California News Roundup- December 30, 2008

Freshman in GOP cross hairs after tax vote abstention -- Freshman Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo, has barely dipped her toes into the roiled waters of the Legislature but is already facing heat from Republicans — for a vote she didn't take. Steven Harmon in the Contra Costa Times -- 12/30/08

Dan Walters: Schwarzenegger again takes on unions -- Arnold Schwarzenegger has uttered a gazillion words since becoming California's governor five years ago, but none has achieved the fame – or infamy – of a two-word epithet he hurled at Democratic legislators eight months into his governorship. "I call them girlie men," Schwarzenegger told a rally at an Ontario shopping center. Dan Walters in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/30/08

State fees for divorces, parking fines other services rise Jan.1 -- Psst, here's a secret for avoiding higher state fees after New Year's Day: Drive carefully, park right, wear seat belts, don't get divorced and stay out of jail. Jim Sanders in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/30/08

New year means new laws take effect in California -- The new year will bring a host of new laws to California, including another crackdown on drunken drivers and new rules for wave pool operators. The list is in the San Jose Mercury -- 12/30/08

Texting in the fast lane becomes illegal on Thursday -- When California becomes the seventh state in the nation to ban text messaging Thursday, dispatches from the fast lane will become a violation of the state vehicle code, subjecting drivers caught writing them or reading them to a $20 fine for the first offense and $50 for repeat offenses. Bruce Newman in the San Jose Mercury -- 12/30/08

Hands-free cell phone not always safe -- Think you're safer using that hands-free cell phone instead of driving one-handed? Think again. Whether it's hands-free or hand-held, drivers yakking on phones are four times as likely to crash, according to a report released this month from a national traffic safety group. Sue Doyle in the Inland Daily Bulletin -- 12/30/08

State controller in hospital after chest pains -- State Controller John Chiang, who oversees California's dwindling cash reserves with the state in fiscal crisis, has been hospitalized after having chest pains, his spokeswoman said Monday. Matthew Yi in the San Francisco Chronicle -- 12/30/08

Many California health workers not checked for criminal pasts -- The Department of Consumer Affairs estimates that nearly a third of the state's 937,100 licensed healthcare workers have not been screened through fingerprinting. Charles Ornstein and Tracy Weber in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/30/08

Some nonprofits pleasantly surprised by donations in tough economy -- Nonprofit groups that serve needy people in the Sacramento area got an unexpected dose of good cheer this holiday season. Braced for lean times in a woeful economy, many are reporting holiday campaigns that matched or even exceeded donations of previous years. Cynthia Hubert in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/30/08

Mortgage loans rise at credit unions -- California's credit unions, bucking the lending squeeze in commercial banks, saw their mortgage loan portfolios grow to nearly $54 billion in the third quarter of the year as they shifted to making more fixed-rate loans to new home buyers. Roger Showley in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 12/30/08

Overqualified, Underemployed: Job seekers find wealth of experience can lead to poverty -- As Mike Wilczewski pulls a heavy file of job applications from his briefcase, a piece of paper slips out. He looks at it, smiles and slips it back into his briefcase. Eve Hightower in the Modesto Bee -- 12/30/08

Inland Empire officials await stimulus details -- Inland Empire officials are getting ready to lobby for a share of a potentially large sum of federal stimulus money, but important details have yet to be resolved. The biggest detail, of course, is whether any money will be available. Andrew Edwards in the San Bernardino Sun -- 12/30/08

Sale of IndyMac to partnership likely -- Well-known investors are expected to strike a deal with FDIC for the lender by Wednesday. E. Scott Reckard in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/30/08

Calpers, Pursuing Best Prices, to Broaden Its Broker Roster -- The California Public Employees' Retirement System is set to deploy a new stock-trading model as it seeks to promote competitive prices and seek out firms that are often overlooked. JOHN KELL in the Wall Street Journal -- 12/30/08

LAUSD's $400 million crisis -- Kindergarten classes could grow to nearly 40 children. Some 45 million meals for poor students might not be served. Art classes will likely be history. And hundreds of teachers could lose their jobs. George B. Sánchez in the Los Angeles Daily News -- 12/30/08

Some schools refuse to write off cursive -- About five years ago, San Juan High School teacher Shirley Bowers realized that half her students had no idea what she was writing on the board. Melissa Nix in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/30/08

Gasoline prices fall in U.S. but edge up in California, raising concern -- The U.S. average drops 4 cents in the last week to $1.613 a gallon. California's average climbs 0.4 cent to $1.810. Some groups blame refiners for a reduction in stockpiles. Ronald D. White in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/30/08

Bay Area commutes: Not as bad as you think -- Patent attorney George Leavell spends a lot more time getting to work than some Bay Area commuters. But don't cry for Leavell. Mike Swift in the San Jose Mercury -- 12/30/08

In San Francisco, 'congestion pricing' is something they're sneezing at -- The plan could charge motorists $3 to drive into downtown during peak commute hours and another $3 to leave. The reaction has ranged from lukewarm to downright hostile. Maria L. La Ganga in the Los Angeles Times -- 12/30/08

Oil spills prompt temporary closure of Santa Barbara County plant -- Fire officials say a Greka Oil & Gas Co. facility near Santa Maria had three releases in as many days. It will be allowed to resume operations when deemed safe. AP -- 12/30/08

Mediator joins talks over unloading ship -- A third day of work on a key part of the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge was lost Monday as state transportation officials, their project contractor and longshore workers tried to negotiate an end to a thorny union labor squabble. Demian Bulwa in the San Francisco Chronicle Sean Maher in the Oakland Tribune -- 12/30/08

Sacramento adds ball drop to New Year's Eve fireworks -- There's never anything to do in Sacramento, eh? That can't be said this New Year's Eve, when our local cowtown goes hog wild – with not one, but two free outdoor celebrations. Ed Fletcher in the Sacramento Bee -- 12/30/08

Paint makeover spruces up aging Mount Soledad cross -- Professional painter Jim Codde would say a prayer whenever he drove past the aging Mount Soledad Cross in La Jolla – that one day he would be able to restore the landmark to its original glory. Someone listened – to his pro bono pitch, if not his prayer. Matthew T. Hall in the San Diego Union-Trib -- 12/30/08