Today's top stories from sunny San Diego:

Taxes may stay static, but fees will see a bump -- SDUT
"I will not raise taxes on the people of California because they are already paying enough taxes," Schwarzenegger said last month as he unveiled his plans to attack a potential $14.5 billion budget gap.

Many candidates for Congress seats -- NCT
With the state's Super Tuesday primary in the past, the next election on the local horizon will decide who will represent North County in Congress next year. The races for the 49th, 50th and 52nd congressional districts have drawn many candidates, including some with familiar names.

Budget shortfall called long-term -- SDUT
San Diego's annual budget deficits add up to something more significant - a long-term shortfall that "will persist well into the future" and continue to cause cuts in services, according to a report from the city's legislative analyst.

Mayor of Las Vegas may have opened multistate water war -- NCT
The flamboyant mayor of Las Vegas may have opened up a multistate water war last week, when he said "no one is going to allow us to go dry" and vowed to go after Southern California's water, it was reported today.

How a Public Employee Gets Governmental Immunity -- VoSD
An ongoing breach of contract and fraud lawsuit against a top city of San Diego official and the redevelopment wing she leads has shed light on state laws that provide public workers with immunity in certain instances and give them publicly funded legal representation.

Huckabee's persistence frustrates some in GOP -- SDUT
With the Republican nomination effectively out of reach, Mike Huckabee continues to campaign nationwide in an apparent pursuit of other goals even as he insists that John McCain does not yet have a lock on the GOP prize.

Government recalls 143M pounds of beef from SoCal slaughterhouse -- SDUT
An undercover video showing crippled and sick animals being shoved with forklifts has led to the largest beef recall in the United States and a scramble to find out if any of the meat still is destined for school children's lunches.

Oceanside council to examine appointment process -- NCT
Councilman Jerry Kern says he wants to know who are the mayor's choices for appointments to city boards and commissions 72 hours before a vote is taken

San Pasqual tribal gaming official charged with embezzlement -- NCT
A San Pasqual tribal gaming commissioner is scheduled to return to Superior Court this week for a hearing at which her attorney said she hopes prosecutors will dismiss criminal charges of embezzlement and grand theft.

Bush says people of Kosovo now independent -- SDUT
U.S. President George W. Bush said on Monday that the people of Kosovo were now independent, in his first comment on the territory's weekend declaration of independence.