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Supreme Court validation of maps could give Democrats two-thirds Senate majority -- A California Supreme Court ruling Friday significantly raised Democratic Party prospects of gaining the supermajority needed in the state Senate to pass tax or fee increases. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/28/12 Clamor grows to rein in California pension benefits -- Gov. Jerry Brown pledges to cut spiraling costs, but key parts of his rollback plan apply mainly to future workers. Activists want quicker action. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/28/12 CPUC fines PG&E millions for safety breaches -- Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s failure to conduct required gas leak surveys on nearly 14 miles of its distribution system in eastern Contra Costa County - including one Danville neighborhood ignored for two decades - prompted state regulators on Friday to levy $16.8 million in fines against the utility. Jaxon Van Derbeken in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/28/12 AP Interview: End of prison oversight not certain -- The court-appointed receiver overseeing California's prison health care system said Friday the state must keep its promise to spend more than $2 billion for new medical facilities before the federal courts can end an oversight role that has lasted six years. DON THOMPSON AP Julie Small KPCC -- 1/28/12 Gov. Jerry Brown: Bullet train will keep U.S. out of Third World -- Gov. Jerry Brown is on a mission to prevent the United States from becoming a Third World country, and he says the solution is a high-speed railroad in California. Chris Megerian in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/28/12 New high-speed rail chief defends plan -- Despite a growing chorus of critics, the incoming head of the California High-Speed Rail Authority board remains confident that "the fundamentals of high-speed rail in California are strong" and that the central San Joaquin Valley is the place to start construction later this year. Tim Sheehan in the Fresno Bee -- 1/28/12 California Supreme Court denies challenge of Senate maps -- The California Supreme Court ruled today that state Senate maps drawn by a citizens commission will be used in this year's elections, despite a pending referendum to overturn them. Jim Sanders SacBee Capitol Alert Maura Dolan LA Times PolitiCal Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle JUDY LIN AP BRIAN JOSEPH in the Orange County Register John Myers Capitol Notes John Howard Capitol Weekly -- 1/28/12 Supreme Court decision on Senate districts blasted by Republicans -- Friday's California Supreme Court's decision to use a citizens commission's newly drawn state Senate district boundaries for the 2012 election was blasted by Republicans who had challenged the maps and were hoping to have a referendum on the November ballot. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/28/12 Sam Blakeslee not running for re-election after court decision on California Senate maps -- State Sen. Sam Blakeslee, R-San Luis Obispo, made it official Friday night that he will not seek another term in the wake of the California Supreme Court decision to uphold the Senate maps drawn last year by an independent redistricting commission. The item is in the SLO Tribune -- 1/28/12 Baca urges California to extend redevelopment funds -- L.A. County sheriff says cities that contract for deputies may cut services if they must cover revitalization costs no longer paid by the state. He concedes not telling supervisors of his plan to take a stance was a mistake. Jason Song in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/28/12 Key aides quit Beutner's campaign for L.A. mayor -- Two high-level political consultants have quit the campaign of Los Angeles mayoral candidate Austin Beutner, just days after he gave a major policy speech attacking City Hall. David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/28/12 California insurance regulator won't drop Iran issue -- California's insurance commissioner will continue to publicize insurers' investments in Iran after settling a lawsuit against a state agency over the issue. Dale Kasler in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/28/12
Union, county prepare for strike -- Riverside County will go to court Monday seeking to keep nearly 300 nurses and other health professionals from taking part in a day-long strike planned by the county’s second-largest union. DUANE W. GANG in the Riverside Press -- 1/28/12 Union membership dips slightly in California, still 7th highest -- Union membership among California's workers declined fractionally in the last year, according to an annual survey by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, but remains seventh highest among the states. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/28/12 Hundreds of prison employees get layoff notices -- California prison officials have sent layoff notices to 545 employees, including 140 guards, as the inmate population declines to comply with a federal court order. AP -- 1/28/12
Banks: Adult education on L.A. Unified's chopping block -- With financial woes in Sacramento and new freedom on spending earmarked funds, the district proposes a budget that has no money to help adults get high school diplomas, learn English or acquire career skills. Sandy Banks in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/28/12 Cal State threatens to withhold $7 million from Northridge campus -- Cal State says CSUN must reduce current enrollment to abide by budget-related targets or risk losing the funding. Larry Gordon in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/28/12
California probes skin-lighteners for mercury content -- Health officials launched the investigation in response to a spate of mercury poisoning cases linked to the tainted face creams that are made outside the United States. Ngoc Nguyen HealthyCal.org -- 1/28/12
Clean car overview: More alternatives -- The core philosophy behind the major auto emission standards approved by California air regulators Friday is simple: The less fossil fuel being burned, the cleaner the air. Michael Gardner UT Sandiego -- 1/28/12 California passes landmark rules to curb auto emissions -- Transforming the next decade of America's auto industry, the California Air Resources Board on Friday approved historic new rules that require 15 percent of new cars sold in California by 2025 run on electricity, hydrogen or other systems producing little or no smog. Paul Rogers in the San Jose Mercury Rick Daysog in the Sacramento Bee -- 1/28/12 An exquisite Mexico beach, cursed by plastic -- Sea currents act like a conveyor belt, depositing trash on a remote stretch of sand in an ecologically rich region of coral reef and mangrove forests. Locals can only pick up the pieces, bit by bit. Ken Ellingwood in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/28/12
North Hollywood family may be displaced because converted garage is 18 inches too close to property line -- Barbara Bartlett and her family could become homeless Monday because of 18 inches of concrete. Susan Abram in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 1/28/12
Fiery Obama rallies House Dems for a unified election-year fight -- President Obama channeled his inner Al Green last week when he delivered an impromptu, a cappella rendition of "Let's Stay Together." On Friday, House Democrats returned the message. Mike Lillis and Jonathan Easley The Hill -- 1/28/12
The GOP empire strikes back at Gingrich -- The revenge of the Republican establishment is a sight to behold. From one corner to another, those who have tangled with Newt Gingrich, who feel aggrieved toward Newt Gingrich or who fear Newt Gingrich have amassed to stop him. Dan Balz in the Washington Post -- 1/28/12 Saunders: GOP no longer feels need to hide its incivility -- Last week, Sarah Palin stepped over the edge of civility. Fox Business Network host Eric Bolling played a clip of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on "Meet the Press" in which Christie said Newt Gingrich "has been an embarrassment" to the Republican Party. Debra J. Saunders in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 1/28/12 McManus: A Gingrich presidency? -- It would be just like its chief: Noisy, combative and prone to self-generated crises. Doyle McManus in the Los Angeles Times -- 1/28/12 |
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