Students, staff, lawmakers demand answers in executive pay flap -- University of California President Robert C. Dynes said Wednesday "overactive secrecy," helped create a situation where millions in perks were quietly doled out to top executives. MICHELLE LOCKE AP -- 5/17/06

Senate leader says California won't pay for Guard deployment -- The state Senate leader on Wednesday pledged not to budget "one dime" of state money for President Bush's proposed deployment of National Guard troops along the U.S.-Mexico border until the state determines whether the plan would hurt California's ability to respond to a disaster. AARON C. DAVIS AP -- 5/17/06

Competing transportation measure draws ire from some Democrats -- Lawmakers struggled past 3 a.m. to pass a $37.3 billion bond package earlier this month, in part to seal a deal with transportation advocates to keep a bond measure protecting road funds off the November ballot. To lawmakers' surprise, the measure, which seeks to dedicate a portion of the gas tax for road projects and prevent lawmakers from raiding the account, may yet make the ballot. If so, it would compete with a similar initiative approved by the Legislature. AARON C. DAVIS AP -- 5/17/06

Gore Cancels Due To Labor Dispute -- Former Vice President Al Gore is the latest prominent Democrat to cancel an appearance at UC Berkeley, after a labor dispute on campus threatened to force him to cross a picket line. John Myers KQED weblog -- 5/17/06

Westly fundraiser -- A Steve Westly campaign fundraiser that had been scheduled for the lunch hour on Wednesday in Sacramento was abruptly cancelled Tuesday night amid questions about a solicitation sent out by an ally of the controller who was helping him raise money. Dan Weintraub SacBee Weblog -- 5/17/06

San Francisco makes it easier to test people for HIV -- Public medical clinics run by the city will no longer require written consent and counseling sessions before testing people for HIV in a bid to increase the number of people screened for the virus, officials said Wednesday. PAUL ELIAS AP -- 5/17/06

Supreme Court tosses law sealing divorce records -- The California Supreme Court on Wednesday nullified a law that made it easy to seal divorce court records. The justices, without comment, declined to review an appeals court decision of a billionaire's divorce that declared the 2004 law "unconstitutional on its face." DAVID KRAVETS AP -- 5/17/06

Senate To Examine Guard Border Duty -- Senate President Don Perata (D-Oakland) says he will convene a special legislative committee to examine President Bush's decision to send National Guard troops to the California-Mexico border. John Myers KQED weblog -- 5/17/06

Attack on Central Valley Assembly candidate called heartless -- So you thought you've seen rough politics in Sacramento -- and some nasty attack ads in the Democratic gubernatorial primary? You ain't seen nothin' yet. Carla Marinucci Chronicle Politics Weblog -- 5/17/06

Governor asks: Who pays for Guard on border? -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pledged Tuesday to cooperate with President Bush on his plan to send National Guard troops to the border but demanded more specifics about the vague directive -- including whether the federal government will pay for the mission. Mark Martin in the San Francisco Chronicle Andy Furillo in the Sacramento Bee Steve Geissinger in the Oakland Tribune -- 5/17/06

Hardships in the National Guard -- Dangerous deployments often are exacerbated by families' money woes that come with job changes. MARLA JO FISHER and MICHAEL CORONADO in the Orange County Register -- 5/17/06

Guard rotations on Mexican border will be brief -- The military will begin expanding the National Guard's role along the Mexican border in June, with plans to rotate thousands of troops in and out of new behind-the-scenes duties every few weeks thereafter, officials said Tuesday. Jason Newell in the San Bernardino Sun -- 5/17/06

Senate guest worker plan survives attack / Boxer, Alabama Republican fail to kill provision, but number of visas is reduced -- Seldom do California's liberal Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer and Alabama's conservative Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions agree on anything. But they joined Tuesday in a failed attempt to kill the guest worker provision of the Senate's broad overhaul of U.S. immigration law, calling it a threat to U.S. workers. Carolyn Lochhead in the San Francisco Chronicle DENA BUNIS in the Orange County Register -- 5/17/06

Latinos Urged to Head for the Polls -- A nationwide campaign begins today to enroll 1 million new citizens and voters this year. Teresa Watanabe in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/06

I of the Storm -- Joseph Turner is unfazed by the prospect that thousands of immigrant rights advocates may march in San Bernardino to denounce his initiative to force the city to crack down on illegal immigrants. SHARON McNARY MICHAEL FISHER and LISA O'NEILL HILL in the Riverside Press -- 5/17/06

The citizenship waiting game -- With millions of illegal immigrants and supporters taking to the streets this spring, many observers ask why so many can't simply go through the proper channels to become legal? If preceding generations of newcomers could play by the rules, why not immigrants today? MARTIN ESPINOZA in the Santa Rosa Press -- 5/17/06

Illegal Immigration Dominates Costly, Fiery Orange County Supervisor Race -- In what could become the most expensive county supervisor race in Orange County history, the two top candidates are locked in an increasingly contentious battle over an issue on which local officials have little say: illegal immigration. Christian Berthelsen in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/06

Some immigrant groups praise Bush -- Immigrant rights groups in Washington applauded Bush on Tuesday for backing a guest-worker program and a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants, but activists in San Francisco and across the country denounced Bush's call for National Guard troops on the border. Tyche Hendricks in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/17/06

Immigration is testing loyalties to GOP -- Bridgett Hernandez is a registered Republican. But because of illegal immigration, she doesn't call herself a Republican anymore. GORDON DILLOW in the Orange County Register -- 5/17/06

Bush's border plan criticized -- Capt. Darren Guillaume employs a razor-sharp wit on certain occasions, such as responding to President Bush's proposal to deploy 6,000 National Guard troops to support Border Patrol agents along the U.S.-Mexican border. "I think we should put troops on the border of Canada to prevent older Americans from getting their drugs there," said Guillaume, a reservist with Charlie Company, 297th Support Battalion, a medical support National Guard unit based in San Mateo. "Why shouldn't our pharmaceutical companies have the right to gouge Americans?" Suzanne Bohan and Steve Geissinger in the Oakland Tribune -- 5/17/06

San Diego Sheriff says he can't help enforce immigration laws -- San Diego County Sheriff Bill Kolender said Tuesday his agency lacks the manpower to help the federal government go after illegal immigrants in North County neighborhoods. MARK WALKER in the North County Times -- 5/17/06

Fox under fire for failure of economic plans -- As President Bush prepares to send the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border, political analysts say the troop deployment underscores the failure of President Vicente Fox's economic policies. S. Lynne Walker in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 5/17/06

Payment to Lewis staffer studied -- Congressional watchdogs blasted a $600,000 severance payment that a lobbying firm with ties to Rep. Jerry Lewis paid to one of its partners days before he assumed a top slot with Lewis on the House Appropriations Committee. Lisa Friedman and George Watson in the San Bernardino Sun -- 5/17/06

Adwatch/Campaign 2006: Angelides says he'll tax rich to aid schools -- State Treasurer Phil Angelides, running for the Democratic Party's nomination for governor, launched an ad Saturday touting his plan to close tax loopholes and raise taxes on the highest income earners to pay for education. Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/17/06

Positive Campaign Movement Collapses -- In California’s hard-fought Democratic gubernatorial primary, yesterday was a day of planning for dueling bus tours and maneuvering around negative campaigning. Seeking press condemnation of his rival, Treasurer Phil Angelides mostly failed to get his backers to criticize Controller Steve Westly for airing the first hard negative TV spot of the campaign as, ironically, both campaigns are now attacking each other around the state in TV ads for airing TV attack ads. Bill Bradley NWN weblog -- 5/17/06

Asian vote a hot commodity -- Over General Tso's chicken and pot stickers in a Mountain View community center last week, Anita Yu told several Asian-language journalists about her husband, Democratic Controller Steve Westly, and his commitment to public education and business opportunities. Democratic Treasurer Phil Angelides spent part of a recent Saturday chatting up merchants in San Francisco's Chinatown with supervisor and Assembly candidate Fiona Ma. Kate Folmar in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/17/06

Protesters say budget plan hurts the poor -- Over the past few years, Leilani Luia's 11-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Luia's daughter receives $672 in Supplementary Security Income each month. Luia receives an additional $555 from CalWORKs and $50 of child support. That's not enough money to raise two children, she said. Not with rent on their Stockton home at $913 a month and gas at $45 a tank. Jocelyn Wiener in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/17/06

November election will offer voters a variety of meaty issues -- As it's shaping up, California's November election will not lack for meaty, even historic, political conflicts for voters to digest. The ballot may not set a record for the overall number of propositions, but no election of recent vintage has offered such a variety with such potential for far-reaching impacts, topped off by the $37 billion in infrastructure bonds that Schwarzenegger and the Legislature enacted earlier this month. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/17/06

Bill signing puts governor in middle of road -- literally -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislative leaders stood in the middle of Highway 24 during the morning commute Tuesday to sign legislation for a nearly $20 billion bond measure to combat congestion. Although they weren't standing in traffic, the 10:20 a.m. signing ceremony on a stony spit of land between the approaches to the north and center bores of the Caldecott Tunnel slowed westbound traffic and extended the morning slog toward the tunnel. Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle Gary Richards and Mike Adamick in the San Jose Mercury Josh Richman in the Oakland Tribune -- 5/17/06

A rumble over property -- Eminent domain initiative could echo Prop. 13. Timm Herdt in the Ventura Star -- 5/17/06

20 days left, mayor's race still a close call / De La Fuente, Dellums most visible among candidates -- With less than three weeks left in the campaign, most watching the Oakland mayor's race agree there is no clear leader in a race still too close to call. Barring a tsunami of support for front-runner Ron Dellums, the popular former congressman-turned-lobbyist likely will face City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente in a November runoff, pundits say. Christopher Heredia in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/17/06

State Controller / Experienced GOP, Dem candidates vie for top auditor job -- For many Californians, the state controller is probably best known for signing the state income tax return checks. But the controller's power and influence are far greater, having the authority to audit the books of all state agencies as California's chief financial officer. The controller also oversees the state pension funds worth $300 billion and more than $100 billion worth of annual state check writing. Matthew Yi in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/17/06

Job Title on Ballot Spurs Questions -- Michelle Steel calls herself a deputy to a member of the state tax board on which she seeks a seat. She had the job for three months. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/06

Rohrabacher to Give Back $23,000 -- The Orange County congressman was paid for a screenplay option by producer Joseph Medawar, who pleaded guilty Tuesday to fraud. Greg Krikorian and Christine Hanley in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/06

McCarthy rival short on name recognition, cash -- The campaign for the Republican nomination to replace retiring Rep. Bill Thomas is the race that fizzled. VIC POLLARD in the Bakersfield Californian -- 5/17/06

McCloskey, Pombo trade heated words -- The much-anticipated showdown between incumbent GOP Rep. Richard Pombo and his primary opponent, former Peninsula congressman Pete McCloskey, produced ample sparks this week in a packed school gym. Lisa Vorderbrueggen in the Contra Costa Times -- 5/17/06

Politics turns to war in Pombo's district -- It may not yet be Vietnam, but the war in Iraq is overwhelmingly unpopular with U.S. voters. Many want Congress to do something about it. Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Tracy, and the men who want to replace him hold varying views on the conflict, ranging from full support of President Bush to support for immediate withdrawal. How these views play with voters June 6 could tilt the election. Hank Shaw in the Stockton Record -- 5/17/06

Villaraigosa Seeks Funds, Keeps Up Profile on Hill -- In a hectic schedule, the mayor meets leaders in Congress as he works to deliver on local issues. Molly Hennessy-Fiske in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/06

L. A. Mayor marks year in office -- Villaraigosa pursues ambitious goals, but the outcome is uncertain amid union backlash. MICHAEL R. BLOOD AP -- 5/17/06

Lockyer backs drive to bust gun trafficking -- Saying more than half of all firearms used in street crimes come from 1 percent of licensed gun dealers, Attorney General Bill Lockyer joined gun control advocates Tuesday in a campaign to crack down on gun trafficking. Jason B. Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle Josh Richman in the Oakland Tribune -- 5/17/06

Safety of state data questioned -- It turns out the state of California has been storing backup data for dozens of government offices and agencies with two companies whose buildings could be under several feet of water if a flood occurred. Deb Kollars in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/17/06

8 DWP Workers Arrested by U.S. -- Federal immigration authorities Tuesday announced the arrests of eight employees of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the nation's largest public utility, for allegedly lacking authorization to work in the United States. Patrick McGreevy and Stephen Clark in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/06

House agriculture bill benefits state's wineries -- Wine wins and “earmarks” live in a big Agriculture Department spending bill due for House approval today. That gratifies some Californians. Amid controversy over how lawmakers target federal funding, the House has loaded up the 159-page Agriculture Department funding report with lots of local projects, known as earmarks. These include a number benefiting California wineries. Michael Doyle in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/17/06

Rep. Lee arrested at Sudan protest -- Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland and six other members of Congress were arrested Tuesday when they blocked the front entrance at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, D.C., to protest genocide in the troubled Darfur region and to build public support for a U.N. peacekeeping mission there. Jim Doyle in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/17/06

AT&T loses bid for a closed court / At issue are papers the company calls trade secrets -- AT&T was turned down by a federal judge Tuesday in its 11th-hour attempt to bar the public from a San Francisco court hearing today about documents that allegedly show the company's involvement in a secret government electronic surveillance program. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/17/06

700 at UC awarded $23 million in exit pay -- When UC Berkeley Associate Athletic Director Mark Stephens was passed over for a promotion at Cal last year, the university promised to keep him on the payroll, giving him $183,000 over three years while letting him take a full-time job somewhere else. Two years ago, UC Davis agreed to give a medical professor, Dr. Casey Daggett, $150,000 in exchange for his resignation and a promise to drop all his legal claims against the university. Tanya Schevitz, Todd Wallack in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/17/06

New Exit Exam Suit Rejected -- Judge rules the state did not violate the law when it required high school students to pass the test. Jill Leovy in the Los Angeles Times Laurel Rosenhall in the Sacramento Bee JULIET WILLIAMS AP Jill Tucker in the Oakland Tribune -- 5/17/06

Costly schools vs. cheap diplomas: Pick one -- Judge Robert Freedman’s order last week that California high schools award diplomas to seniors who haven’t passed the state’s exit exam raises huge questions. How tough do we want our school standards to be and how much are we willing to do to enable all students to meet them? The answers aren’t at all obvious. Peter Schrag in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/17/06

Local Leaders Want Clout in L.A. Unified -- Amid increasing concerns about Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's plan to take control of the Los Angeles Unified School District, leaders from other cities within the district are considering alternatives that would give them increased authority over schools. Joel Rubin and Duke Helfand in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/06

School Puts Healthy Eating Lesson on the Menu -- Students at a private West Hollywood campus relish their veggies, but it uses a top-shelf supplier that could be out of reach for others. Juliet Chung in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/06

Robberies scare safe campus -- Whoever robbed two Stanford University students in five days has reminded campus residents that even amid wealth, knowledge and postcard-perfect scenery, they need to watch their backs. S.L. Wykes in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/17/06

UCI students hear speaker in peace -- An appreciative audience of about 500 students Tuesday night heard a Chicago professor, the son of Holocaust survivors, discuss who is responsible for the failure to achieve peace in the Middle East. ANN PEPPER in the Orange County Register -- 5/17/06

Cal State tuition is unlikely to rise next school year -- More than 400,000 public university students are likely off the hook for the latest tuition increase next fall. California State University system trustees heard the good news yesterday that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's newest budget proposal had no surprises for their $4.5 billion proposed operating budget. Lisa Petrillo in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 5/17/06

Kaiser wraps up transplant unit UCSF, UC Davis preparing to accept new kidney patients -- Kaiser Permanente, under close supervision by state and national agencies and doctors at UCSF and UC Davis, started making arrangements this week to shut its kidney transplant center and transfer 2,000 Northern California patients to the UC medical centers. Erin Allday in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/17/06

Numbers in Drug Plan Contested -- A day after the deadline to sign up for the new Medicare drug program, Bush administration officials Tuesday declared it a clear success, but 3 million low-income seniors who could benefit most from its subsidies remained on the sidelines. Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/06

FDA urged to limit nanoparticle use in cosmetics and sunscreens -- Numerous products such as sunscreens and cosmetics contain potentially hazardous nanoparticles but lack adequate warning labels of their possible health effects, two activist groups charged Tuesday. Keay Davidson in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 5/17/06

Consultants OK Miramar joint use as airport option -- Directly contradicting senior Pentagon officials' views, a new report analyzing the region's future airport options states that joint use of Miramar Marine Corps Air Station can be accomplished with no “unacceptable interference” to the military mission of the base, defense readiness or civilian passenger safety. Jeff Ristine in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 5/17/06

Gas prices easing at historic highs -- California's gasoline prices have finally stopped soaring, but only after rising more in the last month than they did even after Hurricane Katrina last year. The state's drivers now pay $3.38, on average, for a gallon of regular, according to the AAA of Northern California auto club. Last month, they paid $2.86 -- 52 cents less. After Katrina, the state's average jumped 46 cents. David R. Baker in the San Francisco Chronicle Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/17/06

More Signs of Housing Cool-Down -- An almost-forgotten condition has returned to Southern California's housing market: single-digit price appreciation. Annette Haddad in the Los Angeles Times ALEX VEIGA AP -- 5/17/06

Ocean fish-farming rules await governor's decision -- California is known worldwide for its wine, strawberries, lettuce and other farm products. One day farm-raised halibut, tuna or sea bass could be added to that list -- all grown in giant floating ocean cages. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury -- 5/17/06

Senators take aim at hunts on island -- California Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein predicted Tuesday that the Senate would refuse to allow deer and elk hunting to continue on Santa Rosa Island beyond 2011. Michael Collins in the Ventura Star -- 5/17/06

The New Economics Of Renting a Car -- Rising gas prices are leading to some funky economics at the rental-car counter: Prices are dropping on SUVs and big luxury cars, and increasing for the cramped, compact models that are now in greater demand. AVERY JOHNSON in the Wall Street Journal -- 5/17/06

Ventura Passes a Living Wage Ordinance -- Workers will get at least $12.50 an hour without healthcare and $9.75 hourly with benefits. A ballot measure calling for more is dropped. Catherine Saillant in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/06

Council OKs Mayor's Plan to Add to Police Force by Hiking Trash Fee -- In a decisive victory that reflects Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's strong political influence at City Hall, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved his plan Tuesday to hike garbage rates and help fund a major expansion of the Police Department. Steve Hymon in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/06

Santa Ana Official's Condo Deal Questioned -- Planning commissioner buying a unit in Hawaii from developer voted on his office tower plans. Jennifer Delson in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/06

Dowie, Aide Guilty on All Counts in Bill Scam -- Douglas Dowie, a former political power broker and newspaper executive, was convicted Tuesday of 15 counts of conspiracy and fraud in a scheme to overbill city taxpayers for public relations consulting services. John Spano in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/06

CHP will buy 9,700 new guns -- The California Highway Patrol is buying 9,700 semi-automatic pistols from gun maker Smith & Wesson Corp. in a deal the CHP says is worth $6.6 million. Delivery of the .40-caliber firearms will start in June and be completed over the next 18 months, Smith & Wesson Vice President Liz Sharp said. Andrew McIntosh in the Sacramento Bee -- 5/17/06

Chasing Exotic Cars Is Their Pursuit -- A youthful crew of enthusiasts stalk the Westside, filming high-end autos. After the Ferrari crash in Malibu, CNN called. David Pierson in the Los Angeles Times -- 5/17/06