The California budget that wasn't born on July 1, or Aug. 1, may also be overdue -- absent serious hard labor -- come Sept. 1. (BTW, a quick check shows that, since 1992, the latest date a state budget was enacted was Sept. 5, 2002.) Consider the possible scenarios playing out: Democrats leaning heavily on tax hikes to offset a $15 ...

The taco chain store was jammed, the teen staff making supremes and nachos as fast at their sanitary-gloved hands could move. But help was needed. And several staffers offered their bare, gotta-rub-my-nose mitts to mash together sliced lettuce and shredded cheese. Is the slogan ''Run (singular?) for the border?'' Reminded me that ...

It's such an annual ritual that it's almost ho-hum, except it's not. California is now 25 days into its fiscal year without a state budget. Imagine skipping your mortgage payment for 25 days -- with no seeming accountability. Imagine the electeds, waiting for proposals, conjuring up compromises while also drawing down about $113,000 in annual ...