Uh-Oh -- There’d better be a lot of misplaced or unopened envelopes at the Franchise Tax Board, if California hopes to reach the $8.9 billion in personal income taxes it expects to collect by the end of the month. Greg Lucas California's capitol weblog -- 4/28/09

That didn't take long: Swine flu renamed "killer Mexican flu" by group urging border closed -- We bring you the release from Randy Thomassen, of the alarmingly titled SaveCalifornia.com, who has used the term today in his missive urging Barack Obama to "Close the border, Mr. President!" Carla Marinucci Carla Marinucci -- 4/28/09

State lawmakers' pay, already tops in the nation, could go up -- California's top elected officials could get approved for pay raises when the California Citizens Compensation Committee meets Wednesday in Sacramento. Wyatt Buchanan Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 4/28/09

CalPERS stands up against Bank of America management -- Pension fund says it will vote to oust all 18 directors. The symbolic move could unite other shareholders upset about BofA's takeover of Merrill Lynch. Tom Petruno in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/28/09

Waste and spending abuses that may shock even a state worker -- State Auditor Elaine Howle today released a copy of her semiannual report to the Legislature that describes in agonizing detail the results of her investigations into waste and spending abuses by state employees. Andrew McIntosh in the Sacramento Bee John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 4/28/09

Orange County representatives trade jabs over Specter defection -- Rep. John Campbell, R-Newport Beach, was among those caught off guard this morning by Sen. Arlen Specter’s decision to leave the Republican Party and join the Democrats. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 4/28/09

Angelides may run for Congress -- The Target Book said that former state Treasurer Phil Angelides, the 2006 Democratic nominee for governor, is taking a serious look at running against Rep. Dan Lungren of Gold River next year. Lungren was the Republican nominee for governor in 1998 when he was state attorney general. John Marelius San Diego Union-Trib weblog -- 4/28/09

Rep. Linda Sanchez marries, with baby on the way -- Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., has made it official. She was married April 13 in Hartford, Conn., to Jim Sullivan, a 43-year-old consultant. AP -- 4/28/09

Schwarzenegger praises Obama -- They may be in different political parties, but Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger had nothing but praise today for President Barack Obama's first 100 days in office. Susan Ferriss SacBee Capitol Alert -- 4/28/09

D.C. bigwigs courting Van Tran for Congress -- Assemblyman Van Tran, R-Westminster, is practically getting the flowers-and-champagne treatment from Washington politicos who want the popular Vietnamese-American official to challenge Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Garden Grove. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 4/28/09

Yesterday, arrested. Today, at the White House -- Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chairwoman Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, fresh from incurring arrest with civil disobedience outside the Sudanese Embassy yesterday, today led her caucus in meeting with President Obama at the White House on topics including healthcare reform and the upcoming supplemental appropriations request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog -- 4/28/09

Republican Arlen Specter switching to Democratic Party -- The moderate Pennsylvania senator says the GOP 'has moved far to the right.' The move means that Democrats will likely be able to block any Senate filibuster. Mark Silva in the Los Angeles Times Carolyn Lochhead Chronicle Politics Weblog DAVID ESPO, AP -- 4/28/09

Governor Gray Davis' sage words of advice to Dems on Arlen Specter -- Former California Gov. Gray Davis had some very seasoned -- and reasoned -- words of caution this morning to his Democratic compatriots who are going ga-ga over the news that Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter is switching parties from GOP to Democratic. Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 4/28/09

Analysis: Specter defection shrinks GOP's reach -- With Sen. Arlen Specter's switch to the Democrats, the Republican Party is in serious danger of being viewed as strictly Southern and solidly conservative, an identity that might take years to overcome. CHARLES BABINGTON AP -- 4/28/09

Schwarzenegger declares emergency over swine flu -- Schwarzenegger's proclamation sets in motion a series of administrative actions, including ordering all agencies to coordinate with public health officials as needed, the suspension of competitive bidding for contracts needed to respond to the outbreak and waiving certification requirements for laboratories involved in the testing. AP Loretta Kalb, Laurel Rosenhall and Niesha Lofing in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/28/09

2 swine flu cases confirmed in Marin -- The Bay Area's first confirmed cases of swine flu have been identified in Marin County, health officials there said today. Matthew B. Stannard in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/28/09

Protesters disrupt foreclosure auctions on courthouse steps -- A large crowd of protesters disrupted several foreclosure auctions today on the Sacramento County Courthouse steps, winning temporary cancellation of one Sacramento foreclosure and sending an auctioneer to the hospital with chest pains. Jim Wasserman in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/28/09

Former eBay chief faces skeptical tech leaders -- Former eBay chief executive Meg Whitman returned to Silicon Valley as a potential candidate for governor on Monday, facing a roomful of business leaders who appeared skeptical that anyone — even one of their own — could cut through California's political gridlock. JULIET WILLIAMS AP -- 4/28/09

Walters: Proposition 13 limits return to the agenda -- The state's perpetual budget crisis and the appointment of a commission to recommend changes in the state-local tax system have re-ignited a debate over property taxes that seemingly ended 31 years ago with passage of Proposition 13. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/28/09

Waste Board not trashed; guv down in dumps -- Faced with a choice of saving between $2 million and $3 million a year, or preserving a potential and lucrative post-legislative retirement haven, Democratic lawmakers in both houses rejected bills today that would have abolished the state's Integrated Waste Management Board. Steve Wiegand SacBee Capitol Alert Matthew Yi Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 4/28/09

Like week-old beer, alcohol tax falls flat -- Talk about a buzz kill. A week after state Assemblyman Jim Beall served up a bill to slap a dime-a-drink fee on alcoholic beverages, the San Jose Democrat withdrew the proposal Monday, citing a lack of support. Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/28/09

CalBuzz: Taxes and Torture: Boxer's Profiles in Courage (and Cowardice) -- U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer made sure everyone at the Democratic state convention understood that she's really, really pleased about her own special brand of political courage. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 4/28/09

Ad Watch: Proposition backers target voters' anger over budget -- A committee backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger launched its first television ad Wednesday in support of the propositions on the May 19 special election ballot, just as the counties began sending out mail ballots to voters. Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/28/09

Prop. 1F would bar raises if state has deficit -- The most popular measure of the upcoming special election is the one that, if it passes, will probably have the smallest impact on the state budget shortfall that prompted the May 19 election. Wyatt Buchanan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/28/09

Proposition 1C changes lottery and more -- Like the lottery games it promises to change, Proposition 1C looks to be a bit of a gamble. James P. Sweeney in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 4/28/09

Scolding and a stiff sentence for Carona -- A federal judge lectures the former Orange County sheriff about honesty and hands down a 51/2-year prison sentence for witness tampering. Christine Hanley in the Los Angeles Times RACHANEE SRISAVASDI, LARRY WELBORN, JON CASSIDY and DOUG IRVING in the Orange County Register -- 4/28/09

Industry analysts downgrade Wells Fargo rating -- Two industry analysts downgraded their ratings on Wells Fargo & Co. in recent days, citing the San Francisco bank's stretched capital position and exposed home loan portfolio. James Temple in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/28/09

‘Knott’ for sale -- Cedar Fair Entertainment Co., which owns Knott’s Berry Farm, recently hired Merrill Lynch & Co. to help it sell four parks it owns in the United States and Canada and other assets. Michael Mello in the Orange County Register -- 4/28/09

California posts 2.2 percent monthly gain in its median home price -- After more than a year and a half of declines, California's median home price finally managed a meager gain, rising 2.2 percent in March to $253,040 compared with $247,590 the previous month. Kevin Smith in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 4/28/09

Goodbye, Countrywide; hello, BofA Home Loans -- Countrywide is history. Charlotte, N.C.-based Bank of America announced Monday that it has retired the name of its image-challenged subsidiary acquired last July 1. Jim Wasserman in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/28/09

Sacramento County looking at 1,000-plus job cuts to erase $187 million deficit -- Sacramento County is considering whether to cut well over 1,000 positions to close a projected $187 million general fund shortfall in the fiscal year starting July 1. Robert Lewis in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/28/09

State lets Prosper.com resume raising money -- California financial regulators have allowed Prosper.com to get back into the business of raising and lending small sums of money over the Internet just five months after the federal Securities and Exchange Commission made the San Francisco startup stop. Tom Abate in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/28/09

West Sacramento firm to invest millions in startups, move HQ to Los Angeles -- DFJ Frontier, the West Sacramento-based early stage venture capital firm, will invest more than $55 million in a wide-ranging palette of startups in areas including media, life sciences and clean technology. The company also said it will move its headquarters to Los Angeles. Darrell Smith in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/28/09

Bankruptcies soaring as tech workers join ranks of unemployed -- A growing number of high-tech professionals are filing for bankruptcy, joining real estate, finance and construction workers who were in the first wave of bankruptcies last year. Pete Carey in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/28/09

CalPERS moves to beef up disclosure rules for outside marketers -- The huge public pension fund may require investment companies that it does business with to disclose fees paid to placement agents. Marc Lifsher and David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/28/09

100 days: the test of a leader or a journalistic 'Hallmark holiday'? -- The White House says it is 'playing along' with the fascination over the benchmark, but it is also trying to deflate expectations. Peter Nicholas and Christi Parsons in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/28/09

Swine flu has many L.A. immigrants reconsidering Mexico travel plans -- Many Southern California residents who have family or business interests in Mexico are canceling their trips, while others stock up on surgical masks and sanitizers before hopping on the plane. Hector Becerra in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/28/09

Recycled-water reservoir idea pushed -- Being green doesn't come cheap, but El Dorado Irrigation District officials were urged Monday not to let costs derail plans to expand the district's recycled-water system. Cathy Locke in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/28/09

San Francisco aims to close Mirant power plant -- In an apparent effort to shut down the city's remaining large power plant, San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed a lawsuit Monday claiming that the plant's owner has failed to comply with laws requiring that brick buildings be retrofitted. Robert Selna in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/28/09

Preservationists, developer square off over Century Plaza Hotel -- The owners plan to demolish the Century City hotel and replace it with a $2-billion commercial and residential complex. The Los Angeles Conservancy wants to save it. Martha Groves in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/28/09

Tobar: Tough work, if you can get it -- The pay is lower and the jobs are fewer, but the pool of laborers looking for work at sanctioned locations grows larger. Hector Tobar in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/28/09

State's swine flu cases grow to 13 -- Even as the number of confirmed cases of swine flu more than doubled to 50 in the United States and the federal government increased safety protocols to prevent spread of the disease, Bay Area public health officials advised residents today to stay calm. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/28/09

Borders Are Tightened as Flu Cases Rise -- Countries around the world began tightening their border and immigration controls Tuesday as the number of confirmed cases of swine flu continued to rise. DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. in the New York Times -- 4/28/09

Swine flu has many L.A. immigrants reconsidering Mexico travel plans -- Many Southern California residents who have family or business interests in Mexico are canceling their trips, while others stock up on surgical masks and sanitizers before hopping on the plane. Hector Becerra in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/28/09

Lawmaker's 2nd try to rein in health care costs -- Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, wants to curb the practice of unregulated rate increases through legislation that would require the state's two health insurance regulators - the Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance - to approve health plan increases in premium, co-payment, deductible or other charges. Victoria Colliver in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/28/09

SEC sues Irvine financier Danny Pang -- The agency, accusing him of swindling investors of hundreds of millions of dollars, obtains a court order freezing his assets and directing him to surrender his passports. His lawyer vows to fight. Stuart Pfeifer in the Los Angeles Times KARA SCANNELL and MARK MAREMONT in the Wall Street Journal -- 4/28/09

FAA urged to do more to bolster California air traffic controller ranks -- A U.S. Department of Transportation audit says the FAA needs to strengthen its efforts to retain experienced and hire new controllers at LAX and two California tracking centers. Dan Weikel in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/28/09

Court upholds $2.3 million award to worker -- A state appeals court has upheld $2.34 million in damages to a San Francisco bakery driver who said she was fired because she got pregnant. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 4/28/09

L.A. budget panel says Villaraigosa plan lacks specifics -- The LAPD would be allowed to grow to 10,000 officers this year but every other Los Angeles department would have to freeze hiring while a two-tiered system for pensions and other benefits is studied, a city panel was told Monday. Rick Orlov in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 4/28/09

FBI monitored members of Orange County mosques at gyms, alleged informant says -- Craig Monteilh alleges he was instructed to pose as a Muslim convert, lure mosque members to gyms, work out with them and report to the FBI. Scott Glover in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/28/09