Stage 1 power emergency declared -- An intense heat wave sent temperatures into the triple digits in many inland portions of Southern California today, and state energy officials declared an "electrical emergency" as the demand for power exceeded expectations. Jesus Sanchez in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/29/07

Governor's nod on term limits would signal bipartisan support, Democratic consultant says -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's support would be valuable but not necessarily essential to pass a ballot measure that would alter legislative term limits, a leader of the campaign said Wednesday. "If he were to aggressively oppose it, that would not be helpful," said Gale Kaufman, a Democratic political strategist who is coordinating the drive with GOP consultant Matthew Dowd. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/29/07

Democrats push health plan for state's uninsured children -- With time running out in California's legislative session, Democrats are prepared to move forward with a proposal to provide coverage for all uninsured children if more ambitious health care efforts fail. Aurelio Rojas in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/29/07

Another Call For Health Care Sales Tax — This morning, another business coalition jumped on the idea of a hike in California's sales tax to help pay for a major expansion of health care access. John Myers Capitol Notes weblog — 8/29/07

Nation watches as Schwarzenegger rushes to save health care plan — The prognosis for universal health care in California is grim this year, and experts say a failure could set back similar efforts nationwide for years to come. LAURA KURTZMAN AP — 8/29/07

Schwarzenegger puzzled by Bush stance on children — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger expressed a new reaction this morning to one of President Bush's key policies: disbelief. Schwarzenegger, who campaigned for Bush's re-election's in 2004, said he couldn't understand the president's threat to veto pending federal legislation that would provide new money for children's health coverage. Bill Ainsworth San Diego Union-Trib weblog — 8/29/07

Sacramento Politics ... After The Budget -- After ending the state's 51-day budget stalemate, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and California's legislators have less than three weeks to confront critical -- but so far largely dormant -- policy issues; they include the Governor's wish list of health care reform, redistricting reform, and water policy. Handling these will make the recently completed budget negotiations seem like the proverbial "walk in the park." Sherry Bebitch Jeffe KNBC.COM -- 8/29/07

FEC levies 3rd largest fine ever on liberal 527 group -- The Federal Election Commission has levied the third largest fine in its 33-year history--$775,000--on a liberal 527 group America Coming Together for violation of federal campaign laws. Andrew Malcolm LA Times Top of Ticket weblog -- 8/29/07

Richard Jewell — the former security guard who was erroneously linked to the 1996 Olympic bombing, died Wednesday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said. Jewell, 44, was found dead in his west Georgia home, GBI spokesman John Bankhead said. HARRY R. WEBER AP — 8/29/07

GOP Senators Says Craig Should Resign — Two Senate Republican colleagues, including John McCain, called Wednesday for Sen. Larry Craig to resign. The White House, too, expressed disappointment in the case of the Idaho Republican caught in a men's room undercover police operation. DAVID ESPO AP — 8/29/07

Bernanke: Looking to Help Homeowners — Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke suggested that policymakers look for ways to encourage a wider range of mortgages geared for low income and other borrowers who have been hard hit by the housing slump and credit crunch. JEANNINE AVERSA AP — 8/29/07

Fresh Spinach From California Recalled — There were no immediate reports of illness linked to the tainted spinach, distributed by Metz Fresh LLC of King City, Calif. The recall comes nearly a year after an outbreak of another pathogen, E. coli, in fresh spinach killed three people and sickened another 200. AP — 8/29/07

Rep. Filner cites frustration, delay in airport altercation — Democratic Rep. Bob Filner said Wednesday he regrets an incident at Dulles airport earlier this month when he allegedly pushed a United Airlines baggage employee, resulting in misdemeanor assault and battery charges. ERICA WERNER AP — 8/29/07

Health care bill hung up on fees — There is no visible change on the issue as the governor holds a summit with top legislators. Aurelio Rojas in the Sacramento Bee — 8/29/07

Record numbers of Californians living without health insurance — A record 6.8 million Californians, nearly 1 in 5 of the state's residents, went without health insurance at some time during 2006, according to figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. Tom Chorneau, Christopher Heredia in the San Francisco Chronicle — 8/29/07

Health care conundrum intensifies — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other political leaders have been telling Californians for the past eight months that the state's health care delivery system is broken. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee — 8/29/07

Democratic fundraiser is a fugitive in plain sight — California authorities have sought businessman Norman Hsu for 15 years. Since 2004, he has carved out a place of honor raising cash for such candidates as Hillary Rodham Clinton. Chuck Neubauer and Robin Fields in the Los Angeles Times — 8/29/07

Prison plan aims to fill 3,200 jobs — A top California corrections official told a legislative hearing Tuesday that the prison system will fill its critical staff shortages within 18 months, but that prediction was met with derision by the president of the state correctional officers' union. Andy Furillo in the Sacramento Bee — 8/29/07

Prison guards: Staph infections up — The union representing state prison guards says dozens of employees at Folsom Prison have tested positive for staph infections this year - including a potentially deadly strain - and the infections are spreading rapidly. Aaron C. Davis AP — 8/29/07

Groups seek U.S. probe of inmate's death — Two civil rights groups have urged the Department of Homeland Security to investigate the death of a transgender inmate at a San Pedro immigration detention center on grounds that the 23-year-old with AIDS was denied vital medical treatment. Greg Krikorian and Francisco Vara-Orta in the Los Angeles Times — 8/29/07

Bill forcing stance on Iraq heading to governor soon — A bill putting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on the spot over the Iraq war is headed his way soon, following Assembly action this week. Steve Geissinger in the Oakland Tribune — 8/29/07

Lives may founder, but yacht sales will flourish — Every time I think Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is starting to get a clue how to lead, he snaps me back to reality. This time it was his boneheaded elimination of a program that saves money, draws raves and helps thousands of poor souls lead productive lives. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times — 8/29/07

Lerach Retires Amid Plea Talks — William Lerach, the high-profile plaintiffs' securities lawyer who long has been a nemesis of corporate America, is retiring this week amid a criminal probe involving him. NATHAN KOPPEL in the Wall Street Journal Carrie Johnson in the Washington Post Bruce V. Bigelow in the San Diego Union-Trib — 8/29/07

'Kid Nation' puts Hollywood labor tension into sharp focus — For 40 days, the children of "Kid Nation" hauled wagons, cooked meals, managed stores and cleaned outhouses, all in the name of building a society in front of reality TV cameras. Were they working? There doesn't seem to be a simple answer. Maria Elena Fernandez in the Los Angeles Times — 8/29/07

L.A. County registrar to retire — Conny McCormack says the recent decision by the secretary of state to decertify several electronic voting machines played into her decision. Hector Becerra in the Los Angeles Times — 8/29/07

Alarcon drops idea that could help wife — Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon said Tuesday he will withdraw a motion that might have benefited his new wife's attempt to develop real estate she owns in Panorama City. Steve Hymon in the Los Angeles Times KERRY CAVANAUGH in the Los Angeles Daily News — 8/29/07

Orange County union seeks to oust Street — Orange County's largest public employees union took the first steps Tuesday toward a recall of embattled county Treasurer Chriss Street, and it urged political parties and other groups to join in the effort. Christian Berthelsen in the Los Angeles Times PEGGY LOWE in the Orange County Register — 8/29/07

Seeking donations, Newsom takes rich on tours of public housing — San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom says he is leading some of the city's wealthiest residents on tours of the city's decrepit public housing developments in the hope they will donate to help rebuild them. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle — 8/29/07

Feinstein, York at lunch: Main course, 49ers plan to move — The temperature could get a little warm at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce's annual 49ers booster luncheon today, as Sen. Dianne Feinstein takes the stage with a call for team owners John and Denise York to keep the Niners in the city. Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle — 8/29/07

Workers' Comp insurer cites progress in housecleaning — The troubled state-backed workers' compensation insurance company sent a status report to lawmakers Tuesday, stressing its "significant progress in getting the organization back on track." Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times Clint Swett in the Sacramento Bee — 8/29/07

Ban on handheld electronic gadgets by teen drivers — A Bay Area state senator who authored legislation last year that requires hands-free devices for motorists using cell phones now wants to ban the use of all handheld communications gadgets by teenagers while they are behind the wheel. Palo Alto Sen. Joe Simitian's latest bill also would ban text messaging, instant messaging or talking on the cell phone with a hands-free device. Matthew Yi in the San Francisco Chronicle Steven Harmon in the Oakland Tribune — 8/29/07

L.A. Latino groups call for consumer boycott — After splintering over a year ago, two Los Angeles immigrant coalitions joined forces Tuesday while calling for a Sept. 12 consumer boycott in favor of immigration reform. Peter Prengaman AP — 8/29/07

Baker slicing production — The maker of Wonder Bread is closing its Southland bakeries amid changing tastes and falling sales. Jerry Hirsch in the Los Angeles Times Jennifer Davies in the San Diego Union-Trib — 8/29/07

L.A.'s getting richer — The city and county of Los Angeles are showing strong signs of improvement after a wrenching recession early this decade, as poverty has begun to decline and median household incomes are on the rise, according to Census Bureau data released Tuesday. BETH BARRETT in the Los Angeles Daily News — 8/29/07

Area, state see incomes grow — not that it shows — After years of making just enough extra cash to keep up with inflation, households across Sacramento and the state saw their incomes rise substantially in 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Tuesday. At the same time, poverty dipped noticeably during 2006, putting the state's poverty rate below the nation's for the first time in two decades, the census figures show. Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee — 8/29/07

San Jose still nation's richest big city — For San Jose and the rest of California, the nation's annual income and poverty report card, delivered Tuesday, carried a dollop of good economic news. Mike Swift in the San Jose Mercury — 8/29/07

Yorba Linda is richest U.S. city — Don't bother counting Beemers and Range Rovers. Don't even look for the priciest houses. America's highest-income city is Yorba Linda. RONALD CAMPBELL in the Orange County Register — 8/29/07

Poverty rate in U.S. drops, but more people uninsured — Good news and bad news as household income rises, but individual earnings fall. Dean Calbreath in the San Diego Union-Trib — 8/29/07

Grim numbers reveal poverty in valley counties — Living in poverty: While poverty edged up only slightly in Stanislaus County, it jumped significantly in Merced County, rising from 18.1 percent in 2005 to 21.5 percent in 2006. Merced joined Kings, Madera and Tulare counties as the most poverty-ridden places in California. Merced County's median family income dropped by 3.6 percent in 2006. Its median $42,867 ended up the lowest of any California county. J.N. SBRANTI in the Modesto Bee Brad Branan in the Fresno Bee — 8/29/07

Legislature does get things done — While Mark Twain's oft-quoted comment about not getting into fights with people who buy ink by the barrel is wise, sometimes a pundit can be so wrong that you have to respond, no matter how much power of the press he has behind them. Editorial Page Editor Jim Boren's recent column calling for abolishing the Legislature is a good example. Fabian Nunez in the Fresno Bee — 8/29/07

Class of '07's SAT scores drop slightly — Officials attribute the California and nationwide declines to the record number of students taking the college admissions exam. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times — 8/29/07

San Francisco students follow trend on drop in SAT scores — San Francisco students, as well as those elsewhere in California and across the nation, scored slightly lower on the 2007 SAT college entrance exam, a decline that testing officials described as neither unexpected nor worrisome. Matthew B. Stannard in the San Francisco Chronicle — 8/29/07

Deal would give L.A. mayor say on some schools — Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and his former adversaries from the Los Angeles Unified School District are expected to announce a partnership today that will provide the mayor with a scaled-back version of the authority he has sought over city schools. Duke Helfand and David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times NAUSH BOGHOSSIAN in the Los Angeles Daily News — 8/29/07

Kids pressured academically and socially, needs some relief — With just days before hundreds of thousands of Los Angeles youngsters head back to school, a growing number of children and parents in the San Fernando Valley and elsewhere are experiencing what psychologists say is a very real problem: back-to-school blues. NAUSH BOGHOSSIAN in the Los Angeles Daily News — 8/29/07

Professor may be Orange County law school's first dean — Erwin Chemerinsky, one of the country's best-known constitutional law experts, is a leading candidate to be the first dean of UC Irvine's Donald Bren School of Law, according to someone involved in the selection process. Garrett Therolf in the Los Angeles Times — 8/29/07

Santa Ana schools to lose more state funds, audit finds — Class-size reduction was improperly implemented in Santa Ana high schools this past school year, according to an audit released Tuesday night. As a result, the audit found, the school district will lose nearly $90,000 in state funds. Seema Mehta in the Los Angeles Times — 8/29/07

Plan to convert Locke High to a charter school clears hurdle — The Los Angeles Board of Education signaled its intent Tuesday to enter an agreement that would make Locke High School the first Los Angeles campus managed by an outside charter-school organization. Howard Blume in the Los Angeles Times — 8/29/07

The test results: Lots of numbers, not much light — When school people talk about educational achievement gaps — generally the difference between whites and Asians and other groups — blacks and Latinos are conventionally mashed together as "poor and minority." But earlier this month, as he was releasing two sets of test scores, state school superintendent Jack O'Connell emphatically rejected the old mush. Peter Schrag in the Sacramento Bee — 8/29/07

CSUS planetarium struggles to take off — Nearly two years after heralding its plans for a planetarium and natural history museum, Sacramento State has missed its hoped-for groundbreaking date and appears seriously behind on fundraising. Carrie Peyton Dahlberg in the Sacramento Bee — 8/29/07

Rules against health plan cancellations are delayed — Eight months after pledging to put the brakes on retroactive cancellations of individual health insurance policies, the state agency that regulates HMOs said Tuesday that new rules were taking longer than anticipated because of the variety of health plans involved. Lisa Girion in the Los Angeles Times Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee — 8/29/07

Homeless, mentally ill face cuts — In the wake of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's sweeping cuts from statewide social services programs, Berkeley city leaders say they may have to shut down programs that offer housing, food and health services to mentally ill people and those who have been chronically homeless. Kristin Bender in the Oakland Tribune — 8/29/07

Nurses threatening to strike at Sutter Health hospitals in Bay Area — Union-represented registered nurses at seven Sutter Health affiliate hospitals in the Bay Area have authorized their contract negotiating teams to call strikes if agreements are not reached. George Raine in the San Francisco Chronicle — 8/29/07

ID regulations hurting Americans — A new federal law now being implemented in California will require nearly 1 million Medi-Cal beneficiaries in Los Angeles County to submit proof of citizenship and identity to obtain or maintain their benefits, officials said Tuesday. TROY ANDERSON in the Los Angeles Daily News — 8/29/07

1st Spare the Air Day means free rides on most transit — The weather will be hot today and the air will be bad, but most public transit rides will be free. It's Spare the Air Day, the first one of the season. Steve Rubenstein in the San Francisco Chronicle Julie Sevrens Lyons in the San Jose Mercury — 8/29/07

Inland residents warned of possible power shortages — The intense summer heat that Inland-area residents are accustomed to has spread to the densely populated coast, leading to extra power consumption as more people turn on their air conditioners, said Gregg Fishman, spokesman for the California Independent System Operator, or ISO, which oversees the power grid supplying about 80 percent of the state with electricity. DAVID RACLIN in the Riverside Press — 8/29/07

Electricity demand highest of summer — Electricity demand in California surged past forecasts yesterday, setting a new peak for the summer and prompting calls for conservation as a heat wave was expected to push demand near record highs today and tomorrow. Aaron C. Davis AP — 8/29/07

$1.43 billion restoration of 36,000 acres of bay wetlands floated in report — The Bay Area needs a bold plan to generate enough money to restore the bay's wetlands and rebuild an ecosystem necessary for a healthy estuary, according to a new report from an environmental group. Jane Kay in the San Francisco Chronicle — 8/29/07

Biodiesel project to get low-cost state funding — A Southern California start-up company will receive $8 million in low-cost funding for a biodiesel plant at the Port of Stockton, the state treasurer's office said Tuesday. Elizabeth Douglass in the Los Angeles Times — 8/29/07

Hollywood 'racetrack' plan gets red-lighted — Their plan was to set up a temporary stock-car racing oval in Hollywood. But it was NASCAR racers and San Bernardino County officials who got the runaround when they sought permission to close streets tonight around the Avalon nightclub and music hall on Vine Street. Bob Pool in the Los Angeles Times — 8/29/07

Berkeley's Pacific Steel foundry emitting toxic metals, group says — A Berkeley steel plant continues to spew toxic levels of manganese, nickel and other metals over residential areas of West Berkeley despite the company's recent steps to reduce emissions, a community group said Tuesday. Carolyn Jones in the San Francisco Chronicle — 8/29/07

Scientists: Trees help, not hinder, levee safety — Though federal officials on Tuesday faced a deluge of evidence that trees do not threaten levees, they continued to tout their own policy that could require every mature tree to be cut down on Sacramento levees. Matt Weiser in the Sacramento Bee — 8/29/07

Panel tackles green-city plan for San Mateo — What do a real estate agent, a Chamber of Commerce president and a Sierra Club activist have in common? They're all on a committee attempting to shape the future of San Mateo as a "green" city. Julia Scott in the San Jose Mercury — 8/29/07

Mussels' invasion spreads — The infestation of a prolific pest called the quagga mussel has spread across San Diego County as water officials scramble to build their defenses. Mike Lee in the San Diego Union-Trib — 8/29/07

L.A. police to stop impounding cars of unlicensed drivers — The Los Angeles Police Department has imposed a moratorium on impounding the vehicles of unlicensed drivers amid concerns that the practice may be unconstitutional, officials said Tuesday. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times RACHEL URANGA in the Los Angeles Daily News — 8/29/07

Yorba Linda woman, 68, dies after being hit by bicyclist — Jung Yun Kim was walking on a trail in Irvine along the San Diego Creek near the intersection of Harvard Avenue and University Drive when she crossed the path of oncoming cyclists at about 8:30 a.m. Monday. She was hit by a 46-year-old bicyclist from Huntington Beach, according to Irvine police Lt. Rick Handfield. William Heisel in the Los Angeles Times SONYA SMITH in the Orange County Register — 8/29/07

After drills are done, they sing — Far from their South Pacific island homeland, members of the Tonga Defence Services are training here for hazardous duty in Iraq. Long days are spent doing exercises designed to help them in the uncertain days ahead. There's live-fire weapons training. Hand-to-hand combat. Singing. Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times — 8/29/07

Lotto fever isn't what it used to be — Sure, there was a buzz yesterday. Sure, people dreamed. Sure, people blacked out their favorite numbers – birthdays and anniversaries – hoping for luck to strike.The chance to win a cool $250 million, though, didn't seem to draw the crazed stampede of wannabe Trumps that it has in the past. In 1984, a then-record $40 million jackpot in Illinois actually caused people to fly in from overseas to take a stab at it. Michael Stetz in the San Diego Union-Trib — 8/29/07

Call him 'Rose Man' — For Mayrant "Mac" McKeown, roses were the way to a woman's heart — one at a time, month after month, year after year. For a simple act of kindness, giving each female legislator a monthly rose for two decades, never seeking anything in return, McKeown received honors Tuesday that seldom are accorded even the state's riches and most powerful. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee — 8/29/07