Same-sex marriage ban behind in latest poll -- The gap between those who support and those who oppose same-sex marriage is closing, and a poll indicates that backing for a proposition to ban such marriages is lagging. Those were two of the main findings of a poll conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California and released Wednesday.

San Francisco gives teen drug suspect to immigration -- A San Francisco court's ruling that a 14-year-old drug suspect from Honduras should be considered an abandoned youth - entitled to shelter rather than deportation - was thwarted Wednesday when the city turned him over to federal immigration authorities.

Gerrymandering a key culprit in California budget mess -- For Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, nothing better illustrates the evils of legislative gerrymandering -- and the need for Proposition 11 on the November ballot -- than Sacramento's two-month budget stalemate.

California tribes seek to ban slot-like bingo machines -- Rich, politically powerful Indian tribes are pushingCalifornia legislators to outlaw some casino competition: slot-like bingo machines that generate millions of dollars for high school sports teams, the blind and disabled.

Schwarzenegger rips officer union's donations to Perata committee -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday denounced $577,000 in contributions that the state correctional officers union gave to a political committee controlled by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata. The California Correctional Peace Officers Association has donated most of the money in the final month of the legislative session.

Guards union's donation sparks rare labor rift -- Tough times test relationships. With California's leaders bickering over how to close a $15 billion budget deficit, state workers are unsettled over news that the correctional officers union has donated more than a half-million dollars to a Senate leader's political cause.

Restaurant group drops opposition to posting calorie info -- The California Restaurant Association has dropped its opposition to landmark legislation that would require chains with 20 or more restaurants to post calorie information on their menus and indoor menu boards. Senate Bill 1420 cleared the Assembly on a 46-27 vote Wednesday and is expected to make it out of the Senate later this week.

GOP lawmakers put 'no new taxes' pledge in writing -- Don't read their lips when California's Republican lawmakers say 'no new taxes' - they've put it in writing, signed their names, essentially inviting their own party to oust them if they renege. Every GOP lawmaker except Fair Oaks Assemblyman Roger Niello has signed the "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" this year, casting a shadow on budget talks by making any vote to raise taxes a potential career killer.

Labor Department reportedly joins investigation of SEIU payments -- U.S. authorities are examining hundreds of thousands of dollars paid by the union and a related charity to firms owned by relatives of the Los Angeles local's president, sources say.

California insurance commissioner backs pay-as-you-drive policies -- Commissioner Steve Poizner releases proposed regulations. The plan is considered to be more accurate, and it would give a financial incentive to California motorists to drive less.

State knocks on doors to collect sales taxes -- They look like accountants, housewives, sales people, and computer geeks - even reporters. But they're not. They are tax enforcers and they are knocking on doors - thousands of doors - one-by-one, to make sure the state gets all the sales-tax money that's coming to it. The state tried a pilot program in San Francisco and the Norwalk area, in which tax officials personally visited businesses. Now, the Board of Equalization is taking the program statewide, prompted in part by a tight budget year.

Glide's food line: sanctuary for drug dealers -- For 35 years, the poor, the hungry and the homeless have lined up outside Glide Memorial Church in the Tenderloin for free meals three times a day. Lately, a growing group has been concerning police, frightening neighbors and victimizing others in line. According to San Francisco police Capt. Gary Jimenez, who runs the Tenderloin Station, drug dealers are using the line as a sanctuary.

Corrections developing policies on gay marriage -- The California Department of Corrections is preparing new guidelines for gay marriages in prisons in response to the court ruling that legalized gay marriage in California. Under the new rules, gay inmates will have the same marriage rights as straight ones: They'll be able to marry non-inmates, but will be barred from marrying other inmates.