Calif. teachers to support Dean

The California Teachers Association is backing Democrat Howard Dean in his presidential bid. The association is an affiliate of the National Education Association, the nation's largest union with 2.7 million members. Dean was an early opponent of President Bush's No Child Left Behind law, which requires teachers to chart adequate yearly progress for students and schools. The California association said the initiative is unrealistic and rigid. (AP)

N.Y. representative endorses Kerry

Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kerry picked up the endorsement of Representative Carolyn Maloney of New York yesterday, his 17th endorsement from a member of Congress. Kerry's other congressional endorsements include two senators and 14 representatives. Members of Congress can vote for any candidate at the convention and are not bound to choose the one selected by voters in their state. (AP)