Prosecution seeks Peterson pollsters, Modesto Bee
Prosecutors announced Friday that they want to speak with unidentified university students who said they fabricated telephone survey data on the Scott Peterson double-murder case.

[This story also appeared in the Fresno Bee, Sacramento Bee, Contra Costa Times, North County Times, San Jose Mercury-News, Los Angeles Times.]

Falsified Peterson survey not a surprise to some, Modesto Bee
The reputation of California State University, Stanislaus, could suffer following news that students apparently cheated on a change-of-venue survey related to the Scott Peterson murder trial, some students and faculty members said Friday.

Survey used as evidence to move trial questioned, San Francisco Chronicle
A survey used as evidence that Scott Peterson had better odds of getting a fair trial outside Stanislaus County may have been fabricated by several students who worked on it, a newspaper reported Friday.

Cal Poly sued over admissions policies, San Francisco Chronicle
A Latino organization has sued California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, claiming its admissions system excludes Latinos by over- relying on standardized tests and giving special preference to residents of surrounding areas that are disproportionately non-Latino.

Cal Poly is unfair, Latinos charge, San Luis Obispo Tribune
Three who were denied admission sue university

CSULB lab hooked on sharks, Long Beach Press-Telegram
Researchers seek to bare secrets long hidden in sea.

College students may feel budget pain, San Diego Union Tribune
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget would cut off access to California public universities for more than 23,000 students, increase student fees for a third straight year and reduce financial aid for middle-income families.

Families struggle to meet tuition and fee hikes, Oakland Tribune
In the past two years, student fees at CSU and University of California have climbed 40 percent. Fees at California's two-year community colleges went up 64 percent.

UC, CSU access limited, fees to rise -- but K-12 is spared, San Francisco Chronicle
California's K-12 public school system dodged a bullet with the release of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's first proposed budget, while state college officials say they took the hit.

Education budget plan is good, bad and costly news, Chico Enterprise-Record
When it comes to education, the governor's budget proposal is good news, bad news, and expensive news.

Fewer admissions, (even) higher fees, Contra Costa Times
The University of California and the California State University systems would reduce freshman enrollment by 10 percent next year under the budget proposal unveiled Friday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

K-12 schools survive, but universities suffer, San Jose Mercury-News
A $216 per-student funding increase in the governor's budget proposal sparked cautious optimism Friday among California K-12 public school administrators. But response at the college level was of deep concern over the prospect of higher fees, less financial aid and fewer students.

Higher ed takes hit of $750 million, Sacramento Bee
Three days after saying he wanted to "work to expand the dream of college," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget reveals plans that appear to make it tougher to earn a higher education degree in California.

Cost of college going up in California, Modesto Bee/AP
In his budget released Friday, Schwarzenegger is proposing raising undergraduate student fees 10 percent and graduate fees by 40 percent at the University of California and California State University systems. His budget also reduces the amount of financial aid available to middle-income students.

Colleges to cut services, hike fees, North County Times
Colleges and universities will face another large tuition increase and may turn thousands of students away next year under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's new budget.

Strapped College District Weighs Leasing Out Parcel, Los Angeles Times
Coast Community seeks more revenue by renting its headquarters to an apartment developer.

Budget proposes big schools shift, Sacramento Bee
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is proposing a major overhaul of California's school system without eliminating any of the major academic initiatives or accountability programs launched by his predecessors in the past decade.

Administration: States sitting on school money, CNN/AP
The Bush administration, roundly criticized by states over its funding of education, is countering that the states are sitting on billions of federal dollars meant for schools.

States giving millions meant for schools back to U.S., Orange County Register/AP
While state officials nationwide say they need more money to educate children, newly released figures show states are returning millions to the federal Treasury rather than spending it in the hinterlands.

Students' Data on Web, and N.Y.U. on Defensive, New York Times
"The students are at risk for identity theft," said Beth Givens, director of the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization based in San Diego.

Texas A&M Ends Alumni-Based Preferences for Applicants, to Assure 'Consistency' in Admissions, Chronicle of Higher Education
Under pressure from state lawmakers and civil-rights activists, the president of Texas A&M University at College Station announced on Friday that his institution would no longer give an edge to applicants who are related to alumni.

3 Public Universities Try to Ease Va.'s Reins, Washington Post
Virginia's three top public universities are seeking to cut some of their ties to state government in what they describe as a bid to gain more control over their destinies after years of dwindling state funding.

Editorial: Fabricated survey results endanger CSUS credibility, Modesto Bee
Professor Stephen Schoenthaler gave his students a difficult assignment, made it easy for them to cheat and then got the predictable outcome.

George Skelton: Is Governor Up to Job? Early Report Is In, Los Angeles Times
We've learned some things recently about the new governor — seen qualities that previously weren't so evident.

Daniel Weintraub: Ouch, budget targets almost everything, Sacramento Bee
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger put up his usual optimistic front Friday as unveiled his first budget proposal -- for the fiscal year that begins July 1. But even the governor's sunny disposition couldn't conceal the pain his proposal would spread to just about everyone who depends on services the state provides.

Editorial: Shortsighted, Sacramento Bee
College budget cuts make little sense.

Dan Walters: Another governor, another year, another workers' comp battle, Sacramento Bee
The late Bill Greene, who chaired the state Senate Labor Committee in the 1980s, once portrayed the politics of workers' compensation in brutally simple terms: "There are four interest groups, and when three get together, they screw the fourth."

Dan Walters: Schwarzenegger plays three-dimensional chess on fiscal crisis, Sacramento Bee
If anyone still doubted that Arnold Schwarzenegger is not just another chiseled face, but is serious about governing -- and about repairing the state's disastrous fiscal condition -- his presentation of a new state budget on Friday should be the clincher.

Opinion: UC Merced: Boondoggle or desperately needed boost?, Modesto Bee
College snobs, Fresno sore losers relentlessly beat a dead horse.

L.A.'s Nuñez Is Formally Chosen Assembly Speaker, Los Angeles Times
The freshman Democrat will assume Herb Wesson's post Feb. 9. Negotiating with the governor will be a big part of the job.

Governor Seeks Big Cuts in California's Spending Plan, New York Times
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger presented his first budget on Friday, a $76 billion spending plan for the state of California that includes significant cuts in health care, public education and payments to local governments.

Calif. Governor Unveils Budget, Washington Post
Schwarzenegger Announces Billions in Cuts and Fee Increases.

Budget Ax Would Fall Heavily on the Poor, Ill, Los Angeles Times
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget promises higher costs and hurdles for thousands of Californians, from some children with cancer who would no longer get state help paying for chemotherapy to high school graduates who would be shunted to community colleges instead of universities.

Economy May Not Help Governor, Los Angeles Times
Schwarzenegger is wise to keep revenue projections low in his plan, analysts say.

Gov. Schwarzenegger's First Budget Would Cut University Funds and Raise Tuition in California, Chronicle of Higher Education
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California proposed more spending cuts for the state's public universities and recommended double-digit percentage increases in tuition in his first state budget plan, released on Friday.

No rush to cut state positions, governor says, Sacramento Bee
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who said last fall he intended to carry out his predecessor's plans to lay off thousands of state workers, said Friday he wants to review the details before any more lose their jobs.

Big savings touted in privatizing, Sacramento Bee
Pete Wilson proposed it but got nowhere; now Schwarzenegger's trying.

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