Reporting from Sacramento San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom officially jumped into the race for lieutenant governor Friday, explaining why he now wants a job he once disparaged as a ceremonial post without any real responsibility

Newsom, a Democrat, is known nationally, so his entrance changes the dynamics of the contest. The office he wants, after dropping his run for governor last fall, is low-profile but significant: Its occupant runs the state if the governor leaves California or cannot fulfill his or her duties.

How appropriate that, as one of the biggest education protests in history unfurled across the state, California's application for a Race to the Top school reform grant was rejected by federal officials. Could there possibly be a louder wake-up call?

Given the chaos and infighting that muddied the state's halting attempt to qualify for Race to the Top, the rejection is no surprise. But if education funding continues to decline, and if turf battles continue to prevent real reform, it's not just students who will suffer. California's greatness is at risk.

(CBS)Sacramento, Calif. (CBS/CBS13) BAD: CBS affiliate CBS13 reports that Roy Ashburn, a state senator from Southern California was arrested for allegedly driving drunk.

WORSE: CBS affiliate CBS13 reports that Roy Ashburn, a state senator from Southern California was arrested for allegedly driving drunk AFTER LEAVING A GAY BAR.

WORSER: CBS affiliate CBS13 reports that Roy Ashburn, a state senator from Southern California was arrested for allegedly driving drunk after leaving a gay bar WITH ANOTHER MAN IN THE CAR.

Demonstrations will erupt across California today as students protest the soaring cost of education - but the fury overlooks the fact that fee increases actually help poorer students by providing more money for financial aid.

The state of California is no longer subsidizing every college student's education. Instead, students whose families earn at least $70,000 per year are footing more of the bill, making it possible for students whose families earn less to pay no tuition at all.

An executive for the parent company of Anthem Blue Cross told state officials Tuesday that California's largest health insurer will go forward with much-criticized individual-policy rate hikes of as much as 39% once a two-month delay lapses May 1.

James Oatman, vice president of WellPoint Inc.'s consumer division, told the state Assembly's health committee that the premium increases, and the profit they generate, are appropriate despite wide criticism from consumers, regulators, members of Congress and the Obama administration.

Michael Jackson's parents, Katherine and Joe Jackson, have filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to probate their son's estate, PEOPLE has confirmed.

According to legal papers, the Jacksons state that their son "died intestate," meaning without a will. Katherine Jackson, who has already filed for custody of her grandchildren Prince, 12, Paris, 11 and Prince Michael II, 7, is seeking to take possession of her son's assets for "for the exclusive use of [his] three children."

Carrie Prejean has released a . . . wait for it . . . rather windy statement about being fired from her job as Miss California.

Listen up. It may be the last time she gets all of your attention.

Do not let the sun go down on your anger.

I do my best to follow the biblical injunctions of the Christian New Testament, but when it comes to the state of California and letting the sun go down on my anger, I am, in that and other regards, a failed disciple.

How could any rational, thoughtful, informed person be anything other than angry at the condition of California government? How could it come to this? How could the most populous and wealthiest state in the union by every standard of comparison,

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. said Friday that it and state regulators ordered five more small California banks to clean up their acts in April, part of a campaign of intensified scrutiny amid the bad economy.

The cease-and-desist orders, requiring tighter lending policies, stronger management and in some cases new capital, illustrated the recession's outsized grip on California despite its highly diverse economy.

SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed closing up to 220 state parks to help cut the state's $24.3 billion deficit, including popular attractions for millions of visitors each year, such as a park that is home to some of the tallest trees on Earth.

Schwarzenegger has recommended eliminating $70 million in parks spending through June 30, 2010. Another $143.4 million would be saved in the following fiscal year by keeping the parks closed.