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• Wednesday, August 20, 2008 6:08 AM • Please refresh your browser (F5) to update •
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GOP leader stomps out of state budget talks -- Budget negotiations between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and four Legislative leaders fell apart Tuesday when one of the Republican leaders stormed out of the meeting, angrily charging that the talks "are not helpful." "Frankly, I was very frustrated when leaving that meeting," Assembly Republican leader Mike Villines from Clovis (Fresno County), said in an interview. "I'm tired of walking into (these meetings) and the only thing that's being talked about is more tax increases." Matthew Yi, Samantha Sondag in the San Francisco Chronicle Mike Zapler in the San Jose Mercury -- 8/20/08
Schwarzenegger's push to hike sales tax riles GOP -- ov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken on an unlikely role as one of the Capitol's most steadfast champions of a tax hike, spurning his fellow Republicans' uncharacteristic effort to borrow their way out of budget trouble. The GOP lawmakers, preferring debt to a tax increase, say Democrats might have agreed to close the $15.2-billion budget gap with loans by now if not for Schwarzenegger. Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
Judge blocks state's cut in Medi-Cal fees -- A federal judge has blocked California's 10 percent cut in Medi-Cal fees for doctors, dentists and pharmacies, saying the money-saving measures appear to violate federal law and would worsen medical care for millions of poor people. In her ruling Monday, U.S. District Judge Christina Snyder of Los Angeles said she was aware of California's gaping deficit, now $17.2 billion (including $2 billion in reserves) with the budget 50 days overdue and legislators still deadlocked. But she said the state has accepted federal funds for Medi-Cal and is bound to use them to provide quality health care to low-income residents. Bob Egelko in the San Francisco Chronicle Kevin Yamamura and Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/20/08
Walters: This week's pivotal for state Capitol's budget, water battles -- This is shaping up as a make-or-break week not only on the long-stalled state budget but on other major issues, such as water bonds, that are tied to the Nov. 4 ballot. Capitol factions remain far apart on fully closing a $15.2 billion budget deficit – especially over taxes – with Assembly and Senate Democrats somewhat divided and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at odds with most fellow Republicans. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/20/08
Budget before conventions, governor says -- Presidential conventions? Not until California passes a state budget, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger told legislative leaders Tuesday. "I told the legislative leaders that it's extremely important not to leave before we have a budget done," Schwarzenegger said. The Democratic National Convention begins Monday and the Republican National Convention begins one week later. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/20/08
On the rocky road to the 2008-09 budget -- Why does California seem to struggle with its budget every year? Is state spending really out of line, as Republicans suggest, or are Democrats right when they say we need more revenue? Dan Walters walks us through some key mileposts on the road to this year's state budget stalemate, and offers some key statistics to help you get to the bottom of the debate. The item is in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/20/08
California National Guard losing budget battle in Legislature -- While they have been beating back wildfires across the state and fighting wars on two fronts overseas, the citizen soldiers of the California National Guard have also been waging a battle in the Legislature -- and losing. Nancy Vogel in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
Bill would make hybrids heard on streets -- Electric and hybrid vehicles may be good for the environment, but a California lawmaker says they're bad news for the blind. State Sen. Alan Lowenthal, a Long Beach Democrat, is pushing a bill aimed at ensuring that the vehicles make enough noise to be heard by the blind and visually impaired when they're about to cross a street. AP -- 8/20/08
San Franciscon cuts misuse of disability parking fine -- hile the prices of many parking infractions in San Francisco are going through the roof, there's one violation that has become a relative bargain - misusing a parking placard for people with disabilities. That used to cost miscreants $500 a pop. Now, the fine is a mere $100. Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/20/08
Indian tribes, charities reach deal on bingo fundraisers -- California's politically powerful Indian casino tribes and the state's major charities have worked out a "win-win" deal that would allow the charities to expand their bingo operations while preserving the tribes' constitutional monopoly on slot machines. But the compromise, which has attracted a swarm of lobbyists in the waning days of the Legislature's session, might be a lose-lose for some small charities, particularly in the Sacramento area, and for manufacturers of electronic games that look and play like slot machines but are advertised as "electronic bingo" machines. Steve Wiegand in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/20/08
State Senate sends bills on guns, traffic and bandit taxis to Schwarzenegger -- Among the bills is one that would close a loophole on carrying loaded firearms in unincorporated areas. Another would fine bandit cab operators $5,000 and disconnect their phones. Patrick McGreevy in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
Foreclosures smack home prices - down 29.3% -- Cut-rate foreclosed homes being unloaded by banks wreaked havoc on the Bay Area's median price in July, sending it down nearly 30 percent to a level not seen in more than four years. A third of all existing homes sold in the nine-county region in July were foreclosed properties, the real estate research firm MDA DataQuick of San Diego reported Tuesday. Carolyn Said in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/20/08
Twice as many in state can now afford a home -- A pair of reports released Tuesday highlighted the upside of the real estate downturn: Housing is becoming more affordable for more people across California and the Bay Area. The percentage of households able to buy an entry-level residence in the state reached 48 percent during the second quarter, double the level from a year ago, according to the California Association of Realtors. James Temple in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/20/08
Federal foreclosure-purchase program may fall flat in California -- To Congress, it looked like a way to both ease blight and provide affordable housing: give local governments $4 billion to buy, repair and resell homes lost to foreclosure. But the program -- included in the landmark housing bill signed by President Bush last month -- faces growing doubts among real estate experts and economists, who point out that the government will now be competing with lenders and private homeowners who have been struggling to sell in a depressed market. William Heisel in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
On Rodeo Drive, the economy's booming -- Steve Thorne, 54, watched approvingly as his girlfriend tried on a pair of boots at the Jimmy Choo boutique on Rodeo Drive last week. "I can't complain," he said when I asked how the economy's been treating him. With sales of new cars down, Thorne said, his 600-employee replacement-parts business in Philadelphia has had a record year, and he's doing better than ever. "Things are good," he said. "Absolutely." David Lazarus in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
Obama and McCain in a statistical tie -- John McCain has begun rallying dispirited Republicans behind him, while Democratic rival Barack Obama has made scant progress building new support, leaving the presidential race statistically tied, according to a new Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll. Michael Finnegan in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
The betting line on Obama's veep possibilities -- Give it to Sen. Barack Obamathis week: He's all over the map - the potential vice-presidential-pick map. And with his announcement expected any day, he's driving the pundits and prognosticators crazy. Already, he's been in New Mexico (could it be Gov. Bill Richardson?). He has plans to hit Virginia later this week (Gov. Tim Kaine?). Carla Marinucci in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/20/08
Algebra 1 requirement highlights teacher shortage -- Now that the state has mandated Algebra 1 for all eighth-graders within three years, a deeply entrenched problem has become even more urgent: California does not have enough qualified teachers of mathematics. Districts recognize the problem and are doing what they can to cultivate more teachers. So are universities. The number of new math teachers emerging from colleges has been going up. Deb Kollars in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/20/08
College leaders hope to renew debate on a lower drinking age -- The current limit ignores the reality of drinking on campus and pushes it underground, they say. Opponents say a rollback to age 18 would reverse declines in teen drunk driving. Larry Gordon and Gale Holland in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
New principals begin work in L.A. mayor's schools partnership -- Tim Sullivan's first day as Markham Middle School's principal was Monday. He quickly found out that the computers didn't recognize his employee identification number and that he didn't have enough staff to register about 300 sixth-graders for classes the next day. Jason Song in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
USD revokes invitation to feminist theologian -- A University of San Diego decision rescinding a prestigious position to a Catholic feminist theologian has thrust it smack in the middle of a national debate over academic freedom versus adherence to church teachings. Sherry Saavedra in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 8/20/08
EPA limits to pollution monitoring tossed -- A Bush administration rule barring states and local governments from requiring more air pollution monitoring is illegal, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday. In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit threw out a 2-year-old rule that may have allowed some refineries, power plants and factories to exceed pollution limits because the Environmental Protection Agency "failed to fix inadequate monitoring requirements ... and prohibited states and local authorities from doing so." Dina Cappiello AP -- 8/20/08
Weintraub: For builders, clean-air rules' timing is tough -- Mike Shaw didn't want to be caught by surprise when the state starting cracking down on diesel engines. He owned more than 100 of them – powering the scrapers, graders and bulldozers that are the backbone of his San Diego construction business. So he paid close attention when the state's air pollution regulators wrote new rules requiring the owners of diesel-powered equipment to clean up their fleets. And as he thinned the oldest, dirtiest engines from his stock, Shaw thought he was well on his way to satisfying the state's requirements. Daniel Weintraub in the Sacramento Bee -- 8/20/08
Tunneling nearly complete for Inland Empire water project -- Breakthrough expected today at Devil Canyon in the San Bernardino Mountains. The Inland Feeder Project will connect the California Aqueduct to the Diamond Valley Lake. Tony Perry in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
Orange County transfers 1,200 acres to developer-backed land trust -- Orange County supervisors Tuesday approved a plan to give control of 1,200 acres of open space to a land trust backed by a developer that supports building a six-lane toll road through the property. Christian Berthelsen in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
Port of Long Beach's clean-trucks loan program is criticized -- A coalition of consumer, immigrant and civil rights groups warned Tuesday that a Port of Long Beach loan program to help thousands of mostly low-income truck drivers replace old, polluting rigs with newer, cleaner-burning vehicles could plunge the truckers into debt. Port officials counter that the loans are a bargain and that truckers would not be able to afford new rigs without them. But the coalition foresees a wave of "foreclosures on wheels." Louis Sahagun in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
Federal probe focuses on wife of L.A. City Atty. Delgadillo -- Federal authorities investigating Los Angeles City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo and his wife are seeking information about her consulting business and taxes, according to sources familiar with the inquiry. Phil Willon and David Zahniser in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
The son of illegal immigrants, American wrestler hoists his flag with pride -- Henry Cejudo had a ragged upbringing. Now he has a gold medal in the 55 kilogram freestyle. Bill Plaschke in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
Chinatown gets a lift from Beijing Olympics -- Customers queued up outside Hilda Lin's sports shop in San Francisco's Chinatown all day Tuesday, eager for copies of the Sing Tao Daily newspaper. Meredith May in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/20/08
Metal thieves strip urns, one with remains -- Metal bandits have been pillaging pipes from Bay Area homes, eviscerating statues at public plazas and plundering fixtures from private businesses all for the quick cash of recycling metal scrap. Now, Union City police believe, they've even taken someone's remains. Matthai Kuruvila in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 8/20/08
Board approves law that holds parents accountable for kids' graffiti -- Seeking to hit graffiti vandals and their parents in the pocketbook, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a measure that would allow authorities to hold taggers -- and their parents -- liable for civil damages. It takes effect in 30 days. Andrew Blankstein in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
Retired L.A. cop's got the material for a million stories -- If you'll indulge a confession, I'm a happy guy sitting across from a cop -- or even a retired cop -- with my notebook on the table and a beer in my hand. They've all got stories, some funny, some dark, some of them even true. Steve Lopez in the Los Angeles Times -- 8/20/08
