GOVERNOR DAVIS MAKES APPOINTMENTS TO THE LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

Governor Gray Davis today announced the appointments of Herb K. Schultz as Undersecretary, and John K. McNally and Matthew R. McKinnon as Deputy Undersecretaries of the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS ATTENDS LABOR'S ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE DINNER

Governor Gray Davis today spoke to nearly 500 rank-and-file labor members at the Legislative Conference dinner. The annual dinner was sponsored by the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO and the State Building and Construction Trades Council.

GOVERNOR DAVIS ASSURES CALIFORNIANS OF STATE PREPAREDNESS IN THE EVENT OF WAR

Governor Gray Davis today assured Californians that the State is prepared to protect its citizens and infrastructure in the event of war with Iraq.

GOVERNOR DAVIS APPLAUDS EARLY SUCCESS FOR "CALIFORNIA GROWN" CAMPAIGN

Governor Gray Davis today applauded the early success of the "California Grown" Campaign. Newly completed consumer research shows the advertising and promotion campaign is reaching consumers and building demand for California agricultural products.

Firefighters ask for more money, benefits
Leaders want funds to staff fire engines at federally recommended levels.

National firefighter union leaders want more money. They want better benefits and more labor rights. And they worry about the prospect of retaliation once U.S. bombs start falling over Iraq.

Attack likely to delay rate cut

WASHINGTON -- Uncertainty about the effects of war probably will keep the Federal Reserve from cutting interest rates at today's meeting. But Fed policy-makers will not hesitate to drive rates lower -- even to zero -- if necessary in coming weeks to protect the economy, analysts said.

Local schools want more say over funds for programs

As California's massive budget crisis lengthens, local school officials want more control over money for dozens of state-dictated programs, from Gifted and Talented Education to class-size reduction.

DARE classes in Fresno end
Drug-resistance program will be replaced by Life Skills Training.

Beginning March 31, seventh-graders in three Fresno schools will receive Life Skills Training, which will focus on self-esteem, anger management and problem solving. After school, the program will shift to recreation at local parks to keep the kids off the streets.

Schooling Iraqi children

The U.S. government has an extensive, detailed plan for rebuilding postwar Iraq and has already asked American companies to bid on eight contracts for repairing and upgrading infrastructure, transportation, hospitals and schools.

School board votes for St. HOPE charter proposal

A sharply divided school board awarded use of the Sacramento High School campus early Tuesday morning to Kevin Johnson's St. HOPE Corp., which plans to turn the Oak Park campus into a charter school composed of six distinct academies.

8,000 protest 2-year college cuts

In what veteran education experts said was the largest crowd ever to rally for community colleges, at least 8,000 people marched to the west steps of the Capitol on Monday to protest millions of dollars in proposed cuts and higher fees.

Daniel Weintraub: State spends millions luring teachers amid layoffs

Even as school districts are warning thousands of teachers that they might be laid off this fall, California is still spending millions of dollars to lure new teachers to the profession through programs created at the height of what state officials once thought was going to be a decadelong teacher shortage.

Union plan rejected for Sac High

A sharply divided school board narrowly rejected one teacher-backed proposal to turn Sacramento High School into a charter school and approved a second, arts-oriented petition, alternately incensing and delighting an audience of hundreds.

Applied Materials to lay off 2,000 workers worldwide

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Applied Materials Inc. announced plans Monday to cut 2,000 jobs, or 14 percent of its work force, as part of a restructuring of the world's largest maker of semiconductor equipment.

Gateway to close 80 stores, eliminate 1,900 jobs

POWAY, Calif. (AP) - Gateway Inc. said Monday it is eliminating 1,900 jobs, 17 percent of its work force, in the latest round of fiscal belt-tightening at the beleaguered computer maker.