California update

Prison doctor gets paid for doing little or nothing. A California surgeon has mostly been locked out of his job: on paid leave, fired or fighting his termination. When he does work, it's reviewing records. He made $777,000 last year, including back pay.

California pays more than 1,400 workers in excess of $200,000. Many are prison doctors, dentists or nurses. Total compensation can be pushed higher by payouts for unused vacation and sick time. Last year, a prison doctor collected $777,423 and a dentist got $599,403.

Repeal the death penalty. Each execution costs taxpayers $308 million, a colossal waste.

405 Freeway's path tells a story of near-constant change. Between the time when the Sepulveda Pass was a trail and this weekend's 'Carmageddon,' the Sepulveda Pass has been under construction.