'Conscience' rule for doctors may spark abortion controversy -- The Bush administration plans a 'right of conscience' rule allowing healthcare workers to refuse procedures they object to. Critics say it could apply to artificial insemination and birth control. David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

Gasoline is cheap, but we're still saving it -- Habits acquired when gas was more than $4 a gallon are still with us, held fast by job insecurity and the belief that prices will rise again. Ronald D. White in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

New Legislature sworn in -- A new Legislature was sworn in today braced to face old problems, principally a yawning budget deficit that has proven politically unsolvable. Dan Smith in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/1/08

American Musical Theatre of San Jose closes down -- The curtain fell Monday on one of the South Bay's longest-running cultural institutions, as American Musical Theatre of San Jose announced it was ceasing operations and filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Shay Quillen in the San Jose Mercury -- 12/1/08

Federal jury clears Chevron in Nigerian shootings -- federal jury in San Francisco cleared Chevron Corp. of wrongdoing Monday in the shootings of Nigerian villagers who occupied an offshore barge in 1998 to protest the company's hiring and environmental policies. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/1/08

McClintock declares victory in 4th CD -- But as the veteran lawmaker and conservative lion asserted he has defeated Brown and turned back a "liberal wave that swept over America and lapped at the edge of this district," Brown refused to concede until "every voice is heard." Peter Hecht in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/1/08

Schwarzenegger declares fiscal emergency -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday declared a fiscal emergency and called lawmakers into a special session to address California's $11.2 billion budget deficit. JULIET WILLIAMS AP Jordan Rau and Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury -- 12/1/08

Bush: 'I Did Not Compromise My Principles' -- Looking back on his eight years in the White House, President George W. Bush pinpointed incorrect intelligence that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction as "biggest regret of all the presidency." LAUREN SHER ABC News -- 12/1/08

SEIU: 'Yes we can' raise taxes -- With a new crop of state lawmakers being sworn in later today, the state council of one of California's biggest unions has launched an ad campaign featuring President-elect Barack Obama and urged new revenues to balance the state budget. Shane Goldmacher SacBee Capitol Alert -- 12/1/08

Prop. 11 won by not talking about redistricting -- The sixth time became the charm for redistricting reform when supporters of Prop. 11 realized that while voters don't care much about the inside baseball intricacies of redrawing California's political boundaries, they really, really don't like the crowd in the state Legislature. John Wildermuth Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 12/1/08

Let’s Do The (Budget) Time Warp Again -- Welcome back, Legislature. Man, don't we all feel rested? Per the state constitution, today marks the convening of a brand new two-year session of the California Legislature, where more than two dozen rookies join seasoned vets under the Capitol dome for work on... what else... a budget crisis. John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 12/1/08

214 legislative staffers get pay hikes despite deficit -- More than 200 legislative staff members have received pay increases during this year of multibillion-dollar deficits, program cuts and the longest budget standoff in state history. The Legislature did not award across-the-board pay hikes, but 179 Assembly and at least 35 Senate aides quietly received raises, a comparison of first- and fourth-quarter rosters shows. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/1/08

Welcome to Sacramento, and good luck -- A new two-year session of the California Legislature will be gaveled in today, with lawmakers facing one of the worst budget crises in state history and a sinking economy that will limit their ability to enact new programs. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

Legislative lessons -- The 2009-10 version of the California Legislature convenes today, with a bunch of new members set to take over for the class of 2007-08. They'll have some, uh, interesting shoes to fill. - Like the assemblywoman whom Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger described as "hot," and who returned the compliment by saying she wouldn't kick the governor out of bed. Steve Wiegand in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/1/08

For departing Sen. Migden, 'a bittersweet time' -- Early in her career in Sacramento, Carole Migden was a rising politician. As an assemblywoman more than a decade ago, her name came up in conversations about who would be the next speaker of the Assembly. Wyatt Buchanan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/1/08

Tom Ammiano takes his priorities to Sacramento -- Tom Ammiano left San Francisco City Hall last week after serving 14 years on the Board of Supervisors, leaving a legislative legacy that helped define the city's influential imprint in the areas of health care, domestic partners benefits and the living wage movement. Rachel Gordon in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/1/08

Walters: Schwazenegger plan splits education coalition -- It got almost no media attention at the time, but when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled an array of new taxes and spending cuts to deal with a severe budget crisis, he also proposed a revolution in how schools are financed. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/1/08

Villaraigosa finds many Obama ties -- So, it turns out there are even more connections between Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama. Villaraigosa was a prominent supporter of the presidential campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton but was quick to pivot toward Obama after her campaign ended. Rick Orlov in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 12/1/08

Baca pushes immigration reform -- Buoyed by the election of Barack Obama and a larger Democratic majority in Congress, Latino political and community leaders say the time is right to push for a major overhaul of immigration laws. Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, said immigration reform will be "one of our top priorities" after Obama takes office Jan. 20. Stephen Wall in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 12/1/08

Dems pressed on immigration laws -- With more Democrats in Congress next year and a Democrat in the White House, immigration rights groups are gearing up to again urge lawmakers to overhaul the nation's immigration laws. DEBORAH BARFIELD BERRY in the Desert Sun -- 12/1/08

Bay Area sees deals on homes for under $100,000 -- Realtor Gina Foronda no sooner listed the four-bedroom San Pablo home for sale than the offers started rolling in. Within three days, she had seven bids, the top one for 18 percent over the asking price. It sounds like the frenzied height of the real estate bubble. But this property has a jaw-dropping feature that would have seemed preposterous two years ago. Its list price? A mere $95,000. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/1/08

Government coffers feel drop in auto sales -- When Heritage Lincoln Mercury closed in August, the city of Tustin felt the pain. For decades, the dealership had operated out of the Tustin Auto Center -- which has 17 other franchises -- and it was once among the largest Lincoln Mercury dealers in California. Ken Bensinger in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

Exec denies report of Yahoo-Microsoft talks -- An article that appeared Sunday in the Times of London stating that Microsoft has restarted talks to buy Yahoo's search business for $20 billion "has no basis in fact," according to an executive familiar with the matter. Verne Kopytoff in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/1/08

New tax rules add to anxiety for small businesses -- Small-business owners are having a tough time trying to figure out the best year-end tax strategies for 2008 as the global financial meltdown turns conventional planning wisdom on its head. Cyndia Zwahlen in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

A wealth of ideas for Obama's stimulus program -- The next president has yet to offer details of his plan. Its size and scope, and how he'll address housing and the auto industry, are up for debate. Michael A. Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

Black Friday sales gain seen as a one-time gift -- More shoppers visit stores and websites than last year, but experts doubt it's a turnaround for beleaguered retailers. Andrea Chang in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

Foreclosure aid on its way -- Neighborhoods pummeled by the subprime mortgage debacle will start seeing a few new folks moving into foreclosed homes with help from federal funding on its way to San Joaquin County. Zachary K. Johnson in the Stockton Record -- 12/1/08

Chevron Case Weighs Extent of Overseas Liability -- A bloody protest by Nigerian villagers against Chevron Corp. in 1998 has led to a closely watched federal lawsuit that could have a far-reaching impact on how multinational companies conduct business overseas. RUSSELL GOLD in the Wall Street Journal -- 12/1/08

Students stressing out over enrollment cuts in state university system -- A succession of bad news over the past two weeks has turned the college plans of California high school seniors upside down. The Community College League of California announced that proposed state budget cuts at community colleges could drive away 262,000 students. Walter Yost in the Modesto Bee -- 12/1/08

Chaminade students learn to fight intolerance -- Nine years ago, Julie La Belle counseled distraught students at Columbine. Now at Chaminade College Preparatory, she is trying to help the West Hills students build trust. Corina Knoll in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

Educators, academics hopeful Obama administration will make changes to NCLB -- One of President-elect Barack Obama's big challenges next year will be to restructure the No Child Left Behind Act, a bipartisan effort launched six years ago as a way to improve America's struggling public schools. Kimberly S. Wetzel in the Oakland Tribune -- 12/1/08

State panel floats 'litter tax' to curb debris along coast -- The influential California Ocean Protection Council has proposed an attack on everyday threats to sea life, including a ban on some popular take-out food containers and fees on plastic and paper bags. Michael Gardner and Mike Lee in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 12/1/08

Unemployment slows BART ridership gains, officials say -- The poor economy is taking a toll on another part of everyday life in the Bay Area: ridership on BART. Ridership growth is slowing on the transit system in a trend BART managers say is caused more by rising unemployment than by declining gas prices. Denis Cuff in the Contra Costa Times -- 12/1/08

Global warming fueling hotter Western fires -- Wildfire has marched across the West for centuries. But no longer are major conflagrations fueled simply by heavy brush and timber. Now climate change is stoking the flames higher and hotter, too. Tom Knudson in the Fresno Bee -- 12/1/08

Northstar, Heavenly rate low for environment -- Northstar and Heavenly have received the lowest grades for their environmental practices among Lake Tahoe ski resorts in a coalition's annual scorecard. AP -- 12/1/08

Lively look, right up the alley -- Undaunted by possible "Not in My Backyard" objections, a new development group proposes to build condominiums behind hundreds of homes in Sacramento's central city. Mary Lynne Vellinga in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/1/08

The spotted owl disappearing act -- The number of spotted owls in the Pacific Northwest is dwindling. Some experts think an aggressive owl cousin, not logging, is to blame. Kim Murphy in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

Home designed for healing sows discord in Encinitas -- With its yogis, “surfer crossing” street signs and New Age shops, Encinitas draws dreamers who want to try something new – just as long as it doesn't upset the neighbors. Tanya Mannes in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 12/1/08

Consensus emerging on universal healthcare -- The prospect of bold government action appears to be accepted among players across the ideological and political spectrum, including those who opposed the idea in the 1990s. Noam N. Levey in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

San Francisco AIDS Ward 86 - 25 years of saving lives -- In the corridors of Ward 86, he's known as Patient Zero - the man willing to subject himself to any new medical trial that might help solve the riddle of HIV. Elizabeth Fernandez in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/1/08

AIDS still takes toll in L.A. County -- Events marking World AIDS Day across Los Angeles County today will vary in focus, from celebrating advances in medicine that keep people alive longer to observing the global toll of a disease that is still a death sentence in too many countries. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 12/1/08

Few consult online health care ratings, studies say -- When it comes to finding the best health care providers, people still rely more on opinions of friends and family than Internet research. LORA HINES in the Riverside Press -- 12/1/08

Newsom expounds on State of the City on YouTube -- Forget the auditorium, the podium and the audience of supervisors, department heads, journalists and political gadflies. Forget the hourlong running time, too. Heather Knight in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/1/08

Richmond mulls how to spend Measure T windfall -- After Richmond voters approved a citizens initiative last month that requires the Chevron refinery to pay a business license fee estimated at $26.5 million a year, officials of the financially strapped city are figuring out how to implement the new tax and what to spend the windfall on. Charles Burress in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/1/08

Local FBI chief rebuilds trust with Muslim leaders -- For months, Sacramento's top FBI agent kept a Muslim prayer rug in his office. It was for Imam Mohamed Abdul Azeez, religious leader of the SALAM Islamic Center in Sacramento, who attended a citizens' academy with Drew Parenti at the FBI office. Stephen Magagnini in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/1/08

L.A. Chabad mourns couple slain in Mumbai -- About 1,000 people gather in Westwood for a memorial. Plans are made to transfer the Holtzbergs' 2-year-old son to Israel. Jason Song and Ted Rohrlich in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

Bishop hands over shepherd's staff -- In a ceremony rich with tradition, Bishop William Weigand handed his shepherd's staff to his successor and the new bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento, Jaime Soto. Jennifer Garza in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/1/08

Solace, for some, is set in stone -- The few monuments to victims of clergy sex abuse that exist -- including a 'healing garden' in Oakland and an engraved millstone in Iowa -- unsettle victims and Catholic officials alike. Maria L. La Ganga and Duke Helfand in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

Elephant exhibit underway at L.A. Zoo raising a ruckus -- A city councilman and animal welfare advocates worry the 3.6-acre 'Pachyderm Forest' won't provide enough space and are concerned about overall care. Zoo officials say they're mimicking the wild. Carla Hall in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

Gilberto Bosques Saldívar, the 'Mexican Schindler,' is honored by the Anti-Defamation League -- The non-Jewish diplomat in France saved tens of thousands during the Holocaust and spent a year as a Nazi captive. Ari B. Bloomekatz in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

Martinez: UC Davis columnist arouses anger of gun rights supporters -- Ready, aim, threaten! Danielle Ramirez is a bright, pretty 20-year-old who has managed with a few hundred words to arouse gun advocates to a degree of unified rage not unlike the loathing Jane Fonda might receive sauntering into a meeting of the VFW. Al Martinez in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/1/08

Jews, Indians in San Francisco protest terrorism -- For hundreds of people who attended a vigil in downtown San Francisco on Sunday, there was a collective sense of sadness and outrage at the three-day terror spree that left scores dead in the Indian city of Mumbai. But for Rabbi Peretz Mochkin, there was something else. Julian Guthrie in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/1/08

More than 30 killed this weekend in Tijuana -- The decapitated bodies of three police officers were found alongside six other beheaded corpses Sunday during a weekend of violence in which 34 people were killed in different sections of Tijuana. Sandra Dibble in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 12/1/08