The default rate for college loans has risen sharply in California and the rest of the country, from 7% in 2008 to 8.8% in 2009. For-profit colleges have both the highest and fastest-growing rates of default.

Republicans are worried that the new legislative district maps that have been drawn up by the Citizens Redistricting Commission favor the Democratic party.  In conjunction with the top-two open primary, however, in some districts they may also favor an Independent candidate.

Gary Johnson, the two-term Republican governor of New Mexico, will be included in Thursday night's Fox News presidential debate in Orlando, Florida.  This is the first time he will share the stage with the entire field of contenders for the Republican nomination after being excluded from every debate since after the first one in South Carolina.