initiative that would impose up to a $485-million-a-year tax on the oil industry. Dan Morain in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/3/06

Another Water Bond in the Pipeline -- Voters may feel deja vu when they ponder Proposition 84 on the Nov. 7 ballot, because like five other bond measures in the last decade, it promises clean water, flood control, better parks and coastal protection. Nancy Vogel in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/3/06

McClintock closes in as Garamendi falters -- Democrat John Garamendi and Republican Tom McClintock are locked in a tight race for the lieutenant governor's job, while attack ads have cut into Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown's lead in the attorney general's race, according to the latest Field Poll released Monday. Judy Lin in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/3/06

Treasurer's race: Foes represent stark contrast -- Nearly six in 10 likely voters can identify Attorney General Bill Lockyer, the Democrat with more than three decades in California politics. As the state's top law enforcement official, Lockyer is constantly in the news. He recently filed a lawsuit alleging that car makers are causing too much smog. In a high-profile move last year, he put the names and addresses of all the state's registered sex offenders online. Clea Benson in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/3/06

Losing to Veto, Orange County PBS Affiliate's Backers Vow to Fight On -- Operators of Orange County's public television station vowed Monday to continue their fight to keep KOCE out of the hands of a religious broadcaster, after the governor's weekend veto of a bill crafted to keep PBS programming on the channel. Christian Berthelsen in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/3/06

Vetoed Bills Aimed at Reducing False Convictions to Be Reintroduced -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger over the weekend vetoed the bills, which contained recommendations from the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice, a panel of prosecutors, defense lawyers, police and others created by the state Senate to examine why people are convicted of crimes they did not commit. Commission Chairman John Van de Kamp on Monday attributed the vetoes to misunderstandings of the proposals by the governor's staff and said they would be proposed again. Maura Dolan in the Los Angeles Times Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/3/06

English-learner curriculum vetoed -- As he promised, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has vetoed a state Senate bill to create a special curriculum for public school students who are learning to speak English. Senate Bill 1769, by Sen. Martha Escutia, would have required the state Board of Education to develop special textbooks and other materials for students who are non-native speakers. Dorothy Korber in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/3/06

Outspoken immigration screener fired -- An immigrant application screener who spoke out this year about his agency's security failures has lost his job, despite a recent decision to extend the contracts of hundreds of other employees like him. Sara A. Carter in the San Bernardino Sun -- 10/3/06

Indian nations rebuilding -- For some of America's 4.5 million Indians -- 700,000 of whom live in California -- it is the best of times since before contact. Tribes flush with gambling money, including California nations such as Pechanga, Agua Caliente and Rumsey, wield unprecedented political power as they rebuild their once-decimated nations. Stephen Magagnini in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/3/06

Gay rights activists ease domestic partners' taxes -- On the final day to consider legislation, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a measure allowing domestic partners to file joint state tax returns but vetoed a bill extending the time a mother can legally surrender her baby. Steve Geissinger in the San Jose Mercury -- 10/3/06

Interest high when borrowing for future -- The Bay Area will benefit from a massive cash infusion for transportation projects and programs if Proposition 1B, the $20 billion statewide bond measure, passes in November. Kiley Russell in the Contra Costa Times -- 10/3/06

Clark Speaks Out on New Torture Rules -- Retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark, speaking to UCLA faculty and students Monday, said that observing the Geneva Convention is crucial to America's interests and its ability to mobilize other countries for collective efforts. James Ricci in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/3/06

Bush, Fund-Raiser in Chief, Hits the Trail in Earnest -- President Bush’s job approval ratings are sagging, nervous members of his own party are running advertisements highlighting their differences with him, and the White House is besieged with new questions about the war in Iraq. JIM RUTENBERG and ADAM NAGOURNEY in the New York Times Ron Hutcheson in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/3/06

Few will see Bush's quick visit today -- When President Bush drops in today for a visit to El Dorado County, locals may be lucky to catch even a glimpse. The good news: no highways clogged by presidential motorcades. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/3/06

Pombo hopes to get presidential boost from visit -- Engaged in a tumultuous fight for re-election, Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, hopes a presidential push will help increase his lead over his Democratic challenger. Paul Burgarino in the Oakland Tribune -- 10/3/06

Poll shows Pombo, McNerney just 2 points apart -- A new poll released Monday presents further proof that Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, is in a tight race with challenger Jerry McNerney. Conducted by well-known Democratic pollster Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, the survey of 413 likely voters done last week shows McNerney leading Pombo 48 percent to 46 percent; this is within the poll's margin of error, so the two are in a statistical dead heat. Hank Shaw in the Stockton Record -- 10/3/06

Foley Saga No Shock to Some -- The Florida Republican was known to have an interest in younger men, Capitol Hill workers say. Noam N. Levey, Maura Reynolds and Richard B. Schmitt in the Los Angeles Times Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle Margaret Talev and Marisa Taylor in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/3/06

After Foley, New Fears For the GOP -- Republican strategists said yesterday that public revulsion over the sexually graphic online conversations between Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) and former House pages could compound the party's problems enough to tip the House to the Democrats in November -- and could jeopardize the party's hold on the Senate as well. Dan Balz and Jim VandeHei in the Washington Post -- 10/3/06

Memo Suggests When Hurd Knew of Phone Data -- Despite hours of testimony before a House subcommittee last week, Hewlett-Packard Co. still hasn't answered a key question about its leak-investigation scandal: When did Mark Hurd, H-P's chief executive officer, learn that private phone records were being examined as part of the probe? PETER WALDMAN and DON CLARK in the Wall Street Journal -- 10/3/06

Outages Highlight Internal FAA Rift -- When a string of air traffic control equipment malfunctions repeatedly disrupted air service in Southern California this summer, congressional leaders and airport executives questioned whether systemic problems were to blame. Jennifer Oldham in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/3/06

How does a garden grow? State will count the ways -- Money may not grow on trees, but a bumper crop of paperwork will soon be flourishing in California's newly expanded school garden program. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week signed a bill that will set aside $15 million for grants to schools that want to establish gardens for their students to tend. Daniel Weintraub in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/3/06

Appeal on school's lesson in Muslim culture is rejected -- The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal Monday by evangelical Christian students and their parents who said a Contra Costa County school district engaged in unconstitutional religious indoctrination when it taught students about Islam by having them recite language from prayers. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/3/06

UCD rise in reported sex offenses reviewed -- UC Davis released the university's 2005 crime statistics on Monday, revealing a marked increase in reported sexual offenses on campus -- a rise officials believe could be the result of increased public awareness, but is of concern to them nonetheless. Pamela Martineau in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/3/06

L.A. slated to get U.S. funds for charters -- A $3.9 million federal grant awarded Monday to the California Charter Schools Association will pay to open 52 charter campuses statewide, about half of them in Los Angeles, officials said. NAUSH BOGHOSSIAN in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 10/3/06

Sharing religions -- Project lets Muslim, Christian and Jewish students learn about their personal, spiritual commonalities. ALEJANDRA MOLINA in the Orange County Register -- 10/3/06

Shining moments -- The phones haven't stopped ringing at the School of International Studies at San Diego High since Newsweek named the academy in May one of 100 best American high schools. Helen Gao in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 10/3/06

Officials stump for Prop. 1D, its $1.5 billion for area schools -- Raising their voices above a few noisy tractors hauling dirt at George Washington High School in the Richmond district, California and Bay Area education officials stumped for a $13.5 billion education construction bond Monday, saying it would make school buildings throughout the state more modern, less crowded and better equipped to withstand natural disasters, including earthquakes. Grace Rauh in the Oakland Tribune -- 10/3/06

A Plan to Save King/Drew Gets Tough -- Emergency services would remain intact, but a plan to rescue Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center would sweep out current employees and slash many services to give the troubled hospital a chance to avoid being stripped of vital federal money. Steve Hymon, John Mitchell and Susannah Rosenblatt in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/3/06

Candidates give King-Drew suggestions -- With election season heating up, politicians offered their ideas Monday to keep open South L.A.'s troubled Martin Luther King-Drew Medical Center, one day before county officials present their own plans. BRENT HOPKINS in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 10/3/06

Hospital district files for bankruptcy -- The hospital district that runs Doctors Medical Center has filed for bankruptcy protection, shielding the struggling hospital from creditors as it tries to sort out its finances. Tom Lochner and George Avalos in the Oakland Tribune -- 10/3/06

2 American ‘Worm People’ Win Nobel for RNA Work -- This year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to two American researchers, Andrew Z. Fire and Craig C. Mello, for a far-reaching discovery about how genes are controlled within living cells. NICHOLAS WADE in the New York Times Sabin Russell in the San Francisco Chronicle Lisa M. Krieger in the San Jose Mercury -- 10/3/06

UCD may curb doctors' drug-company freebies -- You've seen them in your doctor's office: pens and notepads labeled with the names of leading drugs or medical devices. What you don't see are the free lunches, expense-paid trips and lucrative consulting deals for physician lectures and conferences. Dorsey Griffith in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/3/06

Unions key on health benefit for retirees -- But high premiums in the county's health-insurance plan forced her to switch to another provider with a lower monthly rate. That organization, AARP, provides only a fixed amount of money each year for prescriptions, leaving Davenport facing a mounting pile of bills after recent health problems forced her to use nearly a dozen medications. Greg Kane in the Stockton Record -- 10/3/06

FUSD retirees file lawsuit over health benefits -- Maxine Rix and her husband — who combined had 58 years of teaching Fresno Unified students — built a retirement plan that could overcome financial emergencies. They didn't expect $420 monthly health-care bills from their former employer to become one of those emergencies. "We get by because we planned ahead," she said. Christina Vance in the Fresno Bee -- 10/3/06

Gasoline Prices Fall for Eighth Straight Week -- Nationwide, the average pump price for self-serve regular fell to $2.31 a gallon Monday, down 6.8 cents in the previous seven days, according to the Energy Department's weekly price survey. California's retail average dropped 7.7 cents to $2.683 a gallon. Elizabeth Douglass in the Los Angeles Times Blanca Torres in the Contra Costa Times -- 10/3/06

Whipsnake squeezed in protection cutback -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated more than 150,000 acres in the East Bay as essential habitat for the Alameda whipsnake Monday, less than half the land originally proposed for the rare reptile. Glen Martin in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/3/06

Agency hails beetle comeback -- Federal wildlife officials said Monday they plan to remove the valley elderberry longhorn beetle from the endangered species list. A five-year review showed its fortunes have improved. Matt Weiser in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/3/06

Gains by endangered species cited -- More than half of the imperiled species recently reviewed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are doing well enough to be removed from the Endangered Species Act list or downgraded from endangered to threatened status, the agency recommended yesterday. Mike Lee in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 10/3/06

PG&E's appeal rebuffed -- The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way Monday for California and the city of San Francisco to sue Pacific Gas and Electric Co. for customer refunds of billions of dollars that the utility transferred to its parent corporation before filing for bankruptcy in 2001. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/3/06

'Burdened': Area owners pay a big chunk of their income for housing -- A higher percentage of Bay Area homeowners are stretching to afford a home here than in most of the rest of the country, new census figures released today show. Michele R. Marcucci and Eve Mitchell in the San Jose Mercury -- 10/3/06

Putting a price on home -- The U.S. Census Bureau releases a slew of data today on how Americans are housed, how much they pay for it and what they think it's worth. ANDREW GALVIN and RONALD CAMPBELL in the Orange County Register -- 10/3/06

Latinos are buying in -- Latino households in San Diego County joined the ranks of homeowners in huge numbers during the first half of the decade, even as housing values rocketed by nearly 130 percent, new census data show. Lori Weisberg and Janine Zuniga in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 10/3/06

His Corps Value Was Bravery -- Chris Adlesperger's family, shocked to learn of his heroics in Iraq, later saw how it all made sense. In death, he's been nominated for the Medal of Honor. Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/3/06

San Diego debt is worse than first thought -- San Diego's financial hole is much deeper than previously suggested. A retiree health care liability has grown from $978 million to $1.38 billion, and the city's share of the pension deficit has increased from $1.39 billion to $1.76 billion. Matthew T. Hall in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 10/3/06

Oakland's daily tragedies surpass school shootings -- America is reeling over school shootings in Pennsylvania, Colorado and Wisconsin that have killed five innocent victims in a week -- but Oakland trumps them all. Chip Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/3/06

Perata unveils plan to curb Oakland, Richmond violence -- Standing in the middle of a West Oakland basketball court Monday morning, state Sen. Don Perata unveiled what he termed "a modest proposal" to help four murder-plagued Oakland and Richmond neighborhoods. Chris Metinko in the Oakland Tribune -- 10/3/06

Police call more foot patrols a backward step -- The San Francisco Police Department warns that its emergency response times could rise by 20 percent if a pilot program to commit as many as 33 officers to a dedicated foot patrol is approved by the city's Board of Supervisors. Charlie Goodyear in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/3/06

Family sues city over police use of Tasers -- The family of a man who died after San Leandro police shocked him numerous times with Tasers has filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit against the city, accusing officers of using excessive force. Henry K. Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/3/06

Congress moves to severely limit online gambling, fund transfers -- Millions of online poker players wondered Monday how they will get their fixes satisfied after Congress passed a bill late last week to restrict online gambling in this country. Ryan Kim in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/3/06

Michelin Anoints Bay Area Cuisine With Pinch of Stars -- The French guide is about the hardest palate to please, and only one restaurant gains the stellar three-star rating. Lee Romney in the Los Angeles Times Carol Ness in the San Francisco Chronicle Carolyn Jung in the San Jose Mercury DIANE PETERSON in the Santa Rosa Press -- 10/3/06

State Ends Inquiry, Names Monitor for Getty Trust -- A former attorney general will watch to see that the nonprofit makes reforms. No penalties are urged for ex-chief Barry Munitz. Jason Felch, Ralph Frammolino and Robin Fields in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/3/06

No Bows, No Wows for Pooches Pursuing Fame -- Aside from the occasional trip to the dog park, Goliath the Rottweiler spent most of his time lying around with his gingerbread man-shaped chew toy. Even so, his "cool" and "mellowness" convinced owner Rachel Armstrong he belonged in music videos — and so she happily paid nearly $2,000 to Hollywood Paws LLC to get him ready for stardom. Jessica Garrison in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/3/06