The fight over June's marquee ballot measure, whether California should institute open primaries, has begun with a trickle of campaign spending and promotion that's already bringing slick mailers to county doorsteps.  more...

California voters will have the opportunity in June to replace partisan primaries with a system in which candidates of all parties will be listed on the same ballot and the top two vote-getters would advance to the general election, regardless of party.  more...

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar sought to mollify San Joaquin Valley farmers but ended up disappointing them again Tuesday when he declared federal pumps will deliver more water this year.  more...