Archive for June, 2010
Whitman hedges on her pledge to not raise taxes
Posted in News, what on June 30th, 2010 by admin – Comments OffReporting from Sacramento —
One of the first actions that Republican Meg Whitman took upon declaring her candidacy for governor was signing a pledge never to raise taxes — but on Tuesday she added a hedge to that vow.
The candidate suggested that she might consider a tax hike in the event of an extreme natural disaster. It seemed a subtle step back, but among the anti-tax crusaders who have persuaded almost every GOP state officeholder and top-ticket candidate to sign the pledge, there is no hedging allowed.
Whitman’s misstep highlights the headaches such absolutist promises can bring, on the campaign trail or in office.
Child’s death illustrates L.A. County’s growing problem resolving backlog of abuse cases
Posted in News, what on June 30th, 2010 by admin – Comments Off
The tip that abuse was taking place in the Long Beach home where 2-year-old Joseph Byrd lived came to Los Angeles County child welfare officials nearly two months ago.
But 57 days after opening an investigation into the allegations, social workers had yet to determine if Joseph was at risk when the toddler was pronounced dead Saturday. Coroner’s officials have listed the case as a homicide.
At the time of Joseph’s death, social workers were still looking into allegations of abuse and neglect in a family that already had been investigated five times, according to sources familiar with their history. Three of those cases were substantiated, sources told The Times.
Child’s death illustrates L.A. County’s growing problem resolving backlog of abuse cases
Posted in News, what on June 30th, 2010 by admin – Comments OffThe tip that abuse was taking place in the Long Beach home where 2-year-old Joseph Byrd lived came to Los Angeles County child welfare officials nearly two months ago.
But 57 days after opening an investigation into the allegations, social workers had yet to determine if Joseph was at risk when the toddler was pronounced dead Saturday. Coroner’s officials have listed the case as a homicide.
At the time of Joseph’s death, social workers were still looking into allegations of abuse and neglect in a family that already had been investigated five times, according to sources familiar with their history. Three of those cases were substantiated, sources told The Times.
Irvine Co. gives 20,000 acres of open space to Orange County
Posted in News, Science, what on June 30th, 2010 by admin – Comments OffA rugged, 20,000-acre parcel of the original Irvine Ranch — a pristine landscape of steep canyons, native grassland and sycamore woodland that is home to golden eagles, mountain lions and dozens of rare and endangered species of plants and animals — became public property Tuesday in a historic deal with the developer who has sculpted the look of modern suburbia in Southern California.
The open-space land, a gift from Donald Bren and the Irvine Co., was unanimously accepted by the Orange County Board of Supervisors, which also approved a long-term plan to manage the natural habitat, designated a National Natural Landmark four years ago. In one swoop, the size of parkland owned by the county grew by more than half.
The transfer of a large part of the historic ranch was an important milestone, placing the last major chunk of open private land in public hands and signaling the end of an era of enormous growth for Orange County.
Irvine Co. gives 20,000 acres of open space to Orange County
Posted in News, Science, what on June 30th, 2010 by admin – Comments OffA rugged, 20,000-acre parcel of the original Irvine Ranch — a pristine landscape of steep canyons, native grassland and sycamore woodland that is home to golden eagles, mountain lions and dozens of rare and endangered species of plants and animals — became public property Tuesday in a historic deal with the developer who has sculpted the look of modern suburbia in Southern California.
The open-space land, a gift from Donald Bren and the Irvine Co., was unanimously accepted by the Orange County Board of Supervisors, which also approved a long-term plan to manage the natural habitat, designated a National Natural Landmark four years ago. In one swoop, the size of parkland owned by the county grew by more than half.
The transfer of a large part of the historic ranch was an important milestone, placing the last major chunk of open private land in public hands and signaling the end of an era of enormous growth for Orange County.
Schwarzenegger wants $11-billion water bond off the November ballot
Posted in News on June 30th, 2010 by admin – Comments OffReporting from Sacramento —
After an exhausting political fight to put an $11.1-billion plan for shoring up the state’s water supply before voters, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger now wants to yank the measure from the November ballot.
The governor is working with legislative leaders to postpone the water bond proposal as its prospects appear increasingly dim. Polls suggest voters may not have the appetite for such borrowing at a time when the state budget is in continuing crisis.
And the governor’s vow to aggressively fight another measure on the November ballot, one that would roll back the landmark global warming bill he signed in 2006, threatens to distract from the effort to get the water bond passed.
Schwarzenegger wants $11-billion water bond off the November ballot
Posted in News on June 30th, 2010 by admin – Comments OffReporting from Sacramento —
After an exhausting political fight to put an $11.1-billion plan for shoring up the state’s water supply before voters, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger now wants to yank the measure from the November ballot.
The governor is working with legislative leaders to postpone the water bond proposal as its prospects appear increasingly dim. Polls suggest voters may not have the appetite for such borrowing at a time when the state budget is in continuing crisis.
And the governor’s vow to aggressively fight another measure on the November ballot, one that would roll back the landmark global warming bill he signed in 2006, threatens to distract from the effort to get the water bond passed.
Live: Elena Kagan Senate confirmation hearing
Posted in News on June 30th, 2010 by admin – Comments Off9:35 a.m. EDT
Day Three of the Elena Kagan confirmation hearings is now underway, with the Supreme Court nominee facing a friendly round of questioning from the remaining members of the Senate Judiciary Committee — all junior Democrats.
As Jim Oliphant reports Wednesday morning, the proceedings included a feisty exchange with the panel’s leading Republican, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, over access to the Harvard Law campus for military recruiters during Kagan’s time as dean. Sessions accused Kagan of acting “without legal authority” to bar recruiters from the school’s Office of Career Services, saying she treated the armed forces as “second class.” Kagan said she was simply following the law.
Live: Elena Kagan Senate confirmation hearing
Posted in News on June 30th, 2010 by admin – Comments Off9:35 a.m. EDT
Day Three of the Elena Kagan confirmation hearings is now underway, with the Supreme Court nominee facing a friendly round of questioning from the remaining members of the Senate Judiciary Committee — all junior Democrats.
As Jim Oliphant reports Wednesday morning, the proceedings included a feisty exchange with the panel’s leading Republican, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, over access to the Harvard Law campus for military recruiters during Kagan’s time as dean. Sessions accused Kagan of acting “without legal authority” to bar recruiters from the school’s Office of Career Services, saying she treated the armed forces as “second class.” Kagan said she was simply following the law.
