San Diego County's chief financial officer says IOUs from the state of California won't hurt immediately. CFO Don Steuer says health and human service programs are facing immediate cuts, but he says the county was ready. He says local officials set aside extra money as they realized the state's money problems were getting worse.

San Diego's index of leading economic indicators rose last month. It's the first time in two years the index has gained ground. It also ends a six month streak in which the index declined more than 2 percent each month.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says he will restart stalled budget talks in hopes of getting an agreement to deal with California's projected $42 billion deficit. The Republican governor says he'll ask the Legislature's four top leaders to meet with him Thursday to try once again to reach a compromise.

Supporters of California's voter approved ban on same sex marriages are blasting the state's attorney general for his decision to challenge Proposition Eight. KPBS Reporter Erik Anderson has details.

Marine Corps Generals defended the decision to try to land a disabled jet at a San Diego military base. Military investigators are still combing through the neighborhood wreckage. Two infant girls, their mother and grandmother died when the jet slammed into their home.

San Diego gas prices are down again, falling to the lowest level since 2004. The Utility Consumer's Action Network reports the average price of a gallon of regular is now $1.84. One reason for the price decline is a drop in demand. The state tax board says Californians used less gas in every month this year, when compared to a year ago. The board's Anita Gore says consumption dropped a dramatic eight percent in August.

San Diego's Index of Economic Indicators had its largest monthly drop since the index began tracking the local economy in 1977. The Index fell 2.3 percent in October, with every sector measured down significantly.

Southern California shoppers will help decide just how black Black Friday will be this year. KPBS reporter Erik Anderson has details.

The cost of a home in San Diego County plunged nearly 30 percent last month. Real Estate tracking firm Dataquick Information systems says it now costs just over $325,000 for the average home. That's down from $460,000 a year ago. Dataquick's Andrew LaPage says more than half of the sales in the six county Southern California region are foreclosed properties.

San Diego County is no longer issuing licenses or recording weddings for same sex couples. County Clerk Greg Smith says the change happened when it became clear Proposition 8 would win. That measure changes California's constitution, outlawing same sex weddings. Smith estimates about 3,000 same sex licenses were issued from June to election day.

The outlook continues to be gloomy for San Diego's economy in the first part of next year. The University of San Diego index of leading economic indicators dropped again last month. USD Economist Alan Gin says the index fell eight tenth's of a percent in September. He says the major area of concern is the decline in the number of local jobs.

San Diego County's top election official expects more than a million people in San Diego County will vote in next week's election. Registrar of Voters Deborah Seiler says her offices are busy as voters cast ballots ahead of November 4th. She says the number of absentee voters will probably grow as the voter turnout grows. However, Seiler says the percentage of the absentee vote will likely shrink as turnout gets larger.

San Diego gasoline prices dropped significantly over the weekend. The Utility Consumer's Action Network reports that the average price of a gallon of gas has fallen a dime since Friday. U-CAN's Charles Langley says the average price is now $3.06. He says prices are dropping faster than he predicted just week ago.

Home sales in San Diego County jumped by more than 56 percent in September compared to the same month a year ago. A real estate information service says prices during the same period dropped more than 30 percent. Dataquick's Andrew LePage says the the numbers relect a positivenote for a real estate market that's been dragging. However, he says the good news is tempered by the nation's financial problems.

Federal officials visit the Imperial Valley this week to break ground on a new reservoir project designed to save Colorado River Water. The Colorado is also a major source of water for San Diego County. KPBS Reporter Erik Anderson has more.

State Treasurer Bill Lockyer says California has raised enough money to avert an immediate cash crisis. Lockyer today announced the state had sold $5 billion in short-term notes that will be used to keep education, health care and other state services running. He says he's heartened by the response from individual and institutional investors.

Fire officials say they have the fire that scorched four thousand acres on Camp Pendleton, 75 percent contained. The blaze led to the evacuation of more than 1,500 homes in Oceanside. Those people were allowed to return home yesterday. A nearby 110 acre fire that shut down interstate five yesterday is largely out and completely surrounded.

A wildfire that burned up to 1,900 acres on a Marine Corps explosives range was contained Thursday without causing any injuries or damage to buildings on the base.

Federal prosecutors are dropping contempt charges against two Camp Pendleton marines who repeated refused to testify against their squad leader in a federal court. All three are linked to the deaths of Iraqi detainees. KPBS Reporter Erik Anderson has details.

A new study out says California's farmers can save billions of gallons of water by changing what they plant and how they water it. KPBS Reporter Erik Anderson has details.

San Diego's average gas price is hovering just over $4 a gallon as prices continue to fall from the record set in June. The Utility Consumer's Action Network tracks local prices. U-Can's Charles Langley says the average price fell three pennies a gallon from yesterday and now stands at $4.03. He expects the average to fall below $4 before the end of the week.

The average price of gas continues to fall from the record high set earlier this summer.

Former San Diego Congressman Randy Cunningham wants the president to grant him clemency. KPBS Reporter Erik Anderson has details.

Foreclosure activity hit a record high in California in spring. Banks foreclosed on more than 63,000 properties in April May and June. That's the highest number of foreclosures since 1988.

Federal officials will have to consider a rare desert plant as they draw up plans to manage the Imperial Valley's sand dunes. The Bureau of Land Management is squeezed between off roaders who want the freedom to ride and environmentalists who want to protect a delicate habitat. KPBS Reporter Erik Anderson has details.

San Diego gas prices edged lower this past weekend, but there was a significant jump in the cost of diesel. The Utility Consumer's Action Network says the average price of a gallon of gas fell two tenths of a cent over the weekend.

A team of UC San Diego researchers are hoping San Diego's Supercomputer Center will help doctors develop new drugs to fight a potential avian flu outbreak. The disease has provoked worldwide concern because human have no natural protection against the virsu, and there is a limited medical arsenal.

Several hundred San Diego firefighters are helping wage the battle against wildfires in Central and Northern California. CAL FIRE officials say nearly 19,000 firefighters are working to contain the flames from some 1,400 fires. CAL FIRE's Roxanne Provoznik says it is not unheard of for this area to be quite while fires rage in the rest of the state.

California drivers continue to use less gas as prices at the pump go up. The State Board of Equalization tracks how much gas is sold each month, because the agency collects a flat tax and sales tax on each gallon. The board's Anita Gore says drivers bought 44-million gallons less gas in March than they did the year before.

San Diego's economy will continue to struggle if the region's index of leading economic indicators are correct. The University of San Diego index dipped again last month.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and City Council President Scott Peters today reached a compromise on competing ballot initiatives aimed at overhauling San Diego's pension system.

A new statewide poll finds California voters are strongly behind the state's policies to reduce the release of global warming gasses. That support remains strong even if those policies drive up the cost of gas and electricity.

The price of gas is still going up in San Diego. The Utility consumer's Action Network reports the average price for a gallon of regular is $4.33. U-CAN’s Charles Langley says that’s up 42 cents from last month, and a dollar a gallon more than the price a year ago. Langley says the short term outlook is not favorable for motorists.

Water quality along the San Diego coast was pretty good last year. KPBS Reporter Erik Anderson has details.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has released a $144.3 billion state budget that eliminates a massive deficit by selling lottery bonds and cutting billions in state programs.

The price of gasoline is in record territory again this week in San Diego. Prices are hovering just below four dollars a gallon. The steady price hikes around California are also convincing motorists to cut back how much gas they're using. KPBS Reporter Erik Anderson has details.

San Diego’s average price for a gallon of gasoline is up to $3.57 a gallon. The Utility Consumer's Action Network tracks local prices at hundreds of filling stations.

San Diego gas prices moved into record territory overnight. The Utility Consumer's Action Network says the average price of a gallon of regular is now $3.52.

A military judge in California says prosecutors can not ask CBS News for unaired interview footage of a marine charged in the massacre of civilians in Haditha, Iraq. Erik Anderson of member station KPBS in San Diego has details.

California voters are being asked to tweak the legislature's term limit law on February 5. Supporters say changes need to be made so lawmakers can develop experience. Opponents argue term limits are working just fine. KPBS Reporter Erik Anderson has more.

A staff sergeant based at Southern California's Camp Pendleton marine base was officially arraigned on manslaughter charges Wednesday for his role in the death of 24 Iraqi civilians. KPBS Reporter Erik Anderson has details.

The nation's housing slump appears to be getting broader and deeper and California is seeing some of the biggest declines. San Diego is one of a handful of cities where home values were down more than 10 percent in October.

A group of rural San Diego fire chiefs say they've made a lot of progress fighting major wildfires like the one that stuck the county in October.

A Marine drill instructor will be formally reprimanded and reduced in rank for not reporting abuse of his recruits at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. KPBS reporter Erik Anderson has details.

A new report finds the number of teachers lacking credentials in California classrooms is down sharply. The Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning says 42,000 teachers lacked the proper credentials in the first school year of the decade.

A marine drill instructor is guilty of abusing recruits at San Diego's Marine Corps Recruit Depot. KPBS reporter Erik Anderson has details.

San Diego's average price for a gallon of gas is up 14 cents since Monday. The Utility Consumer's Action Network says it is unusual for prices to jump ten cents in a week. That makes this increase even more dramatic.

San Diego's average price for a gallon of gas is higher now than it has ever been in November. The Utility Consumers Action Network tracks pump prices at hundreds of local gas stations.

A new poll of California residents finds many people are worried about getting themselves or their children into college. The Public Policy Institute of California polled more than 2,500 state residents in an effort to gauge attitudes about college.

Firefighters hope to have the three largest wildfires in San Diego county contained by tomorrow. CALFIRE's Roxanne Provoznik says there are more than seven thousand firefighters in the county trying to encircle the Witch, Harris and Poomacha fires. She says the weather has done a lot to help crews cut fire lines around the blazes.