Administration: Accounting change = more school cuts -- Schwarzenegger administration officials explained Friday why they believe they can cut three times as much from schools than previously thought. Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/15/09

False report on Proposition 8 being overturned lights up Twitter -- The Twitter world has been abuzz today over a false report that the California Supreme Court had overturned Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban on gay marriage. Shelby Grad in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

Ex-sheriff must serve prison time starting July 24, judge rules -- U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Guilford has just denied ex-Sheriff Mike Carona’s motion to remain free pending appeal. Rachanee Srisavasdi in the Orange County Register -- 5/15/09

How cities would fare under governor’s borrowing plan -- It’s safe to say city and county officials are not too happy about Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to borrow $2 billion from local governments if the May 19 ballot measures fail. BRIAN JOSEPH in the Orange County Register -- 5/15/09

What the Next Budget is Actually Going to Contain -- A common complaint about media coverage of the state budget, the most important annual public policy action taken by lawmakers and the governor, is that far more attention is paid to what the governor proposes than what actually is enacted. Greg Lucas California's capitol weblog -- 5/15/09

State GOP money went to fund ballot measures -- Although the party opposes Tuesday's propositions, it gave proponent Schwarzenegger $650,000. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 5/15/09

Ex Oakland official nominated as U.S. Treasurer -- President Barack Obama today nominated Rosa “Rosie” Gumatao Rios, a former economic development official for Oakland, Fremont, San Leandro and Union City, to serve as U.S. Treasurer. Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 5/15/09

Recall drive certified against Schwarzenegger -- again -- A group called Taxpayers United to Recall Governor Schwarzenegger -- headed by John D. Fusek of La Habra -- now has until Oct. 22 to obtain 1,041,530 valid voter signatures, or 12 percent of the electorate, to qualify the measure for the ballot. Peter Hecht SacBee Capitol Alert

California voter rolls decline heading into special election -- For whatever reason, the number of registered voters in California has fallen from a record 17.3 million for last November's presidential election to 17.1 million heading into Tuesday's special election. Peter Hecht SacBee Capitol Alert -- 5/15/09

Podcast: Storm Front -- Batten down those hatches, the wind's picking up and it's looking ominous. Yes, special election day is almost upon us. John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 5/15/09

L.A. schools disrupted by sit-ins, sick-ins and walkouts -- Schools throughout Los Angeles were disrupted today as thousands of teachers called in sick and hundreds of high school students walked out of classrooms to protest possible teacher layoffs at the nation's second-largest school district. Howard Blume, Jason Song, Ruben Vives and Amanda Covarrubias in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

Police union: El Monte officer justified in kicking suspect in the head -- The kick to the head delivered by an El Monte police officer to a car-chase suspect laying on the ground at the end of a televised high-speed pursuit was a legally justified “distraction blow," an attorney for the police union said today. Richard Winton in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

Schwarzenegger outlines drastic budget cuts -- The governor would slash $3 billion from schools, lay off 5,000 workers and sell state property, even if voters approve ballot measures next week. Michael Rothfeld in the Los Angeles Times Matthew Yi, John Wildermuth, Wyatt Buchanan in the San Francisco Chronicle Kevin Yamamura and Steve Wiegand in the Sacramento Bee BRIAN JOSEPH in the Orange County Register Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury JIM MILLER in the Riverside Press Michael Gardner in the San Diego Union-Trib E.J. Schultz in the Fresno Bee NICHOLAS CASEY and STU WOO in the Wall Street Journal Andrew Edwards in the San Bernardino Sun -- 5/15/09

California's bleak budget options -- Two sets of plans to deal with the state's financial troubles would force deep spending cuts for education, healthcare, social services, law enforcement and local governments. The item is in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

California state workers outraged at possible layoffs -- State workers were outraged and anxious on Tuesday after learning that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to lay off 5,000 of them in the coming weeks. Jon Ortiz in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/15/09

California state worker layoffs would hurt Sacramento -- State layoffs and spending cuts would take more dollars out of an economy already starving for cash – and weaken what had been one of the pillars of Sacramento. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/15/09

Meg Whitman says she'd cut 30,000 state workers -- Meg Whitman, who became a billionaire while helping eBay grow to 346 million users, called Thursday for sharply shrinking California's work force by laying off more than 30,000 state employees. Peter Hecht in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/15/09

Walters: Scare tactics or the day of reckoning? -- Has California's day of fiscal reckoning, postponed for years by political tricks and hide-the-pea financial schemes, finally arrived? Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/15/09

And Now, We Wait -- The question now: will the hole be almost twice as deep come Wednesday, after the voters weigh in? For that answer, we'll have to wait. John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 5/15/09

$4.3 million raised to fight California ballot measures -- Millions of dollars have been raised to fight the linchpin of ballot measures in Tuesday's election, a package that was carefully crafted to discourage big-bucks opposition. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/15/09

Questions surround plan to sell San Quentin prison -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposal to sell California's oldest and best known prison comes after the state has spent millions of dollars to upgrade it and with no firm alternative for housing its inmates. DON THOMPSON AP -- 5/15/09

Proposed sale of county fairgrounds a tough sell in Costa Mesa -- City officials say they won't change zoning just to help governor raise cash for state. NORBERTO SANTANA Jr. and BRIAN JOSEPH in the Orange County Register -- 5/15/09

NBA still wants a shot at Cal Expo -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's announcement this week that he wants to sell Cal Expo is unlikely to end efforts to build a Sacramento Kings arena and new state fairgrounds on the site. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/15/09

Fighting U.K. ban, radio host and Clinton critic Savage seeks help - from Clinton -- In an unexpected twist, sharp-tongued, conservative talk-show host Michael Savage, who in the past savaged Hillary Clinton as a "dangerous human being" and "fraudulent huckster," has asked for help after being banned in Britain - from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 5/15/09

State lawmakers pass bills despite budget woes -- As budget doom and gloom grips the state Capitol, legislators are going about the regular business of passing new laws. Wyatt Buchanan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/15/09

'Libel tourism' bill passes state Senate -- Legislation designed to thwart "libel tourism" - the practice of trying to silence one's critics by suing them in England, where defamation is easier to prove than in the United States - cleared the state Senate without a dissenting vote today. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/15/09

Roberts and Trounstine: Fishwrap: CA Firesale, Chinese Wine & Cheese, Central Coast Fratricide -- Governor Arnold says California should sell off some of its iconic real estate assets like San Quentin, the Cow Palace and the Los Angeles Coliseum, to help balance the budget. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 5/15/09

Chrysler to dump a quarter of its dealers, 32 in California -- Bankruptcy allows the automaker to end contracts with 789 of its nearly 3,200 dealerships, threatening tens of thousands of jobs. GM is expected to drop the ax on 1,200 franchises Friday. Ken Bensinger in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

New state cuts could cost Kern $29 million -- Kern County budget watchers shuddered Thursday to hear Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan for cutting services to fill an ever-ballooning state budget deficit of at least $15 billion. JAMES BURGER in the Bakersfield Californian -- 5/15/09

State Farm to lower auto insurance rates in California -- About 3.3 million California customers will see their premiums fall. In the Los Angeles area, the reduction will average $75 a year. Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

Orange County faces $8 million loss on risky security; treasurer hangs on -- Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Chriss Street is holding onto a troubled security that other investors dumped at a steep discount. RONALD CAMPBELL in the Orange County Register -- 5/15/09

It's $54 Million. No, Wait, $60 Million. ... OK, OK, Maybe More -- The city of San Diego's budget shortfall, first pegged at $54 million, now will be at least $70 million, and likely higher. RANI GUPTA Voiceofsandiego.org -- 5/15/09

Sacramento region mortgage delinquencies on the rise -- An estimated 8.5 percent of mortgages in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties were 90 days or more delinquent as March ended, First American CoreLogic reported Thursday. Jim Wasserman in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/15/09

First-time buyers reap reward of median price in Sacramento County -- For all the pain and trouble associated with this housing bust, one thing is clear: It's getting better and better for first-time buyers. Jim Wasserman in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/15/09

Boeing C-17 poised to survive political turbulence -- Lawmakers are unlikely to heed Obama's wishes to cut funding for the military aircraft program for one key reason: the deal sustains jobs in 43 states. Richard Simon and Peter Pae in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

Peeved at Auto-Warranty Calls, a Web Posse Strikes Back -- The recipient of their efforts is David Tabb, the 42-year-old president of Auto One, an Irvine, Calif., warranty company with 60 employees. GEOFFREY A. FOWLER in the Wall Street Journal -- 5/15/09

How owners of Chrysler, GM vehicles could be affected -- With car dealerships closing, drivers could run into some contractual and practical problems. Here are some obstacles they might face. Martin Zimmerman in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

Gottschalks closure hurts charities -- As Gottschalks prepares to close its doors, the Valley isn't just losing a retail icon -- it's also losing a major supporter of local charities. Bethany Clough in the Fresno Bee -- 5/15/09

San Francisco union rejects agreement - layoffs imminent -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom on Thursday said layoffs of hundreds of union members will begin immediately and demanded millions more in cuts from his departments following the rejection of contract concessions by the city's biggest union. Heather Knight, Marisa Lagos in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/15/09

Obama Urges Action On Credit Card Rules -- President Obama on Thursday declared that "enough's enough" when it comes to high credit card fees and sudden interest rate hikes and called on Congress to immediately protect consumers from abusive practices by credit card companies. Michael D. Shear and Nancy Trejos in the Washington Post -- 5/15/09

First lady's speech helps put Merced on the map -- First lady Michelle Obama's commencement speech at UC Merced on Saturday is the biggest thing to happen in this sleepy Central Valley city since, well, ever. Kevin Fagan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/15/09

Some L.A. teachers may defy restraining order -- Although a judge has barred a strike, they plan to engage in civil disobedience at the district headquarters to protest potential budget cuts. Jason Song in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

Santa Ana College students mobilize to save summer school -- They are seeking donations and selling hot dogs to restore at least some of the more than 100 courses that have been cut because of a shrinking budget. So far enough has been raised to keep one class. Tony Barboza in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

South Bay schools reap federal stimulus funds — and face losing more in state funds -- Just in time, Uncle Sam has opened a fat wallet to financially flailing school districts. Sharon Noguchi in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/15/09

Bay Area lawmakers push water recycling bill -- Nine Bay Area House members united Thursday to introduce a bill that would boost the region's water-recycling efforts, which they say would stimulate the economy while reducing demand for limited fresh water supplies. Josh Richman in the Contra Costa Times -- 5/15/09

Santa Monica jet ban 'unjustly' discriminates against specific aircraft, FAA finds -- Following a four-day hearing, the agency rules the city's ordinance banning fast private jets violates terms of $9.7 million in federal grants and a 1984 agreement on safety issues. Dan Weikel in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

Farm burning limit clears state Senate -- If Valley residents can't put a log on the fire on smoggy days, then growers should not burn farm waste, says state Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter. E.J. Schultz in the Fresno Bee -- 5/15/09

BART board moves ahead on Oakland airport link -- Despite a projected shrink in ridership and escalating costs, the BART board on Thursday approved a funding plan to build a people mover connecting the Coliseum Station and the Oakland airport. Rachel Gordon in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/15/09

Mexican Data Say Migration to U.S. Has Plummeted -- Census data from the Mexican government indicate an extraordinary decline in the number of Mexican immigrants going to the United States. JULIA PRESTON in the New York Times -- 5/15/09

Kaiser hospital fined $250,000 for privacy breach in octuplet case -- The Bellflower facility, where 23 unauthorized workers accessed Nadya Suleman's records, is the first to be monetarily penalized under a new state law. Charles Ornstein in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

Villaraigosa confronts L.A. council on budget -- In a rare showdown, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa blasted City Council members who want to scale back on the LAPD expansion and specifically called out Westchester-area Councilman Bill Rosendahl for switching positions to oppose his budget. Rick Orlov in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 5/15/09

Villaraigosa criticizes decision to cut LAPD hiring -- But Councilman Bill Rosendahl, a police expansion advocate who cast the tie-breaking vote, says he felt a need to end the 'smoke and mirrors' in the city's budget. Phil Willon and David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

Weiss campaign is a crucial test of Villaraigosa's clout -- The mayor, weighing a gubernatorial run, has raised funds and rallied supporters to the side of his closest ally on the City Council, who is now running for city attorney. David Zahniser and Maeve Reston in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

A mixed reaction to a use of force -- The decision by an El Monte police officer to kick the head of a suspect at the end of a televised pursuit is criticized by experts. But on the streets, there was little sympathy for the gang member. Ruben Vives and Andrew Blankstein in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/15/09

Officer said to have kicked suspect owns clothing line tailored to gang life -- The police officer who sources inside City Hall say kicked a gang member in the head after a long car chase Wednesday also owns a clothing company that glorifies gang and prison life. Ben Baeder and Daniel Tedford in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 5/15/09

Former assistant assessor says San Bernardino County waived right to sue him -- Former Assistant Assessor Jim Erwin said Thursday that the county waived its right to sue him as part of a settlement that ended his employment in the San Bernardino County assessor's office. DUANE W. GANG in the Riverside Press -- 5/15/09

Conflict? Councilwoman backs $24 million tax break for upscale hotel near her upscale bar -- So the Fair Political Practices Commission is sniffing around about a potential conflict of interest for Anaheim City Councilwoman Lucille Kring. Again! Teri Sforza in the Orange County Register -- 5/15/09

Elder crime spotlighted after slaying of widow -- The beating death of a 97-year-old Oakland woman and other recent Bay Area crimes involving the elderly are grim reminders of the dangers that retirees can face, especially if they live alone, authorities said Wednesday. Henry K. Lee in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/15/09