Science Center Opens, Monterey Herald
It is amazing what a $2.5 million gift can do. For the math and science students and staff at CSU-Monterey Bay, it means a spanking new building, designed for the kind of collaborative learning that is the hallmark of the university.

CSUMB names building, The Californian
Since its founding about a decade ago, California State University, Monterey Bay, has bestowed higher education in an unlikely setting -- converted buildings in the military ghost town of Fort Ord.

Vigil for Cal Poly coed held, Daily Bulletin
A candlelight vigil was held for slain student Christina Burmeister.

Fresno State will curb enrollment next year, Fresno Bee
Fresno State President John Welty said Tuesday the scale of budget cuts facing the university has "overwhelmed even the best-laid plans," and outlined difficult measures the school has taken to cope with the state's financial crisis.

Sheffield gets call to work with football, San Diego Union-Tribune
San Diego State took the final step in divorcing strength and conditioning director Dave Ohton from the football team yesterday when it named women's track coach Rahn Sheffield as his replacement.

UC Berkeley workshops take aim at sex harassment, Contra Costa Times
UC Berkeley began beefing up its response to sexual-harassment Tuesday with the first of several workshops designed to teach employees how to deal with accusations.

Insurance Boosts Rating on UC Bonds, Los Angeles Times
The University of California used private insurance to lower the interest cost on $918 million of tax-free bonds it sold Tuesday.

Students jockey for classes as new semester begins, San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Students scrambled to add classes Monday on the opening day of the fall semester at Citrus and Mt. San Antonio community colleges, as both schools reported slight increases in enrollment but fewer course offerings.

Budget cuts add to crowded classes, Fresno Bee
There are fewer Fresno City College classes with more students enrolled this semester. The problem is compounded by state funding cutbacks that have reduced the number of classes.

Title I schools not hitting performance standards, Contra Costa Times
Despite making modest gains on state tests, nearly all of West Contra Costa's Title I schools failed this year to meet tough new federal achievement standards for students.

Centennial High School in Compton Loses Its Accreditation, Los Angeles Times
Centennial High School in Compton has lost its academic accreditation, a basic seal of approval that is granted to the vast majority of public schools in California and is weighed in college admissions.

CalPERS Adopts New Set of Standards, Los Angeles Times
The California Public Employees' Retirement System said Tuesday that it adopted a new set of standards for 90 investment banks and brokers that trade on its behalf, to tighten rules designed to prevent conflicts of interest.

High School Seniors Weak in Math and Science Tests, New York Times
Fewer than half of graduating high school seniors who took the 2003 ACT college entrance exams were adequately prepared for college-level algebra, and only about a quarter were prepared for college biology, according to the ACT results released yesterday.

Valedictorian Settles Dispute With Schools for $60,000, New York Times
The Moorestown School Board announced today that it had agreed to pay $60,000 to settle a lawsuit by Blair L. Hornstine, the high school senior who sued the district to be named sole valedictorian.

For a Desperate Gov. Davis, the Buck Stops Over There, Los Angeles Times
By Gov. Gray Davis' standards, I guess you could say that was a passionate speech Tuesday afternoon. But then, it isn't often that a person gets to deliver the eulogy at his own wake.

Dan Walters: Davis offers skewed version of history -- but won't apologize , Sacramento Bee
Gray Davis, who faces the bleak prospect of becoming the first California governor to be ousted from office in midterm because of his handling of two major crises, offered a characteristic quasi-apology to voters Tuesday.

Editorial: A Bit of Teenage Savvy, Los Angeles Times
Colleges and universities go to crazy lengths to improve their positions in the greatly feared yearly rankings of U.S. News & World Report.

College Guide: From 'Animal House' to Monastery, Los Angeles Times
The Princeton Review's 2004 college guide ranks Caltech No. 1 in this category: "Students Never Stop Studying."

Davis Calls recall 'power grab', Associated Press
Gov. Gray Davis, taking a defiant stance in the first major address of his fight for political survival, on Tuesday denounced the recall vote facing him as a Republican power grab and made no apologies for his record as governor.

Bustamante unveils plan, Associated Press
The first official document from Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante's campaign for governor is a budget plan that relies on recycled ideas already rejected by the Legislature because they raise taxes or increase the cost of doing business.

Long on Time, Not Details, New York Times
This 60-second commercial, titled "Initial," will be shown starting today by Californians for Schwarzenegger, whose main contributor is Arnold Schwarzenegger himself, at $1 million, state election records show.

Davis Concedes Making Mistakes, Wall Street Journal
Gearing up to save his political life in the next six weeks, Gov. Gray Davis acknowledged making mistakes in handling California's electricity and budget crises, while accusing Republicans of trying to steal the governor's office in a recall election set for Oct. 7.

Davis stands by his record, Sacramento Bee
The GOP's out to steal elections that it can't win, he warns.

Contentious Davis blasts GOP 'power grab', San Francisco Chronicle
With only his wife nearby, Gov. Gray Davis sat down in his West Hollywood condo, turned on a tape recorder and spilled out his thoughts as he faced the most critical point of his 30-year career.

Connerly, DeSaulnier face off over Prop. 54, Contra Costa Times
With just six weeks to go until voters head to the polls, UC Regent Ward Connerly is locked in a pitched battle of words with those who oppose Proposition 54, his initiative to ban the collection of racial data.

NOTE: For additional political coverage, visit the Rough & Tumble website.