 |
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
Schwarzenegger faces tough choice: Release Manson follower from prison? -- Bruce Davis, who was convicted in the 1969 killings of musician Gary Hinman and ranch hand Donald "Shorty" Shea, was recommended for parole this week. Andrew Blankstein and Shelby Grad in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/29/10 California cellphone rules don't appear to be reducing car accidents, study finds -- Think your commute is safer now that California requires drivers to use hands-free cellphones? Think again. Ari B. Bloomekatz in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/29/10 Wildermuth: Fiorina, DeVore Spin PPIC Senate Poll -- The new PPIC poll numbers on the Senate race have Carly Fiorina and Chuck DeVore in full spin mode as they try to explain why it’s a really good thing to be running second and third in a three-person race. John Wildermuth Fox & Hounds weblog -- 1/29/10 Poll: GOP competitive with Boxer -- A new Public Policy Institute of California poll shows that the Republican primary contenders would all be within shouting distance of unseating Democratic incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer if the election were held today. Dena Bunis in the Orange County Register -- 1/29/10 Boren: Interior Department didn't make "mistake" on Valley water allocation announcement -- Some are giving Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and his staff a pass for bungling a water allocation announcement for San Joaquin Valley farmers. Jim Boren in the Fresno Bee -- 1/29/10 U.S. economy grows faster than expected in fourth quarter -- A recovery in manufacturing and gains in consumer spending help expand the nation's gross domestic product at a robust 5.7% annual rate. Don Lee in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/29/10 Orange County Treasurer Chriss Street faces high-stakes trial -- The Orange County treasurer-tax collector is fighting allegations that he looted a bankrupt trucking company while serving as its trustee. His replacement as trustee, Los Angeles money manager Dan Harrow, has sued him for $7 million. RONALD CAMPBELL in the Orange County Register -- 1/29/10 President Obama rumbles with House GOP -- President Barack Obama on Friday accused Republicans of portraying health care reform as a "Bolshevik plot" and telling their constituents that he’s "doing all kinds of crazy stuff that's going to destroy America." PATRICK O'CONNOR & TIM GRIEVE Politico -- 1/29/10
State lawmakers take aim at free parking -- There is too much of it, they say, and it encourages people to drive instead of taking the bus, walking or bicycling. A Senate proposal would prompt cities and businesses to reduce its availability. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/29/10 Goal is money shift, no tax hike -- By casting Assembly Bill 1178 as revenue neutral, raising and cutting equal sums in taxes, Democrats could ignore Republican opposition and pass the measure by a simple majority. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/29/10 Ad Watch: Whitman uses welfare statistics selectively -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman has released a radio ad proposing tougher restrictions on the state's welfare program. Jack Chang in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/29/10 Haim Saban shells out some cash for Meg Whitman's campaign -- Haim Saban, the force behind the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers and a major Democratic campaign donor, has donated the maximum allowable under state law to Meg Whitman’s gubernatorial campaign. Capitol Weekly's Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/29/10 Down in the polls, Steve Poizner comes out swinging -- Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Poizner is being crushed in the polls by Meg Whitman, but he's staying in the race and still insists he'll win. Ken McLaughlin in the San Jose Mercury -- 1/29/10 Jerry Brown takes off gloves, dings Gavin Newsom -- Jerry Brown promised to "mix it up" this morning on his weekly call into San Francisco radio station KGO. And mix it up he did. Jack Chang SacBee Capitol Alert -- 1/29/10 Rep. Miller, pushing back against any immigration reform -- With immigration reform making the president's long State of the Union to-do list Tuesday, Rep. Gary Miller, R-Brea had a strong warning for Democrats: any path to citizenship in that reform "will be the last nail in their coffin." Rebecca Kimitch in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 1/29/10 Gov. Schwarzenegger plugs Abel Maldonado on brink of his California lieutenant governor confirmation -- State Sen. Abel Maldonado, who is bidding to become California's lieutenant governor, got another blessing from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday at a gathering of top Silicon Valley business leaders. Kurtis Alexander in the San Jose Mercury -- 1/29/10 Chapman dean resigns, jumps into AG's race -- The race for California attorney general just keeps getting more and more crowded. Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/29/10 Pombo bolsters war chest in D.C. -- Former San Joaquin Valley Rep. Richard Pombo returned to his Capitol Hill haunts this week, raising money for a race he thought he would never enter. Michael Doyle in the Modesto Bee -- 1/29/10 Now it's the teachers' pension fund that's reporting money trouble -- The California State Teachers' Retirement System says that as of June 30, 2009, it could meet only an estimated 77% of its future pension obligations -- far less than the 100% recommended by actuaries. Marc Lifsher in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/29/10 CalPERS, CalSTRS funding levels plunge -- A decade ago, when the stock market was booming, the funding levels of CalPERS and CalSTRS were both over 100 percent, a projection that assets would be more than enough to meet pension costs in the decades ahead. Ed Mendel Calpensions.com -- 1/29/10 California Supreme Court questions constitutionality of `Jessica's Law' -- The California Supreme Court on Thursday questioned the constitutionality of a "Jessica's Law" provision that allows indefinite confinement of sexually violent predators. Paul Elias AP -- 1/29/10 Prop. 8 defense only needs 2 witnesses -- If the Proposition 8 trial were about something more mundane than the rights of gays and lesbians to marry - say, a suit over an auto accident or insurance coverage - it would probably be no contest. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/29/10 Study accuses California's higher education systems of poor coordination -- California’s three systems of public higher education need to coordinate better, eliminate duplicate programs and make it easier for students to transfer from community colleges to Cal State or University of California campuses, according to a report released today by the state Legislative Analyst's Office. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/29/10 Pessimism over state's path unites Californians -- An overwhelming majority of Californians think the state is on the wrong track, according to a new Field Poll. The good news is they aren't much more pessimistic than they were a few months ago. Steve Wiegand in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/29/10 Walters: Schwarzenegger renews old battle over lawsuits -- Governors and other politicians come to the Capitol and eventually go away, some to other political venues and some to obscurity. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/29/10 Bid to legalize marijuana in California takes key step -- Supporters gather what is likely to be enough signatures to put their measure on the state ballot in November. John Hoeffel in the Los Angeles Times Peter Hecht in the Sacramento Bee Wyatt Buchanan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/29/10 Tea Party hero leads Buena Park rally -- Rep. Michele Bachman, R-Minn., showed more than 200 fans and activists at Knott’s Berry Farm today what it looks like when Republicans and Tea Party Patriots are on the same page. Martin Wisckol in the Orange County Register -- 1/29/10 Podcast: Warming Up -- Just like leftovers are best after a little bit of a reheating in the microwave, this week's Capital Notes Podcast finds a few politics and policy morsels that, while not new, are worth a second bite. John Myers Capitol Notes weblog -- 1/29/10 CalBuzz: Press Clips: Balz, Hearst Shine; eMeg Still Ducks -- Postman delivers: For political reporters, the most memorable scene in “The Boys on the Bus,” Tim Crouse’s classic chronicle of campaign coverage of the 1972 presidential race, comes at the close of a dreary candidate debate in California: “Walter, Walter, what’s our lead?” one of the reporting pack shouts at the great Walter Mears, of the Associated Press. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 1/29/10
LA officials to receive details of impending layoffs, budget cuts -- Los Angeles city officials will receive a detailed report Friday that will suggest which departments should lay off 1,000 workers over the next five months to cover a $200 million deficit in this year's $7.01 billion budget. Rick Orlov in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 1/29/10 Daylaborers, like many, struggling to makes ends meet in recession -- The economy has hit many across the country hard, but daylaborers have had it just as bad, if not worse. Despite the weather, they stand in their regular spots, getting soaked because they think work will turn up. James Wagner in the San Gabriel Tribune -- 1/29/10 Valley waits for high-speed rail funds -- California officials are cheering the state's $2.25 billion federal grant for high-speed rail, the largest award among $8 billion officially distributed by the Obama administration Thursday. But the state is still figuring out where and how to spend the money. E.J. Schultz and Michael Doyle in the Fresno Bee -- 1/29/10 Central Valley leaders hatch plan for 'baby bullet' rail line -- City, county and transit leaders are in early talks about a commuter train system – a baby bullet, of sorts – between Sacramento and Merced, with stops between. Tony Bizjak in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/29/10 Flippers back in vogue in Sacramento housing market -- House flipping, the timeless buy-low, sell-high strategy, is back. Jim Wasserman in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/29/10 Muni looks at some of deepest service cuts ever -- San Francisco Muni riders face the prospect of some of the deepest service cuts in the agency's history, resulting in longer wait times and more crowding. Rachel Gordon, Michael Cabanatuan in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/29/10 Apple iPad can be a game-changer in many fields -- Apple's unveiling of the iPad tablet computer sent gadget geeks and technology pundits into overdrive, with some extolling the device and others lamenting its omissions. Ryan Kim in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/29/10
Fensterwald: Education is where Obama can claim success -- President Obama admitted mistakes, and issued a few mea culpas in his State of the Union address this week. But he also rightfully took credit for a fundamental change in approach to federal education policy, and promised more of the same. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 1/29/10 Colleges inaccurately report crime data, audit finds -- All six of the California colleges and universities visited by the state auditor inaccurately reported campus crime statistics as required by the federal Clery Act, a new report shows. Erica Perez California Watch -- 1/29/10 Fresno's charter plan sparks conflict-of-interest concerns -- Fresno school officials made an announcement this week that has raised eyebrows up and down the state: The public school district wants go into the private charter school business. Corey G. Johnson California Watch -- 1/29/10 UCSD looking at a law school -- The University of California San Diego has revived a decades-old plan to establish a law school through a partnership with California Western School of Law. Eleanor Yang Su in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 1/29/10 New teachers facing tough times -- Jeri Bravo, 34, expects to receive her special education teaching credential in June. She isn't expecting a job offer by then. LINDA LOU in the Riverside Press -- 1/29/10 Fensterwald: Obama: Cut banks out of college loans -- Toddlers of America are counting on U.S. senators to take a cue from the president – and the rest of pissed-off America — and stick it to bankers. They’re hoping that Congress restructures the federal college student loan program. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 1/29/10
EPA probes its actions in town with toxic-waste dump -- The federal agency's internal investigation will run concurrently with a state and local inquiry into health and environmental issues facing Kettleman City, Calif. Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/29/10 Environmental group sues California to halt logging -- The Center for Biological Diversity suit alleges a state agency OKd clear-cutting on 5,000 acres without properly analyzing carbon emissions and climate consequences. Margot Roosevelt in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/29/10 Rains notwithstanding, state drought isn't over -- The question now gurgles up from every storm drain and creek in California: Is the drought over? The simple answer is no. The reasons why are not so simple. Matt Weiser in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/29/10
Adult day care facilities face closing from past, future budget cuts -- Frail, elderly people and mentally ill adults could be forced into hospitals and nursing homes if day-care services close because of the state's budget cutting, care providers say. BRIAN ROKOS in the Riverside Press -- 1/29/10 Eisenhower hospital(ity) suites offer luxury at a premium price -- A Rancho Mirage suite with a bed in one room and a sleeper sofa in another features a flat-screen TV, fine linens and original artwork — and is served by a private chef. Brian Indrelunas in the Desert Sun -- 1/29/10
Communities brace for wave of early release prisoners -- Law enforcement officials throughout the region and across the state are bracing for a possible spike in crime as thousands of state and county prisoners are returned to the streets under a new law aimed at cutting government expenses. Stacia Glenn and Michael J. Sorba in the San Bernardino Sun -- 1/29/10 A Bay Area Star Worth the Sparkle -- In a move that rivaled the headlong speed of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee's choice of President Barack Obama, the Michelin Guide folks in Paris awarded a star to Commis in their 2010 San Francisco guide less than four months after the storefront bistro opened in June. RAYMOND SOKOLOV in the Wall Street Journal -- 1/29/10 In Santa Clara, Uneven Fight Over a New Stadium for the 49ers -- As Santa Clara ponders whether to play ball with the San Francisco 49ers and the National Football League, the money, glamour and traditional political power line up on the pro-stadium side. PHIL YOST in the New York Times -- 1/29/10 Putting the moon in the state's orbit -- California wants to register as historical resources the space junk (high-tech and otherwise) left behind by the Apollo 11 crew. Mike Anton in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/29/10 Legislators call for state audit on San Jose police use of force -- Two South Bay assemblymen are calling for a state investigation of the San Jose Police Department's widespread use of force in resisting-arrest cases. Sean Webby in the San Jose Mercury -- 1/29/10 Legislative aide Patricia M. Habel's 'word was gold' -- Patricia M. Habel, a former top aide to legislators who also served in the Davis administration, died Sunday of lung cancer at age 49. Robert D. Dávila in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/29/10 Laws against handheld cell phones don't reduce crashes, study says -- As tougher penalties for drivers ignoring California's ban on handheld cell phones are being considered, a study released today reaches a surprising conclusion: Hands-free phone laws don't reduce crashes. Gary Richards in the San Jose Mercury -- 1/29/10
Russo sues Oakland firm: immigration fraud -- Oakland City Attorney John Russo filed a civil lawsuit against an Oakland business on Thursday, claiming it had swindled families out of thousands of dollars by providing them shoddy or fraudulent immigration services. Matthai Kuruvila in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/29/10
Obama-Alito tensions surface at State of the Union address -- There's a history behind Justice Alito's visible reaction to the president's unusual criticism of a Supreme Court ruling. Now opponents in the debate over corporate election spending are taking sides. David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/29/10 A Rare Rebuke, in Front of a Nation -- It is not unusual for presidents to disagree publicly with Supreme Court decisions. But they tend to do so at news conferences and in written statements, not to the justices’ faces. ADAM LIPTAK in the New York Times -- 1/29/10 Reactions split on Obama's remark, Alito's response at State of the Union -- President Obama called out the Supreme Court. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. winced at the accusation and muttered, "Not true." And then official Washington and the legal community went to the tape, and examined it frame by frame. Robert Barnes in the Washington Post -- 1/29/10
Jeffe: Supermajority's not-so-golden rule -- Congratulations, Sen.-elect Scott Brown. Welcome to Sacramento on the Potomac. Californians have lived through years of government gridlocked by rules that require a supermajority to pass bills in a Legislature ripped by partisanship. SHERRY BEBITCH JEFFE Politico -- 1/29/10 Dems may rue Senate appointees -- The small class of Senate appointees put in office after the 2008 election is turning out to haunt Democrats two years later, as those seats now rank among the most at-risk this November. DAVID CATANESE Politico -- 1/29/10 |
