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Governor Schwarzenegger Dumps the State Reclamation Board

In California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, flood plains protected by levees for farming are being transformed into sprawling subdivisions. Just two weeks ago, an obscure agency called the State Reclamation Board was pressing cities and counties to consider flood safety before they permitted further urbanization. Last week, Governor Schwarzenegger fired the entire board and replaced every member. Was it a routine political changeover from the Davis Administration or retaliation by farmers and builders? After the gulf state flooding, will California be next? We probe the politics of land development in the flood plain with a specialist on the California Delta as well as current and former reclamation officials. Making News: Republicans Vie for Orange County Congressional Seat Orange County's former Republican Congressman Chris Cox now chairs the Securities and Exchange Commission. Tomorrow, a special election could replace him if one of 17 candidates gets 51% of the vote. State Senator John Campbell has the Republican Party endorsement and $1 million, but that may not be enough, according to Dena Bunis, who's covering the story for the Orange County Register.