Public Eye

The California attorney general's office has sued six business and eight individuals, charging they mass-mailed business owners, fraudulently seeking payment for government fees or services.

Problem: A road "fix-it" project in the Eldorado National Forest required some additional fixing after last week's rainstorm.

It's the time of year for open enrollment, that annual ritual for making the tough decisions about health insurance - and whether to set aside money for a flexible medical spending account.

Sacramento State says it has found the perfect person to promote President Alexander Gonzalez' signature project to remake the university: his son.

The city of Sacramento apparently is above its own laws, having excused several city operations from the water-conservation rules that apply to local businesses and homes.

Tough times and weak state finances have knee-capped the University of California: thousands of layoffs, class offerings and library hours cut; faculty furloughs, and a possible 31 percent hike in tuition fees.

Fewer residents died in fatal car accidents last year than at any time in the past decade, new federal figures show.

How much does the highest paid Sacramento County retiree get monthly from the county's pension system?

Talk about rolling out the welcome mat for new students.

Sacramento County was told to remove its new chief building official from the job just four months after he started.

Airports are a very public face for every big city, especially a state capital.

Marge Reid, a real estate broker, suspected a scam. People were calling to rent properties meant for sale, not for rent.

It's being called "The Big Build," the capital region's new front door to the world.

Placer County law enforcement officials are on the hunt for "green" bandits after thousands of dollars in solar panels were stolen recently in Granite Bay and Rocklin.

If Sacramento County school trustees appoint a replacement to fill a board vacancy, local politician Frederick Gayle might try to force a special -- and costly -- election.

It's expensive to hold an election – operating and staffing polling places throughout the state – even if voters stay away from the polls in droves.

A recent Sacramento County grand jury report takes fire officials to task for lax oversight that allowed some area firefighters to boost their pay by claiming college degrees from so-called "diploma mills."

At Cal Expo, they talk about "transparency."

The Bee reported this month that John Mendes, the former Placer Superior Court executive, received total compensation of about $304,000 in calendar year 2008.

Someone tried to restrict press access to Sacramento City Hall. It didn't work.

Con artists are adding an aggressive touch to lottery schemes, threatening potential victims now with legal action and arrests if they do not pay "taxes" on their purported winnings.

With personnel costs rising significantly in Sacramento County in recent years, The Bee submitted a Public Records Act request for a database of employee salaries.

Before the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department lays off any deputies, it will have to pare its large force of retirees who work "on call" – collecting a pension and a paycheck.

Some unemployed residents would be happy just to have one salary these days.