Government & Politics

 State Senator Jeff Denham Discusses Recall Campaign

Republican State Senator Jeff Denham says it's a big weight off his shoulders that the Senate Democratic Leader is dropping the campaign to recall him from office.

Republican State Senator Jeff Denham says it's a big weight off his shoulders that the Senate Democratic Leader is dropping the campaign to recall him from office. Senate President Pro-Tem Don Perata made the announcement Wednesday that he was backing off to encourage goodwill during the upcoming budget talks. Denham says the recall has been a distraction.

 Inside Sacramento: May Revise, Budget Deficit Confusion, Recall Bid Dropped, New Assembly Speaker

The California state budget is facing major cuts, the "May Revise" is coming up next week, a plan to recall a Republican state senator is abandoned, and Speaker of the Assembly Fabian Nunez passes the torch. Marianne Russ, bureau chief of the California Capitol Network, takes us "Inside Sacramento."

 Group Opposes Using Bond Funds for Prison Expansion

A group that opposes prison expansion is suing to block California's plans to add thousands of prison and jail beds. Jenny O'Mara reports from Sacramento.

 Top California Democrat Submits Alternative Redistricting Plan

As Governor Schwarzenegger was promoting one redistricting measure, the outgoing Speaker of the State Assembly was introducing one of his own. From Sacramento, Marianne Russ reports.

 Governor Schwarzenegger Submits Redistricting Initiative

A California ballot initiative supported by the California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is a step closer to the November ballot. Yesterday, Schwarzenegger and others turned in signatures for a measure to change the way legislative districts are drawn. From Sacramento, Jenny O'Mara reports.

 S.D. Supervisors Agree to Spend $3 Million to Lease Firefighting Air Tankers

San Diego County Supervisors have voted to spend $3 million to lease two air tankers and one air command plane to help fight wildfires this fall. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

 Officials Say Blackwater Used Subcontractor's Name on Permit Application

The head of San Diego's development services department said today he welcomes a probe into how Blackwater USA got permits to build a military training center in Otay Mesa. Yesterday, the mayor called for an investigation into the permitting process for the private contractor. KPBS Reporter Amita Sharma has more.

 Steve Francis Wins Over Some Labor Groups

San Diego city mayoral candidate, businessman Steve Francis, landed the endorsement of the hotel and restaurant workers' union. Francis, who was the candidate most strongly in favor of outsourcing city jobs in the last election, appears to have changed his stripes. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

 California's Top Democrat Requests $5 Billion for Courthouse Improvements

The state Senate's top Democrat is pushing for $5 billion in bonds to pay for improvements to courthouses all over the state. The measure will be heard in a key committee Tuesday. From Sacramento, Jenny O'Mara reports.

The FBI said Monday that it is looking into whether a pipe bomb attack at a downtown federal courthouse is linked to a blast at a FedEx office last month.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders today called for an investigation into how the city granted permits to Blackwater USA to open a military training center in Otay Mesa. The facility will be used to train Navy sailors and possibly the Coast Guard in counterterrorism. KPBS Reporter Amita Sharma has more.

 Airport Authority Moves Forward With Expansion Plan

The San Diego County Airport Authority is moving forward with a Master Plan to meet expansion needs for Lindbergh Field. But, as KPBS reporter Alison St. John tells us, not everyone likes the plan.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders has released the list of the first city services that might be turned over to competitors from the private sector. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

 Reverend Wright, CA Budget, City Council Races

Can Barack Obama weather the storm? This week on the Editors Round Table, a look at the impact Rev. Wright is having on the Democratic race for president. We’ll also examine the state’s budget and its possible $20 billion shortfall. And a look at the San Diego City Council races and whether a possible power shift at City Hall.

California residents are worried about more than just the economy. They're also concerned about the state of the education system. That's the finding of the most recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California.

 San Diego Mayoral Candidates Spar

The Primary election for everything except the Presidential race is less than a month away, and the San Diego mayor's race is heating up. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more on what the candidates had to say at a mayoral forum last night at the University of San Diego.

 Public Hearings on S.D. Mayor's Budget Begin Today

The San Diego City Council budget committee begins public hearings at City Hall today to consider the mayor's 2009 budget. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more on cost cutting measures that will erode city services next year.

Governor Schwarzenegger set off a fury in Sacramento Monday when he said the state's budget deficit could balloon to $20-billion next year. That's a lot bigger than the deficit projected back in January. A big scary deficit could strengthen the case the Governor's been making for budget reform. But KPCC's Julie Small reports Sacramento's professional number crunchers say it's a bit too early to say the Governor's math will come true.