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Potholes would thrive under new budget plan -- Next time you hit a pothole or drive through a bumpy stretch of poorly maintained road, you may have those folks in Sacramento to thank. John Howard in Capitol Weekly -- 7/13/09

Constitutional convention town halls slated for Santa Monica and L.A. -- Repair California, an organization formed to promote the need for a state constitutional convention, will hold a free forum Friday in Santa Monica to discuss the topic. Martha Groves in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/09

Schwarzenegger makes "Stand For California" pitch -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will take to television airwaves tomorrow with a 60-second litany of all the budget-balancing plans he won't sign. Steve Wiegand SacBee Capitol Alert Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog -- 7/13/09

Whitman writes $15 million check for gubernatorial bid -- In clash of two wealthy Silicon Valley titans, Meg Whitman has just upped the ante - by $15 million - in what is expected to be a free-spending race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Peter Hecht SacBee Capitol Alert John Marelius in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 7/13/09

As Deadline Fades, Budget Talks Slow -- Controller John Chiang’s grim report on the state’s year-end cash figures Friday added another red flag to the sea of scarlet surrounding the state budget, but it was the “good” news that may be the most worrisome. John Wildermuth Fox & Hounds weblog -- 7/13/09

Fox: The Two-Thirds Vote Lawsuit Needs a Revision -- The lawsuit filed Friday by former UCLA Chancellor Charles Young has all the appearance of an act of desperation on the part of spending interests. Joel Fox Fox & Hounds weblog -- 7/13/09

Anti-smoking groups ramp up tobacco tax drive -- The American Cancer Society and other anti-smoking groups are ramping up their campaign to nearly triple California's tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products, citing boosts in other states that leave California with one of the nation's lowest taxes on smoking. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/13/09

Anti-preferences activist Connerly endorses Poizner -- Ward Connerly, who was a driving force behind the Proposition 209 ban on race- and gender-based preferences in university admissions and state hiring, is endorsing Republican Steve Poizner for governor. Peter Hecht SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/13/09

Initiative drive targets illegal immigrants’ kids -- Activists have begun collecting signatures for a proposed state ballot measure designed to block some benefits to the U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants and to make it more difficult for those children to become U.S. citizens. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 7/13/09

Immigration enforcement in Orange County may change -- New federal rules governing how local police and sheriffs can enforce immigration laws could impact Orange County’s process for screening and detaining illegal immigrants. Jessica Terrell in the Orange County Register -- 7/13/09

Sacramento lawmakers optimistic they're closing in on a budget deal -- California's top lawmakers focused Sunday on cost-saving reforms to social welfare programs and how deeply to cut an array of state services as they dove into the complex task of closing the state's $26 billion deficit. AP -- 7/13/09

California lawmakers: Deal elusive despite progress -- California's legislative leaders are reporting progress with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on a deal to close the state's $26.3 billion budget shortfall, expressing hope for agreement by the end of the week. SAMANTHA YOUNG AP -- 7/13/09

Walters: Ideology divides tax panel -- The blue-ribbon commission charged with overhauling California's tax system is heading for an ideological clash that could stall any meaningful recommendations to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/13/09

Roberts and Trounstine: Red-Blue Clash Emerges in 21st Century Commission -- The Commission on the 21st Century Economy, headed by Schwarzenegger pal and Republican bigwig Gerald Parsky, has been developing a plan to overhaul California’s tax system that includes flattening personal income tax rates and broadening the sales tax, as loyal Calbuzz readers know. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 7/13/09

Budget crisis will affect how state helps developmentally disabled population -- When David Stein was admitted to Lanterman Developmental Center he had no toenails and no fingernails. In a fit of anger, he had ripped them out. Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 7/13/09

Budget cuts raise concerns for future of Southeast Asian archive -- UC Irvine's extensive collection preserves the stories of refugees, but researchers worry that cuts will hinder documentation of the evolving immigrant community. My-Thuan Tran in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/09

California budget threat to state parks doesn't apply to an off-roader favorite -- Oceano Dunes is the last stretch of beach in the state open to motor vehicles. It's not on the governor's closure list, but advocates of the western snowy plover want it shut to protect the birds. Zachary Slobig in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/09

Cal Fire evades massive damage from budget cuts -- State firefighting costs have nearly tripled in the past decade but Cal Fire has avoided taking major hits in Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget. Stacia Glenn in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 7/13/09

Feinstein suggests CIA concealment broke law -- Six months into Barack Obama's presidency, his Democratic allies are pushing for twin investigations into Bush-era torture and anti-terrorism policies. Pete Yost AP -- 7/13/09

GOP has tough row to hoe in California -- California Republicans, known to engage in intraparty warfare, got an unexpected boost from the state's fiscal crunch as party leaders and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger united against Democratic appeals for less-traumatic budget cuts. Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/13/09

53rd Assembly race has a soap opera twist -- First he took her furniture. Now he wants her seat. Gene Maddaus in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 7/13/09

Oakland Army Base ripe for development -- It may have been a tremendous letdown when the Wayans Brothers dropped their plans to create a glitzy, iconic gateway development on 108 acres of the former Oakland Army Base. Cecily Burt in the Oakland Tribune -- 7/13/09

Hiltzik: It's time to close a big tax loophole for businesses -- California's property tax burden has gradually shifted to homeowners because commercial and industrial property doesn't change hands as often as homes and the sales can be easily disguised. Michael Hiltzik in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/09

Lithium-ion battery maker Quallion seeks a boost from stimulus funds -- The Sylmar company is among more than 120 contenders hoping to win one of seven or eight federal grants aimed at hybrid car development. It says it would use the money to build a manufacturing plant. W.J. Hennigan in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/09

Inland colleges using YouTube -- Five months ago, UC Riverside created a channel on YouTube. To date, there are about 50 video posted. Most feature interviews with professors or excerpts from Chancellor Timothy P. White's inauguration in March. SEAN NEALON in the Riverside Press -- 7/13/09

Unionized workers rally outside UC president's Oakland home to protest proposed cuts -- Unionized employees of the University of California rallied outside the North Oakland home of UC President Mark Yudof on Sunday morning to deliver what they called a "wake-up call" about his proposed cuts to the university system's budget. Sean Maher in the Oakland Tribune -- 7/13/09

Livermore grocer/businessman left millions for local students -- Mario Pedrozzi did not go to college. However, the Swiss immigrant, a Livermore grocer who briefly served on the City Council, believed in higher education. Eric Louie in the Contra Costa Times -- 7/13/09

Small town fears quakes from geothermal energy project -- Residents in this tiny Lake County community have complained for years about the earthquakes touched off by the geothermal energy projects that tap the vast reservoir of steam in the mountains behind their homes. Jim Downing in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/13/09

Feds document shrinking San Joaquin Valley aquifer -- California's San Joaquin Valley has lost 60 million acre-feet of groundwater since 1961, according to a new federal study. That's enough water for 60 Folsom reservoirs. Matt Weiser in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/13/09

'Cap and trade' bill has lofty goals and plenty of critics -- The U.S. Senate is considering a bill to impose a limit on greenhouse gas emissions that critics say is ill-conceived and poorly timed. Sandra Emerson in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 7/13/09

Crops, ponds destroyed in quest for food safety -- Dick Peixoto planted hedges of fennel and flowering cilantro around his organic vegetable fields in the Pajaro Valley near Watsonville to harbor beneficial insects, an alternative to pesticides. Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/13/09

Fire retardants and baby products: This isn't kid stuff -- For decades, California has been the only state in the nation to require the use of highly toxic fire-retardant chemicals on cribs, infant carriers, strollers, nursing pillows, changing tables, high chairs and other baby products. Russell Long in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/09

Activists push ballot initiative to end state benefits for illegal immigrants and their U.S.-born children -- The measure would end public benefits to illegal residents, challenge the citizenship of their U.S.-born children, cut welfare payments to those children and impose new birth certificate requirements. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/09

 •  Driver booked on murder charge in cyclist's death -- A Canyon Country man was arrested on suspicion of murder, hit-and-run, and driving under the influence after his pickup truck allegedly hit three bicyclists in the Angeles National Forest, killing one of them, authorities said. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/13/09

Most fans want the 49ers to stay in San Francisco -- Through profound disappointment and sublime triumph, Florence "Lookie" Chinn attended almost every 49ers home game for 56 years. That's a lot of time spent in line for the ladies' room. Tom FitzGerald in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/13/09

Niner fans sound off about the move -- For many San Franciscans, the impact of a 49ers move to Santa Clara brings to mind a blind-side hit from former safety Ronnie Lott. Tom FitzGerald in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/13/09

Matier & Ross:Brouhaha over bonuses at Fresno nonprofit -- Even as government programs are being slashed across California, a Fresno nonprofit for the developmentally disabled - largely funded with state money - handed out $500,000 in bonuses to its 350 administrative employees. Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/13/09

Rise in Sacramento county gun sales tied to fewer cops, what Obama might do -- Gun sales in Sacramento County have grown more than in any other populous county in California since November, according to the state attorney general's office .Jillian Keenan in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/13/09

Sacramento County sheriff prepares for deep cut -- Despite good relations in the past, Roger Berkenpas is feeling distant from the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department these days. Kim Minugh in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/13/09

Jailed journalists' families await word from N. Korea -- The families of Laura Ling and Euna Lee gathered in Los Angeles over the weekend to await word on whether the two American journalists would be released by the government of North Korea. Jillian Keenan in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/13/09

Livestrong Challenge: Lance wasn't here, but faithful rode for cancer cure anyway -- While their hero Lance Armstrong battled for the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, cancer survivors on bicycles and on foot collected yellow roses as they crossed the finish line in downtown San Jose on a sunny and bright Sunday afternoon. Joe Rodriguez in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/13/09