If you didn't see this morning's story by The Bee's David Whitney, Rep. John Doolittle's will announce he is retiring at a press conference later this hour.
So what does that mean for the political races to come?
For Democratic challenger Charlie Brown, Doolittle's departure is largely seen as a damper on his shot at Congress.
The fourth congressional district, which Doolittle has represented since 1990, is heavily Republican and in a traditional election a Democrat would have little shot at the seat, analysts of both parties have said. "This is obviously bad news for the Charlie Brown campaign, as the ethics-challenged Doolittle was almost certainly poised for defeat were he to survive his primary," wrote Donald Lathbury on the Democratic blog, the California Majority Report, this morning.
"The seat goes back to being a relatively safe Republican seat," says Jeff Flint, a Republican political consultant in Placer County who had urged Doolittle to retire.
"Doolittle's problems have tainted the Republican brand in the district," added Flint, but said any of the potential GOP nominees should win.
Today's news also throws into question who exactly will succeed Doolittle as the GOP candidate.
There is no shortage of possibilities. Former state Sen. Rico Oller has said he would seek the seat should Doolittle not. So he's likely in.
UPDATE Oller's in. "I believe in the conservative values and principles that helped shape this great nation, and that’s the leadership I will take with me to Washington D.C. ," he said in a statement.
Then there's Assemblyman Ted Gaines, a freshman Republican from Roseville who has planted himself rather firmly on the fence about whether to stay in the Assembly (with little chance of losing his seat) or jump into the congressional campaign.
"The first big decision is for Ted Gaines," Flint said. "Does he want to give up a safe Assembly seat and pretty safe path toward the Senate ... for the risk of (a seat in) Congress?"
Already declared is Eric Egland, an Iraq veteran who was featured prominently in Doolittle's television advertising campaign in 2006. Mike Holmes, the former mayor of Auburn and a 2006 primary challenger to Doolittle, is also in the race.
Lastly there's Doug Ose, a former member of Congress, with a more moderate political history, who Flint said posed an "interesting" candidacy, particularly "if Rico and Ted fought over the conservative vote."
Hovering around the edges is radio host Eric Hogue, who has said he will run for Assembly should Gaines run for Congress. (He's even got a Web site up). And if Gaines does try his hand for Congress, it's possible others will challenge Hogue for the seat.
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