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Schwarzenegger seeks court injunction against Chiang -- The Schwarzenegger administration submitted a court petition Tuesday in Sacramento County Superior Court seeking an injunction to force state Controller John Chiang to slash the wages of roughly 200,000 state workers. Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/6/10 Billionaires for Meg -- Meg Whitman is a billionaire who has poured $91 million of her own money into her bid for governor -- but the former EBay executive is also raising loads of money from others. Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/6/10 Fiorina recovering after reconstructive surgery -- Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorina's is recovering today from her final reconstructive surgery related to her breast cancer treatment, according to a statement from her campaign. Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/6/10 PG&E says it opposes initiative that would block state's greenhouse gas emissions law -- Utility giant PG&E Corp. today came out against the ballot initiative to suspend California's greenhouse gas emissions law, joining the ranks of California businesses opposing efforts to roll back the landmark legislation. Rick Daysog in the Sacramento Bee Josh Richman Political Blotter weblog -- 7/6/10 Villines 'feeling really good' about lead as final votes counted -- As counties wrap up their final count of ballots from the June primary today, it appears that Assemblyman Mike Villines will secure the Republican nomination for insurance commissioner. Torey Van Oot SacBee Capitol Alert Shane Goldmacher in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/6/10 Boxer kicks off two-day tour talking about jobs, Fiorina -- Ordinarily, a Democrat might kick off a campaign tour in the idyllic Presidio park using eucalyptus and pine trees as an environmental backdrop, away from the bustling freeway. Kevin Yamamura SacBee Capitol Alert Maeve Reston in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/6/10 UC president in unusual public dispute with several American Jewish groups -- The president of the University of California and leaders of some prominent American Jewish organizations are in an unusual public dispute about the extent of anti-Semitism on UC campuses and the best ways to try to reduce it. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/6/10 Cruickshank: How the Media Gets High Speed Rail Wrong -- There were two important high speed rail reports released this week in California. Robert Cruickshank (Calitics) Cal Progress Report -- 7/6/10 SF Peninsula cities want to slow down bullet train -- Five cities on the San Francisco Peninsula called today for suspending planning for the state's high-speed train project until vexing environmental and economic issues are resolved. Dan Walters SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/6/10 Four legislators waive per diem during budget deadlock -- Four California legislators have opted not to accept any $142 per-day subsidies for living expenses, called per diem, that might accrue during the budget impasse that began July 1. Jim Sanders SacBee Capitol Alert -- 7/6/10 Some lobstermen want to tax themselves -- He has been busy setting traps off the San Diego coast for just three seasons, but Shad Catarius is so taken with being a commercial lobster fisherman that he is willing to tax himself $300 a year to help keep the fishery healthy. Michael Gardner in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 7/6/10 No bids necessary for big solar projects, and that can cost you -- A state law exempting solar and other energy projects from bidding requirements could be costing schools and other public agencies millions of dollars in unneeded expenses, experts say. Matt Krupnick in the Contra Costa Times -- 7/6/10 Chip rebound: Sales surge to record $24.7 billion in May, group reports -- Even as worries about the economic recovery have grown, the chip sector's rebound is continuing — at least so far, according to the latest report from a San Jose-based trade group. Frank Michael Russell in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/6/10 L.A. residents can water lawns three days a week under plan backed by council -- The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday recommended a new water-conservation plan that would allow residents to water lawns and gardens three days a week, instead of the two days now permitted. Patrick J. McDonnell in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/6/10 Gunmen steal pot from Normal Heights dispensary -- Five men armed with handguns stole about $20,000 worth of marijuana from a Normal Heights dispensary Tuesday. Debbi Baker in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 7/6/10 U.S. sues to block Arizona immigration law; Americans still divided over how to handle issue -- With the Justice Department filing suit against Arizona's new law on immigration on Tuesday, the latest poll shows that Americans remain divided on whether the government should focus on halting the flow of illegal immigrants into the country or developing a plan to deal with those who are already in the U.S. Michael Muskal in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/6/10
EBay’s Lost Years -- There are three things Meg Whitman doesn’t discuss much on the campaign trail: 2005, 2006 and 2007. Those were Whitman’s last full years as CEO of eBay. Over that period, eBay’s stock price was cut in half, a loss of $30 billion in market value, as investors reacted to a string of troubled acquisitions initiated by Whitman and the prospect that Google or others might up-end the online auction business. Russ Mitchell Bay Citizen -- 7/6/10 CalBuzz: How Climate Change Attitudes Affect the Gov Race -- Barely noticed in the stories that ran last week based on a Reuters /Ipsos poll (that showed Democrats Jerry Brown and Barbara Boxer with “narrow” leads in their races for governor and U.S. Senate) was this nugget in the piece by Steve Holland of Reuters: Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine CalBuzz -- 7/6/10 Walters: Taxing oil still a major issue -- As Jerry Brown began his first stint as governor 35 years ago, he almost immediately became entangled in a fierce battle over how the state's oil industry would be taxed. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/6/10 Steinberg's struggles include elections and his own team -- He's one of California's most powerful Democrats, and used to conservatives attacking his views on labor rights and his defense of public aid for the down-and-out. Susan Ferriss in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/6/10 Will police hold back on endorsing Kamala Harris? -- In her campaign to become California's next attorney general, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris may be facing a big blue wall. Timothy Sandoval California Watch -- 7/6/10 Woods hoping for upset in 59th District -- If an unpredictable political climate can help a political newcomer beat more established and better-funded candidates, why can't it also help a Democrat get elected in a traditionally Republican district? James Rufus Koren in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 7/6/10
BOE won't boost local government allocations -- The California State Board of Equalization said that June sales tax allocations to local governments will not increase by a previously anticipated 5.7 percent due to a 3.53 percent decline in cash receipts in the second quarter compared with last year. Mark Glover in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/6/10 Kill the Mall's Main Roof, Add a Big Plaza -- Two blocks from the beach in this affluent Los Angeles suburb, retail landlord Macerich Co. aims to reinvent the American shopping mall. KRIS HUDSON in the Wall Street Journal -- 7/6/10 Big banks have new competition in state -- Chase and U.S. Bank have gained a foothold in California and are aggressively courting customers, but longtime leaders Bank of America and Wells Fargo aren't standing still. E. Scott Reckard in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/6/10 Necessities out of reach for low-income families -- How do you survive on half the income you once earned? For Karen Benge of Ontario, it's all about eliminating small expenses. Mediha Fejzagic DiMartino in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 7/6/10 State's food stamp cash-out policy no longer the best option for many aid recipients -- A recent increase in food stamp benefits and cuts to the cash assistance program have raised concern that some of the state's residents are now being shortchanged by the policy. Alexandra Zavis in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/6/10 Buck's cafe serves up venture capital with the granola -- Call it the Buck's Silicon Valley Barometer: The economy may be wobbly and the mood of the country anxious, but the Woodside cafe is humming again with deal-making breakfasts. John Boudreau in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/6/10 San Jose considering privatizing its municipal water system -- Like a cash-strapped home- owner planning a garage sale to help pay the bills, San Jose city leaders are studying a plan to sell off or lease the city's municipal water system to a private company. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/6/10 Californians conserve at gas pump in March -- California motorists continued to hold the line on gasoline and diesel fuel consumption in March, according to the latest statistics from the state Board of Equalization. Mark Glover in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/6/10 Despite shortages, nurses not finding work as quickly -- As a nursing student, Courtney Hansen trained for the unexpected. Now a nursing graduate, the training has come in handy: Unexpectedly, Hansen is finding it tough to find a nursing job. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 7/6/10 First 5 losing funding -- But due to the effects of a cigarette tax boost, the more than $82 million in awards to be spread out over three years could symbolize the last hurrah for First 5 organizations in each of the state's 58 counties Jim Steinberg in the San Bernardino Sun -- 7/6/10
California teacher layoffs hit poor performing schools hard -- A year of sweeping teacher layoffs at schools around the state has exposed a stark reality for California's lowest-performing schools: The schools with the lowest test scores – and traditionally the highest numbers of poor and minority students – tend to be staffed with the least experienced teachers. Diana Lambert and Phillip Reese in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/6/10 Key votes on common core this week -- The Academic Content Standards Commission will be back at it today. If still on schedule, by the end of Wednesday’s two-day meeting in Sacramento, the 21-person committee will have made the momentous recommendation of whether California should adopt the common-core standards that will form the basis of a de facto national curriculum in math and English language arts. John Fensterwald educatedguess.org -- 7/6/10
Brentwood neighborhood transformed by L.A. billionaire's building project -- Patrick Soon-Shiong, biotech entrepreneur and philanthropist, slowly bought up three acres in the former Westgate Acres neighborhood. Residents have mixed feelings about the ongoing construction. Martha Groves in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/6/10 Feds tell El Dorado County to clean up old garbage -- El Dorado County has agreed to spend around $7 million to clean up a polluted and abandoned garbage dump outside the city of South Lake Tahoe. Susanne Rust California Watch -- 7/6/10 Tension over cellular antennas mounts in city -- The increasing popularity of smart phones is pitting companies looking to expand their coverage against city residents concerned about the dangers presented by a growing number of cellular antennas. John Wildermuth in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/6/10 Monterey area looks to sea for drinking water -- By the end of 2014, most people on the Monterey Peninsula are likely to fill their glasses with water siphoned from the ocean and stripped of salt. Kelly Zito in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/6/10
Bill would cut pay for health care that harms -- A bill moving through the legislature would potentially save Medi-Cal $13 million per year if doctors are not paid for care that leaves patients infected, burned or ridden with a serious bedsore. Christina Jewett California Watch -- 7/6/10 Santa Clara County leaders push ballot measure that would rescue children's health care coverage -- In an urgent attempt to maintain universal health coverage for children in Santa Clara County, community leaders are organizing a campaign to rescue one of the region's landmark programs for working poor families. Karen de Sá in the San Jose Mercury -- 7/6/10
Turning anger on immigration law into votes -- Activists in Arizona hope increasing voter turnout among Latinos will reshape the state's policies; it's a campaign that worked in California in the 1990s. Nicholas Riccardi in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/6/10
Saunders: Pete Stark's latest rant -- While Washington incumbents are trembling at the prospect of losing their seats and Democrats fear losing their majority in Congress, Rep. Pete Stark, D-Fremont, is a man apart. As a gone-viral videotape of a June 26 Fremont town hall meeting shows, Stark, 79, is the rare D.C. pol so secure that he feels little need to be civil to folks who show up at his town hall meetings. Debra J. Saunders in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 7/6/10 Orange County boots journalism teacher after censorship faceoff -- An Orange County high school newspaper and yearbook adviser who stood up to the school's administration when it threatened to censor the paper has been dismissed, prompting accusations of retaliation. Erica Perez California Watch -- 7/6/10 California asks bankruptcy court for OK to sue Villalobos -- California officials have asked a bankruptcy judge for permission to pursue their lawsuit against Alfred Villalobos, the former CalPERS board member they've accused of bribing top pension fund officials. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 7/6/10
Obama and Supreme Court may be on collision course -- The president's agenda on healthcare and financial regulations sets the stage for a clash with the Supreme Court's conservative majority. David G. Savage in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/6/10 Tapping Reagan's Growth Theme -- The great economic debate emerging in Washington—simple and a bit simplistic—goes like this: Should the U.S. government be spending more money to stimulate the sagging economy, or should it be saving money because of the giant budget deficit? Gerald F. Seib in the Wall Street Journal -- 7/6/10
Some Democrats not comfortable with party's anti-oil stance -- Attacking Republicans as friends of Big Oil has become the party's drumbeat, making Democrats in energy-producing states uneasy. Tom Hamburger and Richard Simon in the Los Angeles Times -- 7/6/10 |
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