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Former Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig dies -- The retired general, whose brash and opinionated personality made him a controversial figure among Washington insiders, had the ear of several presidents. James Oliphant in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/20/10 Wavering Poizner supporters delivering strategic intelligence to Whitman campaign -- Steve Poizner is prepared to hold his fire against Meg Whitman, his opponent for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, until the final month of the primary campaign, according to wavering supporters who were told of the strategy in an appeal for them to stay with him. Steven Harmon in the Contra Costa Times -- 2/20/10 Drug executive cast key vote to kill labeling law -- After months of public input and consultation with experts, the state's pharmacy board appeared to be poised to adopt strict new requirements for prescription drug labels last month. But that changed when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger placed a drugstore industry executive on the board a day before the vote. Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/20/10 California lawmaker rips pharmacy board's role on flu shot bill -- Legislation designed to make it easier to get flu shots at California pharmacies is sparking accusations that a state watchdog board is getting too cozy with those it regulates. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 2/20/10 Lawmakers set to take $5-billion bite out of budget -- A linchpin of the plan is a raid of public transit money. It includes a provision for local governments to make up the gap by raising fuel taxes on their own. The proposal also calls for a delay in certain tax breaks for large corporations that were passed as part of last year's budget compromise. Capitol Weekly's Anthony York in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/20/10 Lawmakers want to tax Amazon sales in California -- The retail giant is among several that have no physical presence in the state. Legislative Democrats think a levy on them could bring in up to $150 million annually. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/20/10 Chief justice says initiatives paralyze state -- California Chief Justice Ronald George escalated his criticism of the state's initiative process Friday, saying unrestrained ballot-box lawmaking is paralyzing government. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/20/10 Feinstein wants review of insurance rates -- Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Friday she'll introduce legislation next week that would give the federal government the power to review and deny large rate increases by health insurers in states like California that lack the authority to regulate premium increases. Victoria Colliver in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/20/10 Feinstein proposal to help farmers could harm cities, Delta fish -- For five days after a judge eased environmental protections for Delta fish this month, the giant pumps that ship water to the sprawling farms along Interstate 5 cranked up. But the even bigger pumps that mostly serve cities in the Bay Area and Southern California did not. Mike Taugher in the Contra Costa Times -- 2/20/10 A look into the irrational mind of voters -- Some grim truths of our democratic system were detailed by Judith Lewis at the Fashion Island Coco's on Friday. And the chief culprit, for a change, wasn't the politician, the consultant, the lobbyist or the special interest. It was the voter. MARTIN WISCKOL in the Orange County Register -- 2/20/10 Legislators to consider surcharge to help pay for firefighting, emergency cost -- Proposed and rejected several times in recent years, a surcharge on property insurance policies to help pay for state firefighting and emergency services once again is on the table. JIM MILLER in the Riverside Press -- 2/20/10 Schwarzenegger orders cutback in purchasing -- The Schwarzenegger administration has ordered senior state officials and purchasing managers to forget about buying new goods or services unless they're "vital and mission critical" to the government. Andrew McIntosh in the Sacramento Bee -- 2/20/10 Sacramento silent on Wiggins' latest outburst -- State Sen. Pat Wiggins’ latest loud and angry outburst during a committee hearing in Sacramento this week was met Friday with official silence. DEREK MOORE in the Santa Rosa Press -- 2/20/10 Bill would overturn mandated search for homosexuality cure -- Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal figures 43 years is long enough to try to "cure" homosexuality. Steve Wiegand in the Sacramento Bee -- 2/20/10 Counter-protests greet anti-gay group's Long Beach demonstration -- Members of a Kansas church best known for its strong anti-gay rhetoric was greeted by mild weather and overwhelming opposition when they stopped off at Wilson High School Friday afternoon during their weekend tour of the Southland. Greg Mellen in the Long Beach Press -- 2/20/10 Report Faults 2 Authors of Bush Terror Memos -- After five years of often bitter internal debate, the Justice Department concluded in a report released Friday that the lawyers who gave legal justification to the Bush administration’s brutal interrogation tactics for terrorism suspects used flawed legal reasoning but were not guilty of professional misconduct. ERIC LICHTBLAU and SCOTT SHANE in the New York Times -- 2/20/10 CalBuzz: eMeg Jumps NASCAR, Carly IEd, Meyer’s Latest -- In the greatest tactical move since Hannibal whup-assed the Romans, Meg Whitman has stolen a march on Steve Poizner, copping an invite to fly the flag a day early at this weekend’s NASCAR racing in Fontana. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 2/20/10
Villaraigosa orders elimination of two city departments -- Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa on Friday ordered the elimination of two city departments - a move designed to cut 56 jobs and shave $3.2 million from the ballooning budget deficit. Rick Orlov in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 2/20/10 Flat Prices Bode Well for Economy -- Consumer prices in the U.S. are barely rising, a boon to shoppers for everything from computers to clothing and a big reason that the Federal Reserve is willing to keep interest rates exceptionally low a while longer. SARA MURRAY and KRIS MAHER in the Wall Street Journal -- 2/20/10 Obama unveils mortgage plan to help California, 4 other states -- In Nevada, the president touts a $1.5-billion program designed to help people in danger of foreclosure. He also talks up beleaguered Sen. Harry Reid. Peter Nicholas and Ashley Powers in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/20/10 Southland thrift is closed and sold -- Rancho Santa Fe-based La Jolla Bank is shut by regulators. Its remains are bought by OneWest Bank, and all 10 of its branches are to open as scheduled Monday. E. Scott Reckard in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/20/10 Fewer homeowners falling behind on mortgage payments -- Delinquency rate at the end of December falls to a seasonally adjusted rate of 9.47% from 9.64% in the third quarter, according to a mortgage bankers group. But troubles are not over, experts say. E. Scott Reckard and Walter Hamilton in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/20/10 Boeing to lay off 80 in Seal Beach -- Roughly 80 workers at Boeing's satellite research and development facility in Seal Beach were among the 1,000 employees who received layoff notices from the aerospace giant Friday. Kristopher Hanson in the Long Beach Press -- 2/20/10 Light rail vehicle maker plans expansion in Sacramento -- Siemens Mobility, fresh off a $26 million expansion last year, is preparing to grow again. Mark Glover in the Sacramento Bee -- 2/20/10
LAUSD opens its books to unions to justify cost-saving plans -- Facing a deficit of some $640 million for next year, Los Angeles Unified officials opened its books Friday in an effort to win support from unions for furloughs and other cost-saving plans. Connie Llanos in the Torrance Daily Breeze -- 2/20/10 FBI aids in raid at Sonoma State in grant probe -- Federal and county investigators searched offices and storage facilities at Sonoma State University this week, looking for evidence related to 20 grants awarded to a now-defunct campus department, school officials said. Nanette Asimov in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 2/20/10 Fensterwald: Consultant: shut down CALPADS now -- CALPADS, the new comprehensive student data system on which huge hopes for school and student improvement are riding, is hobbled by serious problems. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 2/20/10
Soquel Creek turns orange, authorities don't know why -- The Department of Fish and Game and the Santa Cruz County Environmental Health Department are investigating what caused Soquel Creek to turn orange Friday. Alia Wilson in the Contra Costa Times -- 2/20/10 Shipping firm sentenced to pay $10 million for causing Cosco Busan oil spill -- With a sharp warning to the maritime industry, justice officials on Friday ordered a Chinese shipping firm to pay $10 million for its role in a spill that dumped 53,000 gallons of thick bunker fuel into the San Francisco Bay. Sandra Gonzales in the San Jose Mercury -- 2/20/10
Consumers who buy individual health policies feel trapped -- They have few options other than dropping coverage as insurers raise rates and slash benefits. Insurers blame the soaring cost of medical care and the churn of customers in the individual market. Duke Helfand in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/20/10
A pair of firefighters on Haiti front lines -- Two men from the Larkspur Fire Department in California's Marin County feel drawn to go on their own to help in quake-devastated Haiti. Their acts of kindness are random and delivered first person. Joel Rubin in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/20/10 Journalists win Freedom of Information Awards -- Three Bay Area News Group-East Bay journalists are among winners of the 25th Annual James Madison Freedom of Information Awards, the Society of Professional Journalists' Northern California Chapter has announced. Josh Richman in the Contra Costa Times -- 2/20/10 Arizona speed cameras incite a mini revolt -- A masked man, a citizens group, a judge and other motorists are behind the fight against photo enforcement. Nicole Santa Cruz in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/20/10 Supervisors order surveillance sweeps for 'bugs' -- San Bernardino County supervisors spent $22,500 last month to sweep their offices and other parts of the government center for secret recording devices and other hidden surveillance equipment. Joe Nelson in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 2/20/10 For used-car buyers, it just got cheaper to spot a lemon -- Californians can get a report on a vehicle's history from the DMV for $4, now that the state has made federal data available to consumers. Before, the state contracted with Carfax. Nathan Olivarez-Giles in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/20/10 • Sacramento CHP looking for driver who killed bicyclist -- The 39-year-old bicyclist was struck 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, attempting to cross from the east edge of Stockton Boulevard to the westbound side, near Walter Avenue, according to a CHP news release. The item is in the Sacramento Bee -- 2/20/10
What border agents search and seize -- In the last year and a half, civil liberties groups and business travel leaders have complained about U.S. Border Patrol agents' broad authority to search and seize laptops and other electronic gadgets carried by international travelers. But new information details the extent to which this has happened. Hugo Martín in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/20/10
Obama Invites G.O.P. Lawmakers’ Health Care Ideas -- Days before a high-profile summit meeting that could determine the future of his health care overhaul, President Obama made an impassioned appeal for the legislation here on Friday, challenging Republicans to come to the table with their own ideas. SHERYL GAY STOLBERG in the New York Times -- 2/20/10
Conservatives Get a Look at Possible Candidates -- For all the talk of Sarah Palin these days, there are two Republicans who are already laying the groundwork to run for president in 2012 — Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts. ADAM NAGOURNEY in the New York Times -- 2/20/10 'Tea party' rhetoric steals the stage at GOP conference -- Several speakers, including Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, tout mainstays of the movement: liberty, the Founding Fathers' wisdom and the Constitution's sovereignty. Kathleen Hennessey in the Los Angeles Times -- 2/20/10 Price welcomes 'Party of No' label -- Rep. Tom Price on Friday welcomed the "Party of No" critique that has been leveled at his party by national Democrats, but added he thought the label is "a little silly." Jeff Simon CNN -- 2/20/10 Brown’s White House buzz could spell trouble for Mitt Romney -- Presidential buzz around Sen. Scott Brown could put the new GOP star on a collision course with Mitt Romney, a man who helped launch Brown’s Washington political career. Alexander Bolton The Hill -- 2/20/10 |
