State & Regional Govt & Politics Stories for March 2013
Stories for Saturday, March 30
Brown announces pardons for murderer, 64 others
Gov. Jerry Brown, who has been criticized for granting parole to more murderers than his predecessors, announced Saturday he has granted Easter Weekend pardons to 65 people, including one convicted killer. Most of the pardons signed Saturday by Brown were for people convicted of selling or possessing drugs. However, one ...
Sales taxes in cities, counties set to go up
This could be a good weekend to buy a wide variety of items — from cars to tools to clothes — because sales taxes in more than 20 cities and counties across California are due to go up Monday. Municipalities from Carmel to Culver City are increasing their sales taxes ...
Teachers union now backs bill to ease firing
California's largest teachers union is backing a measure that would make it easier to discipline and fire teachers accused of misconduct after successfully fighting a similar proposal last year. Lawmakers this week will take up AB375 by Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo, which would speed up the appeals process after a ...
Stories for Tuesday, March 26
Sacramento council approves NBA Kings arena deal
With the clock clicking down, the Sacramento City Council took its last shot at keeping the NBA Kings in California's capital by approving a public-private deal Tuesday to build a new 18,500-seat arena and retail center downtown. Approval of the arena was the last step in what has been a ...
Stories for Saturday, March 23
State wants control of prison mental health care
Nearly two decades after a court takeover of the state's prison mental health system, a federal judge is set to consider this week whether the billions of dollars invested by California taxpayers have improved conditions enough that he can return control to the state. Gov. Jerry Brown has aggressively moved to ...
Stories for Monday, March 18
Board seeks $8.6B in state high-speed rail bonds
The California High-Speed Rail Authority voted Monday to issue nearly $8.6 billion in taxpayer-approved bonds to build the nation's first bullet train as the state rushes to begin construction in July. Officials are now on track to sell $3.7 billion of the bonds. That includes $2.6 billion for high speed ...
Stories for Sunday, March 17
Bills seek end to farm animal abuse videos
An undercover video that showed California cows struggling to stand as they were prodded to slaughter by forklifts led to the largest meat recall in U.S. history. In Vermont, a video of veal calves skinned alive and tossed like sacks of potatoes ended with the plant's closure and criminal convictions. ...
Stories for Thursday, March 14
State Treasurer Lockyer no longer pursuing divorce
State Treasurer Bill Lockyer is no longer seeking a divorce from his wife, whose problems with substance abuse played out publicly and led to drug charges. Lockyer is proud of the progress his wife, Nadia, has made in a drug treatment program, and the two have agreed to reconcile, Tom ...
Stories for Wednesday, March 13
State Senator Leno proposes expanding alcohol service to 4 a.m.
A state senator from San Francisco has proposed legislation that would give local jurisdictions the option of allowing restaurants and nightclubs to serve alcohol later into the early morning hours. Senate Bill 635, authored by state Senator Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, would let certain businesses provide beverage service until 4 ...
Stories for Monday, March 11
Lawmakers consider doctors' role in drug overdoses
A physician heading the state's medical board told lawmakers on Monday that acquiring information necessary to investigate cases of potential prescription drug abuse poses a challenge to the oversight panel. Board president Sharon Levine said a complaint is needed to begin a review and determine whether the prescribing doctor bears ...
Stories for Sunday, March 10
Report: State lawmakers skirt contribution limits
California lawmakers are circumventing campaign finance limits through "ballot measure" committees that set no caps on the amount donors can contribute, according to a report. The committees allow legislators to ask contributors for more than the $4,100 per election they can solicit for their own campaigns. The accounts must be ...
Proposed bills seek more disclosure, oversight of fracking in state
The growing concern over hydraulic fracturing, the technology that has led to an oil and gas boom in many parts of the country, has caught the attention of California lawmakers as companies seek to expand production in the San Joaquin Valley oil fields. At least eight bills proposing to regulate ...
Stories for Friday, March 8
California regulators reject Navy offshore training
The California Coastal Commission on Friday rejected a Navy explosives and sonar training program off the Southern California coast that critics said could harm endangered blue whales and other sea life. Commissioners meeting in San Diego ruled unanimously that the Navy lacked enough information to back up its argument that ...
Stories for Thursday, March 7
State Senate OKs money for gun-seizure program
Legislation approved Thursday by the state Senate would send more money to a program unique to California that seizes guns from people who are prohibited from having them. The bill authorizes $24 million for the state Department of Justice's Armed and Prohibited Persons program, which is the only one of ...
Stories for Wednesday, March 6
More sex offenders go missing under new state law
The number of paroled sex offenders who are fugitives in California is 15 percent higher today than before Gov. Jerry Brown's sweeping law enforcement realignment law took effect 17 months ago, according to figures released Wednesday by the state corrections department. The increase amounts to 360 more sex offenders whose ...
Stories for Tuesday, March 5
State's homeless, poor can get free cellphones
Impoverished Californians, including those who are homeless, soon will be able to get free cellphones and service thanks to the recent expansion of a statewide program. Two wireless carriers are now offering free phones and monthly plans for 250 minutes and 250 text messages to all those who can prove ...
Stories for Monday, March 4
Ammiano seeks rights for transgender students
A Bay Area lawmaker has introduced legislation aimed at guaranteeing transgender students the right to use public school restrooms and participate on the sports teams that correspond with their expressed genders. The bill reflects the accommodations that a number of U.S. schools are being asked to make as Americans start ...
Stories for Sunday, March 3
State GOP elects old hand to fix party
California Republicans on Sunday turned to a familiar face to lead the party back from the brink of irrelevance in a state that once was a GOP stronghold but is now home to a powerful Democratic political machine. More than 1,000 delegates to the state party's spring convention elected former ...
Stories for Friday, March 1
State Republicans seek to restore party's luster
California Republicans began gathering for a round of soul-searching Friday at the start of their spring convention as they seek to restore the party's luster after years of election defeats. The state GOP is in debt and lost seats in the state Legislature and California's congressional delegation in November. Democrats ...
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