NCAA 'Dogs inquiry detailed, Fresno Bee
Documents issued by Fresno State and the NCAA's enforcement staff suggest the university could face harsh penalties when the three-year joint investigation into its program concludes this summer because of the link to the university's athletic department academic advising unit.

Morrison withdraws as candidate for Fullerton coaching job, Sacramento Bee
UC Riverside director of athletics Stan Morrison has withdrawn as a candidate for the head coaching job for the men's basketball team at Cal State Fullerton.

Consultant criticizes N. County rail project, San Diego Union Tribune
Even his critics agree that Wendell Cox is good at what he does: Killing rail projects. Cox may have helped persuade the Vista City Council, by a 2-1 vote, to go on record opposing the 22-mile project, which also would have a loop to CSU San Marcos.

Carson facility close to landing national event, Long Beach Press-Telegram
The Home Depot Center appears to have landed another major track event before the starting gun has been fired for the facility's inaugural event Sunday. The 2005 USA Track & Field Championships will be coming to Carson.

UC professors adopt policy against student-faculty dating, San Diego Union-Tribune
Capping two years of debate, University of California professors overwhelmingly approved a policy yesterday that would bar romantic or sexual relationships between students and professors.

Bailout Nears for Oakland Schools, Los Angeles Times
State legislators are expected to put the finishing touches today on a bill to provide an emergency $100-million state loan for the insolvent Oakland Unified School District, a step that would lead to a state takeover of the 48,000-student school system.

American Culture's Debt to Gay Sons of Harvard, New York Times
Douglass Shand-Tucci, the author of "The Crimson Letter: Harvard, Homosexuality and the Shaping of American Culture," said, "The Harvard gay experience is more important in the shaping of American culture, because, in so many ways, Harvard is more important."

Foundation Withdraws $9.4-Million Gift to U. of Texas Business School After Dean Raises Questions, Chronicle of Higher Education
An Austin-based foundation has withdrawn its $9.4-million gift to the University of Texas at Austin's business school after university officials raised concerns about accusations of sexual harassment against one of the foundation's executives.

Mexican Government Has Closed 88 Private Universities, Chronicle of Higher Education
The Mexican government has shut down 88 private universities over the past two years for failing to comply with basic standards, education officials said this week.

For-Profit Colleges See Rising Minority Enrollments, Chronicle of Higher Education
As minority students make up a larger proportion of students seeking higher education, a burgeoning number of them are choosing for-profit colleges.

Florida Legislature Cuts University Spending and Caps Presidents' Salaries, Chronicle of Higher Education
The Florida Legislature voted late Tuesday night to cut spending on the state's universities by $40-million, or 2.7 percent, while capping the state's contribution to the salaries of their presidents and letting the institutions increase tuitions substantially.

Donors Tipping Scales at U-Va., Washington Post
The University of Virginia will pass a milestone next year when it expects to draw more of its operating budget from private gifts than from state funds -- a scenario once unimaginable for a public college.

Bill May Shield Utilities From Claim, Los Angeles Times
Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg has introduced a bill that could help the Department of Water and Power avoid a lawsuit seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in alleged electricity overcharges paid by school and government agencies.

Bush signs $350 billion tax cut bill, Sacramento Bee/AP
President Bush signed a bill on Wednesday that offers $330 billion in tax breaks to families, businesses and investors and $20 billion in state aid - a package less than half the size of the one he initially sought.

Davis recall supporters, opponents trade barbs, Pasadena Star-News/AP
Surrounded by noisy confrontations Wednesday between pro- and anti-recall forces, allies of Gov. Gray Davis announced a campaign to raise up to $4 million to keep his proposed removal off the ballot.

Insurer Sues to Block Potential State Takeover, Los Angeles Times
The infighting over the fast-deteriorating workers' compensation system in California took a new turn Wednesday when officials of the workers' comp insurer of last resort announced that they have sued the state Insurance Department to thwart a potential takeover.

Davis Ally Says Issa Broke Law in Recall Drive, Los Angeles Times
An ally of Gov. Gray Davis said Wednesday that she would file a legal complaint today charging Rep. Darrell Issa with illegally raising money for the recall campaign against the governor.

Opinion: Taming diversity backlash in S.F. schools, San Francisco Chronicle
Parents -- African American, Asian American, Latino, Pacific Islander and white -- all hope to see their children attend schools with modern facilities, dedicated and engaged teachers, and strong leadership.

Opinion: We Should Speak the 'Awful Truth' About College Sports ..., Chronicle of Higher Education
A recent survey by The Chronicle suggests that the public supports intercollegiate athletics programs far less than most college leaders believe and that the time has come when serious change in college sports might actually be possible. But can we truly reform college sports?

Opinion: ... or Does the Public Like the Status Quo?, Chronicle of Higher Education
As a sports fan, I have taken note of almost daily bad news about collegiate athletics -- the seemingly endless stories of rule breaking, violence, drugs, and outright corruption, as well as the excessive expenditures for teams, facilities, and coaches.

Daniel Weintraub: Pension fund ills can be traced to big giveaway, Sacramento Bee
The public pension nightmare unfolding across California began with one bad decision based on faulty logic in the heady days when the stock market run looked as if it would never end.

Letters: CSU San Marcos diversity is dividing us, North County Times
The separate graduation ceremonies for minority groups held recently at Cal State University San Marcos are a good indicator of the values being promoted by our higher education system.

Other view: CSU leadership needs new blood, Sacramento Bee
The California State University system needs new administrative leadership -- now.

Editorial: Backbone, please, San Diego Union-Tribune
It was a safe bet that the state Board of Education would blink when it came to requiring a passing score next year on the high school exit exam in order to receive a diploma.

Opinion: Bill Targets Tax Policy That Adds to Urban Sprawl, Los Angeles Times
There is a realization among legislators and Gov. Gray Davis that major tax restructuring — this year's good-government buzzword — is needed to stabilize and balance future revenues and spending to avoid habitually falling into chasms of red ink.

Editorial: The key to government secrecy, San Jose Mercury-News
Increasingly, secrecy-loving government officials have placed the burden on citizens and the media to show why records, courtrooms or meetings shouldn't be closed -- turning the fundamental concept of an open democracy on its head.

Editorial: State turns to Wall Street, Daily Breeze
State Controller Steve Westly and Finance Director Steve Peace traveled to New York City trying to secure $11 billion in short-term loans so that California can pay for its daily operations through the summer. If there is no budget in place by September, Westly says, the state will shut down because it won’t be able to obtain additional loans.

Senate committee OKs $100 billion budget plan, Oakland Tribune/AP
In an effort to meet a June 15 deadline, the Senate Budget Committee approved Wednesday a near-$100 billion budget plan that protects funding for schools and social services as well as health care programs for the poor.