Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/04/2013 08:19:33 PM PST

Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/04/2013 08:19:33 PM PST

SAN BERNARDINO – Councilman John Valdivia wrote a letter of “character witness” in a child custody case stamped with the city seal, which at minimum violates city codes.

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Sen. Jim Brulte, left, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger share a laugh after signing a budget compromise bill in 2003. (Los Angeles Times)

By Anthony York, Los Angeles Times
February 5, 2013

SACRAMENTO — Desperate to return to relevance, the battered California Republican Party is looking for salvation in a shrewd dealmaker and prolific fundraiser once known for advancing his party’s interests in a Capitol dominated by Democrats.

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Conway

Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
February 4, 2013

Whispers are getting louder.

Assembly Republicans are not talking publicly, but they’re meeting in little groups and buzzing among themselves about the possible overthrow of their caucus leader, Connie Conway.

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Dan Walters

By Dan Walters
dwalters@sacbee.com
Published: Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 – 12:00 am | Page 3A
Last Modified: Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 – 7:34 am

Capitol politicians have a sorry record in handling revenue windfalls, both real and imaginary.

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By Sandra Emerson, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/04/2013 04:18:32 PM PST
Updated: 02/05/2013 01:05:06 AM PST

The state Supreme Court this week will hear arguments about whether cities can use zoning laws to ban medical marijuana dispensaries.

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By Gene Johnson, The Associated Press
Posted: 02/04/2013 04:11:28 PM PST
Updated: 02/05/2013 12:36:09 AM PST

SEATTLE — An effort is building in Congress to change U.S. marijuana laws, including moves to legalize the industrial production of hemp and establish a hefty federal pot tax.

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California gasoline prices on average jumped 23 cents in the last week, passing $4 a gallon in Los Angeles, fuel surveys show.

By Ronald D. White, Los Angeles Times
February 5, 2013

Average California gasoline prices jumped 23 cents in the last week, passing $4 a gallon in Los Angeles, fuel surveys show.

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Capitol Alert
The latest on California politics and government
February 4, 2013

The trust fund that provides pensions to retired teachers has a $64 billion deficit and would need a $4.5 billion per year infusion of revenue to become fully solvent, according to a new internal study.

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The government sues Standard & Poor’s, saying it improperly gave high marks to mortgage securities that failed and sparked the financial crisis.

By Alejandro Lazo and Andrew Tangel, Los Angeles Times
February 4, 2013, 10:14 p.m.

The federal government is embarking on one of its most ambitious efforts to assign blame for the financial crisis, going after Wall Street’s biggest credit rating firm for its role in pumping up the housing bubble.

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