Free Republic

After a six-month standoff between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bay Area legislators over what to do about the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge, the two sides are on the verge of reaching a deal, well-placed sources tell us. In a nutshell: Bay Area lawmakers would keep the design they want -- the "signature" suspension span featuring a single, spire-like tower just east of Yerba Buena Island. But it would come at a cost. Drivers on all the state-owned bridges in the Bay Area -- that's every one but the Golden Gate -- can expect to pay an extra...