Occupation: U.S. stays out of new Iraq's political wars + Loyalists of Rebel Cleric Flex Muscle (LAT Reg) + For Western visitors, blending in is crucial + US to Iraqi Assembly: Snap Out of It

War prisons: US General Approved Extreme Interrogation Methods

AFGHANISTAN: Woman accused in 27 slayings. Afghan police say housewife, son, boyfriend have confessed in 4-year killing spree in which victims' cars were sold off

MIDDLE EAST: New Arab rallying cry: 'Enough'

Abbas Crackdown After Fatah Faction Attack on W. Bank HQ

EUROPE:  Pope put on feeding tube, public audiences suspended. Vatican pulls back from upbeat updates, admits pontiff's convalescence is 'slow'

German unemployed put Schroeder in stranglehold

AFRICA: Zimbabwe voters cast ballots as Mugabe predicts massive win

ASIA PACIFIC:  22 Million Chinese Seek to Block Japan's Bid to Join U.N. Council

Chinese undergo painful surgery to get taller (LAT Reg)

AMERICAS: Guatemala and CAFTA: Return to the Bad Old Days?

INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AT WORK AND AT PLAY....

FBI at Crossroads in AIPAC Probe

US intel agencies 'incompetent' + 'Dead wrong' intel mistakes on Iraq crippled U.S. credibility

An Early Wartime Profile Depicts a Tormented Hitler

Annan's Plan Would Be Suicide for Nations (LAT Reg)

Lockheed bids again for Los Alamos contract (CCT Reg)

'Ghost Prisoner' Resurfaces in Guantanamo

Fresh Skirmishes in the Information Wars

FORMER D.C. SCHOOL OFFICIAL CHARGED AS TERRORIST

Click. US Ambassador to Kyrgyz Republic Secret Report

CONNECT THE DOTS....

Seven basic plots that tell the human tale (LAT Reg)

Diana Griego Erwin: Mixed opinions on Johnnie Cochran reflect racial divide in America (SB Reg)

HOW LOW
THE LAW GOES....

Justices Give Older Workers More Leeway in Alleging Bias

FBI Reportedly Studies Possible Yucca Mountain Fraud

Son of Chippewa Leader Is Charged in Shootings + Possibility of plot in shootings at high school worries residents. Authorities interview several students about e-mails to attacker + Tribal leader says son didn't help shooter

Microsoft Files 117 Suits That Target 'Phishing'

Schiavo Dies Nearly Two Weeks After Removal of Feeding Tube

Police Chief in Albuquerque Quits Amid Evidence Scandal (LAT Reg)

Captain Gets Probation in Alaska Ship Accident (LAT Reg)

Possible Cause of Deadly Refinery Blast Identified (LAT Reg)

Catholic bishops post Web survey for abuse victims

CALIFORNIA BREAKING LAW NEWS....

Lockyer probe urged on Alameda County jury-bias claims + Prejudging jurors + Prejudging jurors + Final points made at jury-bias hearing

Parole found to be ineffective in helping cons go straight. Re-arrest rates for parolees, the unsupervised essentially the same

Lawsuit challenges critical habitat (CCT Reg)

Internet makes traffic classes quicker, easier

The Bizarre Legal Philosophy of Justice Janice Rogers Brown

Sacramento & north: Oates must face lawsuit (SB Reg) + Antelope school to discuss teacher's molestation arrest (SB Reg) + Citrus: Saturday session on police expanded (SB Reg) + Deputies arrest tuberculosis patient (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: Fajita brawl helped SFPD, official says. Commissioner sees brass as now more diverse, less macho + Being a friend to those hurt by violence. Visitacion Valley effort now reaches out citywide + S.F. pot club moratorium difficult to enforce + License revoked for embryo mix-up + Shooting of 5 people in Bayview probed + S.F.: Driver charged with hitting traffic officer + Did Fajitagate flop? + Stolen computer sparks concerns of identity theft

Alameda:  Berkeley Police Department has 100th birthday + Oakland: Ex-resident guilty of wire fraud + Judge will clear about 40 people's criminal records. Lawyers are ready to see if other felons can also qualify + Priest abuse called root of brothers' woes. Psychologists say social troubles, substance abuse stemmed from boyhood incidents + Rookie officer set up 'Riders,' lawyer claims (CCT Reg) + Medical tests urged for slashing suspect, 16 (CCT Reg) + Counselor may face charges in knifing case + Trio charged in Oakland man's shooting death over 'spinners' + 'Riders' attorney stays on offensive + Priests testify diocese aware of molestation

Santa Clara: S.J. CSI on finger found in chili + Web site not nice, but it's still legal (SJM Reg) + Open inquiry needed in wake of jail deaths (SJM Reg) + Defense begins case for 2 cops (SJM Reg) + Police: Fatal stabbing may be gang-related (SJM Reg)+ Driver in fatal 1997 crash arrested on DUI charge (SJM Reg) + Don't alter seat belt because of your size (SJM Reg) + Where to file claims for unpaid overtime (SJM Reg)

Contra Costa: Concord: Owner was warned of pit bulls' danger. Animal officers say 28-year-old man may face felony + Dogs maul boy (CCT Reg) + Teen girl held in Orinda robbery (CCT Reg) + San Ramon police chief retires (CCT Reg) + Diablo Winds farm allows birds to fly friendlier skies (CCT Reg) + Counseling agreed upon in case of drunken girls (CCT Reg)

Marin: Click.  Kaiser Hospital will investigate itself regarding the eviction of Sarah Nome.

Sonoma: Santa Rosa: Warrants out for 2 slaying suspects + 1998 Monte Rio slaying case on hold again+ Witness details attacks by Hasler+ Trash man arrested in sexual assault+ Probation recommended for Corban

Solano: Audit Finds Officials Falsified School Budgets (LAT Reg) + Veteran Benicia policeman retires from force + Judge reschedules murder trial + Vallejo Police Calls + Sentencing delayed in fraud case + Area Blockbuster locations subject to settlement terms regarding 'no late fee' promo

Monterey: Salinas: Drunk Driver Gets 3 Life Terms in Crash (LAT Reg)+ Grubbs case goes to jury

Central Valley: Lawsuits challenge species protection + Pursuing workers' rights can disunite +  Peterson case tally passes $3 million + Managers arraigned in toxin case + Sheriff's deputy gets 10 days for kicking

Central Coast: Parolee faces new DUI charge + P.V. health-care nonprofit being sued + Inmates stage fast to protest isolation + Burglarized Davenport center receives help from community + Cops and Courts

Southern California: LAPD Settling Ramparts Abuse Scandal (LAT Reg) + LAPD Clarifying Rule on Immigrants (LAT Reg) + Courts Divided by Chavez Holiday (LAT Reg) + LA Police Move to Curb Car Shootings + OC: Justice With a Side Order of Help (LAT Reg) + Suit Against Blake May Be Settled (LAT Reg) + Bilked Riverside Investors Face a Long Wait + OC: Chase Ends in Arrest of Car-Theft Suspect (LAT Reg)

Michael Jackson: Therapist Who Spoke to Jackson Accuser Testifies (LAT Reg) + Heated words from stand + Psychologist Testified In Jackson Trial + Definition Of 'Cuddling' Debated In Michael Jackson Trial

The Governor:  Gov. drops plan to combine youth, adult prisons + Emergency Rules Called Overused by Gov. (LAT Reg) + Legislators probe 'pay to play' after Gov.'s donor wins contract + Gov. takes heat for absences (SB Reg) + Gov. denies endorsing disputed diet supplements (SJM Reg) + Gov. defends link to annual fitness expo (CCT Reg)

Study: Blacks, Latinos paying more for home loans (SB Reg)

McPherson sworn in as secretary of state. GOP moderate wins easy approval to replace Shelley + New secretary of state promises to restore public confidence

New Bay Bridge has old problem (CCT Reg)

New welfare system not computing (SB Reg)

Editorial: The money drought (SB Reg)

Pataki can teach Schwarzenegger about sunshine (MB Reg)

Angelides Strives to Get His 'Anti-Arnold' Message Heard in Bid for Gov. (LAT Reg)

Legislature: Legislature considers bill to ban chemical from kids' products. Bisphenol A found in pacifiers, toys and baby bottles + Whistle-blower support bill clears first panel (CCT Reg)

Indian tribes: States, Tribes Put Gaming on the Table + As Gambling Grows, States Depend on Their Cut + State and Humboldt tribe make deal (SB Reg) +  Forum to discuss American Indian health

LOCAL NEWS:   Butterflies swarm Peninsula

Beachgoers Told to Stay Away From Seal Pups (LAT Reg)

Sacramento & north: Sisters of Social Service have been a quiet force in Sacramento philanthropy for 30 years (SB Reg) + Second probe of Elk Grove official (SB Reg) + City, county look for ways to stop trashing of parkway (SB Reg) + Yolo ponders homeless problem (SB Reg) + County board hears district unification plan (SB Reg) + Editorial: Veterans with bad habits (SB Reg) + News in brief from Northern California

San Francisco, San Mateo: Boxer promises to fight for low-income housing money. Developer feels pinch of tightened federal budget + Condo-conversion plan gets panel's OK + YMCA to sell Tenderloin site, build a new gym nearby + Social Security office closure criticized

Alameda: A's fans hope new owners won't skip town. Head of investment group has talked about building a new ballpark in Oakland + Spees elected chair of Alameda County GOP + Owners OK A’s sale to Wolff pack + Activists confront waterfront developer

Santa Clara: VTA backs new Grand Prix course (SJM Reg) + Baby Bullets' story of success (SJM Reg) + Popular morning DJ dies after long illness (SJM Reg) + Monk returns home, one pagoda at a time (SJM Reg) + Senator won't attend salt ponds ceremony (SJM Reg) + Ruling allows S.J. tent to rise (SJM Reg) + Meeting with mayor comes to a quick end (SJM Reg) + Patent program will have to move (SJM Reg)

Contra Costa: Pinole city manager offers warning (CCT Reg) + Danville offers a car-seat checkup (CCT Reg) + Portola school renovation pushed back as costs climb (CCT Reg) + Sirens in Port Costa, Tormey intended to fix warning system (CCT Reg) + Drug treatment site gets back on track (CCT Reg)

Marin: Marin doctor faces loss of license for embryo error + Paul Bettini, former San Rafael mayor, dies + Boys know their way around the globe + Marin Sanitary's animal farm reopens + Tiburon family, friends seek to honor sports star with statue + Pioneering COM dance instructor, 68, dies

Sonoma: It takes a landslide to get trains on tracks + Cotati could get a makeover + Pot club owners, SR City Council discuss proposal + $20,000 fees target affordable housing

Napa: School boycott may have involved hundreds + Another store checks out of River Park + Napa politicos start gearing up for next election + Napa clergy weigh in on Schiavo

Solano: Vallejo: Girl, 11, killed in collision -- big rig drags car on I-80. Her 3 cousins hurt -- family on way to grandmother's house in S.F.+ Girl, 11, dead, four injured in morning crash with semitractor + Group pitches own vision + Officials accused of secret meetings + Local News Briefs + Ray elected to board of Solano EDC

Monterey: Supporters, opponents of lease plan speak out + Callahan steps aside; DLI plan draws crowd + Tax refund may benefit roads + Two rescued near Pajaro Dunes + Your town + Rally Salinas closer to stated goal

Central Valley: Harvard lists area graduation rates + Commuters stick close to home + Students making a splash + The Bee announces editors to coordinate news coverage + Grant has UC Merced thinking small + Learning to walk tall + Future of Chávez day debated + H. Hamilton, Stan State professor, administrator + News & Notes + Around the Region + Slain Singer's Lasting Legacy + News from the San Joaquin Valley

Central Coast: Anglers, businesses ramp up for sport salmon opener + Radio-station manager follows Chavez’s vision  + ‘Mud-cropping’ signals strawberry season’s start + Enrollment concerns SLV district + Times getting tougher for boat renters + Alladin Nursery toasts to a new era + State Coastal Commission appeals Hidden Beach project + Felton water-main break illustrates tension between customers, CalAm + Forum to discuss American Indian health + Coast Lines

Southern California: LA mayor race: How many debates? + Candidates Appeal to Key Blocs (LAT Reg) + Coffeehouse Is on Dana Point Burner (LAT Reg) + + Officials Call for Inquiry on City Loans (LAT Reg) + No Quick Fix Seen for Long LAX Lines (LAT Reg) + L.A. Is Not Liable in Killing of Two at LAX (LAT Reg) + Rivals for 11th District Seat Announce Backers (LAT Reg) + DWP Agrees to Notify Councils on Proposals (LAT Reg)

School days:  Chinese Americans renew school placement push. Court-ordered desegregation system sends many students to campuses across town + Valley kids earn invitation to U.N. + SF.: Shut the schools + UC Irvine School to Pocket Millions (LAT Reg) + LA Teacher Panel Says No to Pact (LAT Reg) + El Cerrito school fix delayed+ Why tolerance is fading for zero tolerance in schools+ Marjie Lundstrom: Frat porn escapade won't dim effort to reform Chico State image (SB Reg) + CSUS grad spells out success in selling (SB Reg) + Grant has UC Merced thinking small + Charter schools face new criticism in America (SB Reg)

BIOWARFARE  WATCH....

Bird Flu Hits N. Korea in Sore Spot (LAT Reg)

Patient With Drug-resistant Form Of HIV Identified

Aspirin Found to Beat Warfarin for One Kind of Stroke

Drug Shows Promise Against Chagas' Disease (LAT Reg)

Researchers Test Breast Cancer Drug

Short-term Effects Of Spit Tobacco Suggest Long-term Health Risks

CLONING OF HORSES GET GO-AHEAD

BRAIN IMPLANT LETS PARALYZED MAN MOVE OBJECTS

Could Injections Someday Be A Thing Of The Past? + UC Berkeley Researchers Working On Ouchless Injections

Success Of Liver Transplantation May Be Most Influenced By Three Risk Factors

Incubator Company At NJIT Develops Lifesaving MRI Coil For Small Animals

Carnegie Mellon Study: Adults' Baby Talk Helps Infants Learn To Speak

Live Oral Bacteria Found In Arterial Plaque

Simple Intervention Encourages Sun Protection Behaviors

Atrazine Runoff Jeopardizing Herbicide's Use By Farmers

Men With Severe Sleep Breathing Disorder Have Higher Risk Of Heart Problems

Stanford Patient Is First To Test New Treatment For Peripheral Arterial Disease

Lip Piercing Can Lead To Receding Gums

Anti-Stress Formula Gives Calves A Boost

Microsoft Launches Portable TV Service

Mobile phones as blog tools (SJM Reg)

Novel, Computer-Assisted Method For Colorization Of Black And White Scenes Developed At Hebrew University

Engineers: In Big Picture, Gas, Cordless Mowers Equal Polluters

Signs of tsunami emerging after all + Researchers Go Into Action After Tsunami

Scientists Create, Study Methane Hydrates In 'Ocean Floor' Lab

New Technique Uses Seismic 'Garbage' To View Earth's Interior

THE BUSHWORLD...

Bush Praises Retirement Plan With Key Difference From Social Security Accounts He Proposes

Europe reluctantly accepts Bush's World Bank nominee, Deputy of defense declares mission is to aid poor nations + Wolfowitz-led World Bank must shed image problem

Draft May Be Needed in a Year, Military Analysts Warn

U.S. Agrees to Use U.N. Court for Darfur Cases (LAT Reg)

Bolton: John Bolton, Drugrunner + State Department Defends Bolton Nomination

Cheney's son-in-law tapped as security counsel (CCT Reg)

Bush expresses condolences to Schiavo's family

New role: first lady on global stage + Laura Bush visits Afghanistan, lauds women for courage

Rumsfeld: Rumsfeld Is Getting His Players in Position + Rumsfeld: Iraqis, Not US, Must Defeat Insurgents

Iran: 'Sponsors' of terror on decline. Iran seen as lone state of peril to U.S. + Iran President Leads Tour of Atomic Plants (LAT Reg) + Exiles: Iran Seeks to Obtain Nuclear Warheads + Iran Reveals 'Secret' Nuclear Plant

Syria, Lebanon: US, EU: Syria Trying to Keep Control of Lebanon

Other foreign: EU eyes sanctions in anti-dumping row with US + Belgium red-faced over Bush chimpanzee photos

Domestic: Civilians to patrol border + No Senate Run by Rep. Kennedy (LAT Reg)

Social Security: Bush Invites Critics to Show, Tell

Congress: Democrats Set to Reject Pick for U.N. + Mineta trades jabs with Boxer over Amtrak. Transit czar aboard special Baby Bullet Millbrae-to-S.F. train

Democrats: Bill Bradley: A party inverted

GOP: Groups use ethics questions to target DeLay

OPINIONS:

Why World War IV Can't Sell: Brown/Engelhardt

Condi Rice Talks Down to Europe, Asia: Leon Hadar

Et Tu, Florida? (LAT Reg)

A Dangerous Line in the Sand (LAT Reg)

How to Win Friends in the Mideast (LAT Reg)

MILITARY U.S. Soldier Convicted Over Shooting of Iraqi

Study Faults Army Vehicle

Valor in Iraq earns Medal of Honor

CANADA SEAL HUNT GETS UNDERWAY

ChoicePoint to allow people access to personal records

New Order of Catholic Priests Is Forming to Fight Abortions

Anti-Logging Protester Snarls Portland Traffic (LAT Reg)

Fonda Says Vietnamese Visit Was a Betrayal

Animal rights activist arrested after 7 years

Columbia University Cleared of Anti-Semitism

Paintings Idolize Romanian Dictator Ceausescu

The People v. Comcast Television

RFID CARDS GET SPIN TREATMENT

MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK....

Rates on 30-year mortgages hit 8-month high

INVESTMENT BANK SEES OIL 'SUPER SPIKE' TO $105

AIG's woes keep piling up

HP: Future Is The Concern + HP CEO dives in (SJM Reg) + HP makes Hurd the $20m man

Studios' break a war of egos

EBay dumps S.F. ad agency

Hong Kong Disneyland kicks off recruitment drive for 3,000 people

San Francisco gay marriage and beyond:  Stay on same-sex ruling to hold a year. Judge's action will prevent marriages during the appeals + Religious chiefs decry gay pride fest in Jerusalem. Christians, Jews, Muslim clerics in rare show of unity + Opposition to gay pride event in holy city unites diverse faiths

The Pen Is Mightier.... 

Koppel to leave ABC by end of 2005

Radio-station manager follows Chavez’s vision

Liz Smith Accuses 'Newsday' of Breaking Her Contract

Report: Newspaper Sites Will Bring In $1.52B in 2005

'S.F. Chronicle' BALCO Reporters to Write Book

Senator Expects Fights on FOIA Reform

'Miami Herald': State Lost Track of 1,800+ Sex Offenders

Today's papers

Vincent van Gogh, The Painter on his Way to Work Enlarge  

Daily picture from the Metropolitan

Street smart in Santa Fe

Death Valley, Lush With Flowers, Lousy With Tourists (LAT Reg)

History Is Gone With the Rain (LAT Reg)

Historic Aqueduct in L.A. to Be Buried (LAT Reg)

Fullerton Theater Set for Its Next Scene (LAT Reg)

Motherhood, It's a Zoo (LAT Reg)

Photo album a treasure trove of Sonoma County history

On the hunt for Marin's wildflowers

Religions, Cults Get Sacred Space in Brazil Park

Janis Joplin's Old Band to Hunt for a New 'Pearl'

Song&Dance Music of the ’40s eased plight of interned Nisei

Young Man Basquiat

Joyce Carol Oates on Peter Abrahams

Joan Acocella on Matthew Bourne

Lloyd Grove's Lowdown: Jesse's right-on move

Rush & Molloy: Is Pataki's son taking on the world?

Page Six

Liz Smith

Cindy Adams

Your daily braindrop

Word of the day

Occupation: AP: U.S. to Probe Iraq Scientist's Death + Sunnis now want to join Iraq politics + Naming of Iraqi President Expected by Week's End

War prisons: Guantanamo military hearings opened to media + US handling of terror suspects questioned + Guantanamo abuse videotaped

AFGHANISTAN: UN Calls for More Outside Help for Afghanistan + Woman, Children Die in U.S. Attack on Taliban

MIDDLE EAST: Arab peace offer has strings attached

Israel, Palestine: Palestinians ask U.S. to halt Jerusalem settlements + Jordan is the Palestinians' natural partner + IDF officer reports increase in violent acts carried out by settlers

Blue City seen as boon to Omani economic development

RUSSIA: Rich Russians more interested in luxury than history + Putin 'halts' privatization probe + President Putin to visit Middle East despite arms delivery scandal with Israel and Syria

EUROPE: Kyrgyzstan Leader Reportedly Flees Country + Kyrgyz Parliament Appoints Acting President

Sisters Say IRA Is Creating 'Wall of Silence' in Brother's Slaying (LAT Reg)

USA to crush Turkmenistan's economy with a billion-dollar lawsuit

EU requires new biometrical passports for Russia as a condition to join the world community

AFRICA: Kenyan FM: Invasion of Somalia Could Happen as Early as Next Month

Ethiopia army 'killed and raped'

AMERICAS: Chile's Pinochet Retains Immunity

El Salvador lags despite trade winds + The martyr of El Salvador

Auto emissions to be cut in Canada + At summit, US, Canada, and Mexico aim for unity + Mexico Protests US Walls Along Border

Cuba to present nine counts against Washington in Human Rights Commission

INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AT WORK AND AT PLAY....

Report: Russian arms control researcher convicted of espionage refuses to admit guilt in pardon plea

Documents show CIA systematic in hiding detainees. Top official knew of practice at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison

Pentagon Increases Its Spying Markedly (LAT Reg)

No Trial for Doctor Accused in Nazi Deaths (LAT Reg)

Dismissal of Spy Case Is Reaffirmed (LAT Reg)

'Dozens' of Aussies with terror links

US Bars Italians From Examining Sgrena's Car

File Shows Aide to Osama Held by US 

Plan eyes spies near battlefield

MI5 offers a 'license to manage'

Spy revelations force cabinet appointee to resign

Wily Mugabe frustrates S.Africa

Iraq Dispute Leads Britain To Revamp Intelligence

US Govt's Arabic Channel a Hit in Syria

Russia: We Killed Chechen Rebel With Links to CIA

Texas blast 'was not terrorism'

Inside an Argentine death camp

WMD Commission to Release Tough Findings on Iraq, Iran, North Korea

AP Exclusive: Volcker Auditing Transactions Involving Swiss Firm That Employed Annan's Son

CONNECT THE DOTS....

Chris Caen: My interview with Jimmy Hoffa

Radical Report Supports Baby Sex Selection

'Revelations': Armageddon comes to prime time

AP Interview: Chess Icon Bobby Fischer Presents His World View in Flight to Freedom

HOW LOW
THE LAW GOES....

Ex-Atlanta Hostage Receives $70K Reward

Escaped Killer Hid as Poet in Chicago

Supreme Court deals blow to parents' hope Schiavo tube will be reconnected

Shooter Described As Deeply Disturbed + SCHOOL KILLER WAS ON PROZAC

At Camp Fed, Rowland has some choices

Court Spares Flagpole Defender's House (LAT Reg)

Patriot Act Used to Indict in Laser Incident (LAT Reg)

Railroading Moussaoui

Adelphia offers $725m SEC settlement

Jury Awards $84 Million in Punitive Damages in Flash Memory Suit

CALIFORNIA BREAKING LAW NEWS....

Agents: SoCal smugglers shipping 660 pounds of cocaine a month

Guard's death may spur change

Ex-D.A. who alleged bias has character questioned (CCT Reg)

Incentives for eviction

Sacramento & north: Diana Griego Erwin: Teen murder victim's mom lends voice - and heart - to stopping violence (SB Reg) + Four suspects arraigned in slaying; one still sought (SB Reg) + Two CYA wards flee camp in Amador County (SB Reg) + Sacramento man arrested in child-sex Internet sting (SB Reg) + Man pleads guilty in wife's slaying (SB Reg) + Man arraigned in mom's 2003 death (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: Chinese restaurant pays back wages + Expert witness minimizes effect of priests' sex abuse

Alameda: Alameda County DA's office is scrutinized + Speed of cop reform picking up + Mental exam awaits girl held in slashing + 'Diva' told to stop Web links to Kaiser + Jury awards Livermore Lab whistle-blower $2.1 million + Environment violations net $142,400 + Trio held in heists atypical, cops say + 2 teen girls shot at W. Oakland home + Fired Livermore lab worker awarded $2.1 million (CCT Reg) + Berkeley park meters under seige (CCT Reg) + Psychiatric tests for slashing suspect. Girl, 16, in juvenile court charged with attempted murder + Alameda County D.A. tries to discredit lawyer who alleged Jews kept from juries. He says in campaign candidate asked him to shred information + Hayward: Ex-officer sentenced in undressing of teen + OAKLAND / Postings ordered halted / Ex-Kaiser worker put links to data on patients on Web

Santa Clara: Wendy's diner finds human finger in her chili + Reports on prison death may spur state shakeup (SJM Reg) + Courtroom gallery (SJM Reg) + Lengthy sentence in Santa Clara rape (SJM Reg) + Weimers: Thieves driven to swipe plates (SJM Reg) + Palo Alto: Alleged brutality victim says officers like 'sharks'. Witness to 2003 attack disputes parts of testimony

Contra Costa: Burglar shoves pregnant woman (CCT Reg) + Girl thwarts man who grabs her (CCT Reg) + + Former broker arrested in thefts (CCT Reg) + Long car chase ends in man's arrest (CCT Reg) + Brothers charged in elder scam involving vehicles (CCT Reg) + Moraga: High-living broker accused of Ponzi scam. Prosecutors say he took in $2 million from fake bonds + Richmond: Homicide charge in beating death of toddler. Child's mother, boyfriend also accused of abuse + San Ramon: Couple guilty -- sold drug ingredients

Marin: Parents upset at Judge Verna Adams giving 3 months sentence for molestation + Ex-county worker claims bias in firing

Sonoma: Bias claims in sheriff's office detailed + Sheriff's office hit by lawsuit

Solano: Suspect appears in court after body is reportedly found on kitchen floor + Vallejo Police Calls

Central Valley: A game of chicken comes home to roost + Mother obsessed with priest, jury told + Ripon will investigate charges against teacher + + Sacramento man held on Internet sex count + + 4th slaying of the year in Merced + Law & Order

Central Coast: Judge rules soldier will be buried in Oklahoma + Soldier’s body heads to Tulsa + Deputies break up two unrelated crimes in one call + Cops and Courts

Southern California: 3 Guilty of Sexual Assault in O.C. Gang-Rape Retrial (Haidl) + Gang-Rape Case Verdicts Follow Mistrial, and Luck May Play Part (LAT Reg) + Lessons Are Loud and Clear for Teens (LAT Reg) + Blake Jurors 'Stupid,' D.A. Says (LAT Reg) + L.A. County Scrutinizes Courtroom Safety (LAT Reg) + Jackson's Ex-Bodyguard Is Jailed (LAT Reg) + 8 Arrested in DEA Bust of Drug Ring (LAT Reg) + Another Girl Testifies Against Avila (LAT Reg)

Michael Jackson: Judge Bars Computer Porn, Lawyer Takes Ill + Jury Hears From Fingerprint Expert + Michael Defense targets long delay in fingerprint analysis

The Governor: Judge hands Gov. donations victory. Ruling frees up ballot measure committee to raise unlimited funds + Gov. appears winner on funds (SB Reg) + Judge rules in favor of Gov.'s fund raising + Newspaper: Gov.'s office knew of extra bridge costs + Memos: Gov. knew bridge costs + Bridge memos lead to the top + Gov. in Fresno talks reform (FB Reg) + UK: Suit against Gov. to proceed + Chiefs join ranks of pension fight (SB Reg) + Gov. should veto firefighter staffing bill + Foes of Gov.'s Initiatives to Fight Fire With Fire (LAT Reg) + Workers Comp rate cut urged (LAT Reg) + State gets new anti-terror czar (SB Reg) + Medi-Cal crackdown advances (SB Reg) + Daniel Weintraub: A billion in debt and big payments define 'success' (SB Reg)

Stem cell panel: Stem cell cases put off (SB Reg) + State Supreme Court refuses to hear challenge to stem cell research program. The action leaves unsettled California's authority to issue bonds for the $3 billion to pay for the plan voters approved

Indian tribes: Battle for Canada's underground resources. Tribes oppose pipeline to tape rich oil reserves + Reservation where 10 died has long known pain + Forster testifies to Congress on gaming issues + Governor’s Office of Planning and Research Invites Tribal Members To Discuss SB 18 Tribal Consultation Guidelines

LOCAL NEWS:   A Ray of Hope for Solar (LAT Reg)

Sacramento & north: Even a role model has his doubts (SB Reg) + Oil company offers aid for energy classes (SB Reg) + Woman dies after being hit by RT bus (SB Reg) + Locking into success: Data-storage demand drives Elk Grove firm (SB Reg) + Diamond Walnut's marathon strike ends (SB Reg) + Shasta: PG&E abandons dam relicensing+ Yolo public service nominees sought (SB Reg) + Siskiyou judge Tosses Out Town's Water Deal With Nestle

San Francisco, San Mateo: Mayor pushes downtown plans for 11,000 housing units + NewPark Mall project will include theater + Stoner central + The once and future city + Editorial: Newsom ducks tough one + Editorial: Leal's conversion + Highway 101: Road to Silicon + Peninsula builders move toward transportation-friendly planning + High-tech tools could ease commuters' decision making + Rethinking the Dumbarton approach + Report: SFPUC mismanages finances + Peninsula residents plead for Caltrain stations + Jerry, Kimberly and Bobby Short + Audit critical of S.F. water pricing. East Bay, Peninsula overpayments said to total $27 million + Golden Gate Bridge: + Money found for suicide study. Panel expected to OK $1.6 million to look into barrier + Schools to reinstate post-game handshake. New effort to stress sportsmanship on girls soccer teams + San Francisco: Schools named that could be closed. Budget troubles, fewer students force tough choices + Mayor Newsom fined for campaign violation + Child-care providers to get 25-cent raise + Fire, regrowth design wins AIDS contest

Alameda: State dings Pleasanton's promised housing plan + Fremont keeps Route 84 on table + Flags fly at half-staff for train victim + Independents preview projects at local festivals

Santa Clara: San Jose expansion plans raise concerns + Traffic weighs on North S.J. plan (SJM Reg) + Alma Plaza grocery closes (SJM Reg) + + Library to try tax vote again (SJM Reg) + Beloved Swensen's Ice Cream may close (SJM Reg) + Councilman questions chamber's free rent deal (SJM Reg) + Herhold: Novel features valley ties (SJM Reg) + Foothill-De Anza campaign fines paid (SJM Reg) + 6-alarm fire injures 3 in Glen Willow

Contra Costa: Driver on I-580 has apparent heart attack, dies (CCT Reg) + Pittsburg man fatally stumbles (CCT Reg) + Possible road closure worries residents (CCT Reg) + Hercules postpones ballot on Wal-Mart (CCT Reg) + Pleasant Hill: Petitioners claim foes play dirty (CCT Reg) + REFINERIES APPEAL TO COUNTY FOR TAX RELIEF (CCT Reg)

Marin: Novato charter school stays at IVC + New fire station design appeases Mt. Tam residents + Cancer fighters to be honored + This year is wet but not a record + 'Don't Forgetta Mezzetta' food seller founder dies + Noted commercial art director dies + Moon inspires sophomore

Sonoma: Medical marijuana business vows to be good neighbor + Why Olive will always be welcome + Windsor fire district wants $900,000 + Family Easter events + Unjamming SR bottlenecks + Petaluma chamber head appointed to SRJC board + Under fire, SR planning agency chief reassigned

Napa: Maxwell Bridge is coming down + Low-income housing project on targetto open in AmCan + Property rights law proposed by Land Stewards + Last ditch bid to save bridge fails + Napa State Hospital workers are eggs-stremely angry over Gov. Schwarzenegger's pension plan

Solano: Isleton police leave post (SB Reg) + Wal-Mart fight may hit Vallejo + Service workers protest 401(k) proposal + Brain-damaged Suisun City boy dies at age 8 + BTA blasts school board + Blues singer succumbs to cancer + School fraud audit findings to be released next week + GVRD considers raising program rates + County makes gains in jobs

Monterey: GROWERS ELATED + Transportation center on track + Monterey: Council hears budget concerns + MST, Marina closer to a deal + Officer in good spirits + Your Town

Central Valley: Barbara Bush, going strong in Modesto + Field of Dreams + Sylvan selects 3 school names + Some will pick their high school + Waterlogged + Patterson man killed by train + Body ID'd as missing Crows Landing teen + Major upgrades set at Don Pedro center + Youth center reaches out to its community + Students may get signals + Dioxin found near Atwater + News & Notes + Around the Region + Publicly owned local utilities take control of their destinies+ Council picks Madueño from large, strong field

Central Coast: Slide neighbors on edge + Watsonville High students hear stories of driving tragedies + Car crash victim Spence hoped to become nurse, family says + Yeah, Santa Cruz is a great place to live, and now everyone knows it + Popular Seacliff pier faces repairs + Watsonville High faculty hosts variety show tonight + Easter Events in Santa Cruz County + Coast Lines + Mudslide forces evacuation in Aptos

Southern California: DWP putting millions aside for health care + Special vote under attack + Schools, LAX major topics up for debate + Slow ballot count defended + Proposal could make rush-hour street work a thing of the past + News briefs from Southern California + Villaraigosa, Hahn Court Heavyweight Endorsements + Medical Centers Warned Over Lapses (LAT Reg) + Energy Panel Broke Law, Groups Say (LAT Reg)+ L.A. Mayoral Foes Court Key Endorsements (LAT Reg) + Upland Outcry Has Wal-Mart Shifting Gears (LAT Reg)

School days: Encryption theory sends teen to San Diego + Graduation rates lower than stated (CCT Reg) + West County schools may cut cops (CCT Reg) + UC urged to quit merit program (CCT Reg) + Dropout crisis in L.A. (CCT Reg) + Report blasts state over dropout. Graduation rates inflated, study finds + High school athletes feel pressed to bulk up. Informal survey shows many know of steroid use + A passion for liberty languishes (SB Reg) + Elementary school emphasizes speaking out (SB Reg) + San Juan opens chief search (SB Reg) + Grant superintendent cited (SB Reg) + Loomis has award finalists + Worst schools lawsuit settled + Study: State urban schools are `dropout factories' (SJM Reg) + UCSC adds new track for computer science majors: Game design + Latinos use voting-rights law to force district elections. School board in the Central Valley had no Hispanic trustees + Nearly Half of Blacks, Latinos Drop Out, School Study Shows + A New Day for L.A. Preschools (LAT Reg)

In Canada, Flashback to the '70s

Canada Rules U.S. Army Deserter Not a Refugee

How to sell your self for a song

Airlines Cool on RFID Tags

Sharpton Complains to FCC About Violence in Rap, Asks Penalties

U.S. Life Expectancy About To Decline, Researchers Say

Single Hormone Appears To Regulate Blood Sugar In Two Different Ways; Finding May Help Explain Why Not All Obese People Get Diabetes

Insight Into DNA's 'Weakest Links' May Yield Clues To Cancer Biology

Panel cites 'information gap' on relieving menopause

Child's death boosts parents' mental illness risk, study says

'Virtual pharmacy' tackles tuberculosis on shoestring

Study will debate monkey future in experiments

Helicopter trial aims to cut rate of brain injuries

Mountaineering Doctors Hike Medicine To New Heights With Xtreme Everest

Light Therapy May Combat Fungal Infections, New Evidence Suggests

New Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Offers Quicker Recovery Time, Fewer Side Effects Than Traditional Surgery

Study Shows Acrylamide In Baked And Fried Foods Does Not Increase Risk Of Breast Cancer In Women

Emotional Memories Function In Self-Reinforcing Loop

Compound Inhibits One Critical Pathway In Breast Cancer Growth

Massive Weight Loss Patients Create Mass Appeal For Body Contouring Procedures

Small Hearts Make Big Difference For Young Transplant Recipients

Scientists Recover Tissue From T. Rex

Octopus: Two-footing it? (CCT Reg)

Pachyderm or parrot? (CCT Reg)

Unlike Other Bats, Vampire Bats Keep Out Of Trouble By Running

Researchers Recognize 'Lower-Energy' Varieties Of Coastal Islands

World's Largest Computing Grid Surpasses 100 Sites

Search Technique For Images Recognises Visual Patterns

Rubber Magazine - World's First Fuel Cell Motorcycle Unveiled

Numenta works to develop brain-like computing (SJM Reg)

NASA Follows X Prize Footsteps

Tiny Towers: Carbon Nanotube Structures Could Provide More Efficient Solar Power For Soldiers

Fire And Ice: Mars Images Reveal Recent Volcanic And Glacial Activity

Young And Exotic Stellar Zoo: ESO's Telescopes Uncover Super Star Cluster In The Milky Way

Airborne Soot Adds to Arctic Melting, Study Finds (LAT Reg)

THE BUSHWORLD...

Bush to push for immigration changes. Canadian, Mexican, U.S. leaders talk in Texas

Bush Intends to Renominate Safety Board Chairman, Vice Chairman

Rumsfeld Warns Nicaragua on Anti-Aircraft Missiles

Schiavo: Terri Schiavo's Parents All but Run Out of Options as Daughter Draws Closer to Death + Younger brother cultivated contacts with, contributions from antiabortion activists + Doctors Spar on Degree of Schiavo's Awareness; Sharp Words by Some

Iran: Iranian Exile Says Uranium Enriched at Secret Site + Blair: Nobody Planning to Attack Iran

Syria, Lebanon:: Assad on verge of announcing Lebanon pullout schedule + Suicide bomber blamed in Beirut + UN May Probe Hariri Killing Further + Mubarak: Syria to announce pullout timetable + UN attacks Lebanon Hariri inquiry

Other foreign: U.S. worried about Venezuela. Rumsfeld urges nation to rethink major Russian weapons purchase + 'Intelligence Fiasco' Stirs Up the Korean Peninsula (LAT Reg) + EU Decision to Delay China Arms Sales Big Win for Bush

Rice: Rice on Asia + Kyrgyzstan Events Could End Up as Success Story, Rice Says

Domestic: Drug Companies Launch Ad Campaign to Promote Discount Card

Social Security: Report Emphasizes Shortfall in Medicare + The retiree math war + Friendly fire waged on Social Security

Democrats: Democrats Didn't Fight Too Hard on Schiavo Legislation An AP News Analysis

GOP: GOP adviser died of drug overdose in Carrie Fisher's home

OPINIONS:

Environment is uniting left and right

Death and politics

The 500-Mile-Per-Gallon Solution (LAT Reg)

Factual Guide for Max Boot: Thomas Woods

The Business of America Is to Stay in Business (LAT Reg)

Bush Speaks Out and Stays Silent (LAT Reg)

Ed Naha: On the road with mama's boy

Blumenthal: A confederacy of Shamans

Unmasking the theocons

Huffington: Paying the price for Bush's retro energy policy

Helen Thomas: Wolfowitz at World Bank, another promotion for failure

Maureen Dowd: DeLay, deny and demagogue Click.

Hijacking Democracy in Iraq: Scott Ritter

China Delay Win for Bush: Jim Lobe

Frankly, my dear, I do give a damn

Cheney emerges from the shadows

Real patriotism

Republicans admit they tried to circumvent law in Schiavo case

MILITARY  Burial-rights fight. Court sides with father in clash over where soldier will be laid to rest

Tips on getting VA education payments promptly

Battle for America's Youth: Kevin Zeese

Soldier Discharged for Trying to Smuggle Weapon Home

The REAL Military Record of France

COMBAT SUPPORT: U.S. Army Engineers Transformed

SPECIAL OPERATIONS: Commando Fever in the Balkans

Demobilized Reservists Could Keep Military Health Insurance for Up to Eight Years

LEAKGATES 

Court Rules New York City Fire Department Must Release Most Sept. 11 Tapes

Did UK AG Change His Mind on Legality of Iraq War?

We're all paranoid + The Flight 77 time line

Blood for pork....

Where Guarding a Life Hinders Doing the Job (LAT Reg)

US Investigators Urge More Army Contract Oversight

BIOWARFARE  WATCH....

EPA Work on Sensors for Detecting Bioterrorism Attack Faulted

He's using a cell phone list to corral bird flu in Cambodia. Doctor and a team of 10 are trying to head off epidemic + Second bird flu case in Cambodia

Human tests of avian flu vaccine underway

FOUR DEAD FROM EBOLA IN SUDAN

Deadly Ebola-like virus reaches Angolan capital

In Emergency, Flu Vaccine Could Be Made Quickly In Existing Facilities

FDA/CHIRON Flu Fiasco: Health officials look to avoid repeat of flu debacle

MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK....

Shareholders Approve Sears-Kmart Deal

Railroad revival

Educating investors isn't easy

Activists say new laws will cut off AIDS drugs. India amends patent rules in push for world trade group

German Workers Do the Wage Limbo

Gates Buys Into $400 million Aircraft Startup

San Francisco gay marriage and beyond:  New GLBT Historical Marker Coming to Independence Hall + Navratilova endorses gay travel company + Georgia school allows gay-straight alliance

The Pen Is Mightier.... 

Anyone can be a journalist

Liberation Radio loses its court case, but the fight isn't over

Media Groups Back Reporters in Plame Case

India: A BBC and CNN of our own

Stardom: FOX TV Comes To Portugal

Today's papers

Vincent van Gogh, The Painter on his Way to Work Enlarge  

Daily picture from the Metropolitan

Bears were no match for Valleys own Grizzly

Married priests to fill Catholics' Easter void

Cutting-edge handicrafts are un unsung national treasure

Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos

Ireland's History in Maps

Dubai to hold its first International Theater Festival

Where, Behind the Rabbit?

John Updike on a new biography of Kierkegaard

Animator Makes Waves as Artist

Now You, Too, Can Be a Comedian

Amiri Baraka, Broadway to 9/11

Page Six

Liz Smith

Cindy Adams

Your daily braindrop

Word of the day

War prisons: A righteous indignation + Afghan Detainee's Leg Was 'Pulpified,' Witness Says (LAT Reg)

AFGHANISTAN: High-Level' Taliban Member Is Killed in Afghan Clash, U.S. Military Says

MIDDLE EAST: At Algiers summit, Arab leaders relaunch Saudi Mideast initiative + Al-Qadhafi: Syria should be rewarded + Abdullah: Syria, Hezbollah promote terror against Israel

Opposition candidate in Egypt charged with forgery

Putin due in April for historic visit

Israel, Palestine: PM: Israel won't unilaterally leave more territories after Gaza pullout + Sharon Overcomes Key Hurdle to Gaza Pullout + Critical dispute over Jerusalem real estate + Israel relinquishes town of Tulkarem to Palestinians + U.S. envoys press Sharon on plans to build 3,500 units in Ma'aleh Adumim

EUROPE: Europeans may rethink weapons sales to China + News Analysis: For Beijing, a sobering message on embargo + How golden arms deals with China suddenly lost their shine + The EU's 25 shades of capitalism + EU rallies round France to head off constitution crisis

Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyz police disperse opposition rally in capital + Kyrgyz minister threatens force amid stepped-up opposition protests + Kyrgyz opposition determined to continue their national revolution + Political power in Kyrgyzstan pays like nothing else Fergana's ghosts haunt Central Asia + Revolution with a difference

AFRICA: Zimbabwe Leader Mugabe, Akin to Man Riding a Lion

As Its Lawmakers Squabble Abroad, Somalia Suffers (LAT Reg)

ASIA PACIFIC: China pressures North Korea for nuke talks

AMERICAS: Martin dodges bullet on missile plan

INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AT WORK AND AT PLAY....

Document: Bin Laden evaded U.S. forces + Detainee placed Osama at Tora Bora

In Saddam's ominous shadow

US and UK banks involved in Pinochet's dirty businesses

Ukraine admits selling strategic nuclear missiles to China and Iran

Russia's Sukhoi to develop 5th generation fighter jet

Mohamed Fayed: Enemy of the state

Click. Boston Red Sox Plane Used for CIA Renditions

Israel's homeland spies go online amid settler ire

Horev's obsession with Vanunu + Christian activist defiant after fresh charges from Israeli authorities

Guantánamo Briton claims he spied for MI5

Chinese Spy ship spotted off coast

Iraq dossier prompts rule changes + Straw unveils postwar intelligence controls

Spy agency runs recruiting drive

Spy technology takes security a step further

Malaysians condemn 'state spying'

Canada was told Air-India a target, ex-spy says

Congress already tweaking new intel post

CIA withholding intel from FBI

More terror cash in Canada + Porous border causes concern

MI5 headhunts middle managers

Terror Suspect Details Training, Plots by Islamic Militants in Philippines

Political Convulsions Unsettle Authoritarian Regimes in Central Asia and Create Openings for Islamic Hard-Liners

HOW LOW
THE LAW GOES....

School shooter: Nazi Site Intrigued Shooter + Loner With a Taste for Nazism +  Wore Bullet-Proof Vest + Mirrors Other Cases + Found Haven on Nazi Web Site + Click. Jeff Weise Postings on NAZI Forum + Saved by a filing cabinet

Court: SEC can hold pay bonuses in escrow during fraud probe

The Scalia Court

State Sues Vonage Over 911 Notification

Banks Told to 'Admit You Have a Fraud Problem'

Beauty Queen Sues 59 Over Net Sex Romp

RCMP says it can't plan for 'insane behaviors'

Researchers Develop Fingerprint Detection Technology

What a Shame: Oakland Announces Plans to Post Photos of Convicted Johns

Technique transforms police lineups

U.S. Confirms Criminal Probe of Hollinger and Ousted Execs

Anger as 'most dangerous' pedophile moved to UK

Driver Convicted of Some Charges in Nation's Deadliest Human Smuggling Attempt; Will Not Face Death Penalty

India passes the drug Patent Bill

CALIFORNIA BREAKING LAW NEWS....

Alameda County prosecutor protected job by keeping secret. He testifies judge colluded with him in excluding Jews + Tough questions for ex-prosecutor + Judge ordered bias, says lawyer (CCT Reg)

U.S. Supreme Court reinstates sentence of Death Row inmate

Man can't sue U.S. over wife's death (disappeared in kayaking trip)

Court: If Napa' is on the label, wine must use Napa grapes

High court overturns S.F. appellate rulings, easier to say know to cell phone towers (CCT Reg)

Sacramento & north: Man dodges jail but not tragedy (SB Reg) + Anti-gang strategy is called a success (SB Reg) + Jury has last of three cases against brawling S.F. cops (SB Reg) + Protected species list is challenged (SB Reg) + Authorities seek clues in fatal Placer car crash (SB Reg) + Inmate talked of suicide, jail officials learn too late (SB Reg) + Theft of cherished van tears at church community (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: Molest victim's ex-wife talks to jury. Woman never knew of abuse by priest but sensed a barrier + Jury gets Fagan's fajita assault case. Closing arguments in Sacramento + SWAT teams and Saturday night saints + Graduation at the Hall of Justice

Alameda: Romanowski avoids big payout, $340,000 verdict instead of millions ex-team-mate sought + Oakland: Closing 'Riders' retrial arguments. Ex-officers broke public trust by falsifying documents, assaulting suspects, jurors told + Fremont: Train riders told dead boy was HIV positive; ACE won't deny claim + Attorney testifies in jury bias case + Perata, Lockyer plea to sheriffs + Prosecution: 'Riders' case is about trust + Jury awards ex-Raider $340,000 for punch + Baggage handler charged in pot smuggling at airport + Suspects in grocery owner's death nabbed + Parolee nabbed peering into girl's bedroom + Fired lab worker sues for millions + Oakland girl, 16, charged in knifing + Watchdogs could best fight crime unarmed + Niles residents to meet, discuss rise in crime + Fremont woman killed in car crash + Lab wrongful firing suit goes to jury (CCT Reg) + Teen prostitution in East Oakland

Santa Clara: Santa Clara: Racial bias raised in police brutality trial + Lawyer's claim heard by judge + Police Blotter + Woman claims to find finger in eatery's chili

Contra Costa: Longer probation for sex offender. Cary Verse accepts more surveillance + Suspect held in beating death of baby (CCT Reg) + San Ramon couple convicted on drug charges + Ruling keeps Verse in monitoring program (CCT Reg) + Dublin Two men accused in bank robbery (CCT Reg)

Marin: Patient Sarah Nome and Hospital Are in a Test of Wills (LAT Reg)

Sonoma: Sheriff's Department faces sex harassment lawsuit by 2 women + Girlfriend admits lying to detectives in Guerneville murder case

Napa: Court: If Napa' is on the label, wine must use Napa grapes

Solano: Fairfield: Coroner examines mummified corpse + Man involved in death of girl faces misdemeanor charges + Police looking for man involved in Sereno robbery

Monterey: DA wraps up starvation case + Man found in stolen car arrested

Central Valley: Cummins leaves bench to run for DA + Officials cover bill, prosecution costs from Peterson trial fund + Girl's report about priest didn't worry therapist + Hilmar man loses life in hit-and-run + Harvard eyes probation program for award + Law & Order + Modesto police earn coveted accreditation + Wife of man accused in multiple Fresno killings gets lawyer, she may be charged + Stockton: Gonzales confessed to shooting, ex-girlfriend says

Central Coast: Police say they catch ‘Mission Impossible’ burglar + Cops And Courts

Southern California: Girls Testify Avila (Smantha Runnion Case) Abused Them (LAT Reg) + Law Firm Agrees to Pay $2 Million to South Gate for overbilling ex-treasurer's legal defense (LAT Reg) + Computers Stolen From Westlake Charter School (LAT Reg) + Cypress Man Injured in Alleged Street Race Is Critical (LAT Reg) + Riverside: Unwanted Babies Can Be Left at Firehouses (LAT Reg) + San Bernadino: Charges Filed Against Former Councilwoman (LAT Reg) + Family Makes Anti-Violence Plea (LAT Reg) + Updates Sought on Shooting (LAT Reg) + Santa Ana: Police Seek Missing Man, 68 (LAT Reg) + Inmates to Be Screened at L.A. County Courts (LAT Reg) + Riverside: Sentencing Set for Animal Abuser (LAT Reg)

Michael Jackson: Comedian recounts involvement with Jackson accuser's family + Comic testifies against Jackson + Debate over Jackson's 'porn pics'

Robert Blake: Blake Speculates About Wife's Killer (LAT Reg)

Scott Peterson: Peterson Defense Charged County $229,000 for Experts

The Governor:   State takes bold step to recoup MediCal expenses. Emergency rules zero in on 'life estates' of deceased + Medi-Cal proposals prompt outrage (SB Reg) + Gov.'s video releases on breaks, nurses draw union suit + Gov. called 'hypocrite' over fundraising tactics + Unions file suit over videos, say8ing propaganda laws violated + Judge rules journalist's lawsuit against Gov. can go ahead + State's Promotion of Cargo Transit Carries Concerns (LAT Reg) + Gov.'s Irvine Stop Draws Cast of 2,000 Irked by His Policies (LAT Reg) + Gov. in Fresno today (OC Reg) + Widows' benefits put Gov. under fire + Pension reform plans duel + State of weigh Safeco quake insurance rate hike (OC Reg) + R.E. Graswich: Rumor has it the Austrian Oak is putting down some local roots (SB Reg) + Peter Schrag: Political reform through the sausage machine (SB Reg)

Battle over cheaper drugs may hit ballot

Deadline near for late tax amnesty

Big Labor's Speaker Fabian Nunez (LAT Reg)

Sheriffs back Brown for attorney general

Hands off the coast, state panel warns feds (SB Reg)

Stem cell panel: Chairman rejects stem cell changes (SB Reg)

Indian tribes: A gambling pause by Lytton Band re: San Pablo casino + Native economies move beyond gaming + Tribal groups balk at Gambling Control Commission increase + Governor’s Office of Planning and Research Invites Tribal Members To Discuss SB 18 Tribal Consultation Guidelines + Tribe has no casino plans. Letters claim group aims to build near Six Flags + American Indians Award Former POW With Warriors Medal of Valor

LOCAL NEWS:   California Dream's Peaks and Valleys (LAT Reg)

Sacramento & north: Continuing snowfall causes chain controls in Sierra (SB Reg) + RT's base fare may hit $2 (SB Reg) + Struggling county keeps optional retiree benefit (SB Reg) + State of City tickets available (SB Reg) + W. Sac donor to Prop. 45 fined $12,500 by FPPC (SB Reg) + Diamond Walnut's marathon strike ends (SB Reg) + Bob Shallit: Big plans for 10th and K may be just around the corner (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: Marijuana club won't open in Mission hotel. Supervisors to vote on 45day ban for new clinic openings + Serra sculpture at Mission Bay + PUC votes steep hike in water, sewer bills. 6% increase this year is only the beginning + San Francisco: 3 more tough years projected for budget + South S.F.: Council set to pass emergency notice re: tornado + SF: Chain store ban OK'd for North Beach + ‘The Maze': Four freeways form knot, tying up drivers + Accidents, traffic jams go hand in hand + Variable tolls on Bay Bridge touted as solution to revenue shortfall + Car pool lanes cause drivers confusion + PUC to vote on water, sewer rate increases

Alameda: Pleasanton mayor touts businesses + Oakland casts artists from their lofts + Top honor goes to ex-Pleasanton resident + Grant will help protect fire crews + Medical center in clear for fed funds + State board to look at Oakland jet fuel deal + Story of Mexican plight in Oakland + Buddhist temple fights civil war + Depart to stardom from West Oakland train depot + Man dies in fire at his E. Oakland apartment + Fremont: UPS worker found dead + Alameda Bd of Education delays vote on military recruiters (CCT Reg) + Pleasanton thriving, mayor says (CCT Reg) + Retirement community OK'd for Staples Ranch (CCT Reg)

Santa Clara: Some train riders troubled over possible cutback. Plan to trim costs may end service to 4 Caltrain stops + Palo Alto: Research Facility Closed by Explosion Reopens (LAT Reg) + Menlo Park: 120 room hotel plan in works + Denial of Indian official's visa causes stir + S.J. council endorses bid for center + Heated words in cops' trial + Donors hand out $1.7 million to Palo Alto schools + Stanford announces luxury hotel deal + Mtn. View district to shut Slater school + Children making health gains, report finds + $730 million question: Will tax cheats fess up? + Herhold: Assault case reaches critical juncture + THE STATE'S AMNESTY OFFER + Peninsula in Brief + CAVE ACCEPTING VISITS IN MARCH + Weimers: S.J. Rep to offer last minute discount + Man gets life term for rape under `3 strikes' law

Contra Costa: Pittsburg: Hazardous waste settlement OKd + Richmond: Hearing on flare emissions plan + Group wants county 'aging-friendly' (CCT Reg) + Wal-Mart plan roils Hercules (CCT Reg) + Farm aid disliked, phone poll discovers (CCT Reg)

Marin: Costs delay day labor solution in Novato + County scolds Comcast over dropping FM service + Hospice of Marin cuts 14 jobs to reduce costs + County education board gets new member + Hamilton project takes step forward + Library volunteer honored + How $6 million was spent on traffic plan

Sonoma: 'Extreme' tax bill for Penngrove family + County limits new rural fireplaces + RP council reworks golf course deal + New Sonoma Academy site approved + For Rob's folks, the hardest part is over

Napa: Precinct breakdown shows some victories for election also-rans + Top dollar river project heads for planning vote + Church shouldn't be obstructed by garage, officials say + County gets good marks on budget

Solano: New Benicia school boss chosen + Watermain break lets a half-million gallons escape pipe + Farwell to a bookstore friend + Official: Overloaded circuit causes extensive damage + City sends message about trash + Administrator defends decision to move office to Mare Island + Federal funds come aid of AmCan veterans park + BUSD planning 'Change Conference' to discuss current and upcoming issues + Local News Briefs

Monterey: Students get English lessons + Advance directives for health care urged + Moss Landing crash leaves 3 dead + Mixed-use development on track + Your Town + Water permit fees raised

Central Valley: News from the San Joaquin Valley + Modesto summer program cuts set + Modesto native named new city manager + Stanislaus County leaking cash + Library to begin a new chapter + El Sol to join larger weekly + Board raises eyebrows at STD money + MID to quit state's power grid + Bicyclists hoping to hit Critical Mass + Ex-Super Bowl star backs college play + Turlock spending decrease proposed + TID's plan to stop failures delayed + New councilwoman hopes to reach Latinos + News & Notes + Around the Region+ Law & Order + Stanislaus supervisor Grover makes a mistake admits it, seeks to fix it + Cuts to Modesto parks program difficult but necessary + Full, open probe of Modesto Public Works needed + Tracy: Hobbs hiring becomes official

Central Coast: Scotts Valley; Mudslide crushes rural hillside home + Slides slam Aptos, S.V. + Loved ones gather to remember lost S.C. High teen + Peace Corps volunteer making an island difference + $2 million to keep odors away worth it, officials say + Coast Lines + Council agrees committee best way to address budget crisis

Southern California: County Dems back Villaraigosa + Head Start funds in Valley pulled + State workers hear whistles + LAPD targets mailbox firms in identity thefts + Local Party Snubs Hahn (LAT Reg) + Gray Whales still Not Home Free in Baja (LAT Reg) + Using a Cornfield as a Canvas for Public Art + County, Port at Odds Over Hueneme Naval Base (LAT Reg) + Oxnard: Many Keep Hopes Afloat for Grounded Ship (LAT Reg) + State's Promotion of Cargo Transit Carries Concerns (LAT Reg) + Former OC Assistant Sheriff Jaramillo Files Suit to Be Reinstated (LAT Reg) + Lawmaker to Seek Push Train Inquiry (LAT Reg) + Computers Stolen From Westlake Charter School (LAT Reg)

School days: LAUSD, UTLA reach tentative agreement + San Francisco schools to get more arts + UC Panel Calls PSAT Test Unfair (LAT Reg) + O.C. Trustees Reinstate Study-in-Spain Program (LAT Reg) + S.F. girls soccer team run-ins prompt ban on post-match high fives + UC leads the nation's universities in patents + Fundraiser morass for Oakland schools + Businessman donates millions to Mills College + The Struggle to Flee LAUSD (LAT Reg) + LA Teachers Union's Battle Plan (LAT Reg) + No school safe from shootings + UC may abandon Merit awards + UC Merced on track to open in fall (SB Reg) + UK: Nearly half of teachers have suffered from mental illness

CONNECT THE DOTS....

Netspeak (CCT Reg)

Stardom: MUSIC TO DIE BY

Mack White: Mysterious death of Gonzo author

Ay Caramba. The War Room's South American sequel

Lost Dumas novel puts finger on man who killed Nelson

Everyone loves a conspiracy

BIOWARFARE  WATCH....

WHO Identifies Ebola-Like Virus Ravaging Angola

Blow-in-the-bag test for terrorism 

FDA/CHIRON Flu Fiasco: Millions stepped aside so sick and elderly could obtain flu shots + Health officials look to avoid repeat of flu debacle

Americans Have Eaten Genetically Modified Foods for Nearly a Decade, but Still Clueless + The Basics on Genetically Modified Foods

Study Suggests Combination Therapy Could Stop Spread, Halt Growth Of Melanomas

Plants Can Fix Bad Genes, Study Shows + Mendel's Law May Be Flawed

Study says household dust holds dangerous chemicals

Women Need Better Information on Treating Menopause

FDA Issues a Guide to Gathering Genetic Data (NYT Reg)

Oral Bacteria May Predict Pregnancy Outcomes

Boston University Team Finds Link Between High Cholesterol And Better Cognitive Performance

Aspirin's Potential Ability To Prevent Colon Polyps May Not Apply Equally To All

New Study Indicates That Popular Sports Beverages Cause More Irreversible Damage To Teeth Than Soda

Pushy Parents Can Be Bad For Their Children's Health

Emory Scientists Find New Prostate Cancer Suppressor Gene

Specific Test Key To Determine Whether Or Not Allergy Symptoms Are Really Allergy-related

Extreme Exertion, Emotion Can Spark Repeat Heart Attacks

Researchers Discover How Body Regulates Most Abundant Type Of White Blood Cell

Early Trial Indicates Prostate Cancer Vaccine Increases Immunity And Reduces Tumor Cells

Study Finds Anticonvulsant Drug Poses Greater Birth-defect Risk Than Suspected

Wolves Alleviate Impact Of Climate Change On Food Supply, Finds New Study

One Year After Groundbreaking, Desert Research Center Takes Shape On The Israeli-Jordanian Border

European commission calls Microsoft proposals unacceptable

Astronomers Detect First Light From Alien Planets

Exotic Black Holes Spawn New Universal Law

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope Captures Light From Two Extra solar Planets

Sandia Underground Geo-tools Aid In Earthquake Research

Cassini Finds An Atmosphere On Saturn's Moon Enceladus

High-fidelity Patterns Form Spontaneously When Solvent Evaporates

Big Hopes For Tiny, New Hydrogen Storage Material

Light May Arise From Relativity Violations

New Noble Gas Chemical Compounds Created

THE BUSHWORLD...

U.S. warns Iraq on new government

Bush Urges an End to Attacks on his Social Security plan

Bush defends actions in Schiavo case

Cheney Defends Bush Appointments

YOUNG DEMOCRAT BANNED FROM BUSH SOCIAL SECURITY FORUM

Summit: U.S., Mexico and Canada to Sign Security and Economic Accord + Bush, Fox face off on border policy. U.S., Mexico at odds as North American leaders hold summit + Relations with Canada still 'very strong,' Bush says

Rumsfeld: RUMSFELD QUESTIONS VENEZUELA'S PURCHASE OF 100,000 AK 47 ASSAULT RIFLES + Rumsfeld examines Amazon surveillance net + Rumsfeld expresses doubts about Haiti elections

Shiavo: Florida officials move again to intervene in Schiavo case +  Jeb Bush Renews Call to Help Schiavo + G.O.P. Right Is Splintered on Schiavo Intervention + Schiavo Schindler a dire illustration of in-law tensions + Much unknown about death by dehydration + Doctor explains the 'persistent vegetative state'

Syria, Lebanon: Blast at Anti-Syrian Stronghold Kills 3 + Opposition fingers Lebanese security apparatus in fatal blast + With Lebanon, Washington Shows 'Soft' Side of Power (LAT Reg) + Darfur Shooting May Speed U.N. Action (LAT Reg) + Three killed as new blast rocks Beirut shopping mall + Annan: Assad commits to full withdrawal + Syria's hold over Lebanon worth $750 million a year

Rice: US Secretary of State threatens the DPR Korea + Dragon Lady Rice tackles China+ Focus still on N. Korea as Rice ends Asia trip+ How America's interests collide in Asia

Other foreign: EU will not block Wolfowitz for World Bank: Schroeder

Domestic: Medicare to Cover Quit Smoking Programs + Endangered species reviews lagging, suit says + Administration kept mum about unapproved modified corn sold + No Child Left Behind Review Offers Positive Signs, Warning Signs

Social Security: Trustee: Social Security Said to Go Broke in 2041 + Bush push for private accounts at critical juncture

Congress: Who's minding Congress?

Voting: Cannonfire: They're lying to you about the exit polls

OPINIONS:

Mark Morford: Why Does God Hate Caribou?

A Tale of Two Ranches (LAT Reg)

Cassidy: Tragedy played for politics
(SJM Reg)

Wayne Madsen: Italian agent Calipari: A target of opportunity for US assassins Not the first Italian target of US covert 'silencers'

The traitor and his puppets

Bush, Cheney lied about bin Laden escape from Tora Bora

Strange bedfellows battle Patriot Act abuses

Ben Smith: Bushies kvelling over Orthodox Jeff Ballabon

MILITARY  Pentagon returning to '50sera thinking?

Army Likely Won't Meet Recruiting Goals + Army Raises Maximum Enlistment Age to 39 (LAT Reg)

Official urges better handling of veterans' claims

Sailor's wife battles U.S. over abortion

Former POW Lynch Honors Fallen Comrade

Artists Make Portraits of U.S. War Dead

German veterans on the warpath over law disowning Nazi pilot ace

Suit against Google could limit what's published on Internet

Left and right unite to challenge Patriot Act provisions. Group wants limits on access allowed law enforcement

Gandhi trek a grand spectacle

Canada Set to Rule on U.S. Deserter's Refugee Claim

ChoicePoint's Checks Under Fire

REAL ID ACT is Still a Threat

Cartoonist faces Greek jail for blasphemy

Blood for pork.... Norway ready to take extensive oilfield experience to Iraq

MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK....

Fed more concerned about inflation, increases interest rate

Ask Jeeves a portal to marketing

Corporate backlash over Sarbanes Oxley disclosure law as onerous, expensive

Oracle extends buying spree to Retek

Once maligned, Hyundai aims to conquer US market

Ruling Creates Uncertainty for Cell Phone Industry

America Online Latin America Running Low on Cash; May Shut Down

All Hyundai Models in U.S. to Come Equipped With XM Satellite Radio

Monsanto Completes Billion-Dollar Purchase of Seed Maker Seminis

San Francisco gay marriage and beyond:  Bishop offers to say mass for gay nightclub owner after banning Catholic funeral (LAT Reg) + Gov. Rendell to Unveil Marker at National Celebration; Independence Hall Designated as Site of First Gay and Lesbian Demonstration + Scottish church backs gay priests

The Pen Is Mightier.... 

Newspaper Giants Buy Web News Monitor (NYT Reg)

Fox Exec Is Tapped by Paramount

LA Times Publisher Puerner Steps Down

Film permits issued online

Online journalists appeal re: divulging trade secrets in Apple Computer, Inc. case

After 2-Year Review, Columbia J-School Adds New Degree

E&P Study: Even Fewer Female Editorial Cartoonists Than Op-Ed Writers

School Shooting is Gruesome, Major News for 10,000-circ Local Paper

China Warns Journos Who Take Bribes, Make Up Stories, or Commit Crimes

AFP Sues Google, Testing Fair Use

Mary Mapes, CBS Producer in 'Rathergate,' Inks Big Book Deal

Today's papers

Vincent van Gogh, The Painter on his Way to Work Enlarge  

Daily picture from the Metropolitan

Stanislaus pioneer took a circuitous route to success

Seeking Alaska’s back roads

Surfing legend Wayne Miyata dies at 63

Bonsai goes hip and ironic in urban Japan

Who Gets J.R. Still a Mystery in New 'Dallas' Movie

Swiss Face Sober Future After Legalizing Absinthe

Coelho Reevaluates Career in Latest Book

Thompson's Will Calls for All His Property Put In 'Gonzo Trust' (LAT Reg)

Easter 1916, W. B. Yeats

Easter Eve, Chekov

History of San Francisco's Chinatown

The Fischer king now in Iceland

Lithuanian Mythological Tales

Louis Menand on Kazuo Ishiguro

New art of popstrology

Russia celebrates 110th anniversary of the brilliant Soviet actor

The age of aquariums

At The Theater With John Heilpern

The Woolfs and the Hogarth Press

Page Six

Liz Smith

Cindy Adams

Your daily braindrop

Word of the day

Occupation: Iraq Kurds, Shi'ites Expect Deal in a Week + Iraq's Shiite and Kurdish powerbrokers woo Allawi + Prosecutor: Dutch Businessman Helped Saddam Genocide

War prisons: Prisoner handovers defended. White House, CIA assure senators detainees treated properly

AFGHANISTAN: Continuing turmoil forces 3rd delay of Afghan elections

MIDDLE EAST:  Nuclear Whistle-Blower Mordechai Vanunu Could Face Prison Again (LAT Reg)

Israel, Palestine: Abbas gets militants to halt attacks in '05. But groups reject cease-fire, insist Israel keep its word + Palestinian factions agree on conditional cease-fire + Ya'alon: Calm can be deceptive, only if militants are disarmed will attacks end + Ban on Israelis moving to Gaza; IDF to evacuate supplies from Strip + Jordan proposes normal Israeli-Arab ties before occupied lands returned + At this point, with Sharon and his disengagement plan rolling, how can he be stopped? A pocket guide + Cairo talks end with deal on lull; Hamas, Jihad to join PLO

RUSSIA: Former Russian Soldier Held Over Chubais Attack + Architect of Russia's Privatization Chubais Survives Ambush (LAT Reg) + Cossacks to Fight Terrorism in Russia’s Far East + Russian Army Chief Arrives in China Ahead of Joint War Games + Chubais, the man who sold Russia to the oligarchs, escapes assassins

EUROPE: Removal of Franco's Statue Sparks Protest (LAT Reg)

AFRICA: U.N. Worker Fired in Sex Abuse Case in Congo (LAT Reg)

Somali Parliament Affirms Rejection of Peacekeepers From Neighboring Countries

ASIA PACIFIC: UN and donors say Nepal is close to humanitarian crisis

AMERICAS:  Small road fuels a big political dispute in Mexico + Fox Renews Call for Reforms at Mexico's State Oil Company

Castro insulted by being on rich list (SJM Reg)

Bolivia's President to Remain in Office (LAT Reg)

U.S. Official Makes, Retracts Bribery Charge re: Cali drug cartel (LAT Reg)

North-of-the-Border Voting? (LAT Reg)

INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AT WORK AND AT PLAY....

Study: 25 million refugees in own borders

Nixon library to release tape recordings

Plea Deal in White House Bomb Threat (LAT Reg)

RIP: diplomat George Kennan Was Architect of U.S. Cold War Policy (LAT Reg) + Kennan's long telegram

'Australian' charged over bomb threat on Russian jet

Habib evidence may be used against Hicks

The CIA's Campus Spies

CIA Asks Attorneys to Give Back Documents in Iraqi Inmate's Death

Temple Mound Watch -- April 10 attack?

Cats' eyes in the dark

Can spies be made better?

Fake Cable Labeled Writer a Spy for Iraq

Intelligence agencies fear terror attacks

Turkmenistan Expels Russian Journalist for Espionage

Sigurd Rasmussen; U.N. Librarian And World Bank Languages Expert

The Syrians Slip Away

Harmful agents

Kennan's long telegram

MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK....

Can anyone stop the rise in oil prices? + Soaring oil demand with little to spare hinders OPEC influence

EU-U.S. Talks on Boeing, Airbus Subsidies Collapse, Setting Up Trade Row

Spain's BBVA Says It May Make $8.6 Billion Bid for Italy's Banca Nazionale

Former WorldCom Directors to Pay $55.25 Million in Fraud-Case Settlement

EU Threatens Microsoft With New Fines

Siemens to Buy CTI Molecular for $1B

Is that a spreadsheet on your screen - or solitaire?

DreamWorks Animation Posts Profit on 'Shrek 2' DVD Sales

Scientists look into human mind to assess economic theories

Duo helped Parmalat hide costs: report

Female Boeing executive resigns

Russian immense currency reserves pose competition for Asian states

Cross-cultural training in India

HOW LOW
THE LAW GOES....

Florida: Sex offender admits to killing Fla. girl missing since February

Florida Woman's Feeding Tube Removed

Connecticut's Former Governor Rowland Is Sentenced to One Year in Prison

Wal-Mart Settles Illegal Immigrant Case

Martha Stewart Judge May Resentence Her

Man pleads guilty to threatening prosecutor, accuser in Bryant case

Kansas professor guilty of first-degree murder

South Dakota Governor OKs Abortion Limits. Doctors must tell patients human life will be ended

Divorce for Couple in Child Killings (Andrea Yates) (LAT Reg)

Houston: D.A. failed to prove smuggling charges (LAT Reg)

Australia: Jail for driver who hid his epilepsy and killed family

Plot to steal Letterman's son

Kim told big ones

Ebbers found guilty in WorldCom fraud: a case study of US corporate criminality

Just and ordinary Satanist in Queens

Should the LSAT (and Legal Testing More Generally) Be Revisited and Perhaps Retooled?

CALIFORNIA BREAKING LAW NEWS....

Federal Judge: Department of Corrections official must pay fine for "acting in bad faith" during federal inquiry

Prison security scrutinized after guard's death

Injured guard's $10 million win seen mainly as attack deterrent (CCT Reg)

Shift in Housing Urged for CYA

State orders blogger to stop re: posting confidential Kaiser information, Kaiser seeks TRO in Alameda Superior Court

BP agrees to pay $81 million to settle lawsuits over emissions violations at local Carson refinery

Sacramento & north: 2 former Sacramento Diocesan priests who fled county after sex abuse charges filed, are serving as priests in Mexico ( SB Reg) + Sacramento criminal justice academy to open to minorities (SB Reg) + DNA group probes area Elk Grove murder (SB Reg) + Odd twist in '95 rape case (accused now adult) (SB Reg) + West Sac night prowler convicted on 10 counts (SB Reg) + Tractor vandal smashes property (SB Reg) + School mourns teen; third suspect sought (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: San Francisco rescinds offer in bus case. Lawyers say counsel for amputee revealed $2.04 million deal + Pacifica: Police stun guns had role in man's death + Fagan says he kicked no one, didn't start fajita brawl. Defense rests -- jurors could receive the case Tuesday + SF mediator killed in Bayview. Victim had worked to end gun violence + SF: Fire Dept. sued over alcohol usage. Firefighters, officers want action to stem 'notorious' abuse + Firefighters file suit over on-job drinking + Fijian community protests shooting + Jury: Archdiocese of S.F. liable for sex abuse (SJM Reg)

Alameda: Jury selection. Priestly sex scandals known to jury pools. Public perceptions put Catholic church in tough position + Knife attack stuns quiet neighborhood. Elderly woman's throat slashed in apparently random assault + Romanowski likened to Jekyll, Hyde in closing arguments. Ex-Raider's lawyer defends punch as 'football fight' + Lawyer says blow robbed ex-Raider + Woman, 75, slashed in Berkeley hills + Renovated Berkeley courthouse to open doors + Fremont: Not guilty plea in gun heists + Stolen car suspect's plan falls flat, arrested at gas station Fremont police arrest suspected car thief at gas station + Dog attacks Fremont resident + Stray briefcase paralyzes school

Santa Clara: San Jose: Suspect sought in attempted kidnapping + San Jose: Disbarred judge  Wm. Danser  told to swear off alcohol during probation + In slaying, a romance unraveled (SJM Reg) + Kaiser steps up suit vs. blogger (SJM Reg) + Sting nets unlicensed contractors (SJM Reg) + Field narrows for police chief job (SJM Reg) + S.J. candidate asks court for ballot OK (SJM Reg) + CEO files libel suit (SJM Reg) + Danser probation tightens (SJM Reg) + Peninsula in Brief (SJM Reg) + DiNapoli family now known for novel (SJM Reg) + Water quality failure in S.J. (SJM Reg)

Contra Costa: Officers risk lives to stop I-580 suicide (CCT Reg) + Auto theft data help focus efforts (CCT Reg)

Marin:  Nome case: Judge Goldfine may appoint temporary conservatorship to try to evict patient who won't leave Kaiser + San Rafael: School is cleared in First Amendment suit

Solano: Vallejo: Car found, driver sought in big-rig crash + Missing girl found + Vallejo Police Calls + Extradited man free after details get sorted out

Monterey: Pacific Grove Police install phone warning system

Central Valley: Modesto, county fighting to recoup Peterson costs + Plaintiffs rest in church abuse case + Law & Order + Editorial: Situation urgent re: violence among Hmong community in Central Valley (SB Reg)

Central Coast:  Report of gunman ends in false alarm + Law librarian starts a new chapter + Cops and Courts

Southern California: Santa Ana: 2-year term for man who posed as lawyer + Suspect arrested in shooting outside LA high school (SJM Reg) + Shooting at LA school hits, hospitalizes 15-year-old girl + Girl, 15, Shot Outside Locke High (LAT Reg) + Fake Newport Beach Lawyer Sentenced (LAT Reg) + OC: Gang-Rape Trial Jury Starts Deliberations (Haidl) (LAT Reg) + Ex-Mayor Files Claim Against O.C. City (LAT Reg) + Chandeliers, Tiles Stolen From Fox Theater (LAT Reg) + Fontana: Six Suspected Gang Members Arrested (LAT Reg) + Suspected gang member arrested in school shooting

Michael Jackson: Jackson prosecutors seek hearing on alleged prior offenses + Jackson judge rejects defense request for mistrial over testimony (SJM Reg) + Lien to be slapped on Jackson's Neverland

Scott Peterson: Police, prosecutors predict all the details won't ever be told + Death row addition

Robert Blake: 'CSI' Effect or Just Flimsy Evidence? The Jury Is Out (LAT Reg)

The Governor:  Gov. rolls out TV ads that tout plan for education + Gov. shows ads for educator merit pay + School ad war grows pricey (SB Reg) + Teacher protest to spread + Court Rejects Gov.'s Decree. Appointees to four state commissions and boards can work at home (LAT Reg) + Frowns on state Labor Administration promo video re: meal breaks (SB Reg) + Counties offer pension idea (CCT Reg) + San Diego Retirement board rejects Gov.'s pension overhaul + Stagecoach Has Left (LAT Reg)

Secretary of State: Secretary of state gets an OK. Senate approves McPherson, but Assembly holds off + McPherson vote delayed + Senate OKs nominee (SB Reg) + Dan Walters: Democrats remain ambivalent over McPherson's confirmation (SB Reg) + As We See It: McPherson confirmation seems likely + McPherson makes rounds for seat

Legislature: Farr's bill seeks better more scientifically sound fisheries monitoring + Lungren measure aims to halt gay marriage (SB Reg) + Some lawmakers invite trouble with fund-raiser notices that cross the line (OC Reg) Click.

State's Building Standards Commission to adopt new building, fire codes (SB Reg)

State targets online cigarette sales

Cost of bridge delays climbing (CCT Reg)

Stem cell panel: How the San Francisco secured solid offer for stem cell institute. Days before bid deadline, Newsom, others found way to add free-rent enticement + Editorial: Why invite intervention? (SB Reg)

Indian tribes: RIP: David Risling -- advocate for Indians + Tribe denounces legislation designed to curb "reservation shopping," providing way for tribes to build urban casinos far from their ancestral lands Click. (RP Reg) + On the Reservation, U.S. Indians Debate Gay Unions + San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Chairman Deron Marquez Responds to Draft Legislation From Chairman Richard Pombo Regarding Off-Reservation Gaming + State, Federal Casino Measures Advance + Tribes against casino bill + Casino opponents heartened after meeting. Local politicians felt their opinions were heard by Indian bureau + Casino puts aside off-track betting plans + Casino road widening runs into roadblocks

LOCAL NEWS:   Dead Squid Wash Up in California Again
 

Sacramento & north: Neigh-sayers are few on Dixon track plans (SB Reg) + County: Elk Grove 'duplicitous' (SB Reg) + Extra Sacramento council security sparks conflict (SB Reg) + Sacramento Deputies get settlement in volunteer-duty case (SB Reg) + After $5.5 million rehab job, SMUD's Station A powers on (SB Reg) + Workshop aiming to inspire high goals in young Latinos (SB Reg) + Dwindling finances force Francis House shutdowns (SB Reg) + Ruling on Elk Grove parks postponed (SB Reg) + City commends AmeriCorps tax aid (SB Reg) + County creates tsunami relief fund (SB Reg) + More Natomas doctors (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: Newsom says flag stays up, Mayor bars gesture for all Iraq war dead + Bay Area: EPA wants tougher monitoring of refinery flare emissions + SF: Former supervisor Matt Gonzalez granted ethics waiver to work as private attorney communicating with private departments + Bayview store owner adds vegetables to his inventory + Arts money crucial for rise of mid-Market + Pedestrian safety plan called costly for S.F. + SF school board gets closure list + The coming crunch: Traffic boom on the horizon + Blood bank inks temporary lease + Boogaloo down Valencia Street + Hotel impasse getting attention

Alameda: Oakland developer Phil Tagami keeps on hammering + Oakland: Projects encourage bike riding in the city + Oaklanders emerge from smoke as heroes + Mini-city is on track for train depot + No paper trail after illegal port meeting + Like it or not, Route 84 to come + County recognizes heroes for selfless deeds + Web site to help provide discount drugs + Housing projects could create funds for park district + Rodeo officials out to lasso volunteers + Dublin: Dramatic rescue stops I-580 traffic + Dog attacks Fremont resident + Stray briefcase paralyzes school

Santa Clara: Water quality failure in S.J. (SJM Reg) + Companies cut stock plans for rank-and-file (SJM Reg) + DiNapoli family now known for novel (SJM Reg)

Contra Costa: Surge in TB cases beyond West County. Officials will boost outreach in effort to contain disease + Walnut Creek: Mount Diablo trust to buy 207 acres + Contra Costa mulls free preschool + Great gats, it's roarin' in Blackhawk + Concord's Shelter Inc. abuse lawsuit settled, executive resigns (CCT Reg) + Small businesses embrace 'green' building (CCT Reg) + Universal preschool focus of meeting (CCT Reg) + Angelides jabs governor in Orinda appearance (CCT Reg) + Trail may tie Concord, Mount Diablo (CCT Reg)

Marin: Three disputed buildings removed from rock quarry + Astronomy program on Mt. Tam looking up + Service tomorrow for Tiburon animal advocate, wife of pollster Field + Larkspur school superintendent plans to retire + Opposite appraisals of Gov. by his chief of staff and Democratic state treasurer + Farm Day brings the rural into focus + Marin housing market sizzles

Sonoma: SR considers regulating pot clubs + Becoming A U.S. Citizen + Body of fisherman found in Clear Lake
Angelides brings early-bird campaign for governor to Santa Rosa + Irrigating RP with wastewater backed + Hearing buoys parents of Petaluma suicide victim + 'Vision' for Mendocino Avenue is great, but who will make it reality?

Napa: Growers sleep with one eye on the thermometers + NVUSD stands firm on winter break + Berreo building, the future home of city's Community Resources Dept. + County, cities prepare for transportation measure redux

Solano: Black armbands express Benicia teachers' concerns + Touro University looking for a few good medical patients + Applause given for businesses backing schools + Official: Home schooling to continue despite budget + Local News Briefs + + Benicia schools told to cut programs or raise $876,000 + Editorial: Crawdad controversy (SB Reg)

Monterey: Couple has positive outlook after fire destroys parts of home + Salinas: 24-hour reading event planned featuring stars + Seaside: Idea to sell miniparks on hold + Your town

Central Valley: Real estate boom's longevity amazes + Promoting Stanislaus + Fun run official awaits pension + Riverbank councilman pays price for civic commitment  + Patterson auditors search for receipts due on $543,000 + Woman takes over as chief of Lathrop Police Services + Ceres woman overturns car on Highway 99 + Modesto offers free ride home in a taxi + Centre Plaza show + Risling Jr., advocate for Indians + News & Notes + Community Briefing + Around the Region + News from the San Joaquin Valley + A good plan will help our mental health + Cooperation is best way to ensure future of valley and its universities + Lakefront homes shouldn't take precedence over wildlife

Central Coast:  Diesel oil increase starts ripple effect + Chancellor’s home getting $600K makeover + Rain cancels Speedway opener + Commission seeks input on transportation + UCSC dean named to nanotech task force + Coast Lines + Santa Cruz ride set to launch (SJM Reg)

Southern California: Celebs draw line in sand over public beach access in Malibu + Mountain Areas Are Left Hanging (LAT Reg) + San Clemente's Self-Image Is Developing (LAT Reg) + LA Mayor Proposes Incentives for Filming (LAT Reg) + 2 Literary Giants Written Off (LAT Reg) + Some Hints for Voters Heading to the Polls-- Again (LAT Reg) + Hertzberg Attorney to Inspect Ballots (LAT Reg) + Don't Like L.A.? Try Leavin' on a Midnight Train to San Jose (LAT Reg) + Ethics Chief Accuses L.A. Councilman of Violations (LAT Reg) + LA Councilman Accused of 40 Campaign Violations (LAT Reg) + Vineyard Pest Found on Southland Plants (LAT Reg) + San Diego Utility Plans to Replace Traditional Meters (LAT Reg) + Don't Like L.A.? Try Leavin' on a Midnight Train to San Jose (LAT Reg) + Ethics Chief Accuses L.A. Councilman of Violations (LAT Reg) + LA Councilman Accused of 40 Campaign Violations (LAT Reg) + Vineyard Pest Found on Southland Plants (LAT Reg) + San Diego Utility Plans to Replace Traditional Meters (LAT Reg) + Richman backs Villaraigosa

School days: Drive to rename CSUS ends (SB Reg) + Berkeley kids show strokes of genius + UC service workers OK strike + Schools and students settle federal lawsuit + San Ramon: Students display their science smarts + Contract battles ahead for UC (CCT Reg) + CSU, UC leaders optimistic about budgets (CCT Reg) + West Contra Costa schools eases cuts (CCT Reg) + Trip with Rep. Barbara Lee teaches kids civil rights history (CCT Reg) + SoCal college hosts racy video shoot, spurring complaints + Stan State to host 4 finalists for dean (SJM Reg) + Proof: Girls do science (SJM Reg) + TEACHERS TAKE FIELD TRIP TO CHECK OUT CLASSROOMS (SJM Reg) + Pierce College bares sex ad + Inside Higher Ed: A New Form of Cheating + Summers vote roils Harvard

BIOWARFARE  WATCH....

MYSTERIOUS HAEMORRHAGIC FEVER KILLS 87 IN ANGOLA

California: West Nile hits early this year. 19 counties already reporting cases; birds only fatalities

Vietnam: 5-Year-Old Boy Tests Positive for Bird Flu (LAT Reg)

Anthrax Response Brings Calls for Summit

More countries get price break on AIDS drug. But it's only approved in 5 of first 68 nations

Additive Might Fight Fast-Food Fat

Moscow State University researchers develop smart insulin capsule

Three Bacterial Genomes Found Lurking Inside Recently Sequenced Fruit Fly Genomes

Implanted Devices Detect High-Risk Heart Failure Patients

Wetlands Clean Water And May Control Neighborhood Flood Problems

MGH Study Identifies Potential Alzheimer's Risk Gene

Chemists Synthesize Molecule That Helps Body Battle Cancers, Malaria

New Treatment For Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Report Highlights Diseases From The Environment

UNC Findings May Help Explain Cause Of Most Common Movement Disorder

Boosting Blood Vessels With Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor

Saliva Test May Spot Gum And Heart Disease

Celebrex Provides A Two Pronged Attack Against Prostate Cancer

Duke Researchers Uncover Genetic Link To Kidney Damage After Heart Surgery

Cryoablation Is Effective In Treating Cancer Patients' Pain

VCU Researchers Identify Networks Of Genes Responding To Alcohol In The Brain

New Study Shows That Most Older People With Mild Cognitive Impairment Have Alzheimer's Disease Or Cerebral Vascular Disease

Study Says Rare Allergic Reactions To Drug-eluting Stents May Raise Risk For Heart Attack

Orthodontists Must Brace Against Back Pain

What The Eye Doesn't See: Birds Can Be Deceived By Camouflage In The Same Way That Humans Are

Complete reconstructed Neanderthal skeleton revealed

Africa Is Last Hope for Big Asian Cats

How to Prepare a Planet for Global Warming

Gulf Rivers Yield New Fish Species

Radio-tracking Associated With 'Dramatic Shift' In Water Vole Sex Ratio

Wetlands Clean Water And May Control Neighborhood Flood Problems

New Lab Delves Into Plants For Fuels

NASA Says Shuttle Flights to Station Should Proceed + UF-developed Detectors Help Guard Against Foam Flaws In Shuttle's Fuel Tank

JackBe Makes Dial-Up Connections Bearable

3-D Printer to Churn Out Copies of Itself

JackBe Makes Dial-Up Connections Bearable

$250 for pain of Adidas computerized running shoes (SB Reg)

Tidbinbilla station, Australia, center of 40 years space program

Black hole created in lab?

Undercover Stars Among Exoplanet Candidates

Ames Laboratory Research May Lead To Hotter-running Engines

THE BUSHWORLD...

Sharon to visit Bush in Texas

U.S. Courts Allies But Keeps Pre-Emption Strategy

Bush Pitches Retirement Change, Opponents Plan Ads

Bush Pushes Sexual Abstinence for Teens Despite Data

Rumsfeld says US forces in Iraq should fall over time, but will 'bulge' for elections

Wolfowitz denies will be US stooge at World Bank + Wolfowitz ‘to share vision' with Brussels

Iran: Atomic clock ticks down to fallout with Iran

Syria: Annan sets deadline for Syria withdrawal + In new order, Hamas is seen on rise + Lebanon's leaders to shelve their brawn and use their brains + Syria's regime survives but centrifugal forces remain

Rice: Rice to endorse Japan for U.N. council + Rice to Challenge North Korea to Return to Nuke Talks + Rice to talk N. Korea strategy in Japan but beef dispute looms + Rice arrives to a tense north Asia + The rise of Rice and a new 'realism' + Rice confident of efforts after Afghan elections delayed + Rice Meets With Karzai in Kabul + Rice to urge more openness in China + Rice: Pak-Afghan Cooperation Will Revive Region + China Frees Muslim Woman Days Ahead of Rice's Visit + Freed Chinese Prisoner Arrives in United States

Other foreign: Bush snubs IRA wing. Sinn Fein excluded on St. Patrick's Day + U.S. envoy, others meet on N. Korea nukes + India firm on gas-pipeline deal with Iran despite U.S. opposition + US May Reopen Libya Embassy by Year End + U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Resigns After Less Than Two Years on the Job

Domestic: Nominee to head FDA, pressed by senators, says he's open to "independent office" + Head Start Oversight Is Faulted (LAT Reg) + Trophy Hunting Advocate Named Acting Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Humane Society Calls on Administration to Withdraw Appointment

Social Security: Michael Kinsley: Social Security Fictions (LAT Reg) + Shaken by raucous protests, GOP boards up the 'town hall' meeting format Click. + Democrats Eager to Take Bush Up on Social Security Suggestion

Congress: Senate reverses GOP attempts to slash Medicaid. Fight over budget looms as House votes for deep cuts + Senate passes budget with Medicaid intact + Congress duels over $2.6 trillion budget + Funding Scarce for Export of Democracy + Disputed Judicial Nominee Wm. Meyers Clears Senate Panel (LAT Reg) + Senate blocks $1 billion to fund Amtrak + Divide Undercuts Clone-Ban Effort + Debating with his fists

Steroids hearings: Congress slams baseball's integrity. Lawmakers take a hard line with players and game's officials on steroids policy + McGwire comes across as a coward + Their sons' deaths blamed on steroids + Fans say Congress should keep out, baseball can police itself + BAD TV: ESPN swings and misses with airing of congressional steroid hearings + Prep players hear lots of talk but not many answers + Testimony excerpts + He won't say: McGwire deflects panel's questions about steroid use + In the clubhouse: Players tune in to hearings with mixed feelings + Apathetic fans: Most prefer watching basketball tournament to steroid hearings

Democrats: Edwards mum on his political future. Democrat focuses on poverty issues, helping sick wife + In S.F. visit, Edwards blasts GOP + Kerry Intensifies Attack on Bush (LAT Reg) + Clinton Camp Fires First Shot At Kerry Camp + BIDEN RIPS KERRY OVER 'TERROR STRATEGY'

Voting: Democrats, paper 'trails' aren't good enough; count the damn ballots!

OPINIONS:

Bush Is a Loser at Logic but a Winner in D.C. (LAT Reg)

Greenspan, a Fiscal Policy Hack (LAT Reg)

Paul Krugman: The ugly American bank

A wilting coalition

When killers rule

Beware Arab democracy

The Character Assassins: Justin Raimondo

Reich: Control the Narrative, Control the White House

Mapping The Oil Motive

The Intelligence Made Them Do It

PEGGY NOONAN ON TERRI SCHIAVO

Shumway: Al-Zarqawi

MILITARY  Officer in Iraqi Assaults Gets Prison, Keeps Rank (LAT Reg)

Battlefield Communications

Books For Soldiers

Canada to play role in mock attacks

Dog shooting in Iraq for fun

S.F. protest to mark 2nd anniversary of Iraq war. Commemoration one of hundreds of events nationwide

Suburbs a world away from war. Clayton minister says violence in Iraq fails to stir passions

William Sloane Coffin: Reflections of a Firebrand

Wavy Gravy raises money for camp

War-financing bill's immigration provision stirs debate

Family of activist killed by IDF bulldozer in Gaza sues its maker, Caterpillar Inc.

Norway to compensate kids born in WWII to Nazis and Norwegian women

Protesting Military Recruiters Leads to Arrests at College

Woman Leads Muslim Prayer Service in New York City Despite Criticism in the Middle East

Blood for pork....

£250m for Chinooks that cannot fly

CONNECT THE DOTS....

Acting on a teacher's request. San Francisco social worker is returning to her village in China to improve the school

Building our New House in Ireland

Is business too 'blue'?

Barbie's dolls

Child prodigy dies in an apparent suicide

San Francisco gay marriage and beyond:  Gay-Straight Alliance Day at Chabot College + Chung: Gay couple shifts focus closer to home (SJM Reg) + Tennessee to Vote on Ban on Gay Union (LAT Reg) + Homosexuality in Eighteenth-Century England + Thirty in court after Saudi raid on gay wedding + On the Reservation, U.S. Indians Debate Gay Unions+ Click.  Mark Medford:  Gay marriage. Could a landmark decision re-empower the state to strike at the heart of BushCo? Let us hope. Robert Gant Named Master of Ceremonies for Gay Pioneers & 40 Heroes Tribute at National Celebration

The Pen Is Mightier.... 

Boston Herald publisher looks to cut costs at paper

Sportswriter Who Broke '98 McGwire 'Andro' Story Slams Steroid Coverage

Garry Trudeau: Bush 'Apparently Thinks Propaganda's OK'

Study: Media Self-Censored Some Iraq Coverage

Sunshine Week: FOIA Requests Hit Record 4 Million in '04

APME to Launch 'First Amendment Project,' Focusing on FOI Issues

NYT Co. Closes About.com Acquisition

Study: Gov't. Agencies Discriminate Against NYC's Ethnic Press

More March Madness: Ashley Judd Is a Newspaper Columnist

Today's papers

Vincent van Gogh, The Painter on his Way to Work Enlarge  

Daily picture from the Metropolitan

Year of patience pays off for nuns and wild turkeys

An exhibit that even a wicked queen would like

Rodeo officials out to lasso volunteers

'Father of Chicano music' dies

Revamped de Young Museum debuts for media + Landmark museum awaits its debut (SJM Reg)

Theater review: Pardon their French --Berkeley Rep dives into farce (CCT Reg)

La Scala Conflict Grows as Workers Ask Conductor to Quit

20 Million Copies Later, Vatican Says Don't Read 'Da Vinci Code' (LAT Reg)

John Updike - Updike's Long-Run Rabbits

Ancient Stargazers

Click.  Drinks with Khushwant Singh, India’s most celebrated man of letters

Re-burial for Franciscan friars

National Gallery Shows Parisian Show Business and Low Life in Toulouse-Lautrec's Art

Casinos and art? You bet

Learning to speak with paint

The Book of Sand

Titanic director revisits ship's wreck with hi-tech help

Penelope Cruz: 'I don't want to play the same thing twice'

Rush & Molloy: 'Spamalot' a hit, Webber or not it's nice

Defending Woody

Judge sacks abuse claim vs. Strahan

Lloyd Grove's Lowdown: Trump calls claims rich

Page Six

Liz Smith

Cindy Adams

Your daily braindrop

Word of the day

Occupation: Two Years of Turmoil and Progress. Even without accord, assembly hails unity + Iraqi Leaders Make History, Not Progress (LAT Reg) + Iraqi Assembly Opens as Talks Over a Government Drag On + Corruption threatens Iraq, watchdog says

War prisons: CIA challenged on safeguard against torture, relies on pledges by nations taking  suspects

AFGHANISTAN: Afghanistan bombing kills 5, injures 32 + Karzai: Afghan vote delayed until fall + 4 Al Qaeda Sentenced to Death in Attacks on Foreigners (LAT Reg)

MIDDLE EAST: Stagnant economies untouched by new mood in Mideast. Experts say too little attention being paid to making closed systems generate jobs

Japan's star rises in Jerusalem

Abbas Wins Agreement From Armed Palestinians to Maintain Truce With Israel

RUSSIA: Ukraine leaves the USA aside, aims to develop close ties with Russia + Architect of Russia's Privatization Movement Survives Assassination Attempt + Authorities Investigate Plane Crash in Russia's North That Killed 28

ASIA PACIFIC: Japan and Korea Fight Over Cluster of Rocks (LAT Reg)

King Gyanendra shapes up for fight with the Maoists

AMERICAS: U.S. laments lack of info from Canada

INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AT WORK AND AT PLAY....

Pentagon intelligence reforms proposed

Homeland chief may revamp agencies after total review. Chertoff considers consolidation effort

Canadians must stamp out bloodlusts or risk more terror

UC nears alliance to operate N.M. lab (CCT Reg)

Mexico dismisses U.S. terror claims

Turkmenistan Expels Russian Journalist for Espionage

Human Rights Activists Ask President To Protect Jurors

U.S. judges tell Pollard his case is 'not unique'

China Frees Political Prisoner Before Rice Visit

CIA Seeks Documents in Iraqi Inmate Death

U.S. Ambassador Negroponte Leaves Iraq

Egypt's Envoy to Israel Heads to Tel Aviv

Security Expert Pokes Holes In Their Walls

Aussie FBI wanted

'Cyber Trust' At Its Lowest Point For A Decade, Warn Internet Security Experts

BIOWARFARE  WATCH....

California: West Nile here to stay

Anthrax Alarm Uncovers Response Flaws

MILITARY  Recruiting Goals Are in Harm's Way

Captain Is Convicted of Assaults of 3 Iraqis (LAT Reg)

The History of the Fighting 69th

Army cancels special forces Bible

PART 5: Militarism and the war on drugs

Fenian rifle on the block

HOW LOW
THE LAW GOES....

Sex offender in custody in missing Florida girl case

Memoir alleging sex abuse stirs Mormon church (CCT Reg)

Blake acquitted + Jubilant Blake Relishes His New Role as the Acquitted (LAT Reg)

Little Rock: Black Social Group's Headquarters Burns (LAT Reg)

4 Iranian Brothers Accused of Terrorist Ties Freed After 3 Years (LAT Reg)

U.S. Deportation of Marcos-Era Evacuee Delayed (LAT Reg)

Man Arrested For Plot To Kidnap Letterman's Child, Nanny

Lil' Kim convicted of perjury charge

Court Hears Martha Stewart Appeal + Martha appears at her appeal

CALIFORNIA BREAKING LAW NEWS....

Chino prison under fire in murder of guard + Killing of Prison Guard Is Analyzed (LAT Reg)

Sight of boys sitting on priest's laps priests not necessarily suspicious, experts testify + Witness recalls 'era of innocence' (CCT Reg)

Sacramento & north: Third suspect sought in student shooting case (SB Reg) + Former Tax Board workers arrested (SB Reg) + Trial hears of child torture (SB Reg) + Chino prison warden, top aides put on leave (SB Reg) + Diana Griego Erwin: Women need not endure fear, violence - there are people who can help (SB Reg) + 10 solicitation arrests in W.Sac prostitution sting (SB Reg) + Police: Woman's kidnap story a hoax (SB Reg) + Mediation talks adjourn in clergy sex abuse case (SB Reg) + 95 cited in truancy sweep (SB Reg) + Woman arrested in bomb threat (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: SF: Officer suspended for cable car attack + Church's experts testify lap-sitting did not signal abuse. At issue is what was known of priest's behavior in 1970s + Singer won't face charges after onstage brawl at club + SF: Slaying suspect hurls cell phone at officer

Alameda: Sketches released of suspect in rapes. 3 women attacked in last 6 months in Chinatown area + Oakland: D.A.'s office clears man who shot teen neighbor. His crusade against drug dealing gained him friends, foes + Oakland: Jury urges death for '99 shootings + Federal tax evasion charges for corporate chief of nursing homes + Rice says Williams had talent (CCT Reg) + Rice tells court Romanowski punch crossed line + Church seeks protest ruling reversal + Defense rests at 'Riders' trial + Drawing of suspect aired in rape cases + Temporary city ban on massage parlors extended 90 days + Oakland boy, 13, cited in neighbor rabbit deaths + Good thing it wasn't the Sunday edition + Man snatches purse at Hub center

Santa Clara: Saratoga: Stabbing victim hushed up earlier assault case. Suspect in knifing accused in bashing of slain developer + Probation hearing set for ex-judge Danser (SJM Reg) + Witness backs diocese in sex case (SJM Reg) + Stun guns factor in man's death (SJM Reg) + Roadshow: Move afoot to keep teens off cells (SJM Reg) + Co-op must pay for rowdiness (SJM Reg)

Contra Costa: RIP: Cunningham, 67, seen as 'settlement judge' (CCT Reg) + Still no charges filed in I-238 hit-and-run (CCT Reg) + Jail's new machine controls pill distribution (CCT Reg) + Internet columnist contests libel suit (CCT Reg) + Health officers pull surprise sweep of area liquor stores (CCT Reg) + RIP: Dan Van Voorhis -- helped create Blackhawk, founded soccer team

Marin: Novato free speech lawsuit rejected

Sonoma: Hasler's friend: Johnson's death a 'horrible accident' + Death to the medical cannabis club

Solano: Widow of man killed by cops speaking out

Monterey: Salinas police seek suspect in two store robberies + Officials identify body + Deputies testify in elderly starvation case + Library drive almost halfway to meeting goal

Central Valley: AM UPDATE: Scott Peterson transferred to San Quentin + 'An evil murderer' + For Modestans, death penalty no big surprise + Outside courtroom, decision anticlimactic + Killer's appeals could take decades + Peterson decision elicits no remarks from retired judge + Hughson's top cop breaks gender barrier + Project in works to honor officer + Sign for slaying reward has to go + Priest's acts with girls raised no 'red flags' + Tracy gets new emergency vehicle

Central Coast: Cops and Courts + Decibel levels pit residents against venues and local bands lose out

Southern California: Free speech in L.A.? + Couple Arrested in Tiger's Escape (LAT Reg) + 2 Inmates Ordered to Pay Lancaster Guard $10 Million (LAT Reg) + Pechanga Resort Official Arrested in Alleged Theft (LAT Reg) + Priest Fernando Lopez Is Guilty in Sex Abuse (LAT Reg) + Officer Sentenced in Fondling Cases (LAT Reg) + Murder Suspect's Father Is Charged (LAT Reg) + LAPD Officer Shoots and Wounds Man, 21 (LAT Reg)

Michael Jackson: Jackson Jury May Hear of '93 Allegations (LAT Reg) + Prosecutors show jury pornographic material + Former Jackson Housekeeper Says Kids Ran Wild at Neverland

Scott Peterson: San Quentin is new home + Families pour out anguish and rage. Peterson silently faces former in-laws + Arrives on Death Row

The Governor:   Hundreds protest Gov.'s policies in L.A. + Gov. moves to show he's pro-environment + Opposition to Gov. coalesces (CCT Reg) + Gov. renews junk car buyback program + Gov. wants junk cars off the road (CCT Reg) + Gov.'s Travel Spurs Tussle Over Power (LAT Reg) + Ambitious initiative effort is on by business group backing Gov.'s overhaul of state government by budget control initiative (SB Reg) + Vote stalled on Gov.'s CalSTRS pick by Perata who wants answers from Gov on plan to overhaul public pension plans (SB Reg) + Gov.'s budget stance diluted (OC Reg) + Far from tied down in the Capitol, Governor spends much of his time outside Sacramento (SB Reg) + Gov. endorses measures. Proposals for budget, teachers pay policy 1 step closer to ballot (SB Reg) + State to join ballot probe re: Los Angeles changing software without state approval + Gov.'s foes emerge to fight (SJM Reg) + Sorry Gov., You're a Politician by Definition (LAT Reg)

Senate confirms former senator McPherson as secretary of state + New bill limits political role, donations for Secretary of State (CCT Reg) + Other view: Voting regulation must be vital to secretary of state (SB Reg)

Pension payment shift by CalPERS (SB Reg)

Marjie Lundstrom: 'Mr. Sunshine' battles officials who keep citizens in the dark (SB Reg)

Pombo lashed on mailings intended to influence presidential elections (SB Reg)

2006 elections: Lockyer known for shooting from lip + Delgadillo May Run for State Attorney General (LAT Reg) + Daniel Weintraub: Angelides, the 'anti-Arnold,' kicks off campaign (SB Reg)

Stem cell panel: Bay Area cities entice stem cell facility (CCT Reg) + Senators want stem-cell program amended + 2 legislators want to amend Prop. 71 + Cities vie in stem cell quest. Generous bids to host institute submitted to state + Limits on Stem Cell Agency Proposed (LAT Reg) + L.A. Among Cities Seeking to Be Site of Stem Cell Agency's Headquarters (LAT Reg) + Stem cells attract perks (SB Reg) + Cities vie to host stem cell institute

Indian tribes: Tribe Opposes Appeals Court Nominee Wm Meyers (LAT Reg) + Pechanga Resort Official Arrested in Alleged Theft (LAT Reg) + Sacramento Bill would halt new casinos. Bill would halt new casinos until 2008 + Lawmaker calls for moratorium on casinos

LOCAL NEWS:   Immigrants finding the good life - back home (SB Reg)

Sacramento & north: Mammoth buys 120-acre land for swap with Forest Service + News in brief from Northern California + W. Sac. will try to join SMUD (SB Reg) + CSUS arena's cost soars (SB Reg) + Spelling champ called inspirational (SB Reg) + Ruling is expected today in dispute on Elk Grove parks (SB Reg) + California Housing Finance Agency boosts sales price limit 11.4% to help homebuyers (SB Reg) + Roseville development approved (SB Reg) + Isleton chamber drops festival (SB Reg) + Public comment period extended on Yolo parks (SB Reg) + Orangeville: Dead pedestrian is identified (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: SF panel backs ban on chain stores + Moody's upgrades its rating of SF + Holiday Inn Downtown to become a Hilton + The last picture shows + War protesters to march in S.F. (CCT Reg)

Alameda: San Leandro protest marks Gaza Strip death in 2003 + How city splits the pie hotly debated + Local arts school is academic star + City signs on to study billboards + New Berkeley police chief approved by City Council + Program created for firefighters + Council issues call to spare adult ed + Mercury Club running full steam after 15 years + Pleasanton takes swing at range

Santa Clara: San Jose boy, 4, calls 911 -- mother gets care + Valley house and condo prices continue to climb (SJM Reg) + Diesel prices near record high (SJM Reg) + Quarry too loud, residents complain (SJM Reg) + Scheinin: Great pipes, very good guy (SJM Reg) + Lights, curbs, action: S.J. dirt road to be paved (SJM Reg) + Herhold: Ugly fight over soldier's remains (SJM Reg) + Action Line: Free AOL trial leads to big phone bill (SJM Reg) + Mayor: `Tough' cuts in next S.J. budget (SJM Reg) + Weimers: Tiny voices make giving easier (SJM Reg) + Donors celebrate recovery home goal (SJM Reg) + Young authors (SJM Reg) + Try out for `Aladdin' (SJM Reg)

Contra Costa: Mercury cleanup plan for Bay watersheds delayed (CCT Reg) + Cities unite for urban line limit fight (CCT Reg) + 'Good-hearted' man in need of aid (CCT Reg) + San Pablo planners OK trailer park land study (CCT Reg) + Pinole ponders apartment inspection (CCT Reg) + Homeland Security gives Fire District gets grant for firefighters' health + Buchanan master plan takes off

Marin: Belvedere imposes 45-day moratorium on second units + State OKs MMWD attempt to desalt water + Novato doctor to lead state group + Land swap lowers cost of care for Marin, Mill Valley + Memorial set for energetic and accomplished Sausalito painter

Sonoma: Vineyard pest eggs found on plants + Board lets Pacific Lumber log more + Sonoma City Council delays decision re: citywide vote on civic center development + Penngrove fire district sticks with cutbacks + SRJC neighbors seek revamped street + Rail agency backs SR wine center + SMART, SR risk a nasty derailment + Timber firm wins OK to clear-cut redwoods. Pacific Lumber says it's not enough -- opponents upset

Napa: Bel Aire shopping center's sales soar + More than half of schools in county boost state scores + Peggy Loar resigns as president of Copia + Fire sprinklers credited with stopping two blazes + Napa councilman suggests term limits + A chilly visitor shows up at Blue Oak School as part of curriculum

Solano: Fairmont Park to get makeover; Grant allows for new equipment + Hogan, VHS to have closed campuses + County job growth is favorable, on par with rest of state + EDC draws new business to Solano + Local Business Briefs + VHS students suspended after off-campus fight + Benicia, Vallejo school employees receive layoff notices for next year + At meeting, AmCan council may OK housing projects for lower incomes + Top candymaker signs factory lease in AmCan

Monterey: Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula moves toward state-of-the-art heart program + Joint fire staff (Seaside-Marina) shows promise + County receives monetary windfall from long-forgotten sales tax + Monterey Peninsula College board authorizes district study re: trustee diversity + Your Town

Central Valley: Chapman University official to lead CSU, Stanislaus + Region draws businesses despite obstacles + West Nile here to stay + Decaying cows sent to landfill + Skate park success leads to legislation try + Flora Snider, backed Turlock arts, helped create lumber firm + News & Notes + Around the Region + News from the San Joaquin Valley + Enterprise zone another business lure for county + Nothing wrong (for most of us) with wagering on NCAA tourney + County's method for setting salaries looks a bit rigged + Tracy finds new city manager

Central Coast: Allergy season strikes early + UCSC shuttle nears end of the line + Watsonville celebrates National Ag Day + Safeway hopes to provide Easter meal for the needy + Coast Lines

Southern California: Fans flock to Vitello's + Chick vows to keep auditing + Cost to build parking lot for busway soars + OC: Mom, girl escape train crash + Computer change in LA mayoral election questioned + Disney Hall's Glare Is Going, Going (LAT Reg) + Costa Mesa Job Center's End Won't Still Debate (LAT Reg) + LA: Turnout Low, Except in Candidates' Strongholds (LAT Reg) + OC: Tape Doesn't Lie, Jurors Told (Haidl) (LAT Reg) + O.C. Approves Contract With Deputies Union (LAT Reg) + Upland Firefighter's Condition Improves (LAT Reg) + Thousand Oaks: Two Pols Working Through the Pain (LAT Reg) + Ventura: Report of Sheep in Traffic May Have Prompted Some Ewe Turns (LAT Reg) + UC Workers Vote to OK Strike (LAT Reg) + Girl, 2, Dies After Being Pulled From L.A. River (LAT Reg) + Car and Driver's Body Are Found in San Gabriel Reservoir (LAT Reg) + Latino Coalition Gets $1 Million From Chevron Texaco (LAT Reg) + Does anybody still love LA? (LAT Reg) + News briefs from San Diego County

School days: College loan rates to go up + Test confusion + Reform bandwagon re LAUSD + San Francisco Unified: Ackerman backers open arms to foes+ Berkeley: Schools settle in civil rights case re: disciplinary hearings + UCSC tops fund-raising goal + When Tenure Jumps the Track (LAT Reg) + Chapman University official to lead CSU, Stanislaus + Sneak Preview Day scheduled at SFSU

Activists to converge at UC Berkeley

ACLU: U.S. war on drugs harms women

Scenes from the cultural revolution

Company Agrees to Restrict Access to Social Security Numbers

CONNECT THE DOTS....

Where a Puff of Marijuana Is the Ultimate Power-Up

Margaret Carlson: How did Larry Summers survive? (LAT Reg)

Blood for pork....

Why graft thrives in post-conflict zones

MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK....

HP slate elected to board

The Mice on Disney's Board (LAT Reg)

Investment Group to Buy Toys 'R' Us for $6.6 Billion

Cancer Patients: Textbook Lessons in Hope+ Push for Cancer Treatments Intensifies + 'Smart' Immune Cells Kill More Cancer

Possible Mercury, Autism Connection Found in Study

Obesity threatens to cut life expectancy

FDA OKs Amylin Drug for Diabetes (LAT Reg)

NIH Conflict Rule Is Eased for Interim Researchers (LAT Reg)

Med School Beamed to Future Doctors

Two Brain Systems Regulate How We Call For Help

Molecular Messengers Perform A Crucial Role In The Ability Of Injured Nerve Cells To Heal Themselves

Conserved Amino Acids Play Both Structural And Mechanistic Roles In Sandwich-like Protein

Geography Predicts Human Genetic Diversity

Scientists Discover That Three Overlapping Signals In Embryo Help Get The Backbone Right

Beta-blockers May Help Broader Group Of Patients With Heart Problems

Portable System Offers Dialysis Patients 'Liberating' Changes

New Research Lab To Study Impulsive Behavior In Children And Adults

The Circadian Clock: Understanding Nature's Timepiece

USC Teams Battle HIV Drug Resistance

Patients With Osteoporosis Should Be Screened For Celiac Disease

Modern Implantable Heart Devices Safe For Use In MRI Scans

Laughter Helps Blood Vessels Function

New Tool To Determine Maturity Of Lungs

Immersion In Virtual World Alleviates Pain From Injury

Seabed Shifts Pose New Perils in Tsunami Region

Long-spewing Hawaiian Volcano May Be Health Risk

Internet Viruses Help Ecologists Control Invasive Species

Stealth Worms May Improve Insect Pest Control

The strange decline of computer worms

Hey, Don't Toss Those Fishy Chips

Playing With Frozen Fire

Gmail Nearing Prime Time

'Face' Phone Helps Hearing Impaired

Frozen Lake on Mars, May Have Preserved Primitive Life

Saturn's moon has an atmosphere

THE BUSHWORLD...

Bush offers McCartneys support

U.S. Senate Rejects Medicaid Cuts in Setback for Bush; House Passes Budget

Update to NAFTA Treaty Is Planned at Texas Summit (LAT Reg)

President Sees the Middle East as a Bright Spot (LAT Reg)

Bush speaks for the record on foreign, domestic affairs. Ruling boosts resolve for same-sex marriage ban + Bush Seems to Hit His News Conference Stride (LAT Reg)

Bush has chosen Rep. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, to be U.S. trade representative

Bush wants Wolfowitz at World Bank. Choice likely to be approved by directors

Successor Talk Fills Pentagon, Capitol Hill (LAT Reg)

A Look at Some Wolfowitz Comments on Iraq

Syria, Lebanon: Syria ends first phase of Lebanon pullout + Hezbollah Will Not Disarm, Chief Says (LAT Reg) + Syria Finishes Lebanon Redeployment; U.N. Chief Demands Total Pullout Before Elections

Rice: Rice meets with Indian and Pakistan officials who want advanced U.S. warplanes (LAT Reg) + Islamabad makes a tradeoff + Delhi's pipeline dilemma + 'Brothers' in arms

Domestic: Inquiry Begins Into Validity of Data About Yucca Mountain that supported dump's safety + EPA Watchdog to Investigate Halliburton Drilling Method Backed by White House (LAT Reg) + NIH Conflict Rule Is Eased for Interim Researchers (LAT Reg)

Congress: Senate says no to cutting Medicaid + House Passes $82-Billion Request for War Funding (LAT Reg) + Pay-As-You-Go Plan Fails in Senate (LAT Reg) + Senate OKs drilling in Alaska refuge. GOP assures win by attaching bill to budget resolution + Opponents: Alaska oil drilling a ‘fight to the max’ + Congressional panels approve FOIA bills + Lawmakers still support cigarette butt bill + Ohio Congressman Known as Soft-Spoken Dealmaker

Steroids hearings: Lawmakers say baseball misstated drug policy. Claim by House panel's leaders raises stakes for steroids hearing + McGwire and Sosa will share the spotlight again + Steroids? Alcohol is real problem + McGwire tells panel he won't name names (SB Reg)

OPINIONS:

Esperanto for Neocons (LAT Reg)

Arianna Huffington: The Washington establishment fails logic 101 Click.

Maureen Dowd: A wink and a fraud Click.

The most corrupt member of Congress?

Another conflict of interest in DeLay scandal

DeLay tactics

Falsified documents at Yucca Mountain

Deadline? We don't need no stinkin' deadlines

Accountability: Start at the Top: Michael Scheuer

Bush's Propaganda Hurts the US: Andrés Martinez

Democracy – by George?

San Francisco gay marriage and beyond:  Abortion-rights leader to head gay group

The Pen Is Mightier.... 

Media Giant Viacom Sees Addition by Division

CBS' Stewart Movie Could Complicate Her Comeback (LAT Reg)

A First Shot is Fired in 'S.F. Chronicle' Contract Battle

Bush's Wednesday Comments on Video News Releases

Vincent van Gogh, The Painter on his Way to Work Enlarge  

Daily picture from the Metropolitan

Watsonville Speedway: Cars against cancer

San Rafael boy is an Irish dancing champ

Danny Boy--the Mystery solved!

AllAboutIrish - Danny Boy

When the good times rolled in Pleasanton

Devil goes down to Pleasanton: Daniels Band headlines Alameda County Fair

Santa Cruz: Civil War re-enactment offers hands-on history lesson

The 10 essentials: A revised list for emergency wilderness survival

Historic U.S. documents find home

Boston College new data base on

Irish genealogy

Starved for Hits, Producer Finds Hard Times on Street of Dreams

Continental detective agency - Dashiell Hammett, life, works and more

Picturing Hemingway

Fielding, Cibber, Shakespeare

Jane getting the kinks out in memoir?

Page Six

Liz Smith

Cindy Adams

Your daily braindrop

Word of the day

Occupation: Iraqi Assembly Convenes Against Backdrop of Explosions + Iraqi Parliament Meets But No Deal on Government + Iraqi government affairs outlined + Iraq parliament convenes first session + Continued Kurdish- Shiite consultations to form the Iraqi government

War prisons: U.S. Military Says 26 Inmate Deaths May Be Homicide + Senate intelligence panel chairman balks at Democrats' push to examine U.S. detention, interrogation practices (LAT Reg) + Brits Warned US of Detainee Abuse in 2002 + US detained 11-year-old at Abu Ghraib + Abuse led Navy to consider pulling Cuba interrogators + Daily News Exclusive: Gitmo taunter teaches tactics

AFGHANISTAN: Buildings Going Up at Bagram Air Base as US Forces Dig in for the Long Haul

MIDDLE EAST: Mubarak holds important talks with al-Assad on topics to be tackled at Algeria summit

Saudi's Shi'ites walk tightrope

Pakistan seeks relief through Israel ties

Israel, Palestine: Israelis hand Palestinians limited control of Jericho + Militants Say Truce Depends on Israeli Offer (LAT Reg) + Family of Slain U.S. Activist Rachel Corrie Sues Israel (LAT Reg) + Ethiopian Jews Battle Poverty, Prejudice in Israel

RUSSIA: Putin pitches 'athletic power' Russia as Olympic host

EUROPE:  EU delays talks with Croatia, but keeps door open

Building Kazakhstan's Bridge to the 21st Century - oil (LAT Reg)

U.N. Court Issues Final Balkans Indictment (LAT Reg)

'Nazi camp prisoners' try to prevent demonstration of SS legionaries in Latvia

Dutch lose their faith in Europe

AFRICA: Kenya: 30 Killed as Militia Raids Border Village (LAT Reg)

Wisps of democracy in Zimbabwe + Into the heart of Zimbabwe's darkness

ASIA PACIFIC: India, China locked in energy game

AMERICAS:  Thousands March Against President in Ecuador City

Costa Rican Ex-Leader on Bail

Salvador Condemns Massacre Probe

Bolivia: Beleaguered President to Seek Early Elections (LAT Reg) + Tension grows in Bolivia as Congress weighs new energy law

Mexican President Announces North American Initiative to Coordinate Security, Energy and Customs

INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AT WORK AND AT PLAY....

18 Charged in Plan to Smuggle Arms Into U.S. + San Fernando Valley link in weapons sales + Arms smuggling sting shows need for vigilance

Air Force Delays Plans to Upgrade Global Hawk

U.S. Report Lists Possibilities for Terrorist Attacks and Likely Toll + Release of Terror Strike Report a Mistake

Click. State of Hawaii Emergency Planning Documents

Click. (ZIP) Homeland Security Council: 15 Attack Scenarios

Click. (ZIP) DHS Universal Task List v.2.0

Click. (ZIP) DHS Target Capabilities List v.1.0

6 men convicted in plot to blow up U.S. Embassy. French court sends group to prison

Pinochet hid cash in Miami banks + US banks held Pinochet millions

TSA fears targeting of crowds at airports

U.S. Cyber Security 'Nearly Failing'

Pakistani Court Gives al-Qaeda-Linked Doctors Seven Years in Jail

U.S. judges tell Pollard his case is 'not unique'+ Appeals panel questions spy's plea for leniency

Cape Town: Buyer needed for secret service property

Chiyangwa still facing espionage charges

Syrian Intelligence Agents Retreat in Lebanon

FBI cybersleuth to speak today at Umaine

Canada's three remaining scheduled airlines take advantage of Jetsgo demise

Town’s shocking secret past as spy camp for war criminals

Strategy and Air Power

Militants may bring new roadside bombs home to Europe

Pentagon Has Far-Reaching Defense Spacecraft in Works

Stalin's secret files on Hitler

COLOMBIA: FARC Goes High Tech and International

COUNTER-TERRORISM: Sad Smugglers in the Persian Gulf

Former CIA Agent Felix Rodriguez Affirms Possibility of Chavez’s Assassination in Venezuela

LEAKGATES  Click. (ZIP FILE) Sibel Edmonds Files $10M FBI Complaint

CONNECT THE DOTS....

Mark Morford: Who Will Free Fiona Apple?

The ERA: Symbol of a different era

Mercy's Mission Polishes U.S. Image, Ship's Crew Says (LAT Reg)

Hitler Finds an Audience in Turkey (LAT Reg)

Operation Pocket Full of Wishes

Message to Summers Comes From Harvard's Core Faculty

BIOWARFARE  WATCH....

Anthrax scare blamed on mix-up at lab, 'Quality control problems' may have set off false alarms that rattled Wall Street

Many Scientists Fear Bird Flu Cases Exceed Data (LAT Reg)

Men charged with smuggling Canadian cattle to U.S.

HOW LOW
THE LAW GOES....

Missing girl's father confident she's safe

Ebbers Fraud Verdict Is Ominous for Toppled CEOs + WorldCom verdict shows ignorance is no defense + Verdict Weakens Ignorance Defense + No Idiots in the Jury Box (LAT Reg)

Rehnquist Meets With Judges on Security Issue (LAT Reg) + Judges push for off-site protection

Court Won't Intervene to Save Schiavo

Spain spearheads net pedophile dragnet, expects 500 arrests worldwide

AIR-INDIA VERDICT: BOTH NOT GUILTY + Decision stuns community + Full Air-India backgrounder + Details

Dermatologist accused of mixing patients blood to defraud medicare

Georgia beauty queen acquitted of murder

Violent eruptions in Wisconsin and Georgia: the pathology of a society in crisis + An epidemic of murder-suicide in the US

Pa. court blocks old cases alleging clergy sex abuse

JP Morgan settles WorldCom class action suit

Feds Arrest Suspected Owners of Tiger That Was Killed Near Reagan Library

CALIFORNIA BREAKING LAW NEWS....

Click. The convictions of dozens of death-row inmates in California are coming under legal scrutiny because of accusations that Jews and black women were excluded from juries in capital trials in Alameda County as "standard practice." + Oakland death row cases under microscope

Supreme Court Judge Ronald George: State court security is flawed (SB Reg)

RIP: 3rd District Judge Robert K. Puglia (SB Reg)

Sacramento & north: Court to hear Elk Grove park feud today (SB Reg) + Trust fund set up for couple's kids (SB Reg) + Burbank High teens held in slaying (SB Reg) + Homicide suspect turns himself in (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: Molestation trial under way against S.F. Archdiocese. 3 plaintiffs claim church should have known of '70s abuse + Newsom considering surveillance cameras to fight killings. Public housing residents demand action -- gunshot-detecting system is an option + Redwood City: Man dies after police pepper-spray him + SF: $15,000 reward offer in 2003 slaying case + Douglas Steven's $7.3 million swindle + Truck drags woman 30 feet down street + Knoller seeks conviction reversal + Key witness testifies in road-rage trial

Alameda: Cal student collective loses suit to neighbors + Man held in ambush, homicides arraigned + Man, 63, accused of peeping + Slain man's mother pleads for leads + Oakland death row cases under microscope + Berkeley: Unruly student co-op ordered to pay neighbors. Small claims judge assails group's 'rogue mentality' + Jerry Rice testifies that Marcus Williams had a future in the NFL (CCT Reg)

Santa Clara: Saratoga: Real estate developer slain in his townhouse. Female suspect in stabbing had been held in prior attack on him + At least 2 priests in San Jose Parish saw boys visit priest accused of molestation, one saw boys sit on priest's lap + Valley developer stabbed to death + S.J. priest abuse trial starts (SJM Reg) + Man dies after struggle (SJM Reg) + Kaiser goes to court over patient data leak (SJM Reg)

Marin: Embezzler asks judge in S.F. to postpone hearing

Sonoma: Identity theft Inattention, indifference can become invitations to fraud + SR medical marijuana club leaves neighbors fuming + Witness: Hasler said Johnson's body was in river

Napa: Suspected AmCan drug dealer identified as Fairfield resident

Solano: Murder arraignment continued + Court still unable to unravel case involving extradition of Texas man + Vallejo Police Calls

Monterey: Prosecution opens case against pair accused in death of disabled man

Central Valley: Stockton drug kingpin nabbed, police say + Death penalty zeal questioned + Condit, Dunne sidestep big battle + Priest denies family's fondling accusations + Cadets clean up gang graffiti + Police snare parolee after standoff at house + Law & Order

Central Coast: Cops and Courts + Man stabbed by girlfriend’s son, detectives say

Southern California: Whatever it takes to fight MS gang + Bellflower: 2 boys charged in plot to kill at school (LAT Reg) + Acquitted Teacher Beaten in Jail to Settle With O.C. for $350,000 (LAT Reg) + Fired Campus Radio 'Shock Jock' Sues Occidental College (LAT Reg)

Michael Jackson: A Glimpse Inside Jackson Probe (LAT Reg) + Jackson Investigator Alleges Molestations + Jackson accuser says taunts led him to lie. Teen says he denied to school official he had sexual contact + Investigator: Jackson Accuser 'Choked Up' + Boy Said Jackson Groped Him 5-7 Times, Jury Told

Scott Peterson: Judge Upholds Death Sentence for Peterson + Click. One by one, Laci's relatives berate "spoiled, heartless baby killer" after judge passes sentence

The Governor:   Gov.'s "compromise" with fed Dept of Education is lacking + Political group's outsourcing connections draw fire. Counting signatures in India not illegal, state panel told + Gov. Faces Widening Network of Opposition (LAT Reg) + Analysis: Governor hits a hurdle on his way to the ballot (SB Reg) + New mission for museum (SB Reg) + Campaigning for children + Gov., Legislature civil in first meeting (CCT Reg) + Watchdog group sues Gov. (SB Reg) + Peter Schrag: If school funding system is wrong, what's right? (SB Reg)

Campaign 2006: Lockyer, Angelides first Democrats in governor's race + Angelides launches gubernatorial bid + Angelides off to early start in governor's race (SB Reg) + Lockyer calls Arnold Austrian autocrat + Dan Walters: Angelides makes it official, but could he beat Schwarzenegger? (SB Reg) + Was Gov. Compared To Nazis?

Feds Are Feeding an Urban Money Pit By Spending Taxes on Community Development (LAT Reg)

CalPERS moves to limit swings in pension costs (SB Reg) + CalPERS moves to limit swings in pension costs (SB Reg)

State allows '04 deduction for tsunami relief donations (SB Reg)

Legislature: Bipartisan legislation to make Secretary of State office "nonpartisan" + Bill defeated to outlaw X-rated videos on vehicle video screens. Parents complained their kids saw them, assemblyman says + Offshore-oil plan should be capped + Senate Committee votes to require DMV to include auto safety recall notices in vehicle registration forms + Editorial: Firefighters flex muscle for wasteful staffing standards (SB Reg)

Stem cell panel: UCLA enters race for stem-cell money + Regional Stem Cell Labs Urged (LAT Reg) + Stem cell fund distribution delayed until fall (SB Reg)

Indian tribes: Pinole asks casino traffic study (CCT Reg) + Pombo schedules hearing on off-reservation gaming + Native Hawaiian sovereignty and Oil Refuge

LOCAL NEWS:   State gas prices leap 8 cents in one week

Sacramento & north: Isleton crabby over crawdads (SB Reg) + 2 Yolo cities vote for SMUD (SB Reg) + Parents jolted; Catholic school set to close (SB Reg) + Sacramento school districts send out preliminary cutback notices (SB Reg) + Teen's talent for science wins $50,000 national prize (SB Reg) + High schools slip in API ranking (SB Reg) + County may tax new homes to help fund sheriff's patrols (SB Reg) + San Juan teachers ratify new pact (SB Reg) + News in brief from Northern California + Editorial: Unwanted neighbors (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: San Francisco puckers up as MTV scouts a location for awards ceremony + SF Supervisors may limit new big chain stores. Peskin wants ban on large retailers in North Beach + SF: 10-year plan backed for capital projects + SF: Accrediting group gives zoo reprieve + Tourism turning around in San Francisco + Editorial: Newsom's budget wimp-out + Visitors like S.F., just not homeless + Slow motion collapse of the Haight Ashbury Free Clinics + Where have the homeless gone? + Loud music ruffles quiet neighborhood + Public schools in city improve on state tests + City bond rating upgraded + Riders try to save Broadway from Caltrain cuts + Kimberly plays footsie

Alameda: Oakland schools bring up ranks' rear + Berkeley may offer meter amnesty to hybrid car owners + Hundreds protest state control of Oakland schools + Black women honored for their work + Raimondi Park to be renewed at long last + Science prize for Cal professor + Beloved teacher dies from cancer + UC Berkeley alumni honored at awards ceremony + City of Alameda schools hit new highs + Newark: Anti-hate battle detailed in film + Soccer in Europe? No, Purim in Fremont Drinking, carousing big part of Jewish festival + Fremont: Donations for July 4 parade fizzle + Sparky George runs for a cause + Hearing on proposal for big development for West Oakland + Alta Bates gets list of problems, could lose accreditation + Pleasanton: Golf course budget likely to rise again (CCT Reg) + Livermore: Car shops get relief on permit fee boost (CCT Reg) + Livermore: Late-night meeting vote spurs procedural debate (CCT Reg) + Car show rolls into fairgrounds (CCT Reg)

Santa Clara: Akamai to buy rival Santa Clara-based Speedera for $130 million (SJM Reg) + S.J. council puts curbs on own fundraising (SJM Reg) + Parents learn about students and stress (SJM Reg) + Check out how your school ranks (SJM Reg) + DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPING (SJM Reg) + Overworked -- and angry about it (SJM Reg) + New scores for measuring school progress released (SJM Reg) + Comcast deal to let TiVo tap huge audience (SJM Reg) + Would-be SJ City Council candidate disputes rejection (SJM Reg) + Weimers: Ex-S.J. official speaks Governator (SJM Reg) + San Jose tightens fundraising rules for council members (SJM Reg) + Roadshow: Pump island horrors (SJM Reg) + Action Line: B of A gift certificate shrinks (SJM Reg) + Network OK'd for new S.J. City Hall (SJM Reg)

Contra Costa: Board delays Buchanan discussion + Contra Costa sees red — again + Controversial issue of urban limits may end up on ballot + Walnut Creek; Advocates to discuss 2006 ballot initiative for universal preschool + Martinez: Plan to move airport appears a longshot + San Ramon: Daylong conference assures girls they're all that (CCT Reg) + Castro Valley: Luncheons open window on world (CCT Reg) + Supervisors fortify for urban limit line battle (CCT Reg) + St. Mary's looks at partnership with Regis University (CCT Reg) + Airfield planners borrow more time (CCT Reg) + Clayton business tax critics speak out (CCT Reg) + Supervisors want cuts to bypass vital services (CCT Reg) + Arts center plot's finale draws near (CCT Reg) + Martinez poised to pick operator for debt-laden marina (CCT Reg)

Marin: Phone call from space + Novato School District to study shutting down up to three sites + Marin schools score above state average + Belvedere appoints 'energetic, hands on' city manager + Women's advocacy group to honor 3 for achievements + Marin County Tests Desalination Operation (LAT Reg)

Sonoma: RIP: Eric Burgess + Pollen packs punch, brings sniffles, sneezes + 3 RP wastewater ponds proposed + County to restrict stoves, fireplaces + How your school measures up in state testing + County schools score well but slip in API rankings

Napa: Harvest Middle School students have a slice of pi + Angry parents talk recall + County moves toward restaurant letter grades + CDF gets $5.5 million to supply fire service to Yountville, county area

Solano: Vallejo fears federal grant cuts + Region ready for growth spurt + Benicia allows longer parking + Benicia sends out school zone maps + School chief to make plan official + Former supervisor cited by environmental group + Gasoline prices in Vallejo 9 cents below state average + County job growth is favorable, on par with rest of state + EDC draws new business to Solano + Local Business Briefs

Monterey: California may have some allies on panel to save DLI, Navy School + Fire damages home of Castroville teacher + Water-system takeover legislation draws ire + County leaders defend actions from grand jury criticism they are not proactive + P.G. Library supporters say council is meddling + Your Town + Woman hurt in crash on highway + Pebble Beach plan approved + Smith's general plan idea rattles board + Campaigning for children + School test scores show countywide improvement + Pebble Beach Plan OKd (LAT Reg)

Central Valley: Growth fires up the economy + Schools endure peer pressure in tests + Try fixing traffic flow, too + Oakdale-Riverbank bypass wins vote + The Tellin' o' the Green + Legislature lines up for UC Merced + School contractor on notice + Turlock scores! School test results up + Sales tax way to quell wildfire costs + News & Notes + Around the Region + County's method for setting salaries looks a bit rigged

Central Coast: Father wants soldier’s remains in Oklahoma not Watsonville + Farmworkers welcome proposed housing development + Divided supervisors oppose Drinkard’s Forestry Board confirmation + More budget cuts in store for Santa Cruz + Watsonville wants more highway ramps for Green Valley Road + County board OKs flood control fee + Education officials reveal ambitious new goals + Plan to buy water system advances + CSU goes proactive on English proficiency + County board OKs flood control fee + Nature photographer becomes guest of honor + Santa Cruz surfers at the peak (SJM Reg)

Southern California: Candidates: LA Mayor should help schools + Las Lomas developer still trying + War critics vow to demonstrate + Chimp Attack Survivor Struggles With Recovery (LAT Reg) + Residents Sharply Split on LA County's Problems (LAT Reg) + Queen Mary Adrift Financially (LAT Reg) + Ontario: I-10 Crash Kills 1, Hurts Dozens + Angels' Ads on O.C. Buses Rile Correa (LAT Reg) + New Hybrid Union Pacific Locomotive's Emissions Are Clean As a Whistle (LAT Reg) + Disneyland's 50th Anniversary Party Will Start Early and Run 18 Months (LAT Reg) + LA Mayor Candidates Stay Focused on Schools (LAT Reg) + The Real Meaning Behind Spanish Names Is Not So Romantic (LAT Reg) + O.C. Is Up for Role in Child Health Study (LAT Reg) + Anaheim Hills Slide Risk Shuts Boulevard (LAT Reg) + O.C. Wetlands Renewal Project Putting the Squeeze on Cyclists (LAT Reg) + Sylmar: 6 Injured When Car Hits Truck Along Freeway (LAT Reg) + Irvine: Car Rear-Ended, Pushed Into Path of Metrolink (LAT Reg) + Huntington Beach: Police Identify Cyclist Hit and Killed by Car (LAT Reg) + OC: Two Teens Treated for Smoke After House Fire (LAT Reg)

School days: Faculty Group Votes Lack of Confidence in Harvard Chief + San Fernando Valley schools slipping + LAUSD submits iffy budget to county + APA Academic rankings of all Bay Area schools + The full report is available at Full API report on all California schools + Majority of CSU freshmen not ready + Rankings spotlight classroom struggle. 21% of state schools achieve coveted 800 score on pivotal Academic Performance Index + No results for 5 Oakland academies. Coding error means it's difficult to gauge experimental schools + Oxnard, Ventura College Students Stage Walkout (LAT Reg) + Stiffing Technical Education (LAT Reg) + Berkeley district settles suit on students' removal (CCT Reg) + API's 'similar' schools not so similar (SJM Reg)

BIOWARFARE  WATCH....

Anthrax scare blamed on mix-up at lab, 'Quality control problems' may have set off false alarms that rattled Wall Street

Many Scientists Fear Bird Flu Cases Exceed Data (LAT Reg)

Men charged with smuggling Canadian cattle to U.S.

Stroke Warning Signs Often Occur Hours Or Days Before Attack

US Army signs deal with New Zealand Company to take a brain injury repair drug to human trials

UK to gain stem cell 'network' + Stem cells can be 21st century penicillin

FDA: MS drug Avonex can cause liver damage + Pfizer’s profit prescription + FDA Approves Drug for Brain Cancer

Brigham Hospital to adopt barcodes to cut errors

Microbes, microbes everywhere

Teenagers and oral sex

Molecule Important In Cell Construction Also Critical In Learning And Memory

Herbal Remedy St. John's Wort Amplifies Effect Of Blood-thinning Drug Plavix, U-M Study Suggests

Researchers Discover A Good Side To Cholesterol In Controlling Cell Signals

Analysis Shows Drug Could Save Lives From Prostate Cancer

Gender Gap For Lung Cancer Rates Narrowing

Symbiotic Bacteria Protect Hunting Wasps From Fungal Infestation

World's First Hospital To Introduce Remote Presence Robots In ICU

Colorectal Cancer Can Be Inherited, Researchers Report

Doctors Closer To Using Gene Analysis To Help Trauma Patients

NASA Scientists Create A 'Gene Map' For Healthier Kidneys

Hormone Therapy For Prostate Cancer Can Affect Men's Thinking

Scientists Answer Key Enamel Question

Proteins Found In Urine Of Pregnant Women Could Help Diagnose Preeclampsia

Deciphering DiGeorge Syndrome: Big Advances In Understanding Microdeletions

Compound Inhibits One Critical Pathway In Breast Cancer Growth

Sharks Provide Key Insight For New, Non-toxic Anti-algae Coating

New Fairy Shrimp Species Found

Circuit Breaker on Space Station Fails

Microsoft to Launch Paid Search Technology + Microsoft curbs growth to suit Nintendo + Microsoft Deal Sidesteps EC Investigation

Yahoo gets social

Dust devils spring clean Martian rover

Spyware blocker could betray its users

'What does HP do?' asks Europe's biggest dealer

Smart Devices and Small Worlds

Surprise Discovery Of Highly Developed Structure In The Young Universe

Satellites Guide World's Top Yachts Through Southern Ocean 'Iceberg Alley'

Researchers Gather Data In Tsunamis' Wake

IBM's New Mouse Helps Those With Hand Tremors

THE BUSHWORLD...

Bush Defends Packaged News Stories from Government

Bush: No Timetable for Troops Coming Home + Iraq Embassy Funds at Risk (LAT Reg)

House OKs $81.4 billion more for war

Sfeir to meet Bush to talk Hizbullah and bilateral relations

Bush Picks Wolfowitz for New World Bank President + Wolfowitz nomination throws harsh spotlight on World Bank + Activists decry Wolfowitz choice, analysts divided

Bush Team Fights for 'Coalition of Willing' Funds

Bush names Kevin Martin new FCC chairman

Bush bash brings big bucks

Social Security: Bush Urges Congress to Begin Social Security Action After Easter Recess + Bush Says He Won't Unveil Plan Yet on Social Security

2 Years After Invasion, Poll Data Mixed

Iran: U.N. Praises U.S. Move on Iran, Urges Tehran Be Frank + The White House Nods To Europe on Iran and Gets What it Wants

Syria, Lebanon: Bush Sees Hezbollah in Politics (LAT Reg) + Lebanon's Lack of Answers re Assassination Raises Questions (LAT Reg) + Lebanon: More Like Ukraine Than You Realize + Lebanon's leadership fails to end political stalemate + UN wraps up investigation on Hariri killing + Strikes and demonstrations cost Lebanese Treasury $15 million a day + Larsen aware that disarming Hizbullah is most difficult clause of 1559 + Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah says his group will not lay down weapons + Lebanon to Figure Prominently in Abdullah’s Talks With Chirac

Other foreign: General: Chávez's rhetoric `unsettling' + N. Korea Says No Talks Without U.S. Retraction + U.S. Official Turns Up Rhetoric on North Korea (LAT Reg)

Rice: Rice: U.S. will strengthen ties with India + India, U.S. Hit Snags Over Iran, Arms to Pakistan + Rice Hopes 'Taiwan' Law Will Convince Europe Not to Deal Arms to China

Domestic: EPA Targets Mercury 'Hot Spots' at Power Plants (with market incentives) + Groups condemn EPA's mercury rule + Government falsified Yucca Mountain papers + Two-Thirds of Panel Investigating AIDS Study Get Money From Agency in Probe

CONGRESS: House Ethics Committee Member May Face Conflict in Future DeLay Investigation + With DeLay in the Spotlight, Republicans Feeling the Heat + In Congress, Efforts to Structure Tight Budget Caught in Tug of War + Data Collectors Face Lawmakers (LAT Reg) + Tougher bankruptcy rules await debt-ridden consumers. House ready to approve overhaul that puts greater focus on repayment to creditors + House leader denies wrongdoing. DeLay makes offer to appear before ethics committee + + Immigrant ID bill tied to military spending + Senate doesn't approve Amtrak funding boost + Lawmakers Question Proposed Cuts to NASA Aeronautics Research + Senate Rejects Attempt to Make Tax Cuts Tougher to Approve + Republicans Work to Get Bankruptcy Overhaul Bill to the Full House

Judicial nominations: If Republicans change rules to guarantee approval of Bush's judicial nominees, Democrats will block chamber business + Senate near meltdown over judges

Artic drilling: Senate votes to allow Arctic drilling + Democrats fought furiously at the end + Connelly: Public about to get drilled

Steroids hearings: Lawmakers from rival parties team up in probe of steroids. House panel leaders show a unity unusual in current Congress + Due to BALCO ties, Giambi is excused from testifying. House panel says others subpoenaed need to show up + As Congress lifts the lid on steroid use, fans might rather look away + Undaunted, many flock to see heroes + Canseco Denied Immunity in Steroids Probe

Democrats: What now for bumbling Dems? + House Hispanics pissed at Democratic leadership + Democrats asleep at the wheel

OPINIONS:

Truth Is, Bush's Propaganda Hurts the U.S. (LAT Reg)

Evangelicals "Third Coming" (CCT Reg)

The Mideast's New Democrats: Pat Buchanan

$225 Billion and No Exit Plan: Erik Leaver

Coming to Terms With China: Johnson, Engelhardt

A New Propaganda Boss: William Fisher

Medicare: Bring on the Tech

Molly Ivins: Purely Informational' Propaganda

Update on America's Criminal Class

Defiant DeLay blames others for his crimes

Mike Whitney: How Sgrena forced Italy's withdrawal from Iraq Click.

Robert Parry: Beating Bush at information war

Cannonfire updates

Democracy is more than a soundbite

Paul Krassner: Karl Rover loves Jeff Gannon

MILITARY  1st Armored Division Soldiers Training for '06 Iraq Deployment

Russia's new defense machine, the Terminator, marks new generation of Russian weaponry

Change the Deepcut culture

LEADERSHIP: New Brigades and Weapons Not Invented Yet

ARMED FORCES OF THE WORLD: Which Navy Does What Best?

Release of files under FOIA gets bipartisan push

A ban on a parody of the Leonardo painting has been denounced as censorship Click.

Defending labor's right to protest the war

Dolores Huerta warns nation in Livermore Lab speech

Antiwar Activists Find Military Allies

Maximum pain is goal of new U.S. weapon

Immigrants given monitoring bracelets

Firefighters to Sit Out St. Patrick's Day Parade if They Can't Wear Their Green

MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK....

OPEC ministers raise quotas but fail to rein in oil prices + OPEC Says It's Lost Control of Oil Prices

US Trade Deficit at All-Time High of $665.9B

Climate Change Is Called Economic Threat at Talks

Disney Plans Life After Pixar With Sequel Unit (LAT Reg)

Bechtel's role probed in Boston Big Dig leaks

Spirited Swedish whisky lovers make own drop of the hard stuff

Admakers turn to Europe's rising gray set

Some of the Washington state's most promising wines are made by a new legion of women winemakers

HP Chairwoman Says CEO Search Going Well, Skirts Details

America's New CEOs -The Imperious Need Not Apply

Boeing's Interim Chief Indicates CEO Search to Last Months

San Francisco gay marriage and beyond:   Legal outcome could hang on sex-bias issue. Does marriage law discriminate based on gender precept? + Male or female, always a doctor. Top physician tells colleagues, patients at Kaiser that he is finally becoming a woman + Is Joel Stein straight? (LAT Reg) + Clash Over Gay Episcopal Bishops Delays New Ordinations (LAT Reg) + Gay marriage: The great (legal) divide (SB Reg) + Gay Travel Industry Booming, in U.S. and Abroad + Michigan AG: Cities Can't Provide Benefits for Same-Sex Partners in Future Contracts

The Pen Is Mightier.... 

What is San Francisco Examiner's billionaire owner up to?

Billions at stake in sports-radio battle

Bush Team Has Little to Fear From CBS Now

The new journalism

Juan Cole: Top bloggers are white males?

Reuters Foundation Co-Launches News Site for Iraqi Media

Paris' 'Le Monde' OKs Recapitalization Plan; Spanish Publisher to Invest

AP to offer two leads for some stories

Today's papers

Vincent van Gogh, The Painter on his Way to Work Enlarge  

Daily picture from the Metropolitan

Shamrocks and shenanigans

The post Tupac Shakur hip hop scene + New stars

Hollywood embracing the family

10 essential hikes in Southern California (LAT Reg)

Argentina's dramatic nature (LAT Reg)

Rare Crusader coin found in Israel flea market dig

Room Without a View at the Plaza (LAT Reg)

The Swifty Years

John Lahr on plays about Peggy Guggenheim, Primo Levi, and Orson Welles

San Pedro de Atacama.

Mystery Shoppers to check on the quality of church services in London Click.

Artistic brilliance as sharp as a bull's horn or a thorn in the foot

Sitting in the director's chair

Dear 'Diary': Black women are mad about you

Today in literature

Lloyd Grove's Lowdown: DA helped Dimond out of a 'Hard' spot

Chappaqua cheers Bubba's recovery

Page Six

Liz Smith

Cindy Adams

Your daily braindrop

Word of the day

Occupation: Iraq parties gridlocked over terms + Allawi: Iraq Election Winners 'Paralyzing the Country'

War prisons: More concerns of Navy SEALs abuse raised

AFGHANISTAN: US-Led Forces to Pull Out of Western Afghanistan + Afghanistan Rules Out Legalizing Opium Cultivation

ISRAEL, PALESTINE:  Palestinian Plan to Free Militant Sparks New Flap + Palestinians ready for Jericho transfer, ceasefire talks in Cairo + Idea of Truce Drives Wedge Between Militants (LAT Reg) + Abbas, militants discuss 1-year truce; Israel prepares to hand over Jericho + Hamas has no choice + U.S.: Israel shirking its promises on settlement boundaries

RUSSIA: Russia pays 10 million dollars for info on slain Chechen leader + Conspiracy Theories Surrounding Chechen Leader's Death Swirl in Russia + Ten Russian banks blacklisted for money laundering

EUROPE: Kyrgyz President Solidifies His Control of Parliament (LAT Reg)

Berlusconi government in predicament over US shooting of Italian journalist

AFRICA: U.S. Awards Madagascar Aid for Good Governance (LAT Reg)

Illegal Arms Still Flow Freely Into Somalia (LAT Reg)

Libyan parliament approved the privatization of the banking sector

Africa backs tech tax to help poor nations

ASIA PACIFIC: 23 dead as Philippine forces storm prison to end Islamic militant revolt

Taiwan Aborigines Battle to Save Their Culture

How Electronics Are Penetrating North Korea's Isolation

In struggle to be heard, rural Chinese pack Beijing

AMERICAS:  Like the US, Mexico feels Wal-Mart era

Children Dying as Hunger Stalks Brazil's Indians

Argentina wants Shell Oil out of the country

INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AT WORK AND AT PLAY....

Va. Defense Facility Locked Down (Anthrax) + Attack or malfunction?

Suspect in Bush assassination plot seeks exam by doctor

Lawmakers Told of Surge in Incidents Involving Lasers and Planes

The Shadow of Secrecy in an Open Society: 14 Million Govt Secrets Annually

Intelligence Overhaul Getting Another Look

NY Prosecutors Arrest 18 Suspected Arms Traffickers re: Russia

Pakistan Says Forces Nearly Hunted Down Bin Laden

France Jails Six Over Plot to Blow Up U.S. Embassy

Nixon Library Can't Be Trusted Not to Play With His Words (LAT Reg)

Saudi Arabia's details on crown's prince assassination conspiracy

On second thought...

Pollard fights on + Israeli Spy Pollard Fights Life Sentence

Coming in From the Cold, Ex-Spies Tell It All

Bill to Renew Panel on CIA-Nazi Ties Passes + Extension for CIA-Nazi ties probe

Judge questions Chile cult head

UK: Car in Princess Diana crash was last minute replacement

HOW LOW
THE LAW GOES....

Ebbers Convicted of WorldCom Fraud, May Spend Rest of His Life in Prison

Federal Judges Call for Urgent Measures to Protect Judges

Federal witness protection cuts program staff

Police Release Tapes of Frantic 911 Calls in Church Shooting + Police Focus on Religion in Milwaukee Shootings

Call for Action Following Atlanta Courthouse Carnage + Court Shootings Suspect Appears at Hearing

Illinois: Judge's Foe Sent Notes to Officials (LAT Reg)

Nationwide sweep nets more than 100 gang members + Officials use immigration laws to arrest gang members

Stewart Says Ankle Device Is Uncomfortable

Man gets 6 months for 911 PC virus

Lender Ameriquest Has Long Trail of Complaints (LAT Reg)

Arizona: Inmate Begins Selecting Jurors in Hostage Case (LAT Reg)

Las Vegas: 4 Killed After SUV Hits Bus Stop in Las Vegas (LAT Reg)

Boulder: Teenage Girl Held in Father's Fatal Shooting (LAT Reg)

Official Sentenced by UN in Rwandan Genocide (LAT Reg)

Nebraska rescinds job offer to man convicted of murdering 'Gorillas in the Mist' researcher (CCT Reg)

Lonely dwarf guilty of arsons

Geekfathers: CyberCrime Mobs Revealed

Zombie PCs Being Sent to Steal IDs

Free John Walker Lindh!

He Coulda' Been A Contender! Plus A Brief Look at the Arrest of the Alleged 'BTK" Killer Click.

Warning from Soham probe chief

CALIFORNIA BREAKING LAW NEWS....

Widow of 1973 Murder Victim Fights Parole Bid (LAT Reg)

Sacramento & north: Grieving uncle tells of family crisis, slayings (SB Reg) + Intern teacher accused of sex abuse appears in court (SB Reg) + Possible sex assault leads to chase (SB Reg) + Man, 19, found shot to death in car (SB Reg) + Condit settles suit against writer Dunne (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: Man kills stepmom over tot, police say. Family had gathered to mourn teen's death -- at-large suspect had restraining order + Murder trial opens for Foster City man + Driver in fatal SSF crash could face prosecution

Alameda: Jury selection begins in East Bay abuse case. Judge restricts grounds on which brothers can sue + Three to be tried jointly in Livermore teen's death (CCT Reg) + Livermore lab settles lawsuit over racial bias (CCT Reg) + 3 teens arrested on suspicion of drug dealing at Alameda High (CCT Reg) + Illegal car rallies remain beyond Oakland control (SJM Reg) + Jury selection begins in church sex abuse case + Visitor says sideshow turned violent + Sexual assault reported at Ohlone College + Union City woman claims rifle threat

Santa Clara: Jurors hear two versions of deaths in crash (SJM Reg) + Victim's family wages dispute over bones (SJM Reg) + Jury selection starts in P.A. officers' trial (SJM Reg) + Police Blotter (SJM Reg)

Contra Costa: Richmond: Vacaville woman gets 7 years in $12 million embezzlement. Loomis employee, co-worker bought cars, horses, jewelry + Martinez: Charges filed in I-80 fatalities + + Police setup nabs bike-theft suspect (CCT Reg)

Sonoma: Hijacking of bank accounts hits home + No 3rd trial for SR man who killed girlfriend

Napa: Judge clears way for golf club sale

Solano: Vallejo: Police kill man wielding knives + Police kill armed man + Court recommends sexual predator stay at Atascadero

Monterey: Salinas man caught in chase + Vallejo Police Calls

Central Valley:  Condit, author settle lawsuit + Courts a volatile mix for security + Meth mail sender admits guilt + Modesto High is thrashed; 2 nabbed + Environmentalists get behind law + Law & Order

Central Coast: Jury convicts Live Oak man of child abuse + Cops and Courts

Southern California: Plea ends 22-year crime saga at CSUN + $20 dispute killings lead to life sentence + LA: Man accused in bomb hoax + Spector Firearm Threats Cited (LAT Reg) + Man Slashes His Lawyer in Court (LAT Reg) + Fontana: Killing of Driver Triggers Search (LAT Reg) + Alleged O.C. Rapist Is Burglary Suspect (LAT Reg) + San Diego: Man Gets Life Without Parole in Officer Killing (LAT Reg) + AIDS Official on Leave in Fundraising Probe (LAT Reg) + OC Assistant Pastor Enters Plea on Porn Charge (LAT Reg) + Cathedral City: Longtime Suspect Pleads Guilty in Murder (LAT Reg) + Van Nuys: Killer of Two Gets Life Term in 3-Strikes Case (LAT Reg)

Michael Jackson: Jackson Team Done With Accuser (LAT Reg) + New twist to accuser's tale. Boy says he told school official Jackson didn't touch him sexually + Jackson boy denied abuse 'after taunts' + DR who interviewed accuser says Jackson no pedophile; tells cops teenager invoked name of boy who brought '93 molestation charges + Why the Michael Jackson Case Is Falling Apart, How the Prosecution Began Poorly , And What the Defense Ought to Do Next + Peyser: Michael Still Can't Keep Eyes Off Teen

Robert Blake: Jury resumes deliberations in murder case against Robert Blake + Blake Jurors Zero In on 17-Minute Period (LAT Reg)

Scott Peterson: Peterson attorneys seek new trial + Motion for new trial and rebuttal released. Judge's ruling, sentencing both set for Wednesday + Jurors recall emotional trial + What is expected to happen Wednesday + Peterson attorney trumpets 'new' tip + Download motion for new trial (7 mb .pdf) + Download prosecution filing (.pdf) + Peterson seeks new trial, claims misconduct (CCT Reg) + Retrial motion focuses on burglary (SJM Reg) + Excerpts from judge's conversations shed light on trial (SJM Reg)

The Governor:  Gov. says he will call special election. Remark counters compromise moves toward Legislature + Judge to hospitals: Start using new nursing rules now + New nurse-to-patient ratios go into effect + Teachers' ads accuse governor of breaking his word (CCT Reg) + Teachers union ads: Gov. betrays schools + Teachers, state spar over money + Dan Walters: It's the silly season - time to be leery of propaganda from all sides (SB Reg) + Shriver honors 120 women at Capitol (CCT Reg) + UC official Gerald Parsky won't run for governor + HOLLYWOOD GLITZ AT CAPITOL (SJM Reg) + Daniel Weintraub: Senate leader has radical take on school policy (SB Reg)

Angelides readies campaign to unseat governor + Angelides throws hat into gubernatorial ring

CalPERS to pinpoint corporate criticism

County assessors test e-filing plan (SB Reg)

Editorial: Depleting state history (SB Reg)

Dry reception for agriculture (SB Reg)

Stem cell panel: San Jose confident it will house stem cell center + Quick end sought on stem cell lawsuits (SB Reg) + Cities vie for state biotech institute (SJM Reg)

Indian tribes: Obituary: David Risling founded tribal college (SB Reg) + Scandal surrounding lobbyist linked to DeLay ensnares two more Republican congressmen. Abramoff hosted fundraisers for two congressmen who aided tribal clients + Federal measure would restrict Indian casinos + Rep. Miller expresses doubts about casino + Richmond Casino Plans Boosted, San Pablo Proposal Dealt Setback + Judge approves Native inmate deal

LOCAL NEWS:   Wildflowers bloom in Death Valley

Bay Area residents awarded science medal. White House event honors recipients

Rice industry gathers steam (LAT Reg)

Sacramento & north: Roseville debates infill plan (SB Reg) + San Juan saves programs; jobs still facing ax (SB Reg) + Green Acres 101: City slickers try the simple life (SB Reg) + Diana Griego Erwin: Boaters' awareness can keep deadly electrical fields out of the water (SB Reg) + Bickford Ranch developers, Placer ordered to pay fees (SB Reg) + Mom, daughter killed in car crash (SB Reg) + Man killed by minivan in Orangevale (SB Reg) + Unions turn up heat on brokers (SB Reg) + Dog cropping bill causes uproar (SB Reg) + News in brief from Northern California

San Francisco, San Mateo: Caltrain looks to boost fares, cut stations. More Baby Bullets, dropping slower trains proposed as ways to trim $13.6 million deficit + SF: Report reviews hiring by assessor. No conclusions reached -- panel to seek testimony + SF.: Marines shine with rifles, drums and bugles. A spiffy showcase at Union Square + SF: 4 black women to be honored + Rising costs could delay part of Laguna Honda rebuild + Fire rips through public housing + Demand for top schools heavy + Family finds ‘hidden gem' + Fire sparks debate over pot-growing safety + South City fire forces evacuations + Two local teens die in Skyline crash + Peninsula: Council to broaden scope of city manager's authority

Alameda: Oakland: To spray or not to spray? City considers using herbicides against invasive plants in hills + Gay couples overjoyed with ruling + Book lends historical perspective to Alta Bates hospitals + Port expanding debris recycling + Bookmobile caters to kids of all ages + Newark school board vote a violation? + Buyers drawn to downtown Livermore

Santa Clara:  Caltrain seeks service, fare changes (SJM Reg) + Tech bust still hurting California's economy (SJM Reg) + Two bumped from S.J. City Council race (SJM Reg) + Stadium is no minor issue (SJM Reg) + Chung: Forging links from women to wealth (SJM Reg) + Layoff warnings going to 516 S.J. teachers (SJM Reg) + Weimers: Group name reflects leadership (SJM Reg) + Solar panel dispute ends (SJM Reg) +  Peninsula in Brief (SJM Reg) + Who's bidding (SJM Reg)

Contra Costa: Antioch: Head Start program expected to get OK + Oakley caught in urban growth debate (CCT Reg) + + San Ramon: Ranch estates at center of debate + Public comments sought on Buchanan airport + Appeal for traffic help backfires (CCT Reg) + San Pablo planners to hear Circle S environmental report (CCT Reg) + Police setup nabs bike-theft suspect (CCT Reg) + Buchanan Field's relocation hits turbulence (CCT Reg) + Board pay alternatives put to vote (CCT Reg)

Marin: Social Scene: Bread & Roses rules the Regency + Work starts on desalination test plant + Teachers want Alvarenga fired in San Rafael + Family's $250,000 donation pays for Tiburon fountain + Marin water recyclers join push for area deal + Lagunitas woman aids tsunami zone

Sonoma: 'I always knew love would prevail' + No chemicals in pepperweed plan + Measures revive hopes for rail line between Eureka, Napa + 11 school districts discuss merging + Author defends Bari book at Sebastopol signing + Betting on March Madness + Boater hits piling, drowns in Clear Lake + Faster isn't better on Summerfield + Occidental: New round at polls for school parcel tax

Napa: Wine foe found in Napa + While some Napa elementary schools are ethnically polarized, educators seek ways to bridge the gap

Solano: City and Six Flags may ink new deal + Local News Briefs + Maxwell Bridge demolition will close access to boat traffic

Monterey: Supervisors counter grand jury assertions re: special interests + Teachers seeing red over pink slips + Salinas elementary could have larger classes + Day-care center faces closure + Rubber dam may help prevent Carmel erosion + Winds down trees over roads, knock out power

Central Valley: Peterson attorney trumpets 'new' tip + Hoping to change China + Oakdale places 17th at academic decathlon + UC students gain an advantage + Empty seat surprises Riverbank council + Stan St. 'eyesore' eyed for new use + Grants will help monitor valley air + Mello, Gustine High teacher and coach + Rorabaugh, a civic leader in Waterford + News & Notes + Around the Region + Community Briefing + Weed & Seed approval will help neighborhood + Proposition 209 hurts the 209 — and the rest of the valley

Central Coast: S.C. still facing $652K budget gap + Watsonville restores Depression-era gas station + Local residents applaud gay-marriage ruling + Aptos pilot prepares to cross Atlantic into Africa + S.V. officials wrestle with $676K deficit + Watsonville health-care workers endure tough bargaining + Students head down garden path to good health + Three suffer burns during bonfire in back yard + Board raises academic standards at SLV High + Coast Lines

Southern California: Ontario: One killed when casino bus hits firetruck on California freeway + Hahn wants to know why ballots re-inked + OC: Women's Circle Is Big on Giving (LAT Reg) + A Big Bump in the Santa Monica Blvd for Businesses (LAT Reg) + Candidates Try to Outdo Each Other on Education (LAT Reg) + Sale Means Plans for Anaheim's GardenWalk Are Back on Track (LAT Reg) + New Area Code for 310 Zone Opposed (LAT Reg) + More Land Bought for River Parkway (LAT Reg) + 128 years of rainfall in Los Angeles (LAT Reg) + 80-Year-Old Cyclist Dies When He's Hit by Car (LAT Reg) + Stuck Ship Is Freed, Towed to Long Beach (LAT Reg) + News briefs from San Diego County

School days: West San Fernando Valley teachers begin "work to rule" protest action + At the valley where the U.S. was forged + Training programs for principals inadequate + API scores + State releases baseline API scores for most schools (SB Reg) + Exit exam not priority to some kids (SB Reg) + UCD professor is a natural (SB Reg) + Jim Boren: UC Merced's chief a pioneer for 21st century + Politicians want federal grants handed to schools immediately (CCT Reg)

BIOWARFARE  WATCH....

Bioterror CSIs Target Germs

Did Black Death Boost HIV Immunity?

A Body's Burden: Proof elusive, but scientists are finding our body burden is slowly killing us

Hopes of simple blood test for MS

Mountain living 'good for heart'

Government Advisers Recommend Whooping Cough Vaccine Boosters

FDA rejects petition to ban Crestor

Moms, babies found deficient in vitamin D

Atkins diet succeeds for devilishly simple reason

Elixir of youth comes with an eye-watering price tag 

Stem-Cell Craze Spreads in Russia

UCLA Launches Major Stem Cell Institute

New Drugs For Bad Bugs: UF Approach Could Bolster Antibiotic Arsenal

New Study Gets At Heart Of Stroke Risk

Study Shows Faces Are Processed Like Words

Gene Therapy Cures Inherited Liver Disease In Rats

Purdue Researchers Use Enzyme To Clip 'DNA Wires'

Three Anti-platelet Drugs Used In Combination Are Safe

First Step Towards A Non-invasive Screening Test For Early Signs Of Testicular Cancer

Study Examines Racial Differences Among Children To Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure

Soy Study May Show Link To Lower Blood Pressure

UF's Virtual Reality 'Patient' Teaches Bedside Manners To Medical Students

Changes In Clinical Progression To AIDS In Patients On HAART Therapy

Most Advanced CT Scanner Improves Imaging Of Heart, Avoids Need For Surgical Inspection

Even Mild Depression Increases Long-Term Mortality In Heart Failure

Penn State Researchers Discover New Tumor-suppressor Gene

Treatment Of Sleep Apnea Lowers Glucose Levels In Diabetics

Licorice Licks Herpes Virus Infection

Cancer cells put into deep sleep

Species list reaches half-million mark

Finding Hidden Invaders In A Hawaiian Rain Forest

Canada's Shrinking Ice Caps

Huge 2004 Stratospheric Ozone Loss Tied To Solar Storms, Arctic Winds

Modeled Climate And Land-use Change Threatens Plant Species

Survey to track 'alien' ladybird

Linux Rules Supercomputers

Microsoft Gets Outside the Box with Software

Findings Could Break Down Brick Wall Of Miniaturization

Astronomers Detect Powerful Bursting Radio Source

Jupiter: A Cloudy Mirror For The Sun?

Black Holes Influence Knowledge Of The Universe

THE BUSHWORLD...

Bush Orders Policy to 'Contain' Chávez + USA and Venezuela spar over deliveries of Russian arms

Showdown Vote Approaches on Arctic Drilling

Bush Leaves Opening for Hezbollah to Enter Political Mainstream in Lebanon + Bush calls on Hezbollah to lay down its arms to show it isn't a terror group

Budget Accord in Doubt Amid Medicaid Spending Dispute, House's Nussle Says

Democrat Reid Vows to Block Senate Action If Rules Are Changed on Nominees

White House to agencies: Ignore GAO's ruling on "illegal" TV news releases

Bush Nominates Commission on Military Base Closures

White House Expresses Concern About Rising Oil Prices

Gallup: Americans Don't Like Syria, Iran, N. Korea, but Don't Want War

President, Press Ham It Up at Saturday's Gridiron Dinner

Iran: Iran: Incentives won't stop nuke program

Syria: Syria Intelligence Vacating Beirut Offices + A look at mass rallies held in Lebanon + After Syria, a UN role in Lebanon? + Nearly a million Lebanese tell Syria to leave + The struggle for Lebanon. Rhetoric rises as divided nation attempts to shape its future + Jordanian newspapers on the pressures on Syria

Rice:  Rice Rejects `Separate Deals' in North Korea Nuclear Talks + Rice Says U.S. Concerned at China Military Build-Up + Rice Says U.S. Helped India, Pakistan Rapprochement + India-Pakistan peace process tops agenda as Rice kicks off Asia visit + Job No. 1 for Hughes: U.S. image makeover + Rice Reshaping Foreign Policy (LAT Reg) + Hughes' Role at State to Be Outreach to Muslims

Domestic: EPA Issuing New Mercury Pollution Rules + Bush uses rule book to ease protections

Social Security: Group Leaves Social Security Overhaul Bloc + Greenspan Calls for Social Security Fixes + Skepticism of Bush's Social Security Plan Is Growing

Congress: Congress' approval rating on the slide + Feinstein bill would bring back assault weapons ban + DeLay's ethics woes could slow GOP plans + Transportation bill takes aim at 'pay to play' + Business lobby pushing agenda before judicial showdown deadlocks Senate + Baseball turns over steroids documents. Selig to testify -- probe may expand to other sports + GOP stays firm on education cuts (SB Reg) + Gallup: Only 37% Approve of Congress, a 'Surprising Drop'

Democrats: Jeffrey Goldberg on the Democrats’ new foreign-policy strategy + GREENSPAN, HILLARY CLASH

OPINIONS:

Dubya shifts strategy on Social Security

Scheer: The bankruptcy bill, a tutorial in greed

Bolton's Baggage: Tom Barry

DeLay, Another turd in the cesspool

More fraud from Halliburton

Senators ready for budget fight

Chad Graham: The President's escort

Karen Hughes: Bush's Spinner to the World

Krugman: The $600 Billion Man

'Fortress America' sparks new fears

Leupp: Bush plan still on track

Flocco: Photographer for White House Child Sex Ring Arrested after Thompson Suicide

Madsen: Bush administration clears US troops in slaying of Calipari and wounding of Sgrena + An interview with Giulietto Chiesa: 'Nicola Calipari might have become a target'

Bolton watch thread

Molly Ivins: Calling all conservatives

MILITARY  For Troops, Home Can Be Too Close

Platoon Leader Pleads Guilty in Assault Case (LAT Reg)

I don't think I've ever relished going to war

Filling the ranks

New Arbiter Would Make Freedom of Information Requests Fairer, Experts Say

Actresses arrested in General Motors protest

Not an `approved dissident,' he fights U.S. and Castro too

International protesters target seal hunt

Military Recruiters Target Campus Activists

Military Recruiters Target Campus Activists

Chemical McCarthyism

CONNECT THE DOTS....

Women given top jobs to improve US standing with Arabs

Chimeric Experimentation: Are You a Man or a Mouse?

Corporations: Do you love them more than you'll admit?

The beast in us

Blood for pork....

Halliburton overcharges pegged at $108 million. Lawmakers release parts of Pentagon's fall audit of Iraq refueling + Pentagon Audit Calls Halliburton's Price 'Illogical' (LAT Reg)

Plowing for Profits: US Agribusiness Eyes Iraq’s Fledgling Markets

MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK....

U.S. Stocks Drop on Anthrax Report, $55 Oil; Shares of AIG, Intel Decline

Saudi Arabia demands OPEC boost output, signals it could act alone

Apple iPod exec gets $26.4 million from options

Iger's challenge: how to reanimate Disney + EBay CEO to stay put, says "no" to Disney

Taking a sales tax break

If eBay CEO left, who'd replace her? (SJM Reg)

Qwest's Ex-Chief Nacchio, Six Officers Accused by SEC in $3 Billion Fraud

Municipal Bond Regulator Calls for Ban on Consultants to Win Underwriting

San Francisco gay marriage and beyond:  Judge strikes down ban on same-sex marriage. THE RULING: Law violated 'basic human right' + COUPLES REACT: 'One step in a long road to equality' + Impetus seen for constitutional ban on same-sex marriage + MOOD: Tears, kisses mark big win for gay marriages + THE OPPOSITION: 'Activist court' ruled predictably, but fight far from over + Judge is Catholic and Republican -- 'a brilliant guy' + APPEALS: Case still has a long way to go + Download the superior court decision (.pdf)

The Pen Is Mightier.... 

How Govt Agencies Produce Hundreds of Pre-Packaged TV News Segments

Spanish judiciary decided to release journalist Allouni, keep him under house arrest

Newsmashing. New way to change blogging forever

E&P Study: Percentage of Female Syndicated Pundits Barely Up Since 1999

N.C. Newspaper Seeks to Keep Doctor's Malpractice Cases Open

Today's papers

Vincent van Gogh, The Painter on his Way to Work Enlarge  

Daily picture from the Metropolitan

Nonprofit aims to aid US diocese governance

Italy's Roman Catholic Church rails against Da Vinci Code "lies"

Olmecs. Mother culture or only a sister

Venice Rediscovers Veronese, Symbol of Its Golden Age

African-Americans Offer Hope to African Film

'Girl' power

Brad Bird's 'Incredibles' journey

Grammer's TV-producing presence

"Diane Arbus, Revelations at the Met

New Star Wars film 'ends in hell'

Rebecca West - Rebecca West -- Wells to Watergate

Author chosen to write sequel to ‘Peter Pan'

The rich, the weird. Hunter's last days

Lloyd Grove's Lowdown: Did Jax reporter brief DA?

Daily News Exclusive: Room with view of a hit

Page Six

Liz Smith

Cindy Adams

Your daily braindrop

Word of the day

Occupation: Kurds Push Ahead With Iraq's Shiites on Deal to Form Coalition Government + Iraqis Hold Anti-Jordanian Protests Over Bombing + Shiite-Kurdish talks stall on forming government + Irritated Iraqi Voters Wait for Change

War prisons: Judge Blocks the Transfer of 13 Detainees From Gitmo + Pentagon plans rendition of Guantánamo prisoners. Detainees face torture in Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Yemen

MIDDLE EAST: Saudi Arabia Probe Into Alleged Libyan Plot Nears End (LAT Reg)

Israel, Palestine: Jericho to be handed over to PA security control on Wednesday + Annan pledges support for Abbas ahead of key ceasefire talks + Israeli Cabinet OKs razing some outposts. No timetable for dismantling rest of illegal settlements + Final route of Jerusalem barrier approved + No razing date set for West Bank outposts + Abbas to Announce Shift on 'Right of Return' + U.S. Group Arrives in Israel to Show Solidarity With Embattled Gaza Settlers + Route of Israel's Jerusalem Barrier Will Enclose Large Settlement, Holy Site, Refugee Camp

RUSSIA: Georgia provokes military conflict with Russia+ Communist leads Russia's shadow government

EUROPE: European Union pronounces Belarus a state of dictatorship

Sinn Fein Leader Publicly Criticizes Family of Belfast Slaying as Party Makes New Admission

Macedonia Says U.N. War Crimes Tribunal Has Indicted Former Interior Minister

AFRICA: More than 180,000 dead in Darfur: UN humanitarian chief tells AFP

ASIA PACIFIC: North Korea: Stunted policy stunts children

China Denies 'Taiwan' Law Is a 'War Bill' + China Law Authorizes Force Against Taiwan + 'Humdrum' congress changes China's course

AMERICAS:

One Man Accused But Argentine Dirty War on Trial

Task force urges North American community

INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AT WORK AND AT PLAY....

Hazmat Team Checking Possibility of Chesend Mical Agents in Pentagon Mail Room

Zarqawi Planning U.S. Hit?

Pentagon hosted meeting of intelligence officials to combat IEDs

White House Acknowledges Iran Intel 'Hard to Come By'

Al-Qaida more dangerous now: CSIS official

FBI agent trying to stem an invasion of fake war heroes

Sept. 11 panel to hit loose ID controls

John Negroponte — Policy Hack or Intelligence Reformer?

U.S. aviation system still vulnerable to attack. Study sees risk for noncommercial planes, helicopters

U.S. Man Accused of Plotting to Kill Bush and Al Qaeda Support Pleads Innocent

Report: Qaeda Ally May Target U.S. Theaters, Schools

Pilots decry red tape in letting them carry guns

TERRORISM: Survival of the Most Dangerous

PDF file. Remove physical device fingerprinting

Mystery seismic boom in Tampa area

COUNTER-TERRORISM: Why Al Qaeda Survives in Yemen

Hezbollah power play + The beast that slouches toward democracy

The Madrid Agenda - conquering terrorism without use of force

British Firm Breaks Ground in Surveillance Science

Book: Nazis tested crude nuclear device

Unique book on space exploration published in Russia

Hrušovský did not spy on fellow citizens

NZ seeks release of Ivorian 'spy'

Syrian Intelligence Office Evacuated

My Grandfather Headed Army Intelligence

Foreigners Hard to Track Once They Enter the U.S., Official Says

BIOWARFARE  WATCH....

Mysterious lesions defy definition (CCT Reg)

Bird Flu Clusters May Signal Virus Change - WHO + New Bird Flu Cases Cause Concern + WHO Warns of Mutating Bird Flu Virus

Journals of the Plague Years

China Starts Human Trial of HIV Vaccine

China Testing AIDS Vaccine on Humans

CONNECT THE DOTS....

Pakistan's antidote to extremism: first arts school

Save a mother, save her baby

My brain need Viagra

Garry Kasparov: Why I quit chess to fight Vladimir Putin

HOW LOW
THE LAW GOES....

Andean villagers seek American justice. Mercury contamination near Peru mine leads to legal showdown in Denver court

Hostage's Cool Compassion Disarmed Atlanta Fugitive + 'I could tell he was going to shoot everybody' + God brought him to my door

Church Attack Motive Puzzles Investigators

82 cobras stolen from Red Cross facility

Immigrant, part of Marcos group, Battling to Call the U.S. His Home (LAT Reg)

Pharming Out-Scams Phishing

There was nothing Lil' about Kim's lies, gov't claims

Playing Politics with Visas

Is the Bush Administration Repudiating International Law?

Texas D.A.'s anti-drug rants hid his own struggle with drugs

Neb. Hires Man Convicted of Fossey Murder to Oversee Mental Health Office

Mayans' invisible struggle

Lay Wants Separate Juries for His Separate Trials

CALIFORNIA BREAKING LAW NEWS....

In California, too many chase scenes

New laws, bills surfacing to regulate safety of chemical compounds

Sacramento & north: Church abuse mediation talks to begin (SB Reg) + Elk Grove lawsuit to debut in court (SB Reg) + Back-seat driver: There's a ticket on the line ... a solid white line (SB Reg) + Reedley grower's request to sue state board member who earned money on the side as consultant is denied by AG Lockyer (SB Reg) + New path in policing when people need psychiatric treatment (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: S.F. program gives convicts a chance for a fresh start. Hundreds of records cleared, if crimes didn't merit prison

Alameda: Hayward: Family of man who hanged self in jail sues Alameda County + Lieutenant named officer of the year + Zodiac's shadow crossed valley + Family grocery store reopens after killing + Man sentenced to 24 years for stabbing Fremont family

Santa Clara: SJ post office evacuated after white powder found (SJM Reg) + Lawsuit targets taxes, bonds (SJM Reg) + Action Line: Few laws on signature-gatherers (SJM Reg)

Contra Costa: San Pablo: Several shots kill 1 outside liquor store + Richmond: CHP saves woman in burning car (CCT Reg)

Sonoma: Vandal-cam at Rohnert Park

Napa: Documents indicate church never probed abuse claim + Waste haulers hit AmCan with suit

Solano: A community's resource + Woman pushing stroller hit in crosswalk + Mother pleads for help solving slaying + Jail revamps bail bond advertising policies + +Women sought after for police work + Vallejo Police Calls

Monterey: Man arrested after chase in Salinas

Central Valley: Proving rape in court isn't easy (MB Reg) + Medication ... or drug? (MB Reg) + Origel gets attorney in deportation case (MB Reg) + Rape sentences run from days to decades (MB Reg) + + Law & Order

Central Coast: Santa Cruz perks up for caffeine alert and road rage + Cops And Courts

Southern California: Hayward commander overcomes scandal + LAPD vs. dog disputes often settled with a gun + Man Is Arrested in Knifepoint Rape of 81-Year-Old Dana Point Woman (LAT Reg) + Reserve Officer Rescues Two Boys From Channel (LAT Reg) + Mission Viejo: 2 Men Arrested in Apartment Shooting + Santa Ana: Man Shot by Officer Is Held on Gun Charge + Placentia: 1 Killed, 1 Injured by Gunfire at Family Party + Tustin: Police Seek Information on Death of Motorist

Michael Jackson: Nothing bad happened at Neverland, Jax accuser said

Scott Peterson: Geragos says Peterson deserves new trial due to new evidence burglar may have committed the murders (SJM Reg)

The Governor:  Gov. stalled on spending controls + Transportation and housing chief Sunne Wright McPeak draws criticism + McPeak burning bridges (CCT Reg) + Transit-housing leader alienates ex-allies (SJM Reg) + Gov.'s Performance in Role of 'Reformer' Seems a Little Strained (LAT Reg) + Counties want payback for special elections (CCT Reg) + Education petitions circulate (CCT Reg) + Dan Walters: Terminator vs. Meathead? Race could center on preschool proposal (SB Reg) + Gov, pushes merit pay for teachers + Dan Walters: It affects millions, but state's transportation crisis is still ignored (SB Reg) + Daniel Weintraub: Choices on the line as Big Guy faces nurses (SB Reg) + Nurse staffing mandate ignores nursing shortage (MB Reg) + Anthony York: What if? + State will take look at prices in title insurance business

CalPERS rethinks China, Russia markets (SB Reg)

California Healthcare Recipes Could Whet National Appetite (LAT Reg)

Legislature: Lawmaker seeks to open gates of Bay Area waters for recreation + Activist Karen Bass takes office, comes out swinging + Legislature gets set for debates on new Secretary of State

Citizen soldiers watch the state

California still hasn't built centralized system for collecting child support and is losing money (FB Reg)

Agriculture inspections fall off. Growers fear infestations after Homeland Security took over USDA's border study

Federal bill revives debate over border fence

Venture capitalists to match money to new $30 million clean energy fund created from PG&E's bankruptcy settlement

The buzz: Matsui donors spanned political spectrum

FERC ruling against Enron may aid local utilities (SJM Reg)

Indian tribes: Editorial: Consider casino zones (CCT Reg) + Will East Bay win, lose with casino? Experts split + Norton's role in casino scandal probed + Tribal Leader Fears End of U.S. Indian Casinos + Group tied to Norton says it is tax exempt / IRS status, lobbying at issue in probes

LOCAL NEWS:   Lily Tomlin 'moved' at Santa Rosa library dedication

Danville chiropractor brings healing touch to four-legged

Sacramento & north: New path in policing when people need psychiatric treatment (SB Reg) + New fire station on way (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: 153rd St. Patrick's celebration marks one of San Francisco's biggest ever + Bay Area: Report: 112 languages spoken in diverse region + 2 apartment blazes leave 35 homeless. Iraqi immigrants lose all belongings in Eddy Street fire + Laguna Honda costs rise in a less-for-more mess

Alameda: Altamont 'express' trains have been plagued by delays + Ceremony, march bless synagogue in Piedmont + Money pours in for Cleveland Cascade + Black scientists' museum moves + Oakland: Condo developer targets Chinatown + Danny Glover to headline Vista College benefit show + Remodeling a home brings risks + Trout going upstream need some help + Emeryville proposal draws neighbors' ire + State Assembly honors Alameda voting advocate + Developer envisions international matches at Alameda County Fairgrounds: World-class cricket venue pitched (CCT Reg) + Home upgrades fail to make grade + Ohlone board agrees to lease frontage land + Fremont: Alberto Torrico returns to council + Pleasanton golf course nears tee time

Santa Clara: P.A. police beating goes to court (SJM Reg) + Prayer vigil for supermarket (SJM Reg) + Seeking a black focal point in S.J. (SJM Reg)+ Hoping to smash (SJM Reg) + Mac developer Raskin mourned (SJM Reg) + Just filling in for a day (SJM Reg) + Firefighter hurt dousing S.J. blaze (SJM Reg) + Plotting paddle places (SJM Reg) + Weimers: Lou's Village may end run (SJM Reg) + Roadshow: Too few test-only smog stations (SJM Reg)

Contra Costa: Antioch: Coast Guard rescues 3 boaters in the delta + Contra Costa officials ready service, budget cuts + Public comments sought on Buchanan airport + Shapell Homes asks for time extension

Marin: Fire department merger of Novato and San Rafael unlikely to go forward + Hundreds bowl to help children + San Rafael forum to explain second units + Rare items part of auction to help Mill Valley schools + County's Drivers on Call give seniors a lift + Assemblyman Nation faces opposition to health reform plan + Marin Profile: Deborah Santana reveals the power of truth

Sonoma: Herbicide first step to eradicate Ludwigia + Lily Tomlin 'moved' at Santa Rosa library dedication + Casa Grande tops in its division + Sonoma parks chief a team leader + Measures revive hopes for rail line between Eurkea and Napa

Napa: Only a few of Napa's schools are responsible for educating the rising number of English-language learners + One mother tells why she pulled her children out of their neighborhood school + Officials draw plans for courthouse's new stain glass skylight + Balloonists still seek launching solution

Solano: New laws, bills surfacing to regulate safety of chemical compounds + Stranded boaters rescued near Pittsburg

Monterey: Seaweed eradication effort working + Practice pays for spelling champ + Your town + Armored unit in Salinas will cease + Hopkins researcher stirs up whale of a controversy

Central Valley: Battle rages again over who gets what from Central Valley Project (SB Reg) + Wet winter means a lot of fuel (MB Reg) + Planting season means spring is near (MB Reg) + Wife wants POW plates to stay with her family (MB Reg) + + Long struggle to get identity is about over (MB Reg) + Music To Dine for (MB Reg) + Learning ABCs of saving lives (MB Reg) + News & Notes (MB Reg) + Around the Region (MB Reg) Motocross racing now on the fast track in Manteca +

Central Coast: Four students advance to state spelling championships + Low-income tax credit gains notice + Mosquitoes arrive earlier than usual + Warning: S.C. gets hot and bothered over transit + Coast Lines

Southern California: Racist incidents cause unease in Riverside, San Bernardino +Hahn rebels, saying 'bland' image is misconception + Burbank in no rush for trolleys + Vintage yacht 'hasn't lost its luster' (CCT Reg) + Villaraigosa Puts Mayor on Defensive (LAT Reg) + Political Novice Rudy Navarro Fills Post Once Fraught With Drama (LAT Reg) + DWP Plans to Cut Customers' Water Bills (LAT Reg)

School days: I want you for biotech + El Camino the Real deal in Acadeca Decathlon + Battle on Teaching Evolution Sharpens + Finding fault with schools + Early results of new SAT: Fatigue, pressure, boredom + Arabic language is in demand + Oakland charter school plan threatened + Piedmont seeks tax hike for schools + Newark: C committee OKs selling Ruschin + Mission San Jose hold first regional science bowl + San Ramon schools laud top fund-raiser + Schools eat smart without the a la carte + Revised SAT is a test of stamina (MB Reg)+ El Camino Wins Statewide Decathlon (LAT Reg) + Reviewers Taking a Studied Look at LA County Preschools (LAT Reg) + Berkeley tops in US for female PhDs in science + School Leaders Getting a Poor Education Themselves, Study Contends

Common Blood Test Spots Heart Risk in Healthy Women, Study Says

Tracking the Uncertain Science of Growing Heart Cells

How low should you go with cholesterol?

College May Buff Up Aging Brains

Drug linked to death of jawbone

FDA may require warnings on untested cosmetics

Eating Oily Fish May Reduce Inflammation

Cigarette Smoke Worsens Respiratory Infections In Infants

Primitive Brain Is 'Smarter' Than We Think, MIT Study Shows

Closing In On A Vaccine For Breast Cancer

A Rewarding Discovery Shows How Dopamine Activates Brain Circuitry

Acting Techniques May Help Doctors Empathize With Their Patients

Olfactory Receptor Cells May Provide Clues To Psychiatric Disease

A More Accurate Screening Test For Prostate Cancer?

Naltrexone Tested As Weight Gain Deterrent In Quitting Smoking

Kinder, Gentler Tonsillectomy Now Offered At Mayo Clinic

Rest Easy: MIT Study Confirms Melatonin's Value As Sleep Aid

New Imaging Technologies Can Enhance Orthopaedic Outcomes

A Body's Burden of Chemicals

Curious Female Rats Survive Tumors Longer

Researchers Uncover Scaffolds In The Brain's Wiring Diagram

History Of Broken Bones Overlooked When Treating Osteoporosis

Pioneering PET/CT Research Widens Applications Of Imaging For Diabetic Foot

Medication Awareness Key To Catching Error: Study

Marin doctor gets psyched about space

Myth vs. reality of hospital emergency services revealed (MB Reg)

NIH Rules Are Killing Good Science (LAT Reg)

Tiny Robot to Help Cancer Diagnosis

Jews vs. Catholics in the Stem Cell Debate

Key to severe skin disease found

Air pollution from other countries drifts into USA

UCSB Scientists Probe Sea Floor Venting To Gain Understanding Of Early Life On Earth

Scientists Search For Seafloor Eruption

Pigs domesticated 'many times'

Genentech's Avastin Drug Extends Lung-Cancer Patients' Lives; Shares Jump

'Theory of everything' tying researchers up in knots

Blackberry to Expand Instant Messaging

Helping hand for those with shaky hands

They're the losers of the automotive world - - these cars are ugly, but they turn heads wherever they go

Simulations Reveal Surprising News About Black Holes

Scientists Discover The Origin Of A Mysterious Physical Force

Duke University Engineers Join 'Red Team' Robotic Vehicle Team

Microwires: Replacement For The CD-ROM?

Paying Tribute to Mac's Daddy

Biodiesel Boosters Plan Co-Ops

THE BUSHWORLD...

US denounces China's anti-secessionist law

The White House Fakes It + Bush: White House defends video news releases

GOP Senator Would Block Medicaid Cuts in Senate Budget

John Bolton loathes the U.N. + Hagel to Support Bolton Nomination

Uncle Sam's Blog

Ridge tried to strong-arm watchdog

Iran: Iran Says It May Set Deadline for Nuclear Talks + Iran rebuffs US over nuclear plans + MiG Tipping, Not Tension, at U.S. Base Near Iran + Israeli Military Strike on Iran Would Be 'Very Last Resort' + The Danger of an Israeli Attack on Iran

Syria, Lebanon: 800,000 pack Beirut to rally against Syria + U.N. issues caution on Lebanon. Envoy says Syria to stay unless new government forms + Syria: Troops to Leave Before Lebanese Election + Lebanese Torn Over Syria Pullout (LAT Reg) + After a month of brutal repartee we are no closer to discovering the truth behind Hariri's murder

Rice: A Run in 2008? No, No, No, Says Rice

Domestic: Bush to Permit Trading of Credits to Limit Mercury + 'Star Wars' vet appointed NASA head

Social Security: Business, RNC lend hand to Bush's social security blitz + Laura Miller: The fix behind fixing social security + Unions muscle into Social Security fight

Congress: DeLay Ethics Allegations Now Cause of GOP Concern + Congress raises stakes over baseball subpoenas. Lawmakers threaten contempt, revoking antitrust exemption + Congress Aims to Create Broader Privacy Policies + US Congress Questions Defense Department Claims on Iraqi Forces

Democrats: Former NAACP Leader to Run for Senate + Former President Clinton Leaves Hospital, Says He's 'glad to Be Home'

GOP: Kerik's royalties shocker

Voting: Can justices be fair on Washington election case?

OPINIONS:

Bush public relations or propaganda?

Naomi Klein: Brand USA is in trouble, so take a lesson from Big Mac

David Benjamin: America's journey from "Dixiecrats" to "Redneckians"

Dennis Roddy: Security Theatre

The Unpredictability of Revolutions: Pat Buchanan

Another 'Intelligence' Fiasco: Gordon Prather

False Victories, Real Losses: Greenberg/Engelhardt

Is Bush Ready for Real Democracy?

A Grand Old Flag

Yes, Virginia, Democratic women are better in bed

Cannonfire: What to do about voter fraud?

The Terror of TABOR

WASH POST Editor to CHINA DAILY: 'I don't think U.S. should be the leader of the world'

Franklin: Venezuela & Condi

MILITARY  Military recruits face hard choices

Canadians sign up for duty with U.S. Army

Stressed peacekeepers among hundreds of health research projects

Tiny UAVs Making a Big Difference

PROCUREMENT: Replacing Iraq Losses

Helicopter unit returns after eight months in Iraq

LEADERSHIP: A Survey of Strange Skills

ATTRITION: Politicians and Dead Soldiers

ARMED FORCES OF THE WORLD: Who Does What the Best?

The lucky ones

UK: Army failed recruits, MPs find

Army Captain Goes on Trial on Charges of Abusing Iraqis in Desert Town

LEAKGATES John Stanton: Sibel Edmonds 2005 Spring offensive

Privacy Advocates Frown on Amazon Snooping Plan

Microsoft recruits teddy bear for spy role

Claire Berlinski: How Marseille beat anti-Semitism + An American Jew in Parisd

Sheryl McCarthy: Echoes of the '60s -- a scuffle with protesters

What would Jesus teach?

Military interference in American film production

MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK....

OPEC ministers gather in Iran to mull raising production ceiling

Monetary endgame?

European Central Bank guarantees to uphold euro if Stability Pact is watered down

Iger to head Disney. Loyal No. 2 gains ears of company + Board replaces Eisner year early + Questioning Disney Search's Legitimacy (LAT Reg) + Disney rebels urge fresh start + Disney Chief-Elect Iger Wants to Open Film-Distribution Dialog With Pixar

Lamenting the loss of the independent department store

Biotech industry in need of mid-level workers

Why Investors Are Dumping Chips

Way New Online Banking

Wal-Mart à la Mexicana

Bank of Japan Likely to Keep Zero-Rate Policy to Spur Growth, Survey Says

San Francisco gay marriage and beyond:   San Francisco: Gay marriage prohibition ruled unconstitutional + Gay marriage and the GOP + With marriage, gay couples face tax tangles + Yad Vashem Museum to include mention of homosexual victims

The Pen Is Mightier.... 

Can Papers End the Free Ride Online?

GIs edit Iraq footage into videos filled with death, destruction (LAT Reg)

'Longest pending FOIA request' still unfilled + Government officials releasing less information since 9/11

Liberal bloggers reaching out to major media

Support Builds for Shielding Reporters, but Law Unlikely This Year

Letting the Blogs Out

Today's papers

Vincent van Gogh, The Painter on his Way to Work Enlarge  

Daily picture from the Metropolitan

Carmel Valley art with engineering

The Cliff House

St. Patrick's festivities find home in Fremont

Tours explore San Andreas fault line in Southern California desert (SB Reg)

Santa Cruz community celebrates Japanese doll festival Hinamatsuri

Hollywood’s Hustlers

Trevi ready to shine after prison

New Royal Ballet dance celebrating life of Princess Diana

John Lahr on plays about Peggy Guggenheim, Primo Levi, and Orson Welles

Digital Scriptorium

Grapes of Wrath: John Steinbeck

The Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz Project

Learning about Leonardo

The Jubilee Singers

REAL Mormon history

Lloyd Grove's Lowdown: Backers see Kos to sue

Rush & Molloy: TV love boat owner harbors a grudge

Page Six

Liz Smith

Cindy Adams

Your daily braindrop

Word of the day

War prisons: Pentagon Seeks to Transfer More Detainees From Cuba

RUSSIA: Judge May Succeed Slain Chechen Rebel Leader (LAT Reg)

EUROPE: German Government Drafts Bill to Make Executives Reveal Their Annual Salaries

Italy: Iraq Checkpoint Where Italian Killed Was for U.S. Envoy + Sgrena operation 'kept from US' + Hostage's journey detailed

Britain: Britain's Terrorism Debate Rages as Suspects Go Free + Helping Africa is today's 'fundamental moral challenge': Blair + UK government's terror bill passed + Analysis: Did Blair blink first? + Comment: Denis MacShane

In Madrid, Annan Calls for a Global Drive Against Terrorism (LAT Reg)

USA assigns $20 million for elections in Ukraine and Moldova

Why more are surrendering to Balkans war tribunal

AFRICA: SOMALIA: Radiation Poisoning Hits the Coast

U.N. Troops Launch Offensive in East Congo

ASIA PACIFIC: Hong Kong leader's resignation signals tougher stance by Beijing. China seeks curbs on tycoons' power, democracy efforts

Pakistan Opposition Halts Parliament Over Iran Nuclear Controversy + Pakistan’s opposition protests over nuclear claims

Indonesia's trial by terror

AMERICAS: Canadian Politician Apologizes for Anti-American Remark (LAT Reg) + Bush administration attacks Canadian pot laws

Argentine Bond Deal: Anti-IMF Revolt With Big Implications

COLOMBIA: War of the Towns + AP Enterprise: Newest Front in Colombia's Drug War Is in Pristine Rainforest

INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AT WORK AND AT PLAY....

No Need for CIA Abuse Probe, Republican Says (LAT Reg)

The Dirty Bomb Stops Here, in Oakland

The Dirty Bomb Stops Here

COUNTER-TERRORISM: Fighting Hellfire with Hellfire

Citigroup Ousts Manager of Investments in Brazil

Crashed U.S. Spy Drone Sparks Iraq Chase

Israeli Missile Test Spooked by US Spy Planes

Free, the man accused of inspiring Madrid bomb

Madrid plotter used ID stolen from Spanish mint, say police

Spanish Muslims Issue Fatwa Against Bin Laden

U.S. Warns of Possible Attack in Jakarta

Dutch ISP Sues to Recover Tapping Costs

Hague-indicted general may have been Russian spy

Pakistani ‘spy’ held

Meerut police arrest a Pakistani spy

Ethiopians Deported On Claims They Were Spies

Family Claims Former Spy Chief Was Murdered in Seoul

India: Expecting Musharraf, Bengal deletes criticism of ISI

Former Nazi Pedophile Nabbed in Argentina + German Sect Leader Arrested + Capture  hailed + German FM hails capture of cult leader

BIOWARFARE  WATCH....

Last Batch of Mustard Agent Destroyed at Maryland Army Base

'Venom Doc' Tracks Down Snake Bioweapons

FDA/CHIRON Flu Fiasco: Burlingame Long Term Care flu quarantine to continue until well into next week

HOW LOW
THE LAW GOES....

Judge, 2 Others Killed at Atlanta Courthouse

DNA From Cigarette Butt Connects Suicide Victim to Killings of Judge's Husband, Mother

FBI closes probe into 1997 slaying of rapper Notorious B.I.G

BTK hearing delayed by weeks

Tenet Healthcare settles lawsuit

Court Eases Asylum Rule for Genital Mutilation (LAT Reg)

Suspect in '64 Miss. Killings Shatters Legs (LAT Reg)

Family gets settlement for ant bite death

UK: Schoolboy jailed for life for raping teacher

United States Agrees to Pay $25.5 Million to Holocaust Victims in Case Over 'gold Train'

Report: Violent Sexual Predators Allowed to Drink Alcohol at Florida Facility

Justice Watchdog Finds Mistreatment of Muslims at Federal Prison

CALIFORNIA BREAKING LAW NEWS....

Taxpayers to pay millions to insurance lawyers re: holocaust case

Mexicans on death row may seek hearings

Why Prisons Can't Integrate (LAT Reg)

Former Santa Clara Judge Danser in jail for probation violation (SJM Reg)

Sacramento & north: Site of bear deaths vandalized + Sacramento County jail again hit by suicide (SB Reg) + Sacramento County Sheriff's Deputies Try to Contain Hmong Asian Gang War + Sacramento police seek man in SUV crash that killed a passenger (SB Reg) + Four indicted in firebomb case (SB Reg)+ Man fatally shot in dispute, police say (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: Fire in Excelsior turns up pot stash + SAN MATEO CO. EMPLOYEE PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO FRAUD + Suit by tech firms dismissed. San Francisco City attorney was accused of having conflict of interest + Federal Appeals court tosses suit over Lexus repo

Alameda: Economist: Punch cost ex-Raider millions + Brother of cocaine kingpin is arrested + Police warn: Stay on guard for rapist + Girls coach charged with lewd behavior + Oakland slay suspect arrested + Girl suspended 1 year for gun in backpack + Troubled shop gets new operator + Masked men hit restaurant + Punitive damages possible in priest abuse case + Judge rules against diocese in abuse case. Alameda County judge rips church actions, lets alleged victims seek punitive damages + Punch cost ex-Raider millions, expert says + Oakland settles with problem market + Oakland: Night spot robbed -- 3 young men suspects. Korean Bistro hit similar to one on Clement Street

Santa Clara: Phony buyers bilk online sellers (SJM Reg) + Rulings go against officers (SJM Reg) + Man charged with murder in freeway ramp shooting (SJM Reg) + Firm gets cleanup order (SJM Reg)

Contra Costa: Football star's alleged killer indicted (CCT Reg) + Richmond man charged in death of adopted son (CCT Reg) + Police seek info on ID theft suspects (CCT Reg)

Marin: Hunter guilty in S. California blaze that killed Marin firefighter + Police arrest Novato man for stealing construction supplies

Sonoma: Lawyer Sean McCloskey accuses CHP of attack + 'Suspicious death' reported west of SR + Deputy testifies in Guerneville trial

Solano: Police I.D. suspect in shooting + Taser chief sympathizes with family of suspect + Man to be retried in shooting of duo + AmCan man wins suit over chopping his shrubs

Monterey: Former deputy pleads involuntary intoxication + Man gets 32 years for cocaine offenses + Strangers approach students at elementary school

Central Valley: Mother: Priest caused unease + Jury finds Ceres man guilty in wife's death + Suspect's fate unknown after plunge into river + Law & Order + McFall verdict sweetens the air in San Joaquin + Deport Margarito Origel

Central Coast: Truck driver admits guilt in 2003 Fishhook crash that killed infant + Recent deaths urge police to educate kids on safe driving + Cops and Courts

Southern California: Pomona: Teen gets life in CHP officer's death + Fugitive Kept Low Profile in Quiet Brazilian Beach Town + Mission Viejo: Grand Jury to Probe Killing of Off-duty Federal Officer (LAT Reg) + LA: Pro Bono Lawyers Unite to Help Assure Justice for All (LAT Reg) + Gang-Rape Accuser's Mother Disputes Ex-Pals' Testimony (Haidl) (LAT Reg) + Police Arrest Oxnard Resident in Slaying of College Ballplayer (LAT Reg) + 1 Suspect Is Killed, 1 Wounded in Fierce South L.A. Shootout (LAT Reg) + Newport Beach; 4th Arrest in Case of Pair Who Vanished (LAT Reg) + Riverside: Charges Expected Today in Woman's Slaying (LAT Reg) + La Habra: Suspect Is Sought After Fatal Motel Shooting + Remaining Pomeranian Puppies Go Home Today (LAT Reg) + San Bernadino Deputy D.A. Killed in Head-On Collision (LAT Reg)

Michael Jackson: Boy, 15, testifies defendant sexually molested him twice + Michael Jackson May Be Near Bankruptcy + Cable News Is Wilder Than E! (LAT Reg)

Robert Blake: No verdict yet

Scott Peterson: Juror reveals secrets

The Governor:  Drug PAC gives big after Gov.'s vetoes + Drug companies donations grow after Gov.'s vetoes + Drug companies' PAC gives big after Schwarzenegger's vetoes + PhRMA money to legislative candidates, initiatives + Democrats slam Gov.'s videos. 'Mock news stories' tout administration's stand to TV stations + Gov.'s 'news' videos draw fire + California Nurses to Seek Restraining Order to Block Gov. + Gov., nurses union fighting over patient load + Nurse ratio mainly benefits union + Why nurses worked so hard for ratios + Gov. trades gifts, German quips with Bavarian prime + The Penny Wise and Pound Foolish Politics of Education + 500 Tell Gov. to Leave Schools Alone (LAT Reg) + Attorneys for California Legislature Question News-Like Videos Issued by State Agencies

Hearings ahead for proposed Secretary of State McPherson (SB Reg)

Tsunami-aid bill OK'd (deduction from state income tax) (SB Reg)

Officials: Bay Bridge conflict makes progress

PUC sets code of conduct for Hetch Hetchy bids

Busy first day for Rep. Matsui (SB Reg)

CHP moves fraud unit leader (SB Reg)

Legislature: New curbs on young drivers proposed (SB Reg) + GOP Hearts Perata

Stem cell panel: Public financing of cloning imminent, concern over donors rises + California Hearing Focuses on Stem Cell Research Panel Concerns + Scrutiny's knocking, so let it inside (SJM Reg) + Financing of cloning imminent, concern over donors rises

Indian tribes: Pombo wants bill to consolidate Indian casinos on more than 2 Economic Opportunity Zones per state, preventing "reservation shopping" in cities + Frits: Advancing the harmonization of economic sovereignty in Indian country

LOCAL NEWS:   Zoo's last elephant packs her trunk. Lulu's new home is 2,300 acres in the Sierra foothills

Sierra reprieve

Yosemite makeover (SJM Reg)

Sacramento & north: Reserve battalion gets warm welcome home (SB Reg) + Homecoming, family reunions in Sacramento + Teenager's death melts racial barriers at Elk Grove High (SB Reg) + Metro Fire has own sex scandal (SB Reg) + Echoes of Elk Grove conflict of interest dispute carry across Citrus Heights (SB Reg) + Memorial Auditorium gets help (SB Reg) + Amnesty letters scaring seniors (SB Reg) + Sparks fly at Sacramento fire board meeting re: audits (SB Reg) + utter board to hear report on overdue bills (SB Reg)+ Dead bird found near Davis tests positive for West Nile (SB Reg) + Linda woman killed by dump truck (SB Reg) + Two nonprofit groups to be honored (SB Reg) + Port accepts bid on 31 acres (SB Reg) + Editorial: El Dorado squeaker (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: Support from labor seen as key to change to civil service system + Reform efforts + SF school assignment letters go out+ Appeals can be made to assignments + Western Addition HUD complex fights foreclosure + San Francisco in a series of moments + Chris Caen: Get ready for the next old thing + At last, green light for Devil's Slide tunnel. Funds on the way for long-sought route to bypass notorious section of Highway 1 + Bay Area: Proposal to limit crab traps. The idea is to keep the season from ending early + Mayor pushing to save HUD co-op. Foreclosure at troubled complex would mean loss of equity, evictions

Alameda: A's to spearhead park plans + Oakland's new BART radios pass test + Museum's director steps down + Tauscher inadvertently causes stir + Unions seeking jobs at county fairgrounds + Piepho elected to LAFCO seat + Task force touts Depot's speed + $9 million for Tri-City area may speed up transportation projects + Pleasanton seeks fourth poet laureate + Brown looks to life after Oakland + Berkeley to consider loosening law protecting historic landmarks. Ordinance used to block or delay projects, critics say + Oakland Museum director will leave to head school Buyer sought for venerable Eli's Mile High Club

Santa Clara: Summerlike 82 expected today (SJM Reg) + 3 local leaders team to tackle stroke (SJM Reg)+ Palo Alto golf course may get squeezed (SJM Reg) + Chung: Engineer built more than bridges (SJM Reg) + 140 Kaiser patients' private data put online (SJM Reg)

Contra Costa: Contra Costa supervisor's husband wins LAFCO seat (CCT Reg) + Group raises money to buy open space (CCT Reg) + Chinese senior center boosts service New location makes growth possible (CCT Reg)

Marin: Record heat expected to abate + Millions approved for Golden Gate, Novato Narrows work + Bridge board considers fare hike plans + Defeated measure might go back on ballot in Ross + Freedom Tower designer tells of personal philosophies + West Marin merchants leery of Muir Woods shuttle proposal

Sonoma: North Bay feeling the heat + SR food and wine center hits snag + Animal shelter showdown + County weighs hiring 'no-kill' consultant + The Shots aim for Irish tradition + Leap of faith led to Internet shop + Business driven by classic cars + Old Abobe parcel tax narrowly fails + Petaluma teachers opt for early retirement + Program debuts to curb teen drinking + Around the Empire + Tolay Park project wins $2 million from state

Napa: Nurses protest Vets Home's new overtime policies + AmCan loses round in suit over tall hedge + Locals offer design ideas for new downtown garage

Solano: Steroids blamed in teen's suicide + Benicia moves to pass out tentative layoff slips + One promoter for downtown is proposed + Doctor shares tsunami experience + Officials agree to push back fairgrounds master plan deadline

Monterey: Should Great White Shark stay or go? + Highway bill would mean $10 million for Monterey County + Nursing degree program coming + Cancer survivor, 6, inspires great-grandma + Computer security pioneer honored + Patton gets new role with LandWatch + Former MIIS president William Craig dies at 90 + Your town + Woman gets 9 months for DUI incident + Nancy Foy quits airport board

Central Valley: Pollen can make life miserable + Modesto crash victim near her delivery date + Boots of the fallen draw attention to Iraq war's toll + House passes huge roads bill + Pickup hits 4-year-old near school + Arnold couple's Fijian nightmare turns more sour + Finalist touts Stan State potential + Turlock may fire Medeiros builder + National park visits on rise, but not in California + Sunshine on the March in winter-weary valley + Free speech is a right, Modesto students told + Planting Trees For Freedom + Week 4 + Around the Region + News & Notes + Proposed change to block grants threatens shelters

Central Coast: Train depot reborn as Santa Cruz’s ‘Central Park’ + Memories of Pajaro flood run deep + PVUSD redraws boundaries for middle schools + Chancellor says she backs union demands + Assisted-living facility in Watsonville slapped with negligence lawsuit + Near-record warmth expected today around the county + Congressman Farr impresses medical-pot advocacy group + Japanese festival to honor growth coming Sunday + Coast Lines + Women in Business luncheon caters to a new generation + Santa Cruz: 8,000 sign petitions in Dream Inn dispute

Southern California: LA Mayor's campaign consultant paid with public money to promote city + Teenager arrested following SoCal train derailment + Dan Walters: Familiar faces, different dynamics mark L.A. mayoral runoff (SB Reg) + Labor to Bolster Hahn Endorsement (LAT Reg) + It Helps If Voters Can Pronounce Your Name (LAT Reg) + LA Eatery Grades Said to Reduce Illness (LAT Reg) + More Patients Got Wrong Syphilis Medication at Gay Center, CDC Says (LAT Reg) + Ventura County Seeks Bond Issue for Roadwork (LAT Reg) + Candidates Pick Up High-Profile Endorsements (LAT Reg) + Public Paid Hahn Consultant (LAT Reg) + OC: A Political Point That Doesn't Travel Well (LAT Reg)

School days: Oakland schools to borrow another $11 million from state + State: Newark schools not up to par + Newark District asks site councils for financial bailout + Fremont: Board puts community school for expelled students on hold + Tension flares at College of Marin over groups' roles + California Board of Education: 184 school districts identified for testing

Vitamin D Injections May Significantly Improve Survival In Dialysis Patients

Genetic mutation raises risk of illness (macular degeneration) that blinds millions. Clues to variation could help treat vision loss in elderly

Stem Cells, Minus the Furor

Health Biz: Physicians join the Pay for Performance game

Stroke symptoms

Man's dream is that Lifesuit will help paralyzed walk again

Hormone Therapy Increases Risk Of Urinary Incontinence

Medication Errors Common At The Time Of Hospital Admission

MGH Study Identifies Potential Alzheimer's Risk Gene

Mayo Clinic Researcher Calls For Improved Newborn Screening

W.M. Keck Foundation Funds Study Of 'Friendly' Microbes

When The Brain, Not The Ears, Goes Hard Of Hearing

Routine HIV Screening Should Be Expanded, Study Finds

Computerized Physician-Order Entry Systems Often Facilitate Medication Errors

Potential Treatment For Fragile X Syndrome Demonstrated In Fruit Fly Model

MSU Discovery Offers Cancer Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment Hopes

New Clover Could Spell Good Luck For Livestock Producers

Man-made Wetland's Effectiveness Similar To Natural Marsh

New Dinosaur Raptor Found; First In Southern Hemisphere

Overtime Offer Marks Shift in Silicon Valley Business Culture

Microsoft Acquires PC Pioneer's Company + Gates in the hunt for more acquisitions + Patent reforms urged by Microsoft lawyer + Microsoft's Sun server fetish revealed

Astronomers Measure Slowest Motion Across The Sky

NASA Finds Lightning Clears Safe Zone In Earth's Radiation Belt

Muon Opportunists: Detecting The Unseen With Natural Probes

Surf's Up In The Solar Nebula: Jupiter's Formation Linked To That Of Primitive Meteorites

Penn Astrophysicist Outlines A Multi-Pronged Approach In The Hunt For Dark Energy

RHESSI Satellite Captures Giant Gamma-ray Flare

THE BUSHWORLD...

Bush Tries to Ease Seniors' Fears + Bush Calls for Social Security Fix, Not 'Band-Aid'

U.S. Joins EU in Backing Iran's WTO Bid in Exchange for Ending Arms Plan

US Denies It's Ready to Accept Hezbollah Role

Bush Picks University Physicist as New NASA Head

Bush to Israel: Be Quiet on Lebanese Politics

In Seeking War, George W. Bush Held True to Form

Remembering All Those Arguments Made 1,500 Deaths Ago

Critics rip review holding Rumsfeld blameless in prison abuse cases + Brass eludes abuse blame. Senators cite gap in accountability for detainee treatment

Iraq War Compels Pentagon to Rethink Big-Picture Strategy

Iran: U.S. and European Allies Agree on Steps in Iran Dispute + Rice: U.S. Backs Economic Incentives for Iran

Syria, Lebanon: Top U.N. Envoy to Present Syria With Ultimatum + Lebanese Prime Minister Pledges to Build Unity (LAT Reg) + Syrian Accuses U.S. of Bias in Mideast (LAT Reg) + Syrian troops quit north Lebanon, pressure remains for full pullout + EU warns Iran over nuclear talks, but vows to press on + Under US Pressure, EU Brands Hezbollah 'Terrorist'

Rice: Rice mends fences with Mexico in run-up to summit. She announces settlement of dispute over water + Rice airs concern on al-Qaeda entry from Canada, Mexico

Domestic: EPA cuts power plant smog. Long-awaited rule applies to 28 states in East, Midwest

Social Security: Cheney talks about Social Security educational effort + Paul Krugman: Slanting social security

Congress: Condition Slows DeLay Down Briefly + Key Senator Calls for Office of Drug Safety + Baseball tries to cut a deal with Congress. Experts say baseball likely to strike out if it pursues clash with Congress + Game's officials hoping to send different players to testify + House leaders at boiling point at hearing on drugs in sports

Democrats: Clinton Operation Called a Success + Buildup in lung had hindered breathing + Kerry pledges to fight Bush on Alaska oil. Senator urges battle for environment against energy plan + Pro-choice leader makes public appeal to conservatives. NARAL chief urges opponents to seek common ground + Hil can match Rudy, McCain for Prez - poll

GOP: Ex-GOP Director Gets Prison for Dirty Trick (LAT Reg)

OPINIONS:

Wonderful Wizard of Washington: Justin Raimondo

Parsing the President: Alan Bock

Which War Is This Again?: Tom Engelhardt

Zlatkin: War doesn't bring peace

Torture by Proxy (LAT Reg)

Chris Floyd: The rendering

Jonathan Chait: It's an open and shut case

Naomi Klein: Can democracy survive Bush's embrace?

Helen Thomas: Bush makes wrong choice for UN

So Much for the New Bush Economy

Prude's paradise

Global sheriff slowly gaining on US

MILITARY Former Military Lawyers Join Lawsuit Against Rumsfeld

ATTRITION: Whites Replacing Blacks in U.S. Army

WEAPONS OF THE WORLD: Cash

Somali Workers Walk off Job at Dell Over Muslim Prayer Dispute

California Anti-War Memorial Stirs Passions

Time for Justice as Human Rights Defender Spends 75th Birthday in Prison

Tibetans take hard line in honoring '59 uprising. 300 demand China end occupation of Himalayan region

MoveOn Makes Peace With War: Norman Solomon

Embattled Colorado Professor's Lawyer Expects Settlement Soon

CONNECT THE DOTS....

Stardom: Comic Relief's RED NOSE DAY 2005

Linguistic Research Moving In New Direction

Studies back up strange tale of tribe's founding

Beyond the Dating Database

MAN WHO WANTS TO HUNT DOMESTIC CATS GETS DEATH THREATS

MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK....

Trade Deficit at 2nd Highest Level Ever

Tech investors still wary

Eisner critics protest CEO search

Pacemaker sale on eBay spotlights dangers (SB Reg)

China Dons Even Bigger Export Hat

Entrepreneurs getting hip to the graying of America

Losses mounting at TiVo

Sony's changing world

Affair will cost Stonecipher $37 million

China, Greenspan rub salt on dollar wound

The world turns the US dollar down to the benefit of the euro

Government Agency Moves to Take Over United Ground Workers' Pensions

San Francisco gay marriage and beyond:  Alabama: Senate Puts Same-Sex Marriage Ban on Ballot (LAT Reg) + Paynter: Gay.com ads definitely foment reaction

The Pen Is Mightier.... 

Judge rules that Leno can make jokes about Jacko

Gallup Probes Blogs, Finds Most Americans Have Never Heard of Them

20 years after landmark suit, Playboy still exists in Braille (SB Reg)

ABC censors Boston Legal

Making Unnecessary Enemies

Today's papers

Vincent van Gogh, The Painter on his Way to Work Enlarge  

Daily picture from the Metropolitan

S.F. may have Derby dark horse

Marysville to remember its Chinese past (SB Reg)

San Francisco: Saul back on de Young throne. Marble statue takes its rightful place in museum's new home

Philip Lamantia -- S.F. Surrealist poet. Visionary verse of literary prodigy influenced Beats

Planners Hope for No Bad Vibrations at Beach Boys Monument (LAT Reg)

Mining Myths of the Medicis (LAT Reg)

Finnegans Wake, Chop Suey

Sci-Fi Epic Shot on a Shoestring

Rich, but grounded

Rush & Molloy: Real news for Stewart: Wife arrested

Lloyd Grove's Lowdown: Clothes ties, Dash-ed

Page Six

Liz Smith

Cindy Adams

Your daily braindrop

Word of the day

Occupation: U.S. Addresses Iraqis' Losses With Payments (LAT Reg) + Iraq's main Shiite party, Kurds reach deal

War prisons: New U.S. interrogation methods seek to correct ill-defined policy + Pentagon Says Policies Did Not Cause Prison Abuses + UK: Interrogators 'lacked rights training' + 'Rendition' is cruel but there is a rationale behind it + MI6 'broke rules' in Abu Ghraib

MIDDLE EAST: Gunmen break up Fatah Party meeting

Sharon: Vote against budget will lead to fall of the government

RUSSIA: Chechens say death will not halt holy war. Russian officials see rebels unable to fill slain leader's shoes + Chechnya's rebels pick an unknown to succeed slain leader + Putin Tests New Law, Dismisses Governor (LAT Reg)

EUROPE: Uneasy Dutch ask if diversity kills identity

IRA: Sinn Fein Lawmakers' Expense Money Withheld by UK (Update2)

Britain: Terror bill bounces back to Lords + Anti-terror Bill passes Commons hurdle after MPs win concessions

UN war crimes court charges Ex-Kosovo PM with persecution, murders and rape + The Haradinaj Affair: Nebojsa Malic

Uneasy Dutch ask if diversity kills identity

Estonia and Lithuania do not consider 60th anniversary of Victory over Nazism a holiday

AFRICA: British companies fuel corruption in Africa

ASIA PACIFIC: China to have 800 missiles aimed at Taiwan in 2006

Policeman's Son Donald Tsang Replaces Tung as Hong Kong Leader

AMERICAS: Bolivian leader still faces unrest over fuel reserves

Argentina's president calls for boycott of SHELL

Murder or Ouster for Chávez?

Guatemala Ratifies Free Trade Pact With United States

INTELLIGENCE AGENTS AT WORK AND AT PLAY....

U.S. Plans New Counterintelligence Policy + Intelligence Goes On The Offensive

Senate's Iraq-Intelligence Probe Is All but Over, Panel Chairman Signals

In U.S. hands: a FARC rebel in the know

China's Latin influence is growing, general says

Guantánamo prison hailed as an intelligence bonanza

Imported food vulnerable to 'agroterrorism'

Report cites FBI's `striking advances'

Aide to Polish Lawmaker Held on Spying Charges (LAT Reg)

FBI Report Doubts al-Qaeda's Power

Ex-CIA Lawyer Calls for Law on Rendition

Pakistan Acquiring New Chinese Fighter Jets

Indian Navy Arming Submarines With Missiles

Egyptian intelligence chief: Hamas on its way to becoming a political party

Military limits

UK: Judge bails terror detainees

Al-Qaeda slipped into East Timor: reports

Poland Captures Russian Spy, Allegedly

John Barron Dies; Espionage Reporter

Historians Ask Congress to Suspend Transfer of Material to Nixon Library

Senators to Introduce 'Sunshine' Bill Today for FOIA

ACLU Sues Over Mormon Lease on Land

An embattled antiwar voice

What Now for the Peace Movement?

HOW LOW
THE LAW GOES....

Man claims to have slain judge's family + Close call for officer who stopped suspected van + Letters tie suicide to case

U.S. Quits Foreign Inmate Accord Over Death Penalty

Informant Recounts Slaying of Candy Heiress (LAT Reg)

Two retired police detectives arrested in Mafia killings

FBI mole bites deep into mob

Judge Says Florida Social Service Agency Cannot Intervene in Terri Schiavo Case

CALIFORNIA BREAKING LAW NEWS....

State expects Mexicans on Death Row to seek hearings. Bush orders review of access to consul

Boalt expands summer fellowship

Sacramento & north: Some see bias in sex cases (SB Reg) + Courts overturn two Plumas murder convictions (SB Reg) + Officials: Man soliciting sex acts in Orangevale (SB Reg) + Crash fatality identified (SB Reg) + Man dies after fight (SB Reg) + Gunmen robbing pedestrians (SB Reg) + Pair sentenced in teen's killing (SB Reg)

San Francisco, San Mateo: Exotic dancers sue owner of strip clubs + Fellow officer testifies he saw Fagan Jr. kick opponent. S.F. police officer tells low-key tale of fajita incident

Alameda: Romanowski ruined 'dream' career, ex-Raider says. Williams weeps in testimony against former teammate + Danville: Parents receive settlement for son's death. Couple warns some Land Rover seats are dangerous + Ex-officer rebuts corruption charges. Fired policeman gives his side of 'Riders' incidents + Hayward: Church loses on key points, witnesses. Judge in sex-abuse trial rejects bids to limit negative information, testimony + New twist in trial of diocese + New police chiefs for Oakley, Berkeley + Oakland: 3 slayings in 16 hours in unrelated incidents + Pleasanton: Police arrest 3 in daylight mall robbery + Fremont's no-response burglar alarm policy blasted (SJM Reg) + Ex-Raider describes the pain of punch + Oakland man, 24, ID'd as victim in shooting + Fremont woman escapes alleged captors + Fremont shooting suspects slated to enter pleas + Pleasanton slaying suspect says he's capable + Pleasanton: Three men arrested in Stoneridge robbery

Santa Clara: Safeway is sued by black teen (SJM Reg) + Evidence excluded in cops' trial (SJM Reg) + Mother jailed after child is left in car (SJM Reg) + Man, woman found dead in Sunnyvale apartment (SJM Reg) + Roadshow: Idling diesels subject to fine (SJM Reg)

Contra Costa: Teen suspected of school break-in (CCT Reg) + Tax enforcement irks Realtors (CCT Reg) + Witnesses relate intent of murder suspect (CCT Reg) + Robber stops Pinole store employees with stun gun (CCT Reg) + Man shot in back during confrontation (CCT Reg) + Police chase unlicensed teen through Pinole; two injured (CCT Reg)

Marin: Jury to decide fate of home of long-term Kaiser patient

Sonoma: Guerneville killing timeline detailed + Lawsuit filed over water study + Cutting meth production + It was a long, long day for Ralph's widow

Napa: Napa firm fined for industrial fatality + Napa Legal Aid group taps new executive director

Solano: Drug deal goes bad + Security plan kicks into gear after scare at new center +  Mistrial declared in murder, abuse case death of 4-year-old + Benicia schools fiscal chief wins award + No one knows why Texas man was returned to Solano County + Vacaville OKs hospital plans