SCOTT LINNETT / Union-Tribune Third-grader Angela Gwin drew an outline around her art assignment at Rio Seco School in Santee.

Classical music drifts through Cynthia Walker's small classroom as her third-grade students learn about still life. For 45 minutes they paste shapes onto construction paper, trying to re-create the basket, fruit and flower on a table near the front of their room at Rio Seco School.

Approaching San Diego State University's Cox Arena from all directions, the soon-to-be graduates weren't hard to spot: Robes over their arms, they held – juggled, almost – various combinations of mortarboards, digital cameras, cell phones and flowers. Most were surrounded by proud family.

SAN DIEGO – Guesswork is a part of any budget. In San Diego, it's a big part. Mayor Jerry Sanders cut personnel costs nearly $50 million in his budget proposal for next year by estimating that's what the city would save because of vacancies, employee departures and lower salaries for new hires.

With National City out of contention for a new Chargers stadium, team executives must now decide whether they can strike a deal in Oceanside or Chula Vista.

THE PROBLEMS: Here's a quick tour of problems at four trolley stops. First stop: the El Cajon Transit Center, where a rider complained about a broken clock.