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Omnibus water bill nearing completion -- Negotiators hoped by the end of the day Friday to introduce legislation to overhaul California's aging water system. John Howard in Capitol Weekly -- 10/23/09 California pension reform won't end pay-to-play schemes -- A new public pension fund reform law in California may temporarily block a revolving door at the state's massive retirement funds, but it will take a lot more to prevent conflicts of interest cases from festering. Paritosh Bansal Reuters -- 10/23/09 Adams recall effort clears major hurdle -- Secretary of State Debra Bowen announced Friday that the signature-gathering effort by proponent David Bartels had submitted 58,384 raw signatures to Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Jim Sanders SacBee Capitol Alert -- 10/23/09 UC hopes to raise $1 billion for financial aid -- As the University of California seeks to sharply increase student fees, its president, Mark G. Yudof, today announced plans to soften the impact with an ambitious campaign to raise $1 billion for financial aid and a policy change widening the aid eligibility for more middle-income families. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/23/09 Home sales rise 9.4% in September, beating forecasts -- e resales in September clocked the largest monthly increase in 26 years as buyers scrambled to complete their purchases before a tax credit for first-time owners expires. AP -- 10/23/09 California house prices projected to jump 7.9% -- U.S. house prices will stop falling in March and are projected to be up 4.6% by August 2010, Santa Ana-based data cruncher First American CoreLogic predicted. Jeff Collins in the Orange County Register -- 10/23/09 Patient's names put on hold in Dana Point pot ruling -- It all came down to the names at a court ruling held to decide whether Dana Point can force five medical marijuana dispensaries to hand over their business records as part of a city investigation to figure out if the city will change zoning laws to officially allow the facilities. BRITTANY LEVINE in the Orange County Register -- 10/23/09 Orange County attorney challenges Obama's legitimacy -- When you see Orly Taitz deliver her impassioned, Eastern European-accented arguments on Fox News or CNN or YouTube, you're getting just the first hint of the outsized features of her life. MARTIN WISCKOL in the Orange County Register -- 10/23/09 Friends push Ailes for president -- Friends and associates are encouraging Fox News chief Roger Ailes to jump into the political arena for real by running for president in 2012, top sources tell POLITICO. MIKE ALLEN Politico -- 10/23/09 CNN Poll: GOP favorable rating lowest in 25 years -- Thirty-six percent of people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Friday say they have a favorable opinion of the Republican Party, with 54 percent viewing the GOP negatively. Paul Steinhauser CNN -- 10/23/09 CNN Poll data (PDF) Wildermuth: Legislature Panel Talks Reform -- If it takes a crisis to spark real government reform, California at least has the first part down. John Wildermuth Fox & Hounds weblog -- 10/23/09
Treasurer Lockyer: pensions will ‘bankrupt’ state -- State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, who sits on both the CalPERS and CalSTRS public pension boards, got the attention of his listeners during a legislative hearing yesterday. Ed Mendel Calpensions.com -- 10/23/09 Year long California water talks nearly done. But what might a deal look like? -- Stung by the third consecutive year of drought, Californians have argued intensely this year about water: how to provide more to cities and farms. How to do it without breaking the bank, or killing the rest of endangered fish populations like salmon. How to get all Californians to conserve. Paul Rogers and Denis C. Theriault in the San Jose Mercury -- 10/23/09 Walters: State's government is designed to fail -- Widespread public disdain for a dysfunctional Legislature – just 13 percent of voters approved of the job it was doing in a recent poll – has spawned a rhetorical game in political, academic and media circles that goes something like this: "Everything would be OK if only they would just (fill in the blank)." Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/23/09 Lawmaker guest in Spanos football box -- Less than a week after he pushed through legislation to help Los Angeles-area lure a football team, a powerful state senator was in the luxury box of Chargers owner Alex Spanos hosting a fundraiser and watching the 'Bolts fall to the Broncos in Monday night's matchup. Michael Gardner in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 10/23/09 Governor's run put aside, California schools chief O'Connell eyes next move -- State schools Superintendent Jack O'Connell, who had explored a run for governor but dropped the idea this month, jokes that maybe he'll be free to manage his beloved Los Angeles Dodgers if Joe Torre steps down after next season. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/23/09 Firm with ties to Schwarzenegger declines to reapply for California rail contract -- A firm with ties to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger did not reapply for a $9 million, five-year communications contract with the California High-Speed Rail Authority after board members chose to reopen the bidding process last month. Kevin Yamamura in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/23/09 Why Isn’t This Man California’s Next Governor? -- When he gets up a decent head of rhetoric steam, State Treasurer Bill Lockyer is remarkable to behold. Greg Lucas California's capitol weblog -- 10/23/09 Governor's decision on Industry stadium plan could benefit other California NFL cities -- The signing of legislation on Thursday that would exempt the venue from state environmental laws, would compel Schwarzenegger to do the same for potential deals in the Bay Area and San Diego. Sam Farmer in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/23/09 Fiorina to make ‘important’ statement in Pleasanton -- Will this be her official official entry into the 2010 California senatorial race and a showdown with U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.? (Why Pleasanton? I have no idea. Not that there is anything wrong with Pleasanton.) Lisa Vorderbrueggen Political Blotter weblog -- 10/23/09 Ad watch: Whitman radio spot selectively criticizes California spending -- GOP gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman is running a new radio ad arguing for major cuts in what she calls Sacramento's "bloated bureaucracy." Amy Chance in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/23/09 Gilmore says first term may be his last -- Hanford Republican Danny Gilmore said Thursday he might not run for the Assembly again in 2010. And if he leaves, it could set up a match-up that political junkies have been craving: Parra vs. Florez. E.J. Schultz in the Fresno Bee -- 10/23/09 CalPERS reviewing tie with Apollo Management after steep losses -- The California Public Employees' Retirement System is reviewing its relationship with private equity firm Apollo Management in the wake of steep losses on investments placed with the New York asset manager. Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/23/09 N.Y. court deals CalPERS a blow on housing project -- CalPERS' already shaky $500 million investment in a New York housing complex suffered a setback Thursday when a court ruled the complex illegally raised rents. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/23/09 Voters like pilot public campaign finance measure -- Nearly two-thirds of likely California voters support a June 2010 ballot measure that would create a pilot public campaign financing system for candidates running for Secretary of State. Lisa Vorderbrueggen Political Blotter weblog -- 10/23/09 Assemblyman Adams' open house lacks controversy -- Radio talk show hosts, John Kobylt and Ken Chiampou, encouraged their listeners to attend the open house to question Adams on his decision to vote in favor of the sales tax and vehicle registration free increases. Sandra Emerson in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 10/23/09 Judge's ruling may allow a big 'Palin for President 2012' sign to rise in San Carlos -- That's because a federal judge this week ordered the city to stop enforcing part of its sign ordinance, in response to a lawsuit that contends the law violates free speech rights. Shaun Bishop in the San Jose Mercury -- 10/23/09 Squeaky congressmen (and woman) get the grease -- The congressional elections are still months away, but there's no such thing as an off-year when it comes to fundraising. Steve Wiegand SacBee Capitol Alert -- 10/23/09 CalBuzz: Jerry-CNBC Replay Meets Chron-Times Dust-up -- After Jerry Brown smacked around money honey Michelle Caruso-Cabrera on national TV Wednesday, the vapid CNBC yakker took to her blog to try to win the argument post facto, kinda like a sloppy drunk mumbling imaginary “I should have told him” lines to herself after getting 86ed from a saloon for acting the fool. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 10/23/09
Solar energy firm takes advantage of auto industry's manufacturing expertise -- Skyline Solar, a Silicon Valley start-up, has become the latest green energy company to tap the struggling auto industry's manufacturing muscle. Todd Woody in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/23/09 Promise of jobs moves closer as Industry stadium deal gets green light -- In today's economy, few commodities are as valued - or desperately needed - as jobs. Kevin Smith in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 10/23/09 San Francisco hotel workers authorize strike -- he union representing 9,000 hospitality workers voted to authorize a strike Thursday as negotiations to renew a contract governing more than 60 San Francisco hotels remain stalled over how to pay for health care coverage. Tom Abate in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/23/09 Mortgage rates creep back up to 5% -- Lenders nationally are committing to 30-year fixed-rate home loans at that benchmark on average, Freddie Mac says. E. Scott Reckard in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/23/09 PG&E hopes to rebalance rates -- Electricity rates paid by people who use the most power would go down at the expense of people who use the least under a new proposal by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. JOHN COX in the Bakersfield Californian -- 10/23/09 California lobbies hard for high-speed rail funding -- Employing every tool of persuasion from gift books and phone calls to hallway chats and high-level letters, including several to be sent as early as Friday to the White House, the state's lawmakers are making their case. Michael Doyle in the Fresno Bee -- 10/23/09
Art Supplies: $20. Soccer Uniform: $25. Cost of Public Education? Supposedly Free -- Guadalupe Amro loves soccer -- and so does his teenage son Mario. But he doesn't love the price tag. To play on the team at Serra High School, Amro said he shells out money for a ball and an official school uniform. Ordinary shorts and a T-shirt won't do. EMILY ALPERT Voiceofsandiego.org -- 10/23/09 UC Merced touts its economic impact -- UC Merced said it has contributed nearly $456 million in direct economic value to the San Joaquin Valley since starting operations in July 2000. The item is in the Fresno Bee -- 10/23/09 Education is human rights issue, Richmond city officials say -- Richmond city leaders want state lawmakers to make education spending a priority and this week called upon the West Contra Costa school district to resolve working and learning conditions at campuses. Katherine Tam in the Oakland Tribune -- 10/23/09
Wilmington hauls off and hits truck expressway plan with lawsuit -- Residents worry that the project will bring more cargo traffic and with it more pollution and illnesses. Ronald D. White in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/23/09 'Mothball fleet' warships in San Francisco Bay to be cleaned, recycled -- A fleet of old, rotting warships shedding toxic paint into San Francisco Bay area waters will be cleaned up and recycled under a new plan announced by federal officials Thursday. Marcus Wohlsen AP -- 10/23/09 Uncertain water supplies worry state's farmer -- Farmers in the most prolific agricultural region in the country should be planting winter romaine lettuce and calculating spring cantaloupe acreage at this time of year. Tracie Cone AP -- 10/23/09
Swine flu surges in California, but vaccine remains scarce -- Some doctors in Southern California express frustration as parents flood offices with calls seeking inoculations for their children, the population hit hardest by the illness. Rong-Gong Lin II in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/23/09 Girl with swine flu dies in Vacaville -- A first-grade student in Vacaville who died Sunday has tested positive for the H1N1 swine flu virus, officials announced Thursday. Rachel Gordon in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 10/23/09 Kidney transplants at UCLA Medical Center have a domino effect -- The hospital has paired up 18 patients as part of a rare transplant chain. Molly Hennessy-Fiske in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/23/09 Los Angeles could act on medical pot in early November -- A proposal to ban all sales of medical marijuana in the city is unlikely to be taken up next week. Aides to Councilman Smith say he supports it and believes it would force most dispensaries to close. John Hoeffel in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/23/09
Sacramento police chief says legalize undocumented immigrants -- In a telephonic press conference with several other law enforcement officials and in an interview with The Bee, Braziel - who has 30 years of law enforcement experience - said that crimes ranging from home invasions to hit-and-run drunken driving are going unsolved because undocumented witnesses are afraid to testify for fear of being deported. Steve Magagnini and Susan Ferriss in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/23/09
Inland agents deliver blow to Mexican drug cartel -- Drug agents delivered a swift boot in the butt this week to a Mexican cartel that ships its product all over America from an Inland base and has a reputation for beheading its enemies. Stacia Glenn in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 10/23/09 Frequent fliers rank LAX as third-worst airport in the world -- The ranking is based the results of an online survey taken last month by more than 14,000 members of Priority Pass, a program that charges annual fees to access airport lounges around the world. Art Marroquin in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 10/23/09 Old Silicon Valley Intel case linked to hedge fund scandal -- A woman publicly identified as the informant in the Galleon hedge fund insider trading scandal was convicted in 2002 of leaking proprietary information about Intel to a Galleon representative. Pete Carey in the San Jose Mercury -- 10/23/09 Tour of California returning to Bay Area sites -- Local cycling enthusiasts hailed the return of the Tour of California to San Jose and Santa Cruz, which again will play major roles in America's most prestigious road race. Elliott Almond in the San Jose Mercury -- 10/23/09 Nudists lose fight to keep beach clothing-optional -- Nude sunbathers at San Onofre State Beach may have to cover up now that the state's highest court has refused to hear a case brought by a local nudist group. CINDY CARCAMO in the Orange County Register -- 10/23/09 Waste watcher seeks bigger award from state -- A state worker who was set to receive a cash award for uncovering large-scale ink waste from Hewlett Packard printers has asked officials to re-evaluate the bonus, saying the amount of the waste he discovered is substantially larger than what was used to calculate his award. Tom Knudson in the Sacramento Bee -- 10/23/09 Harvey Levin stands for a principle -- 'Beach Bums' and Mini-Me's sex tape notwithstanding, the man behind TMZ is a champion of the 1st Amendment. James Rainey in the Los Angeles Times -- 10/23/09
Suit dismissed, similar to Orange County Obama birthplace challenge -- A U.S. district judge in New Jersey has thrown out a lawsuit similar to the one pending in Santa Ana, in which the legitimacy of Barack Obama’s presidency is being challenged with the allegation that he’s not a natural-born citizen. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 10/23/09 Obama on life in a family of women: 'It's me and Bo' -- "I'm surrounded," Obama said when asked about his all-female household. "It's me and Bo," the first family's Portuguese water dog. Johanna Neuman LA Times Top of Ticket weblog -- 10/23/09
Senate May Include Public Option in Health Bill -- Under immense pressure from the liberal wing of his caucus, the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, has told colleagues that he may include a government-run health insurance plan in a health care bill he will soon take to the Senate floor, Democratic senators said Thursday. ROBERT PEAR and DAVID M. HERSZENHORN in the New York Times -- 10/23/09 Behind the War Between White House and Fox -- Late last month, the senior White House adviser David Axelrod and Roger Ailes, chairman and chief executive of Fox News, met in an empty Palm steakhouse before it opened for the day, neutral ground secured for a secret tête-à-tête. JIM RUTENBERG in the New York Times -- 10/23/09 Conservatives roar; Republicans tremble -- Many top Republicans are growing worried that the party’s chances for reversing its electoral routs of 2006 and 2008 are being wounded by the flamboyant rhetoric and angry tone of conservative activists and media personalities, according to interviews with GOP officials and operatives. JIM VANDEHEI & MIKE ALLEN Politico -- 10/23/09 Mike Pence: Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck speak for many Americans -- The chairman of the House Republican Conference says it’s “hogwash” that GOP leaders are worried about what Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and the Tea Party movement are doing to their party’s image. The item is in Politico -- 10/23/09 |
