Teachers want LAUSD to ignore state law, 2012 ruling

The United Teachers Los Angeles held a large rally Thursday showing strong rank-and-file support for the union’s demands that the giant Los Angeles Unified School District provide an 8.5 percent raise and cut down classroom sizes. LAUSD officials have offered

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Voters want better roads, payment uncertain

A new Field Poll found California registered voters want more construction and repairs to the state’s shaky road system. But they’re stuck before a fork in the road when it comes to paying for them. A whopping 71 percent favor

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Feinstein bill could end ethanol mandate

A bipartisan bill co-written by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., could end the federal mandate to add ethanol to gasoline. She’s teaming with Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. The senator’s website reported yesterday they “are working to repeal a law that drives up the

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Gun safety legislation comes under fire from unusual suspects

Whatever their enthusiasm or seriousness, California gun users have a new set of obstacles, thanks to fresh legislation intended to increase firearm safety. Both changes have raised pointed questions about naivety on technology. Senate Bill 199 was introduced by state Sen. Kevin de León,

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Water workshop finds only ‘miracle’ can end drought

IRVINE — “Dismal, poor, horrible, abysmal” are the current snowpack and water runoff conditions in California, according to Jeanine Jones, the Interstate Resources Manager for the California Department of Water Resources. The “dismal” snowpack means that when it melts, water will only trickle

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New poll reveals Californians’ low approval of Congress

A new Field Poll shows Californians have maintained their recent disdain for the U.S. Congress. During 2000-2003, approval was as high as 50 percent. Today it’s just 18 percent. That’s actually up a little, from the 10 percent to 13 percent

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Silicon Valley sheriffs push cellphone surveillance

It’s not just the immense amount of information collected by such tech giants as Apple, Google and Facebook that is riling privacy advocates. Now the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department is seeking new cellphone surveillance technology — paid for by federal funds from

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Assembly subcommittee flunks UC budget

Tuition hikes marched to the head of the class at a recent hearing of California Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Education Finance. Assembly members balked at a 28 percent tuition hike advanced by UC President Janet Napolitano and approved by the University of

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CA could tap new water regulations

Struggling to get ahead of California’s continuing drought, officials in Sacramento have turned their attention to proposals that would crack down on water use. The latest option focused on the hospitality industry, where customers could be required to opt in for

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