The House and Senate Democrats have released health care reform bills recently. Although, the bills are very similar, finding agreement on a few of the key differences could take awhile. What are the key elements of the House and Senate bills? And, what are the main areas of disagreement between the plans?

Most workers in California will see a decrease in their next paycheck. The state will add 10 percent to what it already takes from taxpayers in an effort to balance the budget. How will the additional state tax withholdings affect California workers? And, what does this story tell us about the state budget prospects for next year?

San Diego Gas & Electric wants to charge residents who use the least amount of electricity more than those residents who use the most. SDG&E says the proposed rate change will allow the utility to bill customers for the real cost of electricity. How will the rate change affect your utility bills?

Why do rescued pets seem so well-behaved, and grateful to their owners? Why do the owners of those pound puppies and kitties constantly gush over how great their pet is? We speak to Karin Winegar, author of SAVED: Rescued Animals And The Lives They Transform, about the special connection between a saved animal and their human companion.

What can pet owners do to help prevent their cat or dog from getting a major disease, or expensive medical procedure? We speak to local veterinarian Dr. Katy Allen about the importance of preventive pet medicine.

Herbert Lawrence Block, commonly known as Herblock, received the Pulitzer Prize four times during his 70 year career as a political cartoonist. We speak to Harry Katz about the new book HERBLOCK: The Life and Work of the Great Political Cartoonist. We discuss what made Block's cartoons unique, and the influence he had on politics in Washington, D.C.

Some of the smartest people in the fields of health care and medicine were in San Diego last week to participate in the TEDMED conference held at the Hotel Del Coronado. We speak to the president of TedMed, and one of the local conference participants, about the goals of the conference, and the innovative ideas that were discussed.

Should San Diego officials be focused on rebuilding the downtown library when the city is facing a $200 million budget deficit? The editors give you the pros and cons of rebuilding the aging main library, and talk about the battle among city councilmembers over the plan.

Is San Diego County better prepared for a wildfire than it was in 2007? We discuss local changes in fire preparedness, and the struggles that fire victims are still dealing with. Plus, what else can our community do to enhance fire protection?

Mayor Jerry Sanders announced this week that the city will modify its water conservation plan for the winter. San Diego residents have conserved more than the city expected, and will not be asked to reduce watering to one day a week. Meanwhile, state lawmakers are discussing ways to improve California's water delivery system, and to prevent the state from going dry.