• Mike Villines is thinking about the Insurance Commissioner’s gig. The Fresno Bee’s News Blog has him hinting at it during an event in Fresno. I love his chances to win the nomination in that race.  Against either of the two very credible Democratic candidates, Assembly members Dave Jones and Hector De La Torre.

• The Dept. of Transportation announced $67 million dollars in funding for the Metro Gold Line Eastside Light Rail Extension, which would add about six miles of light rail track through some underserved communities in East Los Angeles, expediting funds from the original 2004 grant.  The light rail line should be ready for customers by June.  This was always the hope of the stimulus package, that it would increase infrastructure and in particular mass transit.  Great decision by the DOT.

• I swear, it’s like Meg Whitman is trying new ways to make herself look ridiculous every day.  Today, she claims that she’s trying to woo non-GOP voters, especially young voters and Latinos. Oh really, Meg? Then perhaps you should work on that immigration red meatyou are tossing to the GOP base. It’s like she doesn’t think people remember what she says in different parts of the state.

• UC Berkeley’s University Health Services was hacked. Unfortunately, I (Brian) am amongst those who was in that database. Let me say how thrilled I am.

• John Myers has his Capitol Notes podcast up.

• Sam Blakeslee is the only legislative Republican in the 2008 cycle to have received money from SEIU 1000.

• San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders announced an effort today to spend $5 million in federal stimulus money on solar energy projects in Balboa Park. Joining new affordable housing projects 100% powered by solar and a program set to begin in July providing up-front costs for home solar installation, it’s another encouraging step towards utilizing green energy in an extremely sunny city.