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Articles Tagged With ‘California’




Rational gun safety talk advocated

Written on 18 Dec, 2012 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 143 comments

A new California congressman said Monday that he hopes last week’s school carnage in Connecticut will generate meaningful discussion about gun safety measures and “give us the courage to engage in the conversation.” (Sacramento Bee) Democratic Rep.-elect Ami Bera told... (Continue reading)

Half of state’s voters cast mail ballots

Written on 17 Dec, 2012 in Daily Briefs, Featured | One comment

More than half of California’s 13.2 million participating voters submitted mail ballots in the recent general election, according to Secretary of State Debra Bowen. (Sacramento Bee) She reported that 51 percent voted through the mails, the most ever in a... (Continue reading)

California insurance firm over billed Medicare $424 million

Written on 17 Dec, 2012 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 6 comments

A California health insurance company over billed Medicare $424 million, according a report issued by the U.S. Health and Human Services Inspector General. [California Watch] PacificCare, now owned by United Health Group, claimed that patients on its Medicare Advantage plan... (Continue reading)

Gag orders harder to get in January

Written on 13 Dec, 2012 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 2 comments

Gag orders in legal settlements involving lawsuits against state-licensed professionals will no longer be legal in January. [California Watch] The law will facilitate consumers’ contact with state agencies in cases where further disciplinary of corrective action might be called for.... (Continue reading)

Poor grades for state kids’ vocabulary

Written on 10 Dec, 2012 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 12 comments

Students in California elementary schools score poorly in vocabulary usage, according to results of a national standardized test. (San Jose Mercury News) Vocabulary is vital to students’ ability to read well. Both fourth- and eighth-grade students from the Golden State... (Continue reading)

Gay marriage gets high court look

Written on 10 Dec, 2012 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 7 comments

California’s current ban on gay marriages will be scrutinized by the U.S. Supreme Court, which decided Friday it will review a legal challenge to the voter mandate. (Sacramento Bee) The high court will consider a prior decision by a federal... (Continue reading)

Central District U.S. Attorney’s collected over $430 million from defendants

Written on 7 Dec, 2012 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 4 comments

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California collected more than $430 million as a result of criminal prosecutions, civil lawsuits and asset forfeiture actions during the 2012 fiscal year, United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. announced... (Continue reading)

Plans afoot for nonprofit campaign transparency

Written on 4 Dec, 2012 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 6 comments

Two California senators are seeking to require more disclosure of nonprofit campaign contributions in the aftermath of a political campaign marked by secret, out-of-state infusions of huge amounts of cash. (Sacramento Bee) Democratic Sens. Ted Lieu and Leland Lee said... (Continue reading)

Another try for immigrant bill

Written on 3 Dec, 2012 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 12 comments

California’s Democratically-controlled Legislature welcomes its new members today, and some lawmakers have already sprung into action. (Sacramento Bee) Assemblymen Tom Ammiano and Luis Alejo, along with Sen. Kevin De León, all Democrats, are reintroducing the “Trust Act,” aiming to stop... (Continue reading)

Megastorms could flood portions of California’s Central Coast

Written on 30 Nov, 2012 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 63 comments

Editor’s note: The article will appear in the January 2013 issue of Scientific American. They are making it freely available now because of the flooding underway in California. By Michael D. Dettinger and B. Lynn Ingram Huge flows of vapor... (Continue reading)