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California

Heidi DeJong Barsuglia Denies Mike Duvall Affair: Energy Lobbyist Reinstated After Recorded Sex Talk

AP | JULIET WILLIAMS | Posted 11.02.2009 | Politics

Read More: California, Mike Duvall Affair, On Tape, Lobbying, Lobbyists, Audio, Mike Duvall, Recorded, Duvall, Barsuglia, Lobbyist, Sex Chat, Microphone, Video, Sex Talk, Sex Conversation, Sempra Energy, Yorba Linda, Gop, Heidi Dejong Barsuglia, Politics News

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — An energy lobbyist who was the subject of an investigation after a former California lawmaker was caught on tape bragging a...

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Two Percent Ain't Good Enough

Daniel Heimpel | Posted 11.02.2009 | Living

Read More: Public Schools, Education, California, Children, Usc, Public Education, Foster Care, Los Angeles, Relationships, Living News
Daniel Heimpel

Within 18 months of leaving the system, 1/4 of children in foster care will have been incarcerated, 1/5 will have experienced homelessness and 1/3 will suffer major depression.

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Job Losses? Not in North Dakota. A Stimulus Plan That Really Works

Ellen Brown | Posted 11.02.2009 | Business

Read More: State Deficits, Banking Crisis, Fractional-Reserve-System, Job Loss, Unemployment, Farid Khavari, Bank of North Dakota, President Obama, North Dakota, Florida, Montana, State-Owned Banks, Job Creation, California, Business News
Ellen Brown

Why is North Dakota doing so well, when other states are suffering the ravages of a deepening credit crisis? Its secret may be that it has its own credit machine.

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A Sad Day for Californians: Gavin Newsom's Withdrawl from the Race for Governor

Sarah Granger | Posted 10.31.2009 | Politics

Read More: Gavin Newsom, California, Governor, Politics News
Sarah Granger

While I'm saddened he will not be continuing his run for Governor of California at this time, I feel lucky we still have Mayor Newsom in San Francisco to continue fighting the good fight.

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Schwarzenegger: F-Bomb In Veto Letter Was "Wild Coincidence"

The Huffington Post | Lila Shapiro | Posted 10.30.2009 | Politics

Read More: Governor Schwarzenegger Fuck You, California, Schwarzenegger Wild Coincidence, Schwarzenegger Acrostic, Acrostic Poem, Schwarzenegger Secret Message, Lawmakers, Schwarzenegger Coded Poem, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Schwarzenegger Veto, Schwarzenegger Coincidence, Schwarzenegger F-Bomb, Arnold Schwarzenegger Letter Fuck You, Arnold Schwarzenegger "Fuck You" Veto, Schwarzenegger Fuck You, Schwarzenegger Veto Fuck You, Fuck You Wild Coincidence, Politics News

It's just one of those wild coincidences, like Thomas Jefferson and John Adams dying the same day, exactly 50 years after they signed the Declaration ...

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Henry Miller and a Sunday in Big Sur

Alex Henry | Posted 11.01.2009 | Style

Read More: Hieronymus Bosch, Tropic of Cancer, Carmel, California, Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch, Big Sur, Henry Miller, Tropic-of-Capricorn, Dumas, Emil White, Voltaire, Gombrowicz, Montaigne, Style News
Alex Henry

I was not far into Big Sur and the Oranges of Hieronymus Bosch by Henry Miller, but I was sufficiently delighted by what I had read that I decided I must visit this place.

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Costco: Food Stamps Will Be Accepted

Seattle Times | Melissa Allison | Posted 10.28.2009 | Business

Read More: Harlem, Welfare, Big Box Retail, California, Food Stamps, Economy, Jim Sinegal, Washington State, Recession, New York, New York City, Big Box Retailer, Groceries, Costco, Food, Michigan, Business News

Costco Wholesale plans to accept food stamps at its warehouse stores nationwide, a major shift for a company that earlier this year said it doubted th...

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Push To Legalize Marijuana Gains Ground In California

nytimes.com | JESSE McKINLEY | Posted 10.28.2009 | Politics

Read More: Legalized Marijuana, California, Marijuana, Medical Marijuana, Pot, Marijuana Legalization, California-Marijuana, Pot Legalization, Legalize Marijuana, Politics News

These are heady times for advocates of legalized marijuana in California -- and only in small part because of the newly relaxed approach of the federa...

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Schwarzenegger "F*** You": Did Gov Send Lawmaker Obscene Message Through Acrostic Poem? (PHOTO): UPDATE

AP/ The Huffington Post | JUDY LIN | Posted 10.30.2009 | Politics

Read More: Governor Schwarzenegger Fuck You, California, Acrostic Poem, Schwarzenegger Acrostic, Schwarzenegger Secret Message, Schwarzenegger Coded Poem, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Lawmakers, Schwarzenegger Veto, Schwarzenegger F-Bomb, Arnold Schwarzenegger Letter Fuck You, Arnold Schwarzenegger "Fuck You" Veto, Schwarzenegger Fuck You, Schwarzenegger Veto Fuck You, Politics News

UPDATE: Gov. Schwarzenegger has denied that he intentionally sent an obscene message to lawmakers. The Governor claimed it was one of those "wild coin...

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California: An Example of State Action on Workplace Flexibility

David Gray | Posted 10.28.2009 | Politics

Read More: Family-Work-Issues, Family-Leave, Family, Workers, Workplace, California, Politics News
David Gray

Work family conflicts are real and growing. There is a mismatch between the needs of families and the structure of work. Creative public policy is part of the solution.

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A Reasonable Case For Regulation

Rep. Jackie Speier | Posted 10.26.2009 | Politics

Read More: Sec, Lehman Brothers, Financial Services Committee, Regulation, Rating Agencies, Moody's, Fitch, Standard & Poor, Financial Regulation, Jackie Speier, California, Politics News
Rep. Jackie Speier

How would you feel if you discovered that a highly-rated bond received its grade not because the company is strong, but because the rating agency assumed the government would bail the company out?

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Car Dealers Exempt From New Consumer Protection Agency

Steve Parker | Posted 10.22.2009 | Business

Read More: Walt Minnick, White House, National Automobile Dealers Association, North Dakota, Congress, California, Mike Castle, John Campbell, President Obama, Cfpa, Cars, Federal Reserve, Federal Trade Commission, Mississippi, Consumer Financial Protection Agency, Delaware, Travis Childers, House Financial Services Committee, Business News
Steve Parker

The House Financial Services Committee approved a key amendment Thursday, 47-21, to keep automobile dealers exempt them from a new government consumer protection agency.

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Schwarzenegger Delivers Gun Violence Prevention Advocates Victory In California

Paul Helmke | Posted 10.22.2009 | Politics

Read More: Gun Violence, Gun Control, California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Illegal Guns, Guns, Barack Obama, Ammunition, Politics News
Paul Helmke

Last week, Governor Schwarzenegger signed a law that requires handgun ammunition to be treated by retailers in much the same way that cigarettes, cold medicines and even spray paint are treated.

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Schwarzenegger Blames Budget Woes On "Judges Going Absolutely Crazy"

The Sacramento Bee | Kevin Yamamura | Posted 10.22.2009 | Politics

Read More: California Budget, California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Politics News

After railing against labor unions, waste and fraud in the past, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday found a new target to blame for California's ...

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Is CNBC Pimping for State Street Bank?

Jerry Brown | Posted 10.21.2009 | Business

Read More: Attorney General Jerry Brown, State Street Bank and Trust, California, Wall Street, Calpers, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, Cnbc, Jerry Brown, State Street Bank, Calstrs, Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, Eliot Spitzer, Business News
Jerry Brown

In my book, there's nothing 'quaint' about corporate fraud or ripping off pension funds. So, I'll continue to bring the high-priced rip-off artists like State Street Bank to justice, regardless of CNBC sneers.

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Jerry Brown, California AG, Squabbles With CNBC (VIDEO)

Posted 10.21.2009 | Business

Read More: Cnbc, State Street Bank and Trust, California Attorney General, California, Jerry Brown, Business News

Yesterday, California Attorney General Jerry Brown announced an enormous, $200 million lawsuit against Boston-based State Street Bank. But, when Brown...

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Divergence, of Course

Max Fraad Wolff | Posted 10.20.2009 | Business

Read More: Alabama, California, Bankruptcy, Federal Budget Deficit, Wall Street, Main Street, Fannie Mae, Foreclosure, Household Debt, Business News
Max Fraad Wolff

Despite the excitement over the stock markets, credit markets remain ground zero. They are where defaults destroy fortunes but they are also crucial to US industrial growth.

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Holder's Baby Step On Medical Marijuana

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.25.2009 | Politics

Read More: 2835, Necessity, Medical Necessity, President Obama, Glaucoma, Marijuana, Barney Frank, Dea, Doj, Raid, Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative, Medical, Medical Marijuana, Obama, War on Drugs, Injustice, Drug, Eric Holder, California, Drug Enforcement Agency, Gonzales v Raich, Federal Prosecutor, Schedule I, Schedule, Ed Rosenthal, Marinol, Schedule II, Medical Use, US v Rosenthal, Drug War, Department of Justice, Justice, Federal Attorney, Oakland, Gag Rule, Federal, Attorney General, Necessity Defense, US v OCBC, Justice Department, Barack Obama, Holder, Controlled Substances Act, Ag, Cannabis, Chris Weigant, Ashcroft v Raich, hr2835, Drug Policy, Medical Necessity Defense, Raich, Ocbc, Rosenthal, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Obama's plan is good news for medical marijuana advocates, but although this is a historic shift in the War on Drugs, it does not go far enough because it does not resolve the illogic of the underlying legal issue.

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Nurses Threaten To Strike Over Swine Flu

AP | SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER | Posted 10.19.2009 | Home

Read More: Strike, California, Swine Flu Vaccine, Nurses, Preparation, Swine Flu Nurse Strike, Swine Flu, California Nurses Association, H1N1 Vaccine, Catholic Healthcare West, California Nurses Union, Nursing Strike, Swine Flu Preparedness, Vaccine, H1n1, Home News

LOS ANGELES — A California nurses' union has threatened a one-day strike at 34 hospitals, accusing the providers of poor swine flu preparedness....

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New Medical Marijuana Policy: Obama Administration Will Not Seek Arrests For People Following State Laws

AP | DEVLIN BARRETT | Posted 10.19.2009 | Politics

Read More: Pain, White House, Marijuana, Marijuana Policy Project, Orgeon, Doj, Eric Holder, Decriminalization, Nevada, Marijuana Laws, Obama, War on Drugs, Patients, New Mexico, Colorado, Prescriptions, California, Suppliers, Washington State, State Laws, Weed, Michigan, Medicine, Maryland, Montana, Users, Medical Marijuana, Vermont, Rhode Island, Justice Department, Drug Enforcement Agency, Maine, New Medical Marijuana Policy, Health, Hawaii, US Attorneys, Alaska, Politics News

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers as long as they conform to state laws, under...

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Hurricane Rick: Storm Becomes Category 5 Hurricane Off Mexico

AP | Posted 10.18.2009 | World

Read More: Hurricane, Hurricanes, California, National Hurricane Center, Updates, Hurricane Rick, Forecast, Mexico, Acapulco, Weather, Rick, Baha, World News

MIAMI — Forecasters say Hurricane Rick is the strongest hurricane in the eastern north Pacific Ocean in more than a decade. The U.S. National H...

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Step Up to Mike's Challenge

Linda Milazzo | Posted 10.20.2009 | Politics

Read More: Roger and Me, Barbara Boxer, Fair Elections Now Act, Houses, Lobbyists, Vermont, Connecticut, Jobs, Fahrenheit 9/11, Dianne Feinstein, Contributors, Arizona, California, Capitalism: A Love Story, New Mexico, New Jersey, Clean Money, Maine, Senator Barbara Boxer, iPhone App, Foreclosure, Congressman Henry Waxman, North Carolina, California Fair Elections, Participatory Democracy, S. 752, H.R. 1826, Campaign Finance, Congress, Democracy, Henry Waxman, Democrats, Sicko, Insurers, Corporations, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Corporate Greed, Medical Treatment, Iphone, Banks, Michael Moore, Republicans, Senate, Campaign Finance Reform, Healthcare, Fena, Hardball, Anderson Cooper, Msnbc, Chris Matthews, Cnn, Politics News
Linda Milazzo

Despite all we've learned from Sicko, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Roger and Me, we continue to take abuse. Our pal Mike is now asking us to act.

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Halloween Tragedy: Neighbors Thought Dead Man's Body Was Part Of Halloween Display

latimes.com | Seema Mehta and Martha Groves | Posted 10.17.2009 | Home

Read More: Halloween, California, Halloween Tragedy, Halloween Costumes, Suicide, Marina Del Rey, Mostafa Mahmoud Zayed, Halloween Display, Home News

The body of Mostafa Mahmoud Zayed, 75, an apparent suicide, sat decomposing on his Marina del Rey balcony for days because neighbors thought the lifel...

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Reflections on the Loma Prieta Earthquake, 20 Years Later

Art Agnos | Posted 10.17.2009 | Politics

Read More: Loma Prieta Earthquake, Herb Caen, Mission District, First Responders, Natural Disasters, Red Cross, George Deukmejian, Earthquake, Pete Wilson, Fema, Dianne Feinstein, San Francisco Bay Bridge, California, Santa Cruz, George H.W. Bush, Dan Quayle, World Series, Nancy Pelosi, Disaster Preparedness, Disasters, Marin, Candlestick Park, San Francisco, Fbi, Embarcadero, Presidio, Politics News
Art Agnos

When a disaster hits, it is too late to put your best people in charge of planning and preparation. That's not the place for soft political patronage.

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Making Mediation Mandatory Before Families Lose Their Homes

Pedro Nava | Posted 10.22.2009 | Politics

Read More: Foreclosures, Mortgage Lenders, AB 1588, Home-Ownership, Loan Modification, Loan Mediation, Subprime Lenders, Loan Servicers, Banks, Assemblymember Pedro Nava, California, Pedro Nava, Financial Institutions, Nava, Politics News
Pedro Nava

Mediation is not a one-side concept -- lenders and servicers have every incentive to participate. So what is the better outcome? Foreclosure or a modification that encourage stability?

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