L.A. County D.A. candidate didn't know generous donor is a felon

Self-styled philanthropist Victorino Noval and his family are enthusiastic supporters of Alan Jackson. But the GOP candidate didn't know of Noval's criminal past.

Identity of donors to conservative group sought

Citing a new state regulation, activists ask authorities to reveal who contributed $11 million to an organization campaigning on two California ballot measures.

Democrats have a shot at key House seats in Inland Empire region

Redrawn district lines and a decline in Republican membership make two races competitive. The high stakes have triggered a $2-million spending spree by the parties and independent groups.

Prop. 31 seeks government reform but could backfire, critics say

The measure features an array of provisions, including two-year state budgets. Backers see an example of California's initiative process working as it should, while foes see the opposite.

Tax group sues Cal State Monterey Bay over Prop. 30 advocacy

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. suit accuses the head of the humanities department of emailing students to 'work together to pass Prop. 30.'

Prop. 32's real purpose is to cripple labor unions politically

Backers say Prop. 32 would stop special-interest money from influencing politicians, but the measure actually would tilt the playing field unfairly to the right.

L.A. Unified partners with gay advocates to end bullying

The initiative, called Project SPIN, seeks to help gay, lesbian and transgender students deal with bullies, and more broadly, to change the district's culture.

Labor's big-money focus on Prop. 32 may hurt chances of Prop. 30

Unions say their political survival hinges on defeating Proposition 32, leaving less financial backing for labor ally Gov. Jerry Brown's Proposition 30.

Berman-Sherman race spending tops $9 million

The Democratic rivals for a San Fernando Valley congressional seat are approaching the spending record set a dozen years ago in another Southern California House race.

Prop. 38 proponent to stop airing TV ad critical of Prop. 30

Molly Munger, proponent of Prop. 38, says she will take down a TV advertisement critical of Prop. 30, a tax plan backed by Gov. Jerry Brown on the same ballot.

State hotline provides inaccurate voter registration deadline

Some callers to a California secretary of state's office hotline hear an inaccurate message saying voter registration for the Nov. 6 election had closed.

Ventura County congressional district is a battleground

Republican Tony Strickland and Democrat Julia Brownley vie for the redrawn district's seat as their parties struggle for control of the House. The race is considered a tossup.

Long Beach congressional race has national import

Democratic and Republican party officials have thrown support behind Alan Lowenthal and Gary DeLong and are trying to make the race a referendum on national issues.

Prop. 30 inspires voter registration drives aimed at students

Gov. Jerry Brown's tax hike measure is being touted as the only way to avoid tuition increases this year at California's public universities. Some predict a higher-than-usual turnout.

Democrat Lois Capps, Republican Abel Maldonado locked in tight race

Both strive to downplay party affiliation; Democrats have only a slight registration edge in the redrawn 24th Congressional District.

Autism activism led Elizabeth Emken to become GOP Senate candidate

Elizabeth Emken, running against Sen. Dianne Feinstein, began by lobbying for autism research. She opposes the healthcare law and backs a tax overhaul, deficit reduction and Arctic drilling.

California's renewable-energy plans may hinge on presidential race

Players big and small in the state's rapidly growing industry worry a Romney win will strip them of federal subsidies they say are key to clean energy's future.

Prop. 39 would end tax giveaway, raise $1 billion for California

The initiative would do away with an incentive for out-of-state corporations not to invest in California.

Lancaster, rights groups settle Section 8 discrimination suit

Activists had accused the city of trying to drive out nonwhite low-income tenants. The two sides agree to work together to ensure fair rental practices.

Siblings launch multimillion-dollar attacks on Prop. 30

The ads, funded separately by Charles Munger Jr. and Molly Munger, say Gov. Jerry Brown's tax hikes would not guarantee more money for schools.

FBI agent denies sex allegations in arms-smuggling probe

The undercover agent rejects a defense claim that he paid for sex for himself and for suspects in the Philippines with government funds.