Lawmakers take a new look at privatizing California Lottery -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and some lawmakers are newly interested in a push to privatize the state lottery as one of the least painful possibilities for addressing the state's financial troubles. But it's become clear that in order to make the business enticing to private investors, voters would have to agree to authorize bigger jackpots and allow games that are currently banned. Judy Lin in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/22/08

Silicon Valley life expectancy has jumped from 72 to 80 since 1961 -- Maybe your exorbitant mortgage bill is worth it after all. Silicon Valley residents have one of the highest life expectancy rates in the nation, with the average baby born in 1999 on track to live to 80, according to research appearing in today's edition of the journal PLoS Medicine. On average, that's eight years longer than their grandparents might live. Julie Sevrens Lyons in the San Jose Mercury -- 4/22/08

Backers of California gay marriage ban ready to submit petitions -- The sponsors of a proposed constitutional amendment to outlaw same-sex marriage in California said Monday they have gathered enough signatures to qualify the measure for the November ballot. LISA LEFF AP -- 4/21/08

Can a porn tax boost CA's economy? -- Lawmakers in Sacramento are looking at all sorts of ways to bring in revenue for our cash strapped state. The latest proposal is a porn tax in the adult entertainment industry. X-rated film makers to strip club owners would have to pay an extra percentage of their earnings to the state. Nannette Miranda ABC7 -- 4/21/08

Debt may be a factor in suspicious house, car fires -- Some folks celebrate their last home mortgage payment by setting fire to their loan agreement. Lately, some people behind on their mortgages are simply setting fire to their homes. Ken Bensinger in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/21/08

Support group needs to 'CRAFT' a less-scary GOP brand -- The first step on the road to recovery is admitting there is a problem. Some influential Republicans did that last week in announcing formation of a support group. George Skelton in the Los Angeles Times -- 4/21/08

No-driving bills would ground dropouts in California -- Targeting what most teenagers lust for, California lawmakers may ban dropouts from driving in a last-ditch attempt to entice them back to school. The approach, if signed into law, would mark the first time California has used driving as leverage to get kids to stay in school. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 4/21/08

The young host of a Christian music television show has come out publicly as a gay man, and to his surprise he has received more encouraging support than expected from churchgoers. "I’ve received literally hundreds of emails from everyone around the world and they're all encouraging," said Azariah Southworth, host of "The Remix," in an interview with After Elton, a publication on gay and bisexual men. While many of the e-mail were also negative, 21-year-old TV host said the “amazing amount of support and encouragement has astounded me.” “I've never received so much encouragement like this, not from the Church," he added. Southworth made his announcement last week in Out and About, a Nashville-based LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) publication. He said it was a long time coming and that he now wants to live his life honestly. "I believe by me living my life honestly and authentically now, I am able to be a better person and a better Christian," said Southworth. The Christian Post

California lawmakers have moved forward on a bill that imposes severe limitations on the methods used to spank one's child. AB 2943 has passed out of the state Assembly's Public Safety Committee and it now heads to the Appropriations Committee. The legislation is a resurrected version of Democrat Sally Lieber's bill from last year, minus the outright spanking ban. The bill prohibits using "implements" such as wooden spoons, paddles, rolled-up newspapers, switches, belts, or brushes -- essentially, allowing only the hand. One News Now

A documentary that examines a movement in academic circles to censor the teaching of intelligent design placed in the Top 10 of box office receipts on its opening weekend. Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed took in $3.2 million on opening weekend. The movie stars Ben Stein, who interviews scientists and professors who have been blacklisted, lost tenure, and in some cases were fired for questioning Darwinian evolution and wanting to teach intelligent design. One News Now

GAY “DAY OF SILENCE” PROMOTES A DEADLY BEHAVIOR From the story: While the medical consensus is that smoking knocks from two to 10 years off an individual’s life expectancy, the IJE study found that homosexual conduct shortens the lifespan of “gays” by an astounding “8 to 20 years” — more than twice that of smoking. Townhall

HALF OF LOS ANGELES WORKFORCE “IMMIGRANTS” Then, the story notes, “The Migration Policy Institute used U.S. Census data to determine that one-third of immigrants have not graduated from high school and 60 percent do not speak English fluently.” UPI

A long, steady rise in life expectancy in the United States apparently isn't being shared by everyone, and hasn't been for years, according to a new study. While the overall life expectancy of Americans increased by about seven years between 1960 and 2000, the report by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health and the University of Washington found a "reversal of fortunes" beginning in the early 1980s for large segments of the population. The study, published online Monday in the journal PLoS Medicine, reinforces concerns about long-term trends in the health of the American population. SF Chronicle

Sunday I learned that I am insensitive after I wrote a column arguing that families who earn as much as $200,000 to $250,000 are "rich." A San Francisco couple earning $205,000 informed me they "shouldn't be considered anything but working middle class." A $215,000 couple told me, "Families making $200,000 a year are not rich. They're not even close to rich." A San Francisco lawyer explained that a $200,000 salary cannot make one rich because a "a 'rich' person does not need to work." Like Bruce Wayne. I live in the Bay Area. I know how expensive it is. I also think a country that has supersize everything from popcorn to sport utility vehicles can add a new jumbo-scale item to the list - supersize rich. Being simply rich is not enough. SF Chronicle

The sign in front of a small church in a small town is causing a big controversy in Jonesville, S.C. Pastor Roger Byrd said that he just wanted to get people thinking. So last Thursday, he put a new message on the sign at the Jonesville Church of God. It reads: "Obama, Osama, hmm, are they brothers?" WFAA-TV

Somewhere in between the parade of busty women in low-cut gold lamé minidresses and contestants spinning the wheel, George Bush made a star turn. “I’m thrilled to be on ‘Deal or No Deal’ with you tonight,” Mr. Bush said from a giant screen in a cameo taped for the Monday episode of one of NBC’s most popular prime-time shows. The president paused a beat. “Come to think of it, I’m thrilled to be anywhere with high ratings these days.” NY Times