In a massive disaster, care will be scarce -- Older, sicker patients could be allowed to die in order to save the lives of patients more likely to survive a massive disaster, bioterror attack or influenza pandemic in California. Dorsey Griffith in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/2/08

Next speaker enjoys broad support -- Anyone who knew Wilhelmina Bass might understand why her daughter Karen Bass, the Los Angeles Democrat elected Thursday as the next leader of the California Assembly, has devoted her Capitol career to making the state a better parent to its 80,000 foster children. Nancy Vogel in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/2/08

Budget strains emissions plan -- California's budget is starting to cramp its environmentally hip style. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing to borrow money from special funds to pay for implementing the state's ambitious plan to roll back greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Judy Lin in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/2/08

Walters: Governor's budgetary bombshell -- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a slash-and-burn state budget nearly two months ago, saying drastic action was needed to close the state's chronic ever-growing deficits and seemingly rejecting new taxes to do it. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/2/08

Here's another fine mess lawmakers have gotten us into -- One of the reasons that California is in another financial mess is the state's residents get the same old rhetoric from the Democrats and Republicans in Sacramento. There's a $16 billion budget deficit, yet both parties continue to protect their political benefactors as if the state has a $16 billion surplus. Jim Borenin the Fresno Bee -- 3/2/08

Weintraub: Another software fiasco costs us millions -- After wasting seven years and $10 million, the state government has quietly abandoned plans to automate the way it grants permits to truckers carrying oversized loads on California roads and highways. Daniel Weintraub in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/2/08

Democrats aim recall at key Senate seat -- The sprawling 12th Senate District is known for its pastoral hills that sweep all the way from the Central Valley to the Monterey County coastline - from Modesto to Salinas - in a perpetual nod to the state's agricultural heritage. Steven Harmon in the San Jose Mercury -- 3/2/08

Vallejo budget agreement to avoid bankruptcy -- Vallejo Mayor Osby Davis unveiled a budget deal Saturday he said will stave off bankruptcy for the financially beleaguered city, but angry critics complained that the proposed agreement with police and fire unions was little more than a bandage that doesn't solve any of the town's money woes. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/2/08

Not single, not married: State Supreme Court to consider rights of gay couples -- It has taken four years, but the fierce conflict over gay marriage has finally shifted from its cradle at San Francisco City Hall to the California Supreme Court, just a few hundred yards away. Howard Mintz in the San Jose Mercury Greg Moran in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 3/2/08

Popular ex-consul still in Orange County, for now -- Mexico's Luis Miguel Ortiz Haro will remain in Santa Ana until the end of the school year, saying goodbye to well-wishers. Jennifer Delson in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/2/08

Smugglers hide in plain sight -- Their mingling with off-roaders spurs controversial calls to close part of the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. Richard Marosi in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/2/08

Speaking up for exploited workers -- Lilia Garcia and her squad of investigators make sure janitorial services operating outside the law pay. Molly Selvin in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/2/08

Behind the Meltdown: Equity plunge saps will to spend -- Take $2 billion away from Sacramento's homeowners – money they could be spending on cars or plasma TVs or kitchen cabinets – and you begin to understand what the housing slump is doing to the region's economy. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/2/08

Consumers revolt over rise of hidden fees -- Hidden fees and surcharges that drive up the cost of everything from phone service to concert tickets are spreading like wildfire, creating a nuisance for U.S. consumers and making truth in billing little more than a hollow promise. Tony Pugh in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/2/08

Lottery director plans overhaul to buoy operation -- Joan Borucki is the 19th director in 22 years of a foundering lottery -- even part of the defective headquarters building has sunk a foot.
But Borucki, who doesn't just want to be No. 19, unveiled ambitious plans in her first media interview to energize the operation. Steve Geissinger in the Contra Costa Times -- 3/2/08

A warmer, softer Microsoft in Silicon Valley takeovers? -- When Eric King, an engineer at Tellme Networks, broke the news last year to his family that Microsoft was buying the company, his kids had some questions: "Will the company get to keep its game room? Will there still be a dog room?" Chris O'Brien in the San Jose Mercury -- 3/2/08

A workers' compensation nightmare -- At more than 70 mph, a speeding drunken driver smashed into Jennifer Smith's car. Left with a broken pelvis and a jaw that had to be wired shut, she lost 22 pounds and spent five months getting ready to go back to work. Joe Goldeen in the Stockton Record -- 3/2/08

Clinton Is Urged to Drop Out if She Loses on Tuesday -- Top supporters of Senator Barack Obama, joined by at least one prominent Democrat yet to endorse a candidate, put pressure on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on Sunday to bow out of the presidential race unless she scores clear victories in the crucial big-state primary contests on Tuesday. BRIAN KNOWLTON in the New York Times -- 3/2/08

Spending Heavily, Obama Attempts Knockout Blow -- aking advantage of his financial edge, Senator Barack Obama is buying large amounts of advertising and building extensive get-out-the-vote operations in an effort to end Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s candidacy with twin defeats Tuesday in Ohio and Texas. ADAM NAGOURNEY in the New York Times -- 3/2/08

Gonzalez on Nader campaign: 'Get beyond 2000' -- "People say we're being self-centered and egotistical - but in politics, everything is called egotistical," says Ralph Nader's new running mate, Matt Gonzalez. Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/2/08

McCain's 'Press-Friendly Express' -- The senator cajoles, regales and expounds with reporters at the back of his campaign bus. Does that give him an edge? It depends on whom you ask. James Rainey and Maeve Reston in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/2/08

Race sizzles like Texas barbecue -- Inside the ancient soot-covered rooms of Smitty's, a ramshackle eatery infused by the smoke of glowing oak fires, Texans say there are some things in this great state that never change - even in the year of a momentous presidential election. Carla Marinucciin the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/2/08

Ohio Democrats' love is tough to win -- Tuesday's primary is likely to be decided by white, working-class male voters - and their support poses a challenge for both candidates. Scott Martelle in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/2/08

Texas Latinos look for a president with answers -- Facing a widespread economic crunch, they're more likely this year to back a Democrat -- but which one? Miguel Bustillo in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/2/08

Clinton or Obama? Historic choice splits feminists in Silicon Valley -- A tight network of Bay Area women whose trailblazing efforts in politics gave Santa Clara County the nickname "feminist capital of the world" is now split on the biggest choice of all: whether to back a woman for president of the United States. Julia Prodis Sulek and Linda Goldston in the San Jose Mercury -- 3/2/08

Massive teacher layoffs loom across Orange County -- School districts plan to terminate more than 1,590 instructors, slash arts programs, boost class sizes and reduce bus services should state cuts materialize. FERMIN LEAL, ERIC CARPENTER and SCOTT MARTINDALE in the Orange County Register -- 3/2/08

Local school officials ponder drastic cuts -- School districts across Kern County are preparing for what could be unprecedented cuts to education, including teacher layoffs, class size increases and the elimination of electives. The item is in the Bakersfield Californian -- 3/2/08

Districts facing cuts still recruiting teachers -- Kern County school districts are recruiting teachers despite talk of layoffs. TARA McLAUGHLIN in the Bakersfield Californian -- 3/2/08

Schools plan for cuts Inlnd Valley districts wrestle with budget priorities -- Inland Valley school districts are bracing for what could be one of the sharpest education cuts to the state budget since the late 1970s and are weighing their options: hiring freezes, school closures, early retirement incentives and layoffs. Wendy Leung and Robert Rogers in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 3/2/08

Program helps truants get back in school -- "I got anger problems," Jacqueela Winston said without emotion. The words didn't match the neon pink braids woven throughout her hair and the big silver heart necklace framing the tattooed "Princess" across her chest. Jill Tucker in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/2/08

Bill would protect journalism teachers who defend student free speech -- Teri Hu is still outraged over what she describes as being forced out as journalism adviser at Fremont's Irvington High School in 2004 after the school newspaper, the Viking Voice, came under fire for stories critical of the school's administration. Steven Harmon in the San Jose Mercury -- 3/2/08

Teens go green with gizmos -- Natomas Charter students hold drive to collect e-waste. Ngoc Nguyen in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/2/08

Clergy take role at school Black kids get tutors, friends -- A dozen black ministers are on a mission at Barfield Elementary School. The volunteers will be tutors, mentors and friends to as many as 70 black students at the north Pomona campus. Monica Rodriguez in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 3/2/08

Stanford tilts playing field with free tuition pledge -- So it's come to this: If your high school senior has the grades and the test scores – and your annual family income is $100,000 or less – it could be cheaper to send the kid to Stanford University next fall than to a community college. Dorothy Korber in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/2/08

A year later, an agonizing wait in De Anza rape case -- Lauren Bryeans often wakes up wondering: Will this be the day the California Attorney General's Office finally has something to say about the allegations of rape at a house party that rocked De Anza College a year ago? Leslie Griffy in the San Jose Mercury -- 3/2/08

Schools, hospitals found to excel in food safety -- Their cafeterias generally have better records than restaurants and other food venues in the county. GWENDOLYN DRISCOLL and RONALD CAMPBELL in the Orange County Register -- 3/2/08

Not-so-fine dining cited at many top restaurants -- The man knew from his first swig that something was wrong with his mojito cocktail. Eleanor Yang Su and Agustín Armendariz in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 3/2/08

Retirement roadblock -- Ventura County baby boomers had big plans for golden years. Now rising healthcare costs keep them on the job. The item is in the Ventura Star -- 3/2/08

Court holds Navy to rules safeguarding marine mammals -- Appellate panel backs a lower court decision but allows a 30-day reprieve from the toughest rules so sonar training can go forward. Kenneth R. Weiss in the Los Angeles Times Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle DAVE DOWNEY in the North County Times -- 3/2/08

San Joaquin River Parkway -- Piece by piece, a park has been forming for two decades along 22 miles of the San Joaquin River at Fresno's doorstep, offering what city folk crave -- prime canoe-launching spots, fishing holes and wildlife havens. It's the San Joaquin River Parkway, a natural treasure with a major public relations problem: People can't see much of it. Mark Grossi in the Fresno Bee -- 3/2/08

San Ramon plan skirts voter intent -- San Ramon city officials are trying to launch a drive that could rapidly accelerate development in one of Contra Costa's most hotly contested valleys and undermine voter-approved city and county growth controls. Dan Borenstein in the Contra Costa Times -- 3/2/08

Group aims to make Pasadena more pedestrian-friendly -- The roar of cars and trucks drowned out conversation Saturday morning as a group walked toward the 210 Freeway ramp on North Lake Avenue in Pasadena. The sidewalk narrowed and the street widened. Along the way, tree roots had heaved the sidewalk upward. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/2/08

The hills are green, but all's not well -- Frequent fires in Southern California are replacing chaparral and sagebrush with highly flammable, prolific nonnative weeds, scientists find. Mike Anton in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/2/08

Finally, the masses are roused by rampant development -- Roy P. Disney, who has lived all his 50 years in Toluca Lake, didn't mince words about what he believes will be the fate of thousands of poor souls living in the southeast San Fernando Valley. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/2/08

Giants' development idea best of 4 proposals -- The best piece of land up for grabs in San Francisco is a 16-acre parking lot that sits across China Basin from AT&T Park. The political buzz is that the development team with the best shot at winning the land is the one organized by the San Francisco Giants. John King in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/2/08

Oil exploration firm looks at nature preserve -- But controversy over oil and gas exploration on the 250,000-acre grasslands preserve is just beginning to raise new concerns about protecting its endangered species. Vintage Production, a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum, owns 30,000 acres of mineral rights in the heart of the monument's valley floor in Eastern San Luis Obispo County. David Whitney in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/2/08

Outpouring of respect, donations continues for Simmons, his family -- Angelenos on Saturday honored slain Los Angeles Police Department Officer Randal Simmons, with high schoolers from his alma mater dedicating a baseball season to him while others washed cars to raise money for his family. Brandon Lowrey in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 3/2/08

Oilman leaves a lasting L.A. legacy -- Lyman Stewart used profits from his oil company to found the Union Rescue Mission and the Bible Institute of Los Angeles, now Biola University. Cecilia Rasmussen in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/2/08

In eyes of L.A., to err is a fine -- Penalties for too many false alarms have helped reduce the number of calls, but problems persist. Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/2/08

Inflated art appraisals cost U.S. government untold millions -- The IRS audits few artwork donations claimed on tax returns that yield $1 billion in write-offs a year. Data suggest overvaluation is rampant. Jason Felch and Doug Smith in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/2/08

A new tool in identifying murder victims or criminals -- a strand of hair -- Scientists can determine where a person has lived based on the varied chemicals in drinking water across the country -- variations that show up in hair. Alan Zarembo in the Los Angeles Times -- 3/2/08

Tenderloin residents get a high-tech boost -- Residents of San Francisco's Tenderloin got a high-tech boost Saturday when the St. Anthony Foundation brought in a crew of volunteers to minister to a long procession of sick, battered and out-of-work computers. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 3/2/08

Cities spared pain of layoffs -- Citrus Heights, Elk Grove and Rancho Cordova hired firms, not staff, that are easier to cut. Ed Fletcher in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/2/08

Longtime La Mesa mayor no stranger to controversy -- There's a truism in politics that friends come and go, but enemies are forever. In the case of La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid, whose career is marked by longevity and long knives, it's his supporters who remain steadfast. Matthew T. Hall and Liz Neely in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 3/2/08

Even tiny charities must file tax form -- The rules are changing for thousands of tiny nonprofits that do not have to file a tax return, and leaders of at least some charitable groups are not quite prepared to comply with the new requirements. Jeff McDonald in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 3/2/08

Little Davis pedals hard, but Taipei keeps title -- Even with mass text messages, a cell phone campaign and a run through the freshman dorms, Davis couldn't pedal its way into the record books Saturday. Gina Kim in the Sacramento Bee -- 3/2/08