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Articles Tagged With ‘California’




Vehicle license fee for state parks qualifies for ballot

Written on 12 Jun, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 2 comments

Voters will now decide in November whether to add an $18 surcharge on the vehicle license fee to fund California state parks and wildlife refuges. [San Francisco Chronicle] Supporters submitted over 750,000 signatures to the secretary of state’s office. The... (Continue reading)

Coastal Commission head steps aside to fight lung cancer

Written on 8 Jun, 2010 in Daily Briefs | One comment

Peter Douglas, executive director of the California Coastal Commission and an author of the state’s landmark Coastal Act, is fighting lung cancer and will now have a reduced day-to-day role in this key state agency. [Los Angeles Times] Douglas, 67, is... (Continue reading)

Meg Whitman: The $71 million candidate

Written on 6 Jun, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 9 comments

According to public campaign records, Meg Whitman has so far spent $71 million of her personal fortune to become the next governor of California–and that is just for the primary. [Associated Press] The former eBay CEO is expected to prevail... (Continue reading)

California’s white population continues to decline

Written on 5 Jun, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 17 comments

Newly released figures indicate that California’s white population has declined since 2000 at an unprecedented rate, making it possible for Hispanics eventually to emerge as the state’s largest population group. [San Francisco Chronicle] There were 500,000 fewer whites living in... (Continue reading)

Assembly votes to ban plastic grocery bags

Written on 3 Jun, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 10 comments

The state Assembly has passed legislation prohibiting California pharmacies and grocery, liquor, and convenience stores from using plastic bags. The bill also calls for customers to be charged for using store-issued paper bags. [AP] Lawmakers say the purpose of the... (Continue reading)

Why voters need to reject slush fund politics

Written on 31 May, 2010 in Opinion | 7 comments

By Matt Kokkonen All over America, voters are rejecting the lies and half-truths of politicians. They are rejecting “business-as-usual” politics, secret political agendas, and the influence of Big Money on our elections. They are demanding greater transparency and accountability from public officials. They... (Continue reading)

Ashburn (finally) talks gay rights on Senate floor

Written on 27 May, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 2 comments

State Sen. Roy Ashburn [R-Bakersfield] took to the floor Thursday morning and discussed his sexuality before casting votes on two separate gay-rights bills. [Los Angeles Times] The move came two months after the long-time conservative firebrand announced that he was... (Continue reading)

Poll: 49 percent of Californians favor legalizing pot

Written on 20 May, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 7 comments

The issue of whether to legalize marijuana has Californians about evenly split, underscoring the uphill challenge supporters face in the November election. [Los Angeles Times] The nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California issued a new poll this week indicating that... (Continue reading)

Study: California global warming law could cause businesses to flee

Written on 19 May, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 13 comments

A new study by the state’s Legislative Analyst’s office suggests a law requiring power plants, factories, and other businesses to cut greenhouse gas emissions could cause energy prices to rise and prompt businesses to either halt expansion or leave. [Los... (Continue reading)

California marijuana prices plummet

Written on 15 May, 2010 in Daily Briefs | 18 comments

Northern California pot growers are facing a new and serious challenge: Falling prices. [California Watch] With a more tolerant legal environment and a rush of new growers, wholesale prices for marijuana cultivated in outdoor pot gardens have plummeted this year... (Continue reading)