Mainstream news political news and opinion

- 8:51 am
By TOM RAUM 2010-09-06T15:06:15Z WASHINGTON (AP) -- Never before have so many governorships been up for grabs - and with so much at stake.... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Sam Brownback, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Tancredo, Meg Whitman,

California - 6:37 pm
A bill that would require pupils entering kindergarten to reach 5 by Sept. 1 and that would create another level of instruction for younger children was passed by the Legislature and awaits the governor's signature.At Gulf Avenue Elementary in ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Legislature, Los Angeles Unified School District, Joe Simitian,

California - 4:24 pm


In this article: state budget,

California Politics - 2:48 pm


In this article: Jerry Brown, campaign finance, Michael Finnegan, global warming, Shane Goldmacher, Proposition 2, Meg Whitman, Anthony York,

Editorial - 6:31 am
Paul Conrad was powerful, inspiring — and a friendHe never lost his sense of outrage. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: CalPERS,

Top of the Ticket - 5:10 am
How Labor Day speeches have changed in recent decades. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Joe Biden, greenhouse gas,

California Politics - 8:14 am


In this article: Jerry Brown, campaign finance, Michael Finnegan, global warming, Shane Goldmacher, Meg Whitman, Anthony York,

Editorial - 12:00 am
Some insights into who the unemployed are and why they don't have jobs.Prodded by union leaders, state governments started designating a Labor Day holiday on the first Monday in September more than 120 years ago. The day has always been tinged with ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: CalPERS,

Editorial - 12:00 am
Re 'Teachers blast Times for rankings,' Aug. 30, 'School board ends evaluation silence,' Sept. 1, and 'Group urges new teacher evaluations,' Sept. 2 »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: CalPERS,

Editorial - 12:00 am
Smartphones are here to stay, but they aren't always so smart.Sitting here in my den, I have two ways that I can call you and two ways that I can get a call from you. One of them has been around since the late 1800s and still does pretty much what ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: CalPERS,

Editorial - 12:00 am
Bold actions are needed to create jobs and fix the financial system.On the eve of the Depression, Andrew Mellon, President Hoover's Treasury secretary, said that rising unemployment would be good for the nation because it would 'purge the rottenness ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: CalPERS,

Editorial - 12:00 am
Australian philosopher Simon Longstaff says we need to question everything to heal our sick institutions.Australian philosopher Simon Longstaff hopes Westerners are nearing the end of what he calls a long age of forgetting. Even in the midst of a ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: CalPERS,

California - Sept. 5, 8:37 pm
Both she and Boxer need more debates. The voters need more too.Political rookie Carly Fiorina should book every televised debate with U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer that the senator will permit. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Barbara Boxer, CalPERS, Carly Fiorina, Rafael Nadal, Sarah Palin, George Skelton, Meg Whitman,
Bills: AB 32,

California - Sept. 5, 8:37 pm
The increased response times come in the wake of department budget cuts, but officials aren't sure of a direct cause and effect or whether there might be other reasons. Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies are getting to the scenes of 911 ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Michael D. Antonovich, Lee Baca, CalPERS,

California - Sept. 5, 6:28 pm
Republicans Whitman and Fiorina and Democrats Brown and Boxer bring different levels of wealth, history and intensity to their races in an unpredictable year.The California campaigns for governor and senator can look like one big unwieldy whole, ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Barbara Boxer, George W. Bush, CalPERS, Carly Fiorina, Rafael Nadal, Meg Whitman,

Editorial - 12:13 am
Dear Mr. Hussam Ayloush of the Council on American-Islamic Relations [“O.C. Muslims help launch ad campaign,” News, Sept. 2]: You accuse me, and many other Americans, of being ignorantly unaware of your social plight as a Muslim. Here is what ... »Read  »E-mail story

Opinion - 12:00 am
Government isn't the best gauge of how well government's doing. A 50-page report on the economic stimulus released last week by Vice President Joe Biden is 'a collection of rosy projections that ignore many of the challenges, pitfalls and economic... »Read  »E-mail story

Opinion - 12:00 am
Two years ago, California voters passed redistricting – Proposition 11. It passed in the wake of the severe gerrymandering of legislative districts that the California Legislature enacted following the 2000 U.S. Census, redrawing districts for ... »Read  »E-mail story

Editorial - 12:00 am
As we celebrate Labor Day, let's remember what makes this holiday possible in the first place: American workers. For the most part, that means small business. According to federal statistics, small firms (those with fewer than 500 employees):... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Barack Obama,

- 3:47 pm
Despite the struggling economy, officials with the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon say contributions and pledges from this year's Labor Day event totaled $58.9 million. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Carly Fiorina, Jerry Lewis,

Capitol Alert - 3:46 pm
An energized Jerry Brown made an impassioned pitch for his Democratic gubernatorial candidacy this afternoon at a union-organized Labor Day picnic at William Land Park, where he portrayed himself as the lifelong Californian running against Meg ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Darrel Ng, Art Pulaski, Darrell Steinberg, Meg Whitman,

- 1:47 pm
Rohnert Park police have arrested a man who crashed his car into a police SUV and then tried to flee. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Carly Fiorina, Jeff Taylor,

- 1:22 pm
Authorities say Modesto police shot and killed a 45-year-old man who was allegedly armed with a knife and intoxicated. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Carly Fiorina,

- 12:17 pm
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca says budget cuts are not necessarily to blame for an apparent one-minute increase in the amount of time it takes for deputies to respond to emergency calls. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Lee Baca, Carly Fiorina,

- 11:59 am
It took Isao Fujimoto 50 years to complete his Ph.D. in developmental sociology, but in that half century he changed the lives of tens of thousands of people. Isao Fujimoto greets friends at his graduation party Thursday in Davis. He inspired ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Jerry Brown, Carly Fiorina,

- 10:40 am
Two bills heading to the governor's desk raise a fundamental question about how California educates health care workers who are not physicians: How many of them need doctoral degrees? »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Carly Fiorina, Legislative Analyst's Office, Arnold Schwarzenegger,
Bills: AB 867, AB 2382,

- 10:36 am
Last summer, state budget cuts forced the Doyle Family Practice – along with five other rural health or dental clinics in far Northern California – to close. Since then, the isolated stretch of highway connecting this high desert community ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Carly Fiorina, Paul Holmes, Sean South, state budget,

- 9:28 am
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown is kicking off his campaign in earnest today with a flurry of activity, starting with his first TV ad, which his campaign just debuted online. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Field Poll, PPIC, Meg Whitman,

- 9:22 am
Alan DeWeese had just finished watching the fireworks display when he saw a Coast Guard vessel racing straight at him in a crowded San Diego Bay. He furiously turned his boat but there was no time: The vessel landed on his 8-year-old son, Anthony, ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Jerry Brown, Carly Fiorina,

Capitol Alert - 8:19 am
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown is kicking off his campaign in earnest today with a flurry of activity, starting with his first TV ad, which his campaign just debuted online. The fast-paced, 30-second spot introduces voters to the ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Meg Whitman,

The State Worker - 10:47 am


In this article: H.D. Palmer,

- 12:00 am
The Sacramento City Council votes on whether to ratify a 2003 agreement made by the former city treasurer that allows the Kings to repay a $75 million line of credit to the NBA before repaying a $73 million loan to the city. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Carly Fiorina, Proposition 19,

- 12:00 am
Slicing apples and spooning in mouthfuls of food, housekeepers from the Sheraton Grand Hotel are spending a Friday afternoon lunch break talking about politics with union members. Tracy Zeluff, right, of GroundWorks Campaigns, works with Judy ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Carly Fiorina, Thad Kousser, Darrel Ng, Art Pulaski, Meg Whitman,

- 12:00 am
It's been 28 years since Californians have seen simultaneous, too-close-to-call duels for the governorship and U.S. Senate. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Barbara Boxer, George Deukmejian, Carly Fiorina, Legislature, Dan Walters, Meg Whitman, Pete Wilson,

- 12:00 am
Quick quiz: When was the first Labor Day holiday celebrated, and where? Meg Whitman smiles for a photo as 18-month-old Grant Laubhan positions his mother Maria's camera to snap a picture of the GOP gubernatorial candidate Sunday in Columbia. ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Al Checchi, Carly Fiorina, Steve Poizner, Meg Whitman,

- 12:00 am
Here's what state workers see when they look at their jobs on this Labor Day: »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Vikram Amar, Jerry Brown, Sterling Clifford, Carly Fiorina, Legislature, Ken Murch, Sarah Pompei, Arnold Schwarzenegger, state budget, Meg Whitman,

Opinion - 12:00 am
Re 'Senate foes draw sharp battle lines' (Page A1, Sept. 2): Carly Fiorina is quoted as saying, 'China … gives companies huge tax credits. They help them cut through regulation, they reward R&D, they provide access to credit. That's what we ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Carly Fiorina, Barack Obama, Dan Walters,

Opinion - 12:00 am
As difficult as the current situation is for many families in Sacramento and across our nation, Labor Day 2010 is a time to celebrate, as well as to reflect on our past and present work force. Hilda L. Solis »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Carly Fiorina, green jobs, Barack Obama, Hilda L. Solis,

Opinion - 12:00 am
Placer County supervisors have an opportunity Tuesday to strike a note for more sane and sustainable public employee benefits. They should grab it. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Carly Fiorina,

- 12:00 am
Last summer, the leadership of Anderson Valley Health Center received alarming news. Under the new state budget, they were to lose $350,000 – nearly a third of their revenue. After 33 years, they were confronted with a question: How would they ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Carly Fiorina,

- Sept. 5, 9:13 pm
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown said this afternoon that after months of dormancy he will start advertising on TV tomorrow, Labor Day, with the first ads of his campaign airing 'up and down the state.' The conventional wisdom is ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Field Poll, PPIC, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Meg Whitman, Pete Wilson,

- 11:45 am
California union leaders have given Democratic candidates a boost with a Labor Day rally that serves as the unofficial kickoff to the general election season. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Barbara Boxer, Jerry Brown, Kamala Harris, Gavin Newsom,

- 7:39 am
SACRAMENTO, Calif. _ Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown has begun answering the $100 million campaign of Republican rival Meg Whitman by announcing his first TV ad of the general election. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Jerry Brown, Steve Glazer, Meg Whitman,

- 7:31 am
The 4-inch-thick document that serves as San Diego County’s backcountry bible is on the verge of a major rewrite. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Duncan McFetridge, Steve Schmidt,

Opinion - 12:00 am
Labor Day finds millions of Americans looking for work and worried about whether elected officials can revive the economy. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: George W. Bush,

Opinion - 12:00 am
This Labor Day, private sector workers should be vigilant to make sure their retirement assets are safe and well-managed. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Hilda Solis,

Opinion - 12:00 am
Readers knock incumbents holding several key California elected positions. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Barbara Boxer, Carly Fiorina, Proposition 8,

Opinion - 12:00 am
The size of the city's pension debt has readers worrying about San Diego's future. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Dick Murphy,

- 8:24 am
President Barack Obama is asking Congress to approve at least $50 billion in long-term investments in the nation's roads, railways and runways in a pre-election effort to show he's trying to stimulate the sputtering economy. The infrastructure ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Hilda Solis, Meg Whitman,

- 12:00 am
Meg Whitman has done her best to distance herself from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, succeeding so well that her fellow Republican has declined to endorse a candidate in the governor's race. But they agree on at least one thing - California can dig ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Jerry Brown, Sterling Clifford, David Kline, Legislature, Darrel Ng, Rod Pacheco, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Meg Whitman,

- 12:00 am
It's been more than a century since President Grover Cleveland signed the law that made the first Monday in September a federal holiday for working stiffs, but this Labor Day finds Americans in an economic squeeze that leaves little to celebrate. ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: David Harmer, Jerry McNerney,

- 12:00 am
Labor Day usually signals the beginning of the traditional election season - but this year, when it comes to California's four big races, it's more like the final furious stretch. 'All four races are close, and all for different reasons,' says Field ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Michela Alioto-Pier, Barbara Boxer, Jerry Brown, David Chiu, Steve Cooley, Mark DiCamillo, Carly Fiorina, Kamala Harris, Abel Maldonado, Gavin Newsom, Andrew Ross, Meg Whitman, Leland Yee,

Opinion - 12:00 am
We'll just elect the status quo Subject: taxation without representation. If your candidate was a Green Party, Libertarian or Peace and Freedom candidate, which all have ballot access in California, they were prohibited from debating the two ... »Read  »E-mail story

Opinion - 12:00 am
This is the continued toll that the Great Recession is taking on Bay Area communities: We've seen Vallejo declare bankruptcy. The city of San Carlos is in the process of outsourcing its police department. And now the city of Half Moon Bay is ... »Read  »E-mail story

Opinion - 12:00 am
As many of us gather for parades, barbecues and festivities in honor of the many men and women - past and present - who toil day in and day out in hopes of a better life, let us not forget the 31 million who will be celebrating this Labor Day from ... »Read  »E-mail story

Opinion - 12:00 am
After nine years, my husband, Dodd, and I will end what we consider to be our life's work. Our thriving San Francisco felt rug business, Peace Industry, is a casualty of recent U.S. sanctions that include a ban on the import of rugs and other goods ... »Read  »E-mail story

Opinion - 12:00 am
In November 2008, 61 percent of San Francisco voters approved Proposition T to provide treatment on demand for residents suffering from alcohol and drug dependency. Despite this voter mandate, Mayor Gavin Newsom and the Board of Supervisors have ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: John Avalos, Gavin Newsom,

- 1:29 pm
Kicking off a long-awaited TV ad campaign on Labor Day, the Brown campaign unleashed a 30-second spot depicting the former governor as a frugal yet visionary leader who helped create 1.9 million jobs when he was governor in the late '70s and early ... »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Mark Baldassare, Barbara Boxer, Jerry Brown, campaign finance, Mark DiCamillo, Field Poll, Carly Fiorina, Steve Glazer, Andrea Jones Rivera, Rose Kapolczynski, Adam Mendelsohn, Mike Murphy, Sarah Palin, Julie Soderlund, Meg Whitman,

- 10:47 am
With California's marquee races set to pick up steam this month (read: even more TV ads), here's a Labor Day look at where each contest stands and the key tests facing the candidates over the final two months. »Read  »E-mail story

In this article: Mark Baldassare, Barbara Boxer, Jerry Brown, campaign finance, Mark DiCamillo, Field Poll, Carly Fiorina, Steve Glazer, Rose Kapolczynski, Adam Mendelsohn, Mike Murphy, Sarah Palin, Julie Soderlund, Meg Whitman,