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Assessed Value Reductions Of Nevada County Properties

Fri, 16 May 2008 17:47:07 PST

Proposed Managed Growth Initiative for the City of Grass Valley Initiative Signature Certification

Fri, 16 May 2008 13:15:15 PST

1. Number of unverified signatures filed by proponent (raw count) 881

2. Number of signatures verified 881

Number of signatures found SUFFICIENT 847

Number of signatures found INSUFFICIENT 34

INSUFFICIENT because of DUPLICATE 3

BriarPatch Co-op elects five Directors

Fri, 16 May 2008 13:05:46 PST

The BriarPatch Co-op Board Director election votes were counted Friday, May 16, by the League of Women Voters. The top vote-getters were: Peter Van Zant, Lew Sitzer, Joey Jordan, Debbie Plass, and Jeff Gold.

Waxman Warns of Noncompliance with Subpoena

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:48:56 PST

Today Chairman Waxman wrote to EPA Administrator Johnson and White House official Susan Dudley directing them to bring all documents responsive to the Committee's subpoenas to a hearing on Tuesday May 20, unless the documents are subject to a valid claim of executive privilege.

Nevada County Clerk-Recorder Update on Supreme Court Decision Regarding Same Sex Marriages

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:20:39 PST

On May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court determined that current statutes limiting the designation of marriage to a union "between a man and a woman" is unconstitutional and must be stricken from the statute, and that the remaining statutory language must be understood as making the designation of marriage available both to opposite-sex and same-sex couples.

Elevated Arsenic Levels Discovered South of Calico Ghost Town Park

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:16:51 PST

A preliminary environmental assessment of a mill tailings site just south of the San Bernardino County historic Calico Ghost Town Park has determined that elevated levels of arsenic are present and pose a potential public health hazard.

Lake Davis Trout Restocking Celebration Scheduled May 17

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:09:25 PST

Thousands of Eagle Lake rainbow trout will be planted into Lake Davis near Portola during the Lake Davis Trout Restocking Celebration on May 17. This event is co-hosted by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and the Plumas National Forest and is part of a program to return Lake Davis to its status as a high-quality trout fishery.

Discover Nevada County Museums Free on Saturday, May 17

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:06:44 PST

Six Nevada County museums and historic sites have joined together to host Nevada County Museum Discovery Day on Saturday (May 17). Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Waters of Tahoe are Area's Most Popular Attraction

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:04:23 PST

Travelers make their way to North Lake Tahoe every year to camp, hike, bike, dine, shop and bask in the sun, but often overlooked is the region's main attraction – the actual waters of Lake Tahoe. From leisurely cocktail and dinner cruises to kayaks, canoes and Sea Doos, there's no reason not to be out on the lake.

Sierra Nevada Group's Friday night presentation: A Family's Excellent Adventure - Hiking the John Muir Trail

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:01:07 PST

The Sierra Nevada Group's Friday night's meeting begins at 6:30 pm for the potluck with the Limov family's excellent adventure at 7:30 pm. It should be a wholesome presentation to interest everyone in the family. Friday, May 16, 2008, Seaman's Lodge, Pioneer Park, Nevada City.

Join Tahoe Arts Project on a Wine Walk at Heavenly Village: May 24

Fri, 16 May 2008 09:59:17 PST

Wines On The Lake and several other Heavenly Village boutiques and stores are hosting a Wine Walk to support the local non-profit organization, Tahoe Arts Project (TAP). The event will take place at the Heavenly Village from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm on May 24th.

Pioneering Landscape-Scale Research Releases First Findings

Fri, 16 May 2008 09:58:34 PST

The May issue of the Canadian Journal of Forest Research presents the preliminary findings of 23 scientists involved in one of the first landscape-scale experiments on how forest management affects western Ponderosa pine ecosystems.

"Artisans at The Ahwahnee" Hosts Linda Naylor in Yosemite National Park

Fri, 16 May 2008 09:57:38 PST

The ongoing Yosemite art series, which showcases a variety of creative mediums, continues this weekend at The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Valley's grand, historic national landmark hotel. Designed to share the wealth of regional artistic talent with park guests, the sixth monthly exhibition of "Artisans at The Ahwahnee" commences Friday with a showing of Southwestern jewelry by Linda Naylor. Her works will be on display and available for purchase from 1pm to 5pm on Friday and Saturday, concluding the same hours on Sunday, May 18.

Yosemite National Park Rangers Honored With Valor Awards from the Department of the Interior

Fri, 16 May 2008 09:45:33 PST

Nine Yosemite rangers received Valor Awards from Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne at the 65th Annual Honor Awards Convocation in Washington DC on May 13, 2008.

Governor's May Revision Borrows Against Future Lottery Revenues

Fri, 16 May 2008 09:36:50 PST

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released the May Revision to his 2008-09 Proposed Budget on May 14. The May Revision updates policy proposals, revenue projections, and estimated expenditures for both the current and upcoming budget years. Relative to the Governor's January Proposed Budget, the May Revision projects a widening of the budget gap. The May Revision assumes a shortfall of $15.2 billion, up from the approximately $8 billion gap remaining after the mid-year actions approved by the Legislature in February. The Governor outlines $17.2 billion of "solutions," leaving the state with a $2 billion reserve. With the exception of relatively modest fee proposals, the May Revision continues the Governor's "all cuts" approach to balancing the budget.

Lesbian and Gay Couples Win Freedom to Marry in California

Fri, 16 May 2008 09:16:10 PST

In a 4-3 decision, drafted by Chief Justice Ronald George, the court ruled: "In light of the fundamental nature of the substantive rights embodied in the right to marry - and their central importance to an individual's opportunity to live a happy, meaningful, and satisfying life as a full member of society - the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right to all individuals and couples, without regard to their sexual orientation."

Human Rights Watch: California Marriage Ruling a Victory for Human Rights

Fri, 16 May 2008 09:15:23 PST

The California Supreme Court's ruling today striking down state law that limits marriage to opposite-sex couples is a victory for equality that should set a national and international example, Human Rights Watch said today.

Pelosi Statement on California State Supreme Court Ruling on Gay Marriage

Fri, 16 May 2008 09:03:05 PST

I welcome the California Supreme Court's historic decision. I have long fought against discrimination and believe that the State Constitution provides for equal treatment for all of California's citizens and families, which today's decision recognizes.

PFLAG Families Applaud California Ruling in Favor of Marriage Equality

Fri, 16 May 2008 09:02:06 PST

Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) today applauded a California State Supreme Court ruling in favor of full marriage equality for same-sex couples. The 4-3 decision, issued earlier today, follows lawsuits by fifteen couples who challenged the constitutionality of the state's marriage ban. The couples, along with Equality California and the Our Family Coalition, were represented by lead counsel from the National Center for Lesbian Rights along with counsel from Lambda Legal, the American Civil Liberties Union, Heller Ehrman LLP and the Law Office of David C. Codell.

Chevron Busts Family Budgets in Struggling California Town of Casmalia

Fri, 16 May 2008 09:00:57 PST

A decision today by the California Public Utilities Commission to grant a whopping 89.7 percent water rate increase to a tiny water company owned by oil giant Chevron means three years of increasing fiscal agony for the hamlet of Casmalia, Consumer Watchdog said. The increase will be phased in over that period.

DoD Identifies Army Casualty - May 16

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:59:37 PST

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Congress approves new community forest protection program

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:54:33 PST

Congress created a new conservation program today that's aimed at helping local communities protect prized forests for recreational purposes. The Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program, which provides federal matching grants to local governments and qualified non-profit organizations across the country to acquire forests and open spaces for local ownership and management, now heads to the White House for consideration.

Public Health Groups Sue US Government on Trade

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:52:46 PST

At a hearing on May 16 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, public health and health professionals will demand that corporate interests be balanced with public interest representation on US Industry Trade Advisory Committees (ITACs) that advise the US Trade Representative (USTR) on trade policies affecting public health. Non-profit and public interest organizations have been systematically denied posts on industry-dominated trade advisory committees that impact the health of millions of people around the world.

National Parks Conservation Association Names 10 National Parks Most Threatened by New Coal-Fired Power Plants

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:47:09 PST

The nation's leading voice for the national parks, the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), today called on the Administration to halt its efforts to rollback clean air protections for national parks, citing 10 national parks at risk from pollution from new coal-fired power plants.

Opening of Gaza's borders not imminent - analysts

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:42:58 PST

The recent visit by Egyptian intelligence chief Gen Omar Sulaiman to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories was supposed to help advance a ceasefire deal between the Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip, headed by Hamas, and the Jewish state.

Myanmar: Loss of mangrove forests exacerbates cyclone deaths

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:34:22 PST

Cyclone Nargis - and the devastating tidal surge that followed - has highlighted the potential tragic consequences of pursuing rapid economic expansion while neglecting the environment.

NOW Says Equal Treatment is Overdue

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:22:31 PST

"The right to civil marriage for same-sex couples is an essential step on the road to full equality," Gandy said. "Every person, regardless of their sexual orientation, deserves access to the more than a thousand legal protections and benefits in state and federal law that legal marriage brings," said Gandy.

Immediate Escalation Of Myanmar Relief Operations Needed - MSF

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:20:00 PST

Fourteen days after Cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar, the needs remain immense in the Irawaddy Delta. Teams with the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) are delivering direct medical assistance and relief supplies to tens of thousands of people. However, MSF urges an immediate scale up of overall relief operations, which have been deployed far too slowly and are largely insufficient.

Final Talks on Cluster Munition Ban Treaty

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:18:46 PST

The more than 100 countries that will gather in Dublin, Ireland on May 19 to negotiate a new international treaty aimed at banning cluster munitions should reject attempts to weaken the treaty, Human Rights Watch said today. Participating countries are scheduled to adopt the final text of the treaty on May 30.

Scores of nuns arrested in Khardze county, Sichuan province, following protests

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:16:52 PST

Free Tibet Campaign has learned that protests have swept through Khardze county in Sichuan province in recent days following the detention on April 23 of two nuns from Drakar nunnery. The nuns have been named as Bumo Lhaga and Sonam Dekyi. They were arrested for calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

Sudan: Humanitarian Air Service gets reprieve until mid-June but still risks closure

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:14:41 PST

The United Nations World Food Programme announced today that the Humanitarian Air Service (WFP-HAS) in Sudan can continue operations until mid-June thanks to recent donations.

Federal Government Documents Show Illegal American Egg Board Interference with California Anti-Cruelty Ballot Initiative

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:14:33 PST

Government documents recently obtained by The Humane Society of the United States reveal that the American Egg Board (AEB) is involved in an illegal scheme to divert $3 million of federal legislative check-off funds to lobby voters against an anti-cruelty ballot initiative that will provide basic protections to California farm animals. The same documents show that the U.S. Department of Agriculture-which is charged by law with overseeing the activities and expenditures of the AEB-has known about the AEB's planned illegal activities for months.

World could face severe economic downturn, new UN report suggests

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:13:46 PST

The deepening credit crisis in affluent countries triggered by the continuing housing slump, the declining value of the United States dollar, persisting global imbalances and soaring oil and commodity prices pose major threats to economic growth around the world, according to a report released today by United Nations economists.

HSUS Report: Axis and Fallow Deer at Point Reyes National Seashore Should Not Be Eradicated

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:13:17 PST

After the release of a white paper by The Humane Society of the United States, several of California's top officials – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, and U.S. Reps. Lynn Woolsey, Anna Eshoo, and George Miller -- are calling for an immediate halt to the shooting of deer at Point Reyes National Seashore. The HSUS paper identifies problems with the National Park Service's eradication plans for axis and fallow deer on lands the agency administers, and proposes a contraceptive plan as an alternative means of population control.

Ban Ki-moon to send UN's humanitarian chief to Myanmar

Fri, 16 May 2008 08:12:20 PST

The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said he is planning to send the organization's highest ranking aid official to Myanmar, to boost efforts to tackle the crisis caused by Cyclone Nargis which swept through the country at the beginning of the month.

Sea Shepherd Conservation Society: How much is a Whale Worth? $20 Bucks According to the Makah Tribal Court

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:53:48 PST

This was the lead paragraph of the story in the Seattle Times today:

"They promised tough prosecution, but in the end the Makah Nation couldn't put together a jury to try five whalers who were charged with illegally killing a gray whale off Neah Bay last fall.

Researchers Document Rapid, Dramatic 'Reverse Evolution' in the Threespine Stickleback Fish

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:44:10 PST

Evolution is supposed to inch forward over eons, but sometimes, at least in the case of a little fish called the threespine stickleback, the process can go in relative warp-speed reverse, according to a study led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and published online ahead of print in the May 20 issue of Current Biology (Cell Press).

Crystal (Eye) Ball: Study Says Visual System Equipped With "Future Seeing Powers"

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:41:57 PST

Catching a football. Maneuvering through a room full of people. Jumping out of the way when a golfer yells "fore." Most would agree these seemingly simple actions require us to perceive and quickly respond to a situation. Assistant Professor of Cognitive Science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Mark Changizi argues they require something more-our ability to foresee the future.

Afghanistan: WHO confirms 'charmak' disease in Herat Province

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:39:06 PST

Confirmed cases of hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) - also known as "camel belly" or 'charmak' disease - in Gulran District of Herat Province, western Afghanistan, have surpassed 190, and 17 people have died so far, provincial health officials said.

Strange star stumps astronomers

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:38:45 PST

Found with the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico, the star is a pulsar - a compact, rapidly spinning star - called J1903+0327. It lies 20,000 light-years away spinning at a rate of 465 revolutions per second - the fifth fastest-spinning pulsar known in our Galaxy.

Senate Commerce Committee votes to protect ocean

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:28:10 PST

Today, the Senate Commerce Committee approved and referred to the full Senate H.R. 1187, a bill to double the size of the Gulf of Farallones - Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries and protect a unique marine environment off our coast in Northern California.

Senate Passes Farm Bill Including Boxer Provisions

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:26:44 PST

Today, the U.S. Senate passed the 2008 Farm Bill conference report, legislation that increases funding for important nutrition programs, California specialty crops, and conservation programs.

NASA Satellite Finds Interior of Mars Is Colder

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:17:59 PST

New observations from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter indicate that the crust and upper mantle of Mars are stiffer and colder than previously thought.

Atmosphere threatened by pollutants entering ocean, prof says

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:16:00 PST

A large quantity of nitrogen compounds emitted into the atmosphere by humans through the burning of fossil fuels and the use of nitrogen fertilizers enters the oceans and may lead to the removal of some carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, concluded a team of international scientists led by Texas A&M University Distinguished Professor of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences Robert Duce.

Addressing the "Nitrogen Cascade": Incessant Cycling of Reactive Nitrogen in Environment

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:14:56 PST

While human-caused global climate change has long been a concern for environmental scientists and is a well-known public policy issue, the problem of excessive reactive nitrogen in the environment is little-known beyond a growing circle of environmental scientists who study how the element cycles through the environment and negatively alters local and global ecosystems and potentially harms human health.

China Quake May Rattle Hydropower Plans, Global Energy Markets

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:13:41 PST

The massive earthquake that struck Sichuan province last week may have dealt a huge blow to China's plans for a vast network of hydro-electric power dams, and the aftershock could mean more reliance on coal, more pollution and more competition for scarce global energy resources, suggests the author of a new book on the politics of China's epic dam-building campaign.

On the front line - the EU's overseas entities battle climate change

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:10:45 PST

For the first time, the EU's overseas entities, ranging from islands in the tropics to the polar regions and sections of the Amazon rainforest, will get together to learn lessons and act together on climate change adaptation and species loss reduction.

Biodiversity loss puts people at risk

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:09:35 PST

Future generations face hunger, thirst, disease and disaster if we carry on losing biodiversity. And as biodiversity plummets our use of resources soars - WWF now estimates that biodiversity has declined by more than a quarter in the last 35 years.

U.S. offering polar bears better protection than Canada

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:07:46 PST

News that the U.S. is listing the polar bear as 'threatened' under its Endangered Species Act sends a clear signal that Canada is lagging behind in its global responsibility to protect wildlife, says the David Suzuki Foundation.

Greenpeace calls on Governments to ignore Japan and Brazil, and agree crucial deal to make GE industry pay for any damages

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:06:49 PST

Governments gathered at the meeting of Parties to the Biosafety Protocol (1) have failed this week to agree clear rules to make genetic engineering (GE) polluters pay for the damage their crops cause to biodiversity, human health, farmers, and the environment. Japan and Brazil have been particularly obstructive during the negotiations, blocking any attempt to introduce rules to hold GE companies liable.

Billion Tree Campaign to Grow into the Seven Billion Tree Campaign

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:05:46 PST

A unique worldwide tree planting initiative, aimed at empowering citizens to corporations and people up to presidents to embrace the climate change challenge, has now set its sights on planting seven billion trees.

Controls on Biofuel Vital to Help Stop Forest Destruction

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:04:52 PST

The European Union must adopt strict environmental controls for biofuel production, Greenpeace warned on the eve of the EU-Latin America V Summit being held in Lima, Peru on 16 May (1). Large scale production of biofuels threatens the region's forests and other natural environments, which are vital to tackling climate change.

First Steps Lead to Big Reductions of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Fri, 16 May 2008 07:00:20 PST

Forty-two Eugene-area residents took some big steps to improve their environmental friendly living styles after completing a newly developed Climate Master program at the University of Oregon. Their efforts resulted in reduced greenhouse emissions by two tons per person, according to a review of the program's first year.

Why nations fail to act

Fri, 16 May 2008 06:58:41 PST

The international community should take formal steps to justify inaction when conditions of genocide exist anywhere in the world.

Socially Correct Diamonds-A Real Alternative For Consumers

Fri, 16 May 2008 06:57:10 PST

For generations, a mined diamond was the way to show your love for your partner. These diamonds are extracted through massive environmentally harmful mining operations, with many coming from war-torn third-world countries; not exactly a message of eternal love. Being physically, optically and chemically identical to mined counterparts, lab-created diamonds provide a socially-responsible alternative, not only in colorless diamonds but also in fancy blue, pink and yellow ones. D.NEA Diamonds CEO Eric Franklin says "most of our customers are bridal, searching for an alternative to mined diamonds due to environmental, conflict or other social issues. For them, our laboratory created diamond represents a true symbol of love".

Bravo, Apple, Showtime, HBO, Absolut, and Levi's Deemed Most Gay-Friendly Brands, According to Major Gay & Lesbian Consumer Study

Fri, 16 May 2008 06:55:10 PST

Bravo, Apple, Showtime, HBO, Absolut, and Levi's, are the gay-friendliest brands, while WalMart, Dunkin Donuts, Cracker Barrel, Exxon Mobil, and Samsung earn the lowest marks from gay and lesbian consumers, according to the 2008 Prime Access/PlanetOut Gay and Lesbian Consumer Study released today.

Sacrifice

Fri, 16 May 2008 06:42:14 PST

Sacrifice - cartoon by Mike Keefe

Poverty

Fri, 16 May 2008 06:36:53 PST

Poverty - cartoon by Michael Kountouris