California

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Pol's 'Toke Tax' Not Just Blowing Smoke

Time to tax big business clearly here to stay, says California lawmaker

(Newser) - What is San Francisco State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano smoking? He's not backing off his proposed legislation to legalize state pot—and charging a $1-a-joint tax to beef up California's depleted coffers. It's not such a stoner idea, insists the politician, who also works as a stand-up comedian (no, this is...

As Jobs Dry Up, Wannabe Lifeguards Head to Surf City

California's unemployed turn to jobs once held by teens

(Newser) - Huntington Beach, Calif., might be more famous for hosting surfing competitions, but the crowds lined up on the sand yesterday were there looking for work, reports the Los Angeles Times. The economic downturn has buoyed interest in $16-per-hour lifeguard positions, summer jobs once dominated by bronzed teenagers and college students.

Detectives Bust 'Robber' at Police Exam

Suspect traveled from Las Vegas to take California test

(Newser) - A suspected store robber has been caught by California cops—about to take an examination to join a local police force, reports the BBC. The man was on police radar since signing up for the exam 2 months ago, but officials were stunned when he actually showed. He took a...

1 in 10 Jobless in California
 1 in 10 Jobless in California 
Feb 28, 2009 10:43 AM CST

1 in 10 Jobless in California

(Newser) - California’s jobless rate soared to 10.1% in January, the highest in more than 26 years, the Los Angeles Times reports. Some 1,863,000 are unemployed in the state after 79,300 lost their jobs last month. On top of the usual culprits such as manufacturing and retail,...

Med Marijuana Backers Cheer End to Raids

(Newser) - Supporters of medical marijuana are celebrating a remark by Attorney General Eric Holder that went largely unnoticed this week, MSNBC reports. Asked about federal drug raids on state-approved dispensaries that led to 775 arrests, Holder said such busts are a thing of the past. What President Obama "said during...

Grabby Octopus Blamed For Calif. Aquarium Flood

She pulled out tank's water tube

(Newser) - A curious octopus caused a flood that soaked the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium with 200 gallons of water, the Los Angeles Times reports. A tiny two-spotted octopus “grabbed the tube that pulls out the water and caused it to spray outside the tank,” the aquarium’s education specialist...

Mayor Sent Email With White House Watermelons

Black recipient 'horrified' by joke

(Newser) - The white mayor of Los Alamitos, Calif., thought it would be funny to send an email to a black constituent that contained a photo of the White House with a watermelon patch in front. Now, of course, Dean Grose is deeply apologetic for his "poor judgment" and says he...

Hearst May Shut Down San Francisco Chronicle

(Newser) - More bleak news from the world of newspapers: Hearst is threatening to shut down the San Francisco Chronicle—the nation's 12th largest daily—unless it makes massive cuts. Otherwise, Hearst will seek a buyer for the 144-year-old paper, which lost $50 million last year and is doing worse in 2009,...

Calif. Legislator Wants to Tax, Legalize Pot

Knows 'jokes coming,' but says his broke state could net $1B

(Newser) - A California lawmaker thinks he has a solution for the state’s fiscal woes: Tax marijuana. Assemblyman Tom Ammiano has introduced a bill that would legalize, regulate, and tax pot, treating the drug like alcohol or tobacco, the Los Angeles Times reports. “I know the jokes are going to...

Rains Hit California, but Drought Fears Remain

Weekend brings annual rainfall level closer to normal

(Newser) - California saw steady rain this weekend, but it’s still too early to know if the state’s water woes are over, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The recent rains brought the state’s total rainfall up to 90% of normal levels for the year; 2 weeks ago only 60%...

California Has a Budget, but Trouble Looms in May

Critics say another crisis looms

(Newser) - California's budget fight is officially over. For now. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law yesterday a budget package that closes the state's $41 billion shortfall, but not before making $1 billion in line-item trims. The governor cut personnel budgets for state officials by 10%, $400 million in prison funding, and $510...

Octuplets' Birth Certificates List No Dad

(Newser) - The birth certificates of most of Nadya Suleman’s children list no father, TMZ reports, though all 14 kids have the surname Solomon. A "David Solomon"—who may be from Israel, based on a liberal interpretation of the documents—is listed as the father of four of Suleman’...

Twitterers Help Lance Get His Bike Back

Twitter, Facebook kept bike in the news

(Newser) - Turns out celebs can use Twitter for more than just ranting against loud neighbors: Lance Armstrong used social networking sites to get his bike back, the Telegraph reports. He issued an “APB” to his 140,000 Twitter followers, and on Facebook, a group popped up named “1 Million...

California OKs Long-Delayed Budget
 California OKs 
 Long-Delayed Budget 
update
Feb 19, 2009 9:43 AM CST

California OKs Long-Delayed Budget

Dems make big last-minute concessions

(Newser) - The California Assembly quickly stamped its approval on a state budget passed by the Senate early this morning, ending a 3-month budget deadlock. The final Republican vote needed to pass the bill came with steep concessions, though billions of dollars in tax hikes and program cuts remain intact, the Los ...

Man Kills Self in SoCal Televangelist's Cathedral

Fired gun while tour guide discussed anti-suicide program

(Newser) - A man shot and killed himself in front of a cross inside televangelist Robert H. Schuller's Crystal Cathedral yesterday as a nearby volunteer told a group of visitors about the church's suicide-prevention program, police and church officials said. The man handed a note and his driver's license to two ushers,...

LA Moves to Ration Water
 LA Moves to Ration Water 
Feb 18, 2009 2:11 AM CST

LA Moves to Ration Water

Statewide water shortage means LA may impose first water limits since 1991

(Newser) - Los Angeles is taking steps toward rationing water for the first time since 1991, reports Reuters. The LA Department of Water and Power has approved a plan to charge a penalty rate for water use over a set monthly limit that will take effect in May unless it is vetoed...

$5K Reward for Sea Lion Killer
 $5K Reward for Sea Lion Killer 
Feb 17, 2009 7:15 PM CST

$5K Reward for Sea Lion Killer

(Newser) - An animal rescue group in California is offering a $5,000 reward to catch whoever is shooting sea lions along the Los Angeles coast. Four of the animals have been shot since the start of the year, the LA Times reports. Fisherman occasionally kill the creatures to keep them away...

GOP Guvs Break With Party on Obama Stimulus

Desperate for cash, they embrace measure DC counterparts spurn

(Newser) - Barack Obama’s relationship with DC Republicans is on the rocks, but he couldn’t be getting along better with GOP governors, reports the New York Times. Why? Follow the money. Struggling to balance their budgets, the governors don’t care which party help comes from. “The essence of...

Calif. Can't Settle Budget; Guv Will Begin 20K Layoffs

Remaining state public-works projects to be stopped

(Newser) - California’s legislature couldn’t agree on a budget by the time it adjourned last night, so even as legislators trudge back to negotiate this morning, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will begin proceedings to lay off 20,000 government workers and halt the 275 state-funded public works projects still in action,...

Octuplet Granny: Nadya's a Good Mom After All

(Newser) - The grandmother of the California octuplets has backtracked on a well-publicized, and rather dim opinion of her daughter, Us reports. Nadya Suleman “is trying so hard to take care of these children, and she's a good mother,” her mother, Angela, said. “She's a very good mother,”...

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