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Articles Tagged With ‘California’




Pension reform eludes lawmakers again

Written on 9 Sep, 2011 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 4 comments

With a cynical finish to its legislative season, the state Assembly Friday put the lid on efforts to reform public sector pensions by declaring its “intent” to take the matter up next year. [SacramentoBee] A trumpeted objective in January, pension... (Continue reading)

Huge power outage dims South state

Written on 8 Sep, 2011 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 9 comments

A power outage of monumental proportion has darkened San Diego County and parts of Southern Orange County, Palm Springs and Baja, Mexico, NBC Los Angeles is reporting. More than 1.4 million Pacific Gas & Electric customers, and others in outlying... (Continue reading)

Shining a brighter light on public officials

Written on 6 Sep, 2011 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 30 comments

An Orange County lawmaker is pushing a plan to force greater financial accountability by public officials and certain high level government employees, but opposition from those affected is stiffening. Sen. Lou Correa, R-Orange County, ushered his bill, SB 46, through... (Continue reading)

Council members must uncloak stipends

Written on 31 Aug, 2011 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 6 comments

A law taking effect in January targets a common practice of some California city council members of improperly fattening their paychecks with multiple-meeting stipends. The new law requires local lawmakers to announce the amount of stipends they will receive when... (Continue reading)

Seeking the death penalty’s demise

Written on 29 Aug, 2011 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 32 comments

Urging termination of California’s death penalty, an advocacy group launched a ballot initiative effort Monday, just days after a similar proposal stalled in the legislature. Taxpayers for Justice announced a signature-gathering campaign aimed at giving state voters a chance to... (Continue reading)

War of words: Are private libraries best?

Written on 23 Aug, 2011 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 15 comments

A bitterly-contested proposal to stem an emerging trend toward privatization of public libraries in California is undergoing myriad changes as it awaits action in the state Senate. Those amendments to the legislation, AB 438, Das Williams (D, Santa Barbara), have... (Continue reading)

Cal Fire planning another round of layoffs

Written on 20 Aug, 2011 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 13 comments

San Luis Obispo County Cal Fire officials are planning another round of layoffs after learning the state is slashing an additional $15.85 million from the wildland fire budget. “We are going to make the best choices when we make these... (Continue reading)

California home sales hit new low in July

Written on 17 Aug, 2011 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 8 comments

California home sales dropped to their lowest level in 16 years last month as potential buyers held off purchases because of unstable markets and fears stemming from the debt ceiling debate. [Business Week.com] An estimated 34,695 new and resale houses... (Continue reading)

Sen. Harry Reid: Save California’s high-speed rail project

Written on 11 Aug, 2011 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 18 comments

As concern grows over costs for a high-speed rail system in California, and amid talk of scrapping the project, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday that abandoning the multi-million dollar venture would be “short sighted.” [San Francisco Chronicle] Speaking... (Continue reading)

Facebook takes down California inmate accounts

Written on 9 Aug, 2011 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 11 comments

Inmates with unauthorized access to cell phones have been posting Facebook pages from inside California prisons, as well as trolling victims’ pages and harassing them, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. As a result, prison authorities have... (Continue reading)