Some links in random order:  

• The state is having a tough time regulating payday loan outfits that are operating under the banner of Indian sovereign immunity. They regularly violate the state's regulations for such loans, but due to the immunity laws, state laws don't easily reach them when the loan is made over the internet.  The laws limit the loans to $300 and to a maximum interest rate of 459% for a 31 day period. (Yes, you read that right.)
• An example of the penny wise, pound foolish madness of budget cuts: Across the state, fraud investigation departments for in-home support services are being slashed, so the fraud rate has increased. IHSS is a vital program to allow care for California's most vulnerable, but it does carry a risk that people will lie about services they provide.  The hypocrisy is really pretty funny, if it weren't so sad.  The Republicans scream about waste, fraud, and abuse, yet cut the people who try to fight it.  Classic. Of course, the Times has to toss some union-bashing into the mix. Because, that's balanced, you know?
• In 1998, Congress started a program to sell homes to local governments for $1, which they could then fix up and sell as affordable housing for new families.  Eleven years later, the Times checks in to see how that went, and, um, it didn’t work.  The homes increased significantly in value and benefited nobody beyond contractors and investors.
• The state has returned a series of paintings stolen from Jewish art dealers in Nazi Germany in the 1930s, but copies will remain on display at Hearst Castle.
• An aviation blogger raised the ire of politicos in Long Beach for daring to report on comments from Jet Blue’s CEO that the Long Beach Airport stinks and the airline may stop flying there.  One would think that the Long Beach City Council should spend a bit more time on fixing their crappy airport and a bit less on denigrating reporters who dare to mention it.
• San Jose State is trying to make more students graduate within four years to decrease costs and allow for more incoming students.
• Santa Monica is connecting homeowners with backyards with people who want to garden.
• The Latino Water Coalition is organizing a march from Mendota to Los Banos to call for more water for the Central Valley and its farms. The water cuts to the Valley have hit Latinos who rely on temporary farmworking jobs.
• Wow, get out the wahhmbulance for Jack Kavanaugh, who is deeply hurt by Chris Cillizza leaving him off the list of the top political sites in California.  Uh, Jack, um, aren’t you just a link aggregator?  Couldn’t a BOT do what you do?