January 2016 | Page 4 of 6 | CalWatchdog.com

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Iraqi refugee arrested in CA on terror charge

Two Iraqi refugees, one in California, have been arrested on joint terrorism-related charges. “From his pictures on Facebook, Aws Mohammed Younis Al-Jayab looks like any other millennial with a wardrobe of Nike sneakers, Ray-Ban sunglasses and flannel shirts. But federal officials

SCOTUS hears CA Friedrichs case

James Poulos January 14, 2016

After years of mounting controversy over compulsory unionization, public pensions and other labor issues, California has sent the Supreme Court a case that could change the power of unions in America overnight. As the court hears oral arguments, the challenge has made

Huge CA Powerball sales sharpen lottery debate

James Poulos January 14, 2016

Californians joined in the country’s fever over an extraordinary Powerball prize, leading the nation in ticket sales — but not without raising conflicting feelings about the lottery. “In California, about 80 cents of every $2 ticket sold goes toward education,” as the

L.A. gets Rams, maybe Chargers

James Poulos January 13, 2016

After a frenetic final sequence where NFL intrigue reached a fever pitch, team owners voted to approve the relocation of the St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles, with an option extended to San Diego’s disgruntled Chargers franchise. “The Rams’ home will

Rams moving to L.A.; Chargers likely to follow

Chris Reed January 13, 2016

The drama over which of three cities would lose their NFL teams to Los Angeles ended decisively Tuesday night. On a 30-2 vote, NFL owners gave the go-ahead to having the St. Louis Rams move to L.A. next season in

Diablo Canyon’s fate: Greens suspect PG&E con game

Chris Reed January 13, 2016

One down, one to go. That’s the mind-set of nuclear power opponents who rejoiced over the 2012 closure of the malfunctioning San Onofre nuclear plant in northern San Diego County and are now setting their sights on Pacific Gas &

Dealing with the Porter Ranch gas leak aftermath

Joel Fox January 12, 2016

In front a background of a steady stream of work vehicles ascending the Santa Susana Mountains to the Porter Ranch Aliso Canyon methane gas storage facility, several state senators laid out plans for dealing with the leak’s aftermath once the

California giving needed relief on traffic fines, fees

Steve Miller January 12, 2016

Financially strapped motorists are catching a break through the state’s traffic citation amnesty law, which began in October and gives discounts of up to 80 percent on unpaid traffic tickets due before Jan. 1, 2013. In Los Angeles Superior Court,

Feds probe Nestle’s CA operations

James Poulos January 11, 2016

Nestle, which has spent months weathering attacks on its water bottling practices in California, has been targeted by the federal government for investigation. “Under pressure from environmental groups’ lawsuits, the U.S. Forest Service has begun a comprehensive environmental review of Switzerland-based bottled water

CTA expects to lose landmark Supreme Court case

Chris Reed January 10, 2016

The most recent State Worker column by Jon Ortiz in the Sacramento Bee said 2016 was “perhaps the most significant year for government workers in decades” because of the Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association case, which the U.S. Supreme Court