California News Roundup - March 23, 2009

Mournful calm follows Oakland firestorm It was early Saturday afternoon, and Curtis Mixon was talking with his 26-year-old nephew. Lovelle Shawn Mixon had called on a cellphone from his newly purchased 1995 Buick as he drove through east Oakland.

Schwarzenegger lends voice to infrastructure chorus Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger joined other political leaders Sunday to push for increased federal spending on infrastructure projects as a way to stimulate the economy and said that "one has to look at" increasing the gasoline tax as a way to pay for such public works improvements.

Skelton: Capitol dysfunction is what makes special interests run "Sacramento is dysfunctional" has almost become a cliche. But Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger repeated it recently and sounded profound -- more profound than he probably intended.

for California's jobless Imagine the federal government offering California more than $2.5 billion to help its unemployed workers. You'd think that lawmakers would leap at the money, especially with the unemployment rate climbing to 10.5% in February. And yet when the Assembly took up a bill last week to make the state eligible for the aid, resistance from Republicans left the measure one vote short of the two-thirds majority needed for speedy passage. Proponents plan to bring a new version of ABX3 23 to the Assembly today, and lawmakers shouldn't hesitate to pass it.

CPS standards for hiring can be strict, or minimal In Kentucky, a state social worker was fired after being accused of driving a child while under the influence of drugs.

Proposed easing of concealed-weapons law draws fire What issue could unite a Republican lawmaker from Southern California and a 46-year-old lesbian from Natomas? Guns, of course.

Litter project hit by turmoil A popular state volunteer program that picks up litter on California highways is snarled in a tangle of bureaucratic goofs, a lengthy rules revision process, and a protracted legal battle between state officials and an anti-illegal immigrant group.

20-week extension for jobless benefits headed for a vote this week Richard Cadena, jobless for months, has a four-letter word for any California lawmaker unsure whether to pass or defeat legislation to extend unemployment insurance benefits: pass.

Governor open to feds raising gas tax for projects The federal government has to look at raising the gasoline tax to pay for public works improvements, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a "Meet the Press" interview that aired Sunday.

The Buzz Off on spring break this week? Word of advice from Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner: Don't party, drive, then land in court. A DUI or booze-related crash may cost you $13,500 – and a life, warn Poizner and the Auto Club of Southern California. They also cite a scary study: a 116 percent rise in alcohol-related deaths among college-aged women. Oh, and then there's L.A.'s rash of DUIs involving young female celebrities. (We had to check: Poizner has no DUIs.)

Walters: Taxable sales decline slams state, locals When California's voters slashed property taxes by passing Proposition 13 in 1978, cash-strapped local governments began looking for new ways to finance their operations.

Oakland police deaths: What went wrong? Killings of several police officers as happened in Oakland over the weekend are rare and significantly impact police training to prevent similar attacks from happening again.

Stark says he'll pay higher taxes Rep. Pete Stark was back in his East Bay district Saturday, just days after admitting that he has been taking a $3,853 tax break on his Maryland home by declaring it his primary residence.

With economy in a rut, is now the right time for state's global-warming law? Even before the recession hit, some California industries worried about the costs of complying with the state's landmark global-warming law. Now, with rising unemployment and a staggering economy, their worry has turned to fear.

No law allows sham pot sales So raids on suspect dispensaries can and should continue
'Federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws,” said President Obama a while back. 'Federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws,” said President Obama a while back. Pot's defenders heard that as welcome relief from federal raids on storefront dispensaries that supply “medical marijuana” to “qualified patients” and all comers with cash.