CA

DFG Sues Army Corps to Protect Fish and Wildlife Around Levees
Published May 23, 2012 - 9:30:42 AM
The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) sued the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) today.

DFG claimed in its lawsuit that the Corps failed to comply with the federal Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, and federal Administrative Procedure Act when it adopted a national policy requiring the removal of virtually all trees and shrubs on federal levees. The Corps developed its national levee vegetation removal policy in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

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Chevron CEO Faces Growing Anger From Shareholders Over $18 Billion Ecuador Liability, Says Amazon Defense Coalition
Published May 23, 2012 - 9:16:02 AM
An epic showdown between angry Chevron shareholders and notoriously short-tempered CEO John Watson over the company's $18 billion Ecuador liability is brewing just days before the company's annual meeting next week.

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NOAA asks boaters to watch out for whales returning to South Coast
Published May 23, 2012 - 9:00:53 AM
Blue and humpback whales started showing up this month in large numbers to feed in the nutrient-rich waters of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. NOAA is asking area boaters to follow whale watch guidelines for their own safety, and for the safety of the whales.

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Libertarians fight business-labor coalition on term limits measure
Published May 23, 2012 - 7:27:43 AM
Out-of-state libertarians are trying to defeat a term limits measure on the June ballot, but so far, they haven't been able to match the financial heft of the coalition of unions and business interests backing it.

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State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Urges Schools to Observe Harvey Milk Day Today
Published May 22, 2012 - 11:35:11 AM
One of California's greatest strengths is—and always has been—our diversity. We are fortunate to live in a state where there is such great potential for the contributions of all to be acknowledged and appreciated.

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California Schools Under More Stress
Published May 22, 2012 - 11:30:59 AM
A new education report finds that California schools are under more stress than ever after years of budgets cuts.

The first report by EdSource to analyze school stress factors, "Schools under Stress: Pressures Mount on California's Largest School Districts" identifies eight factors that make it more difficult for a school to provide quality education to all of its students.

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Updated Interactive Non-Partisan Voter Resource Launches
Published May 22, 2012 - 10:42:36 AM
California voters pulling out their absentee ballots over the next few days and heading to the polls June 5th will be confronted with an unfamiliar ballot, and two hotly contested ballot initiatives. The newly updated nonpartisan California Choices (www.californiachoices.org) can help guide voters through the process. The nonpartisan website features comprehensive information about the statewide June ballot initiatives including endorsements, polling data, pro and con arguments, video clips from supporters and opponents, recent press coverage, in-depth background information, and much more.

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California's Infant Mortality Rate Reaches Historic Low
Published May 22, 2012 - 10:02:18 AM
California's infant mortality rate has reached a record low, announced Dr. Ron Chapman, state health officer and director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). In 2010, the most recent year data are available, the rate was 4.7 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, down from 4.9 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2009. Infant mortality is defined as the number of deaths in infants under one year of age.

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Winnemem Wintu Tribe to Hold War Dance on McCloud River
Published May 22, 2012 - 6:48:04 AM
The Winnemem Wintu Tribe will hold a four-day War Dance (H'up Chonas in Winnemem) May 24-27 at the McCloud River site where they hold their Coming of Age ceremonies.

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Natural Resources Defense Council Report Praises California's Climate Change Preparedness
Published May 22, 2012 - 5:41:55 AM
California is among the leading states in effective climate change preparedness, according to a recent national report. The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) has been a part of that effort, building a new program to plan for and respond to the impacts associated with climate change.

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Three Delta Disasters that Could Disrupt California's Water Supply
Full story: KQED

CSU Faces Unprecedented Demand, Limited Space
Published May 21, 2012 - 2:01:18 PM
The California State University today released preliminary systemwide data for the upcoming fall term indicating all-time highs in applications, and a year-over-year increase in the number of students admitted.

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Dan Bacher: Delta Plan = Bay Delta Conservation Plan
Published May 21, 2012 - 12:57:25 PM
On May 14, Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) staff announced the release of the final and sixth draft of the Delta Plan, a document that Delta advocates slammed for recommending the building of new "conveyance" - a peripheral canal or tunnel.

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Rail authority policy to purge e-mails draws critics' ire
Published May 21, 2012 - 6:55:18 AM
A congressional committee is investigating California's $68 billion bullet train project. The U.S. Government Accountability Office is investigating, too.

Meanwhile, this proposal for the largest public works project in California history is the target of a flurry of lawsuits filed by local governments and opposition groups.

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California condors hit a milestone -- a population of 405 -- after nearly going extinct
Full story: OrgeonLive

Peter Gleick cleared of forging documents in Heartland expose
Full story: The Guardian UK

Mojave Desert: Military wants to limit wind development
Full story: PE.com

Salton Sea recreation area likely to become a victim of California's budget crisis
Full story: LA Times

Ventura County: Small Plane Crash south of Camarillo Area
Published May 18, 2012 - 3:39:13 PM
At around 12:15 p.m. reports of a plane crash came in to Sheriff's Communication Center. Upon arrival, deputies located wreckage in an agricultural area approx. 3 miles southeast of Hueneme Rd. and Las Posas Rd.

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Healthy Food, California Get Short Shrift in Farm Bill
Published May 18, 2012 - 12:13:50 PM
An Environmental Working Group analysis highlights the skewed priorities and gross inequities in federal spending under the nation's most far-reaching food and farm legislation.

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Price-gouged Patients, Insurance Commissioner & Consumer Advocates File 800,000 Signatures To Qualify Health Insurance Rate Justification Ballot Initiative
Published May 18, 2012 - 11:43:59 AM
Patients who have suffered skyrocketing health insurance rates joined with the leaders of Consumer Watchdog Campaign to turn in more than 800,000 voter signatures for a ballot initiative requiring health insurance companies to open their books and justify rates, under penalty of perjury, before their rate increases take effect. Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones joined the advocates to drop off 240,000 signatures at the Los Angeles County Registrar Recorder in Norwalk.

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LAO Report - The 2012-13 Budget: Overview of the May Revision
Published May 18, 2012 - 11:10:34 AM
In the May Revision of his 2012-13 budget proposal, the Governor identified a larger budget problem of $15.7 billion for state leaders to address in the coming weeks. While we find that the administration's economic and revenue forecasts are reasonable, we are concerned that the amount of property tax revenues from former redevelopment agencies (RDAs) may be substantially less than the May Revision assumes in 2011-12 and 2012-13. If so, this could increase the state's Proposition 98 school funding obligations and, therefore, the size of the budget problem above administration estimates. Moreover, the administration's $1.4 billion estimate for the amount of General Fund benefit that may be achieved in 2012-13 from transferring former RDAs' liquid cash assets to school districts is highly uncertain.

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Salazar Designates National Natural Landmarks in California, West Virginia
Published May 18, 2012 - 9:34:47 AM
As part of the 50th anniversary of the National Natural Landmarks Program this month, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has designated Lake Shasta Caverns, a pristine cave in northern California, and Ice Mountain, an unusual geological phenomenon called glacière talus in West Virginia, as national natural landmarks.

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Owners of Stanislaus County's A&L Poultry Sued After 50,000 Egg-Laying Hens Left to Starve to Death
Published May 18, 2012 - 9:05:31 AM
This morning, three non-profit animal sanctuaries—Animal Place, Farm Sanctuary, and Harvest Home Animal Sanctuary—filed a complaint in the Stanislaus County Superior Court, seeking justice for 50,000 hens who were abandoned this past February by the owners of A&L Poultry, a Turlock egg production facility. The sanctuaries are represented by attorneys at the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) and Schiff Hardin.

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California's unemployment rate decreases to 10.9 percent
Published May 18, 2012 - 8:52:52 AM
California's unemployment rate decreased to 10.9 percent in April, and nonfarm payroll jobs decreased by 4,200 during the month for a total gain of 385,600 jobs since the recovery began in September 2009, according to data released today by the California Employment Development Department (EDD) from two separate surveys.

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DFG: Coho Salmon Identification is Critical in California's Ocean Fisheries
Published May 18, 2012 - 8:36:03 AM
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) reminds sport anglers to be vigilant about properly identifying their salmon before keeping them. The ocean salmon fishing season in California is well under way and proper identification is critical for the survival of a protected species of salmon.

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New study shows that workplace inspections save lives, don't destroy jobs
Published May 18, 2012 - 7:09:14 AM
Research to be published in Science on May 18, 2012, sheds light on a hot-button political issue: the role and effectiveness of government regulation. Does it kill jobs or protect the public?

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Dan Bacher: Southern Californians challenge MWD to back canal cost-benefit analysis
Published May 18, 2012 - 7:05:25 AM
Southern California consumer and environmental advocates challenged the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) to support an independent cost-benefit analysis of the proposed multibillion peripheral canal or tunnel during a press conference today in Los Angeles.

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