The Governor:  Governor forgoes budget haggling + Schwarzenegger tours Lake Tahoe fire zone +  Arnold and Tony + Lt. Gov. Garamendi in spotlight

Feds suggest state GOP broke law in hiring immigrant to key post

Tahoe Fire: Anger at Tahoe planning agency. Tree-cutting rules led to fire's spread, basin residents say

Another ex-Doolittle staffer says contacted by feds Matsui in hot seat over Smithsonian+ Dan Walters: GOP House members' switcheroo+ Hetch Hetchy study a no-go+ Peter Schrag: California schools' English language learner limbo+

An early start for longshore contract talks. Workers, shipping companies don't want repeat of '02 enmity +  

Legislature: Audits ordered on CHP, chiropractic board + Revised patient dumping penalties backed + Assembly rejects police records measure

Indian tribes: Top GOP coming to Indian Wells + Southern California tribe pursues Roadhouse Casino + Tribes push to get OK on slot deal + Tribe Hitches Up, Heads North + Developer says casino doubtful + Shingle Springs tribe close to $450M financing pact

HOW LOW
THE LAW GOES....

LOCAL NEWS: 

Sacramento & north: Los Rios thinking big with new fundraising drive+ Head-on kills one, forces Highway 65 closure+ Helping black teens prevail + Marcos Bretón: Cops offer a magnet for success+ Longtime principal leaving Sutter Middle School+ Placer closes in on approval for Vineyards plan + Sacramento to ban smoking in 211 parks+ Folsom blaze was arson, officials say+ Sacramento puts 'panhandle' discussion on hold+ Sacramento council approves air-conditioning loans+ Butte bird had West Nile virus+  Editorial: Private land ethic in Sacramento + Editorial: Super-retailed in Elk Grove + Sacramento; Police hunt for pair in four home invasions

San Francisco, San Mateo: Newsom: Let Muni cams tape bus lane culprits + McGoldrick calls garbage can removal rubbish + Alioto-Pier to supes: Stop the "bully pulpit" + Three Injured In Violent Attacks In SF Bayview + Clown Show: The Board of Supervisors San Francisco deserves? + San Francisco: Trash cans cut back on city streets. Mayor defends policy but supervisors, residents complain + San Francisco: Supes propose dueling codes of conduct + Ed Jew's family taxi medallion comes under scrutiny by panel + San Francisco: Court backs city in Macy's tax case + BAY AREA. BART has little cash to fund its big dreams. Station upgrades likely to cost twice the available money + San Francisco: Supes give first OK to police pay raise. Daly lone nay vote on delayed contract for 25% over 4 years + San Francisco: Art academy offers to help pay theater to relocate. Lorraine Hansberry signed away lease options for free rent + SACRAMENTO. Newsom lobbies state to help speed Muni runs. Measure would be key to crackdown on double-parking + This is nuts: A bizarre tale of the insanity that is SF's mental health system + Pot clubs can't get a break: New rules would force many to close Yee continues race against horse board+ Broadmoor closer to full-fledged police force+ Is E. Palo Alto drama all smoke or actual fire?+ Councilman pushes for solarized buildings+ Camping: Part II+ District to tackle $3 million shortfall+ Liaison to link schools, businesses+ Ukraine health envoys visit county hospital+ Resurgent inferno ignites chaos+ Waste facility's future in doubt

Alameda: Berkeley OKs increased budget + Berkeley biofuel institute wins Energy Dep't funding + No fireworks on Fourth at Oakland's Jack London Square + Big Lawrence Berkeley Lab biofuel project boosts Bay Area research status Berkeley OKs budget with increase for youth programs + Warnings to come with area heat waves+ New firefighting jumbo-jet examined after near crash+ Car trying to dodge accident struck by rig+ Growing a society around luncheons+ Bill's passage could give reprieve to teen pizza maker+ Forum addresses Latino language barrier+ Congress members urge equal retirement benefits for labs+ Helping the handy get hired+ Grand jury weighs in on Alameda County facilities+ Oakland panel OKs ban on plastic bags+ Tears flow in memorial for lost family+ Grand jury's evaluation of County facilities mixed+ Home schooled teen has solo graduation+ Area journalist's passing brings outpouring of grief+ Street improvements OK'd for Cherryland+ Class gets Bard — in a good way+ Latchkey programs may get shut down+ Transportation group funds Bay Area projects+ El Portal Ridge residents cry foul+ Fremont: Dentist to host free screening for children+ School board to hear A's plan+ Car hit while swerving to avoid accident+ County watchdogs release report+ $419 million to come for area transit+ Tears flow at memorial for family+ Boundary spat boils over at council meeting+ Panel endorses plan to ban plastic bags+ Oakland man works hard to get residents employed+ Money train: MTC set to fund Bay Area projects+ Pleasanton firm makes memories for clients+ Lathrop commission weighs new Burger King, warehouse+ Two-day camp works to hone recruits' skills in dry season+ Area lawmakers urge equal retirement for labs+ Grand jury gives annual report on county facilities+ Livermore council OKs airport hangar+ DUBLIN. Bay fire crews practice for the real thing. There's 'way more fuel' for wildfires to burn this summer + OAKLAND. Dellums to kick off drive for HIV testing + OAKLAND. Developer accused of disturbing habitat + OAKLAND. Council panel OKs plastic bag ban + OAKLAND. City to crack down on haulers who illegally collect, dump trash

Santa Clara: Deal averts Santa Clara County transit cutback+ Council stands firm on Coyote Valley+ Council picks city manager+ Council stands firm on Coyote Valley + Council OKs managers' raises, rejects car stipend+ Deal averts Santa Clara County transit cutback+ Donations pour in for brittle-bone survivor

Contra Costa:  New CEO named at Wells Fargo + Survey: support lacking for Pleasanton school parcel tax + Brentwood council passes budget + New CEO confirmed for Doctors Medical Center + Mt. Diablo trustees hold off on parcel tax vote + Houses planned for Oak Park land + Fire training aims to increase effectiveness + Antioch District to reveal schools' blueprint + Supervisors take step on health costs + Residents file claim against Pittsburg + Airport contract clears council + Antioch to finalize budget with $1.7 million deficit + Two dead birds signal West Nile season in Oakley, Lafayette + EL CERRITO. Money pours in at Red Onion. Donations in slaying will reach $50,000 with area firm's matching gifts

Marin: Novato takes step toward ban on outdoor smoking + Buckelew Programs gives mentally ill a way to succeed + The day live music died at teen center Clothing program for low-income people moves+  The day live music died at teen center+ It's curtains for concerts at San Rafael teen center+  Research points to possible triggers of Parkinson's disease+ Questions about plants, gardens answered July 14+  Veteran sheriff's dispatch chief McMurray, 51, dies+ Planners delay decision on new hillside home+ Mill Valley 4th greenest city nationally, Yahoo says + When it comes to green, Mill Valley outpaces most others+ Sixth annual bike swap scheduled for Saturday+ Mill Valley Fire district to review early 2007-08 budget

Sonoma: Sonoma County wildfire contained + Martini leaving SR City Council to focus on winery Gualala divided over fireworks+ Teen suspect awaits fate+ Sutter to transfer doctor training+ City water savings exceed state order + Attendance up at diverse fair+ Crews contain Mountain Home Ranch Road ire to 75 percent

Napa: Pumpkin patch vote + Board seeks ways to make Napa Creek defenses a priority + Highway 29 turn lane south of St. Helena gets green light — finally + Fire damages home on Jefferson Street + Calistoga fire burns more than 45 acres

Solano: Public safety cutbacks ignite long, hot debate + Rescuers pluck injured man from old Carquinez Bridge + Community rallies 'round stricken teen + Thomas and friends debut at theme park + Benicia board to vote on raise for teachers + Vallejo Lawmakers Slash Budget For Police And Fire

Monterey: PARADE PICKS NO PROBLEM+ Beauty school eyes P.G. theater+ Random wins $148,500 in defamation case + Recovery house opens in Seaside +  Developer wants ballot measure tossed+ Backers push Dream Act+ Meeting calls for end to Mideast strife

Central Valley: Modesto city council approves ballot measure on election reform + Modesto to weigh district elections+ Immigrants in danger of scam as fees zoom + County has big capital needs+ Ceres eyes bond for new schools+ Dunbar says he won't run again for Modesto City Council+ Golf developments face critics+ Hughson wants research on underage drinking proposal+ $7M reservoir study nixed by lawmakers+ Health Services Agency reports shortfall of $4.9M+ Taxpayers catching up on city debt+ Turlock planning to hire 14 cops + Tracy public works director to leave

Central Coast: Santa Cruz Mountains trail for disabled nears completion + Santa Cruz giving 10% pay hikes to police, fire chiefs + Desert deaths climbing in Santa Cruz County + SANTA CRUZ: BOARDWALK PRIMED FOR 100TH YEAR OF SUMMER FUN + Hazardous Materials Scare at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara + Repair dollars needed to fix crumbling Santa Maria levee