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FOX40 NEWSROOM - Happy Wednesday! Here are today's top stories from the FOX40 Newsroom:

• Speaker Rescinds Raises:  State Assembly Speaker Karen Bass has decided not to issue over $500,000 in pay raises to more than 100 staff members.  Bass said the raises have become a distraction from her campaign that hopes to see the passing of six ballot-related measures in the May 19th special election. (Read Story)
• Reiner Slams Schwarzenegger:  Director Rob Reiner has joined advocates for children hoping to defeat a ballot measure that would allegedly steer money away from a childhood development program.  Reiner criticized California's Governor by saying lawmakers and the Governor "failed miserably" in the management of the state's finances. (Read Story)
• State Exams Discourage Graduation:  A new study by Stanford University shows California's high school exit exam makes it difficult for girls and minorities to graduate from high school where they would otherwise meet all graduation requirements.  The study released Tuesday found that girls and minorities were likely failing because of "stereotype threatening" in which negative stereotypes could be self-fulfilling. (Read Story)
• Tribune Lays Off Employees: The Chicago Tribune announced today it was laying off eleven-percent of its newsgathering workforce today.  A short time later, the Tribune Company announced it had filed papers seeking permission from a federal bankruptcy judge to issue $13 million in "incentives" to more than 700 employees. (Read Story)
• Radio Kiddie Porn:  A New Hampshire radio host, formerly from California, was arrested on child pornography charges in the Golden State.  Forty-two-year-old Aaron Aldridge disappeared from New Hampshire with his teenage daughter on April 13th. Following his disappearance, authorities found child pornography at Aldrige's home. (Read Story)
• Freddie Mac Suicide:  David Kellermann, acting Chief Financial Officer for Freddie Mac, was found dead early this morning in what local media reports are calling a suicide.  Police have not yet confirmed that Kellermann died of self-inflicted actions. (Read Story)
• Suspected Craigslist Killer:  A Boston University medical student, accused of robbing women who posted erotic services on Craigslist and murdering one of them, kept items belonging to victims according to law enforcement.  (Read Story)
• One Last Thing...:  Have you ever turned the volume up so high on your TV set that your neighbors complained? That's nothing compared to one man's experience, who was met at his home by a half-dozen police cars responding to a call of screams and gunshots.  (Read Story)
• Your Weather Tonight:  A low of 54 degrees under mostly clear skies with light winds of around 10 MPH. Tomorrow, much cooler temperatures than over the past few days with an average high around 75 degrees. (Get Forecast)
• Report Breaking News: Call us at (916) 454-4548 or e-mail youreport@fox40.com.