California Capitol

The man authorities believe smashed a loaded tractor-trailer into the state Capitol on Tuesday, incinerating himself in a ball of fire, had a 15-year history of criminal violence and bouts of mental illness. Since 1986, Mike Bowers, 37, of Hemet had been in and out of prison for battery on a peace officer, child beating and assault with a deadly weapon. In 1999, psychiatrists at Patton State Hospital asked authorities to keep Bowers in custody.

Fifty years ago, I started covering California's state Capitol as a twerp reporter — inspired by the grandeur and history, and a bit intimidated by the mystique of a strange world. The first day that I attempted to dissect a governor's budget proposal remains the most harrowing of my career. I had no idea how to interpret the gobbledygook and translate it into readable English. These days actual budgets aren't even distributed to the media; only the carefully spun summaries are. Another difference: Budgets mostly were honestly balanced back then.

About 1 million people stroll through California's Capitol every year. Not just politicians, lobbyists and reporters--but ordinary citizens, gawking wide-eyed at grandeur and history. They include maybe 200,000 schoolkids on 4,000 tours, smiling, giggling, intrigued especially by the window displays for each county and the echo-chamber rotunda under a dome that rises 20 stories.

California's Capitol has been shrouded in fog -- literally and figuratively. The literal fog is seasonal and can smother the Central Valley for days on end this time of year. The figurative fog is year-round. Both types are a curse. They depress moods, hamper vision and are characterized by denseness. The literal fog is called tule fog, and it is created on the ground.

California's Capitol has been shrouded in fog -- literally and figuratively. The literal fog is seasonal and can smother the Central Valley for days on end this time of year. The figurative fog is year-round. Both types are a curse. They depress moods, hamper vision and are characterized by denseness. The literal fog is called tule fog, and it is created on the ground.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's smoking tent in his office courtyard at the state Capitol is being blamed in part for the flooding of several rooms in the historic building. Artificial grass that Schwarzenegger had installed under the tent apparently blocked a drainpipe as a rare summer storm dumped more than 2 inches of rain in less than an hour on the city Sunday. The courtyard flooded, sending water under the doors of nearby offices.

A rainbow-colored flag intended to honor gays and lesbians briefly flew over the state Capitol, but it was soon ordered taken down by Gov. George Deukmejian's office. Sen. Milton Marks (D-San Francisco), whose district contains a large number of gays, asked the Joint Rules Committee to allow the flag, which has no writing on it, to be flown and permission was granted. But after only a few hours complaints were received by the governor's office and it was ordered removed.

Assembly Speaker Willie Brown said Tuesday he has banished from one of the Capitol's main hallways the throng of lobbyists who compete for a last-minute word with legislators before a vote. He said his policy is to improve decorum during floor sessions. Restrictions on reporters and television cameras are a part of that policy.

It's time for spring cleaning -- whether smartening up the backyard, scrubbing the old boat or scouring the Capitol. Brush away the cobwebs. Mend the creaky gear. Toss the broken junk. I have a long to-do list for the Capitol. Not just simple cleaning, but some major remodeling. Its importance will become increasingly evident as summer approaches and the politicians move from budget belligerence into a bad bottleneck. This brawl could be the worst ever.

A 41-year-old Turlock man who allegedly broke into the state Capitol with his bare hands Friday has reignited a debate over security. The incident comes eight months after a man with a history of mental problems drove his big rig into the Capitol's south steps, killing himself and causing severe damage to the south porch when his truck burst into flames. On Friday, Antonio Richard Mariscal drove up to the west steps about 6:30 a.m.

It's time for spring cleaning -- whether smartening up the backyard, scrubbing the old boat or scouring the Capitol. Brush away the cobwebs. Mend the creaky gear. Toss the broken junk. I have a long to-do list for the Capitol. Not just simple cleaning, but some major remodeling. Its importance will become increasingly evident as summer approaches and the politicians move from budget belligerence into a bad bottleneck. This brawl could be the worst ever.

Inside California's stately old Capitol, the call comes crackling over a state-issued radio. Maintenance man Dustin Peard drops what he's doing and climbs a steep, narrow ladder to the roof. There, in the shadow of the grand rotunda, the 35-year-old former Marine slowly lowers the building's three flapping flags -- the Stars and Stripes, the California bear and a black POW banner -- exactly halfway down the pole. He is acting on orders from Gov.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's smoking tent in his office courtyard at the state Capitol is being blamed in part for the flooding of several rooms in the historic building. Artificial grass that Schwarzenegger had installed under the tent apparently blocked a drainpipe as a rare summer storm dumped more than 2 inches of rain in less than an hour on the city Sunday. The courtyard flooded, sending water under the doors of nearby offices.

Thousands of California community college students marched to the Capitol on Monday to protest fee hikes and class reductions triggered by the state's budget crisis. The students -- estimated to number between 5,000 and 7,000 -- marched several blocks through downtown to the statehouse, demanding that the Legislature reject a proposal by Gov. Gray Davis to double fees at two-year colleges while cutting classes and laying off teachers.

Microsoft Corp. plays a pragmatic role in Capitol politics, giving campaign money to Gov. Gray Davis and hiring lobbyists who are close to the Democratic governor and Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer. Lockyer inherited California's piece of the antitrust lawsuit from his Republican predecessor, Dan Lungren. Lungren then ran against Davis for governor, and Microsoft backed Davis. The company also backed Lockyer's opponent, who had promised to drop the case.

A 41-year-old Turlock man who allegedly broke into the state Capitol with his bare hands Friday has reignited a debate over security. The incident comes eight months after a man with a history of mental problems drove his big rig into the Capitol's south steps, killing himself and causing severe damage to the south porch when his truck burst into flames. On Friday, Antonio Richard Mariscal drove up to the west steps about 6:30 a.m.

As a member of seven governors' staffs dating to Earl Warren in 1945, Jackie Habecker Grunwald has seen it all: A two-month sit-in by anti-nuclear demonstrators, angry occupations by welfare rights activists, protest fires set by Black Panthers, and the regal arrival of Queen Elizabeth. But no more. Grunwald, 65, the governor's receptionist, who cordially welcomes visiting dignitaries and just as graciously suffers platoons of protesters, retires today.

Unfazed by the recent terrorist bombings of American embassies in Africa and a gunman's fatal attack at the U.S. Capitol, the Legislature is holding fast to its decision not to build a controversial security fence around California's statehouse. Last year, the state budgeted $2 million for a fence, but lawmakers later decided to scrap the project. When the legislature put its final touches on the state budget over the last week, the decision against the fence remained in place.

About 1 million people stroll through California's Capitol every year. Not just politicians, lobbyists and reporters--but ordinary citizens, gawking wide-eyed at grandeur and history. They include maybe 200,000 schoolkids on 4,000 tours, smiling, giggling, intrigued especially by the window displays for each county and the echo-chamber rotunda under a dome that rises 20 stories.

The man authorities believe smashed a loaded tractor-trailer into the state Capitol on Tuesday, incinerating himself in a ball of fire, had a 15-year history of criminal violence and bouts of mental illness. Since 1986, Mike Bowers, 37, of Hemet had been in and out of prison for battery on a peace officer, child beating and assault with a deadly weapon. In 1999, psychiatrists at Patton State Hospital asked authorities to keep Bowers in custody.