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UC workers schedule strike vote

The University of California system’s largest union, AFSCME 3299, announced last Wednesday that it’s scheduled a mid-February strike vote for its 8,300 Service Unit members and a sympathy strike vote among its 13,000 Patient Care Technical Unit members. The union, which

Legislature targets BB guns

Katy Grimes January 30, 2014

SACRAMENTO — Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed 11 gun control bills into law and vetoed seven. More gun bills are on the firing line this year — even banning some BB guns. On Jan. 28, the California Senate passed Senate

Proposals would make it easier for youth to vote

Katy Grimes January 29, 2014

Democrats are pushing new legislation to make it easier for young people to vote. Given that young people in California register 2-to-1 for Democrats over Republicans, the bills could make Democrats even more dominant and accelerate Republicans’ waning power. Senate

State Sen. Rod Wright convicted of perjury, voter fraud

John January 29, 2014

State Senator Rod Wright, D-Inglewood, has been found guilty on eight counts of felony voter fraud, perjury and filing a false declaration of candidacy. The jury of nine women and three men, which began deliberating last Friday, sided with prosecutors who had

Drought War: GOP and Dems in fight over CA water policy

Wayne Lusvardi January 29, 2014

Call it the Drought War. Democratic California Sen. Dianne Feinstein is fighting with three Republican U.S. representatives over water policy in this parched state. On Jan. 17, Minority Whip Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, Rep. Devin Nunes of Tulare and

Bill to save beach bonfires passes Assembly

Katy Grimes January 28, 2014

For many state residents, roasting marshmallows over a beach fire ring is as Californian as surfing and the Beach Boys. Yet in recent years the rings have come under fire for producing smoke and noise. The California Assembly voted unanimously

Legislature takes up dueling water bonds

Katy Grimes January 27, 2014

There’s no drought of water bonds in the California Legislature to deal with the record drought the state is suffering. The Republican minority in the Legislature even is pitching in. Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Marysville, is pushing Assembly Bill 1445, a

Fresno taxpayers object to misleading petition title and summary

John January 24, 2014

A group of Fresno taxpayers hoping to overturn the city’s recent water rate hike has filed a formal complaint accusing the city attorney of issuing a biased and misleading title and summary for their referendum. It’s the latest development in

Dems, GOP fight drought battle on national stage

Wayne Lusvardi January 24, 2014

After declaring a drought emergency last week, in his Wednesday State of the State address Gov. Jerry Brown pledged to work for solutions. Escaping the snow-stormy Northeast, also on Wednesday U.S. Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, held a drought

Senate bill targets Vernon battery recycler

Katy Grimes January 23, 2014

A new bill that today passed the California Senate, 33-0, is aimed at one specific company. And it would give great new regulatory powers to the state Department of Toxic Substances Control. Senate Bill 712, by Sen. Ricardo Lara, D-Huntington Park,