Poet Emily Dickinson may have been a recluse who later in life rarely emerged from the confines of her home in Amherst, Massachusetts, but on Monday, December 14th, the acclaimed 19th century artist will have center stage when This, And My Heart ... a theatre/concert piece interspersing readings of Dickinson's writings with musical settings of her poems ... is presented at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica at 6:30 p.m. "This, And My Heart is a uniquely moving tribute to the great American poet Emily Dickinson," says composer Lori Laitman, whose compositions setting such Dickinson poems as "Will There Really Be A Morning?" and "Dear March, Come In" will be performed by soprano Anne Marie Ketchum and pianist Victoria Kirs... more

SAN FRANCISCO/PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the California-based airline that is reinventing domestic travel, expanded yesterday to the tenth destination in its growing network - South Florida. The new service connects the Golden State to Florida's Gold Coast, with twice-daily nonstop flights from both San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) with low one way fares. To mark the service, the airline is passing along some golden opportunities to deal-seekers from coast to coast, inaugural flight guests and the next generation of golden opportunists. "We're pleased to make the world-class South Florida market the newest destination in our ... more

Washington, D.C. ... In an effort to keep terrorist detainees off U.S. soil and out of U.S. courts, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) signed a discharge petition to bring H.R. 2294, the "Keep Terrorists Out of America Act," to the House floor for a vote. Bono Mack issued the following statement: "Like Americans across the country, I am outraged by the Administration's plan to bring some of the most dangerous terrorists in the world to the United States to benefit from the protection of a flag they sought so hard to destroy," said Bono Mack. "It is unacceptable that months after the 'deadline', a clear plan still isn't in place to ensure our national security will not be compromised by such a careless maneuver. "These terrori... more

Washington, D.C. ... Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that the House Democratic Steering Committee has approved recommendations for committee appointments for two new Members, Congressman John Garamendi of California and Congressman Bill Owens of New York, who were both sworn in earlier this month. "The committees will be well served by the depth of knowledge and fresh perspective Congressman Owens and Congressman Garamendi bring with them to their new assignments," Speaker Pelosi said. "As independent voices for the unique concerns of their constituents, they will be a tremendous resource in the New Direction Congress as we continue to work on behalf of all of America's families." The Steering Committee approved the following reco... more

WASHINGTON, DC ... Farmers in the San Joaquin Valley have helped remove the same amount of air pollution as removing 153,000 cars from California highways, announced Congressman Cardoza. That estimate is based on early projections by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service. As part of its Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), the agency made $22.6 million available last year to help replace older inefficient farm engines and improve farming practices. In all, 586 applicants in California received cost share assistance awards through EQIP. "These results are further proof of something I have said many times over the years: Nobody cares more about the environment than our farmers whose ... more

SACRAMENTO, Calif.,/PRNewswire/ -- Today, the California State Auditor introduced WeDrawTheLines.ca.gov as the official source for all information and questions pertaining to the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission (Commission). California voters authorized the creation of the Commission when they passed Proposition 11--also known as the Voters FIRST Act--last year. "By setting up this Web site, WeDrawTheLines.ca.gov, we are making it easier for Californians to get involved in the process that they approved," said Elaine M. Howle, California State Auditor. "This is the place to go on line to receive any and all information about the creation of the Commission, and I encourage all Californians to visit this site regularly." W... more

PASADENA, Calif. The Pasadena Master Chorale (PMC) gave its debut performance only last May but, from the beginning, reaching out to introduce students to the incomparable joy of choral music has been a key part of the choir's mission. During that first concert, the Washington Middle School Glee Club was invited to sing the treble chorus role in Orff's Carmina Burana ... and, this holiday season, the precedent set last spring will continue, when roughly 30 students from John Muir High School, Blair High School and, once again, Washington Middle School join the 75-voice community chorus in "Christmas with the Pasadena Master Chorale." The program of Christmas favorites will take place on December 11 at 7:30 p.m. at First Congregational ... more

(CLEARWATER, FL) ... PODS (Portable On Demand Storage) welcomes Brian Farris as its Corporate Director of Logistics. Farris is joining PODS from Cardinal Logistics Management Corporation based in Concord, NC, where he was vice president of operations for the mid-Atlantic region. He will be responsible for daily operations of fleet management at PODS, including routing, repositioning and executing strategies to streamline PODS network of branded storage containers. Additionally, Farris will manage and secure all vendor relationships and service agreements. ### About PODS Founded in 1998, PODS currently provides service to a population of more than 238 million consumers, and moving and storage services in 48 U.S. states, Canada and... more

California Democratic Party Executive Board passes a resolution calling for end to war in Afghanistan, sends .clear. message to President Obama to not escalate conflict. SAN DIEGO ... The California Democratic Party Executive Board has approved an extraordinary resolution ... to be forwarded to President Obama ... that generally calls for an end to the occupation and air war in Afghanistan. The resolution (ProgressiveCaucusCDP.org), authored by the party.s California Progressive Caucus, calls for a "time-table for withdrawal of military personnel" as well as an end to the use of "mercenary contractors...(and) air strikes that cause heavy civilian casualties." The Executive Board also passed the Legislative Action and Equal Opport... more

Peace Officer Research Association of California backs council candidate. NORTH HOLLWOOD ... California's largest law enforcement organization, the Peace Officer Research Association of California (PORAC), announced Friday that it has endorsed Los Angeles City Council Candidate Paul Krekorian. The PORAC endorsement is extremely important in demonstrating Paul Krekorian's strength as the best public safety candidate in this race, especially following his endorsements by Sheriff Lee Baca and the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City. "Paul Krekorian is unquestionably the best candidate for public safety in this campaign. We know that Paul will work closely with law enforcement to protect the people of Los Angeles, because he... more

Businesses in Specific Zip Code Areas Notified of Upcoming Visits. The California State Board of Equalization (BOE) has sent letters to 14,924 retail businesses in 14 different zip codes notifying them of upcoming visits by BOE specialists. The affected zip codes receiving letters this month are: San Pedro (90731, 90732); Pasadena (91106); Northridge (91324); Chino (91710); Covina (91723); Monterey Park (91754); Poway (92064); Indio (92201); Beaumont (92223); Garden Grove (92844, 92845); Los Gatos (95030); and Woodland (95695). The BOE specialists will be canvassing the areas to ensure that businesses are properly registered and paying taxes. The new enhanced compliance effort began in September 2008, with 166 zip codes alre... more

Judges recognize Messina Hof as best winery in Texas; wines win People's Choice awards at San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Wine Competition. BRYAN, TX - Messina Hof Winery & Resort, the fastest-growing award winning winery in Texas, left the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo Wine Competition with one of its most prestigious awards to date. A highly experienced and talented panel of wine critics recognized Messina Hof as "Best of Herd" Winery, or best Texas winery, and two Messina Hof wines won People's Choice awards. "We are proud to be recognized as Texas' best winery based on our long history and performance as a winery," said Paul Bonarrigo, wine-maker and co-founder of Messina Hof Winery & Resort. "We competed with the best Tex... more

NORTH HOLLWOOD ... Pete Sanchez, former City Council candidate and leader of the Valley Village community, endorsed Paul Krekorian this week, another neighborhood advocate to endorse Krekorian. With Sanchez, and former candidates Tamar Galatzan and Mary Benson. Krekorian now has the support of the top-tier finishers in the primary. Their support accounted for about one-quarter of all votes cast on Sept. 22. "I am convinced that there is only one choice for those of us who would like to see a more responsive and accountable City Hall," Sanchez said. "I am supporting Paul Krekorian to be our next City Council Member and I hope you will join me in casting your vote for him. During my campaign, I got to know both candidates and I have studi... more

Jerome E. Horton, Vice Chairman of the California State Board of Equalization (BOE), today announced the expansion of its available online educational products to include the virtual replication of Small Business Fairs and Seminars for Nonprofit Organizations. These online products are a cost effective, convenient way for taxpayers to learn about the BOE tax programs and how to comply with California tax laws. The virtual seminars are designed specifically to enhance the in-person attention taxpayers can get through sales and use tax classes offered in BOE offices, and seminars offered throughout the state. The BOE will soon offer a total virtual one-stop-shop option for Small Business Fairs and Nonprofit Seminars. The s... more

LA Labor 411: Union Directory to help public make ethical consumer choices when purchasing goods and services. Los Angeles ... Today the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO released the second edition of its popular, LA Labor 411, a directory of union goods and services, that this year makes it even easier for consumers to purchase products from employers providing good jobs and benefits. The 2010 edition features more consumer goods, an online shopping guide and comparison charts in various industries that makes comparing hotel meeting spaces, political consultants and printers even more simple. "It is all part of our fight for good, middle class jobs," said Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Executive Secret... more

DeVore for California released a new web video exposing the Carly Fiorina campaign's liaison with Democrats and the left -- and its desperate reliance on a campaign of whispers, rumors, and smears against Chuck DeVore. The video (viewable at http://bit.ly/3RgLZc) walks the viewer through the Fiorina campaign's growing alliance with the Democrat left and its media outlets. DeVore for California campaign manager Leisa Brug Kline said, "Dede Scozzafava waited till she dropped out of the race before working with Democrats to defeat a conservative. Carly Fiorina turned to that tactic in week one. If her campaign wants to engage far-left operatives like Sam Stein as proxies, and work with the Huffington Post to attack Chuck DeVore, th... more

Doten Becomes the Only Young Democrat Elected to California's Delegation to the DNC. San Diego - In a three-day election that ended on Sunday, November 15, 2009, the Executive Board of the California Democratic Party elected two Democrats to California's Democratic National Committee (DNC) delegation: Laurence Zakson and Becca Doten. Zakson is a prominent labor and campaign finance attorney and Doten is the Communications Director for a Los Angeles City councilmember. The election filled two vacancies in the California delegation. The female vacancy was created by the unfortunate passing of Inola Henry earlier this year. Henry was a respected activist and an institution in the California Democratic Party. "Inola was an inspirationa... more

SACRAMENTO ... Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation by State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), which aims to restore the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and ensure an adequate supply of water for California in the years ahead. Simitian's Senate Bill 1 (in the Seventh Extraordinary Session) was praised by Governor Schwarzenegger. "For four decades California has been in the midst of a Holy Water War and just last week the legislators came together to approve a comprehensive historic water agreement," said Schwarzenegger. "Today I am excited to be signing the final bill of package that will leave our children and grandchildren a safe, clean and reliable water supply for the next 40, 50, 60 years and beyond." Senate B... more

Oakland ... The Senate and Assembly select committees on Improving State Government convened last week to hear testimony on ballot box budgeting and initiative process reforms. The joint hearing was the second of five highlighting key areas in which the state government needs reform. The committees' work will culminate with the introduction of reform legislation when the Legislature reconvenes in January. Recently released polls show Californians want change, but are unclear how to achieve the change that is truly needed. While Californians want lasting and meaningful reforms, a Public Policy Institute of California report released in September shows waning trust in those who could make the desired reforms. "We think we can change th... more

BURLINGTON, VT ... Democracy for America, our nation's largest progressive political action community, endorsed Henry Vandermeir for DNC Delegate. As president of the California Democratic Council, Vandermeir has focused on bringing training and organizing resources to more than 400 clubs and counties across the state. He has been active in the California Democratic Party for 10 years and currently serves on the executive board. "As a longtime activist and organizer, Henry will ensure that training and organizational resources are a priority on a national level, something that's a high priority for us at DFA," said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. "We're confident he'll be a voice for progressive Democrats across California." "He's also bee... more

---Theater Review CARBON BLACK, written by Terry Gomez (Comanche) and directed by Randy Reinholz (Choctaw), the Producing Artistic Director and co-founder of Native Voices at the Autry, is billed as a humor-tinged suspenseful psychological drama. The play certainly delivers drama and suspense in a succession of disturbing scenes that tear at the heart and quicken the pulse, but it's hard to find humor in a story about an agoraphobic woman and the young son she's all but imprisoned with her unreasonable fear. Early on we recognize their topsy-turvy relationship. Carbon "Inky" Black (played by Michael Drummond) takes care of his mother, while she struggles to maintain her role as the parent. As the story progresses, we see a constant ... more

To Speaker Pelosi.s dismay, proponents now work to add Congress to Proposition 11 coverage. As census outreach workers begin their efforts to ensure that everyone is counted and the California State Auditor finalizes the regulations and applications for the First Citizens Redistricting Commission under the so-called "California Voters First Act," Democratic political insiders are worried that the Democratic Party.s margin in the California state legislature will be reduced and the Democrats will be even further from the 2/3 majority vote needed to pass a budget. While litigation to block implementation is anticipated, experts from both parties think it likely that there will be at least one election cycle in the districts drawn by t... more

SACRAMENTO ... Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim), a vigorous supporter of legislation to save the Delta and ensure water sustainability for all Californians, congratulated Governor Schwarzenegger for signing the Legislature's historic, comprehensive water bill package that outlines California's water future. The Governor was in Friant yesterday signing SB 2 X7, a bill that authorizes an $11.1 billion water infrastructure bond on next November's statewide ballot. Schwarzenegger called on the Legislature to meet in an extraordinary session to address California's water crisis early in October. Assemblyman Solorio worked tirelessly in the ensuing weeks to garner support — and votes — for the resulting bipartisan water pack... more

In the game of bridge, participants have a partner. But recently members of the Pasadena San Gabriel Bridge Unit 559 developed a unique new partnership when the organization presented a $1000 donation to Elizabeth House, a shelter for homeless pregnant women and their children located in Pasadena. "The Pasadena San Gabriel Bridge Unit has been involved in supporting Elizabeth House for the past several years," Rand Pinsky, Los Angeles County Representative to the National Board of the American Contract Bridge League, told those attending the check presentation ceremony at the San Marino Recreational Center. "I did my own research and found that Elizabeth House is indeed a highly respected organization that is making a difference in this ... more

SAN FRANCISCO ... While Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) called Friday's signing of several water bills "historic," several San Francisco leaders and environmentalists object to the water deal and believe that it is more of a 19th Century solution to a current day problem. "This water package is a bad deal for San Francisco and the Bay-Delta ecosystem," said Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), who voted against the water bills. "Not only does it ignore San Francisco's conservation efforts, it threatens our long-standing water rights. While San Francisco should contribute to the solution, a water deal should not be at such a high expense for our city's residents or jeopardize our state's environment." "This water pa... more

Palm Springs, CA -- In an effort to keep dangerous terrorists out of California, Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) today launched today an online petition calling on President Obama to keep Guantanamo Bay detainees from being transferred to the State of California. "We as Californians need to band together to let the Administration and the Majority in Congress know that we do not want these dangerous criminals in our prisons or on our streets," said Bono Mack. "I join with the majority of Americans in being outraged by the Administration's decision to bring deadly terrorists to U.S. soil without a clear plan that would ensure our safety." "It is clear that the Majority in Washington is willing to score political points at the exp... more

The report, Dangerous by Design: Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths (and Making Great Neighborhoods), compiles a variety of statistics on America's major metropolitan areas and states. An update of the 2004 Mean Streets report, Dangerous by Design was released by Transportation for America (T4America.org) and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership. While the report included San Francisco with most of the East Bay in its analysis of major metropolitan areas, Walk San Francisco used the same data sources to extract San Francisco-specific numbers. The report found that nationally there are 1.53 pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 people. In San Francisco, that rate is 2.60 pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 peop... more

At 11:15 p.m. Eastern Time, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the historic passage of a health care bill revamping the health care system and bringing about the reforms promised by President Obama during the November 2008 election. The vote was 220 to 215 with one Republican, Representative Cao from Louisiana, voting in favor of the bill. The vote capped almost 12 hours of debate during which an amendment was passed to assure that no federal funds would be used to pay for or subsidize any abortions. The health care overhaul was a centerpiece of the Democratic agenda in the 2008 election and dominated the work of Congress during the first 10 months of 2009. With its passage, all eyes are turned toward the United States Senate, whe... more

PASADENA, Calif. Considering that they attend 32 different schools and colleges throughout Southern California, it's probably fair to say that many of the members of the Pasadena Young Musicians Orchestra (PYMO) are used to traveling varying distances to attend weekly rehearsals in Pasadena. But on Sunday, November 22, at 3:30 p.m. , the orchestra's musicians ... as well as its audience ... will have a chance to 'travel' worldwide via music, when PYMO presents "My Land, My Music" at Sexson Auditorium on the campus of Pasadena City College (PCC). Among the works on the program are The Three Cornered Hat by Manuel de Falla; Finlandia by Jean Sibelius; Pyotr Tchaikovsky's The Little Russian; and Aaron Copland's ballet score, Rodeo. ... more

As the House begins to debate the Affordable Health Care for America Act, the following debunks the false claims that Republicans will be expected to make during floor consideration and debate of the bill: 1. GOP CLAIM: The Affordable Health Care for America Act will lead to a government takeover of the health care system. WHAT THE BILL ACTUALLY DOES: The Affordable Health Care for America Act builds on the current private, employer-provided health care system ... and, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, will expand enrollment in private insurance by an estimated 6 million Americans. Rather than creating a "government takeover of health care," the bill is designed to help make the health insuran... more

The ideas that House Republican have put forward as a bill substitute will let insurance companies continue to deny you coverage if you are sick; will do little to make insurance more affordable; and will put insurers ahead of consumers by undermining existing consumer protections. The plan would result in millions of Americans losing the coverage and security they currently have, while giving insurance companies more power to discriminate against patients while accumulating record profits. Rhetoric: The House Republican health care plan expands coverage to those who cannot get insurance now. Reality: The Republicans' bill substitute leaves affordable health insurance out of reach for millions of Americans. >> N... more

WASHINGTON ... Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), Chair of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, today released the following statement on the Congressional Budget Office's analysis of the Republican substitute amendment to H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act: "CBO has confirmed that the Republican substitute isn't a solution, it's the status quo," said Rep. Stark. "They spend $61 billion, and the number of uninsured actually increases relative to today." Some key points about the CBO analysis: >> Doesn't expand health insurance coverage. Seventeen percent of legal, non-elderly residents won't have health insurance ... the same percentage as today. That means in ten years, 52 million Americans ... five million more... more

CBO Estimates Republican Legislation Would Leave 52 Million Americans Uninsured. WASHINGTON, D.C. ... Fifty-two million people would continue to go uninsured if the House Republican health care legislation was enacted, the Congressional Budget Office said tonight. Overall, CBO estimates that the bill would only reduce the number of uninsured by 3 million and would cover 83 percent of Americans by 2019 ... about the same as what would happen under the status quo. In contrast, the House Democratic health insurance reform bill would cover 96 percent of Americans by 2019 and provide an additional 36 million people with access to quality, affordable health care. "Tonight CBO confirmed that the Republicans' only solution for h... more

SACRAMENTO ... Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) recently was recognized as a California Regional Technology Leader for 2009 by TechAmerica. The award is given to legislators who strongly support high-tech in California. Assemblywoman Fiona Ma made the following statement of the award. "I led the effort to pass single sales factor to encourage investment in California by high tech companies, many of whom helped lead the robust economic boom of the '90's," said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma. "If California is to get out of this budget hole, we're going to need to make sure there is a business climate friendly to high tech. I'm honored to be recognized by TechAmerica and thankful for their strong advocacy work on behalf of an industry... more

Lawmaker says "health care reform should improve the quality of care while making the system more affordable and accessible." Washington, DC ... After extensive conversations with her constituents, including her "Medicine Cabinet," Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Venice) today indicated her intention to vote in favor of H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act. "The present system of emergency room health care is unsustainable," said Harman. "I've said all along that our reform efforts should improve the quality of care while making the system more affordable and accessible. The bill before the House goes a long way toward achieving those goals and I intend to vote for it." Harman's Medicine Cabinet, ... more

Schwarzenegger Administration May Not Be Convinced. Sacramento, CA — US Rep. Michael Honda (D-Calif.) is asking that the state's government fully restore its funding program for California's domestic violence shelters. In a July line-item veto, Governor Schwarzenegger eliminated the state Domestic Violence Program, cutting $16.3 million that went directly to shelters. Since then six shelters have closed statewide and dozens of others have reduced staff and services. On October 21 the governor signed an emergency bill to partially restore shelter funding, a measure applicable only to fiscal year 09-10. California's community of domestic violence advocates is now asking that the state identify a permanent source of fundi... more

WASHINGTON - Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) praised House passage of Unemployment Insurance Benefits for an additional 20 weeks for workers in California. The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act, H.R. 3548, passed by a bipartisan 403 to 12 vote. "Congress must protect those who have not yet found employment," said Rep. Stark. "This bill will allow thousands of our neighbors to pay their mortgages and put food on their tables." H.R. 3548 extends Unemployment Insurance benefits for an additional 14 weeks in all states, and 20 weeks in states, including California, with unemployment rates above 8.5%. The legislation also extends two tax provisions from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credi... more

LOS ANGELES ... Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) joined Los Angeles County Assessor Rick Auerbach and other local officials to warn homeowners about misleading and official-looking letters asking for fees to file their property tax reduction requests and to highlight a new law, Assembly Bill 992 (Lieu), which officially outlaws this practice beginning January 1, 2010. "With property values dropping across the state, scammers are preying on unsuspecting homeowners by offering to help lower their property tax bill," said Assemblymember Lieu. "These unscrupulous companies offer to file property tax reduction requests with the county assessor's office, in return for a fee of several hundred dollars from the homeowner. The fact is,... more

HOPE Program would reduce recidivism through closely-monitored probations paired with strict consequences for violators. WASHINGTON, DC ... Congressmen Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Ted Poe (R-TX) introduced legislation that will create a new program to fight drug use and crime. The Honest Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE) Initiative Act, builds on an initiative started in Hawaii that uses intensified supervision of probationers and implements swift and immediate consequences for violators. "There are far too many repeat offenders plaguing our streets and clogging up our judicial system," said Schiff. "Innovative approaches like HOPE help reduce drug use and crime by rehabilitating offenders before long costly jail sente... more

Washington, D.C. ... Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke on the House floor today in support of H. Res. 895, honoring the lives of the brave soldiers and civilians who died or were wounded in the tragic attack yesterday at the Fort Hood Army base in Texas. The House will vote on the legislation later today. Below are the Speaker's remarks. "Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. I thank the gentleman for his kind remarks. I accept them on behalf of the entire House because we have worked in a bipartisan way on behalf of our men and women in uniform and our veterans. "And I particularly want to salute Chairman Edwards' outstanding leadership in that regard in his position as chair of the Military Construction Quality of Life Subcommittee... more

Health insurance reform opponents continue to spread myths ... now about the recently introduced Affordable Health Care for America Act. Below is a response to many of the myths repeated today at the U.S. Capitol. MYTH: The Affordable Health Care for America Act will lead to a "government takeover" of the health care system. FACT: America.s Affordable Health Choices Act builds on the current private, employer-provided health care system ... and, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, will expand enrollment in private insurance by an estimated 6 million Americans. Rather than creating a "government takeover of health care," the bill is designed to help make the health insurance market work be... more

"Bay Area Burden" examines the heavy toll from transportation and housing costs on residents, their communities and the environment; online calculator provides consumers valuable tool to determine their own costs & budget implications. SAN FRANCISCO - Bay Area Burden, a new report released Wednesday by the ULI Terwilliger Center for Workforce Housing finds that the average Bay Area household spends more than $41,000 a year ... nearly 60 percent of their income ... on transportation and housing costs alone. These costs vary among the nine Bay Area counties examined, ranging from 54 percent in Santa Clara to 66 percent in Sonoma. But the study finds that one fourth of all households in the Bay Area live in neighborhoods where ho... more

Washington, DC ... John Garamendi, a former California Lieutenant Governor, State Insurance Commissioner, state legislator, and Deputy Interior Secretary, was sworn into Congress by Speaker Nancy Pelosi today. A link to Garamendi's swearing in ceremony and speech is available here. "Madame Speaker, if I might just tell you what a great privilege it is for me to be here. I look forward to working with all of you. We have many issues I look forward to addressing," Garamendi said. Garamendi added, "I want to thank the voters in my district and all my constituents for their support, giving me this opportunity to extend what has been the most important thing I think any of us can do, which is to spend our life in public policy addres... more

Pro-worker candidates win 66 of 92 races; nine anti-worker incumbents ousted from mayor's office, city councils and boards in San Gabriel Valley. LOS ANGELES ... A five-week intensive get-out-the-vote effort by working families pushed 14 pro-worker candidates to victory in the San Gabriel Valley on Tuesday. Nine anti-labor incumbents, including one mayor, were ousted. Workers endorsed candidates in 92 suburban and exurban races this election year; 66 of them won. But intense grass-roots campaigning, which included door-to-door GOTV and phone banking, was concentrated in seven San Gabriel Valley cities: Baldwin Park, El Monte, La Puente, Lynwood, Montebello, Palmdale and Pico Rivera. Eighteen candidates were supported by w... more

Washington, DC ... Today, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) lauded bipartisan legislation passed by the California State Legislature to address the state's water crisis. Senator Boxer said, "I commend the legislature and the governor for their successful efforts to approve a comprehensive water package and bond measure that will be presented to California voters. While no legislation is perfect, the bipartisan spirit that led to the passage of these measures will move our state toward meeting the needs of our people, our farming communities and the environment. We must continue to work together, at the state and federal level, on pragmatic short-term and long-term solutions." Senator Boxer and Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) recently... more

Bill extends commitment to Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Basin. Washington, DC ... Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), has joined Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and John Ensign (R-NV) in introducing sweeping legislation to protect Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe Basin from a variety of serious threats. Congressman Dean Heller introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives today along with support from Congresswomen Shelley Berkley, and Dina Titus and Congressman Tom McClintock. The legislation would authorize projects to combat invasive species, reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires, restore Lake Tahoe's water clarity, and protect threatened species and wildlands. It would continue and strengthen the w... more

Sacramento ... On a bipartisan basis the California State Assembly today passed a historic plan to increase water supply reliability while improving the fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the source of drinking water for two-thirds of the state. The plan includes both a comprehensive policy package that improves water conservation, groundwater monitoring, water rights and governance as well as a water infrastructure bond to be placed on next year's ballot. "The package includes conservation and storage, groundwater protection, water rights protection, and Delta protection and represents the most significant water infrastructure and policy advances since the State Water Project in the 1960s," Assembly Speaker Karen Bass said. "This i... more

LOS ANGELES ... State Senator Gilbert Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) and the California Latino Legislative Caucus convened "El Poder Verde" Green Jobs Summit last week in downtown Los Angeles. The summit was organized to bring together public and private sector stakeholders mobilizing the "green movement" throughout the state. Organizers and participants stressed the importance of meeting climate change goals while providing high quality and lasting employment at all skill levels, and in particular, in poor and underserved communities. Chairwoman Karen Douglas of the California Energy Commission gave a keynote address at an opening reception on Thursday evening. She cited California's leadership on renewable energy innovation, targets for lower... more

Washington, D.C. ... U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) praised the Senate's passage of legislation to extend unemployment insurance for nearly 2 million Americans who would have otherwise lost their benefits by the end of the year. The bill will extend benefits by 14 weeks for jobless workers across the entire country and by 20 weeks in states with unemployment rates higher than 8.5 percent, including California. The bill includes a provision which extends homebuyer tax credits to first time homebuyers as well as other qualified individuals who already own homes. The legislation also includes a provision to ease the burden of the economic downturn on struggling businesses by allowing them to use current operating losses to get a refund of p... more

Two-day undercover operation catches more than one dozen phony contractors. SACRAMENTO ... A Contractors State License Board (CSLB) sting operation conducted in San Clemente last week highlights the risks consumers face if they hire unlicensed contractors for home or business improvement projects. CSLB's Statewide Investigative Fraud Team (SWIFT) partnered with Orange County District Attorney's investigators and Sheriff's Department investigators for the operation conducted October 29 and 30, 2009. SWIFT Enforcement Representatives posed as owners of a commercial suite and warehouse in an effort to catch unlicensed, uninsured suspects who submitted bids greater than $500 for construction projects. California Business & ... more

With Los Angeles County marking 50 years of its Civil Defense program while the mother of all disaster films - "2012" - plays in theaters, officials are renewing efforts to prepare the public for catastrophes. more

Nov. 22--Being blind didn't keep Stephanie Enyart from graduating from Stanford University. more

Nov. 20--Responding to growing concerns about the use of force by San Jose police, a City Council committee Thursday turned to officials outside the department to examine the issue. more

Nov. 19--SACRAMENTO -- California's budget deficit will balloon to $20.7 billion over the next 18 months, a report from the state's budget analyst predicted Wednesday, all but promising another year of partisan gridlock as lawmakers labor to fill the gap with more spending cuts and efforts to raise taxes. more

El arbitraje permite solucionar los conflictos entre paises de una manera mas expedita, economica y justa que los juicios. more

Likely delaying passage of a new medical marijuana ordinance, two Los Angeles City Council committees on Monday rejected the city attorney's call for an outright ban on over-the-counter cannabis sales. more

Nov. 13--hmintz@mercurynews.com more

Nov. 12--The East Bay Municipal Utility District is readying a new law that will require homeowners in nine East Bay cities who sell or upgrade to inspect their sewer lines and if they find problems to repair or replace them. more

The yellow '32 Ford rolled clunkety-clunk down the Santa Monica Pier on Wednesday, among 66 vintage cars to commemorate Route 66 and a new "End of the Trail" sign. more

Disabled veterans are eligible for free legal representation while pursuing benefits claims under a new legal project announced today by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the nation's largest free- services law firm. more

Nov. 11--With willow trees, migrating geese and local politicians as his backdrop, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday visited San Jose to sign a new water conservation law that aims to reduce urban use 20 percent statewide by 2020. more

Nov. 11--SACRAMENTO -- For California's limping finances, there was some good news Tuesday: Monthly tax revenues exceeded projections for only the sixth time in more than two years. more

Nov. 11--Republican Mattie Fein formally announced Tuesday that she is running against South Bay Rep. Jane Harman in next year's election. more

Republican Mattie Fein formally announced Tuesday that she is running against South Bay Rep. Jane Harman in next year's election. more

Nov. 10--Over the weekend, I had dinner with a friend, and the talk turned to layoffs at San Jose City Hall. more

The city of Los Angeles shelled out $137 million over the past two years for legal costs - nearly double the previous two-year period and enough to hire nearly 1,300 police officers and cover most of the public works budget, according to a report released Monday. more

Nov. 6--OAKLAND -- Oakland's budget is in trouble again. more

Nov. 5--SACRAMENTO -- Monumental plans to overhaul California's water system -- decades in the dreaming and months in the works -- finally emerged from an exhausted Legislature early Wednesday, defying regional squabbles to become the signature accomplishment in a year mostly lamented for budget cuts. more

Nov. 5--Arguing public interest outweighs privacy concerns, San Jose officials Wednesday ordered release of 911 emergency dispatch recordings and police reports on a May incident in which officers fatally shot a mentally ill man while responding to reports he had attacked a family member. more

Nov. 4--Last spring, San Jose employees cried foul when Mayor Chuck Reed finally outlined what they needed to do to help balance the budget by June 30 with minimal layoffs: zero raises across the board. more

The Small Business Development Center is offering a free workshop, State Labor Law and Payroll Tax, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Carson Community Center, 801 E. Carson St. Call 310-973- 3177 to register. more

Nov. 3--Responding to Mercury News articles raising concerns about the use of force by San Jose police officers, Police Chief Rob Davis announced new layers of internal review to guard against officers' misusing their fists, batons, Tasers and guns to subdue suspects. more

Nov. 2--By Howard Mintz more

Nov. 1--An incremental acceptance of medical marijuana has spurred a cottage industry of business ventures -- from iPhone applications to lobbyists -- whose expansion shows no sign of slowing despite the recession. more

Oct. 28--SACRAMENTO -- Marijuana legalization advocates and law enforcement officials duked it out in a three-hour legislative hearing Wednesday on whether making the drug legal under state law would be good public policy. more

Oct. 29--Whether San Jose needs more rules governing bicyclists riding with dogs on trails became the focal point of a Wednesday night community meeting called after the bizarre death of a woman caught in a dog leash on a popular San Jose trail. more

Oct. 29--By Tracy Seipel more

Oct. 28--SACRAMENTO -- Tell us, governor, how you really feel. more

Oct. 28--San Jose's planning staff will have to revise part of an environmental impact report it prepared in 2006 for a downtown baseball stadium after recently noticing a mistake in data provided by the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority on freeway traffic volume. more

Oct. 27--The San Jose Redevelopment Agency on Monday released its long-awaited budget for 2010 and beyond. more

They were engrossed in a complicated new crew-scheduling program on their laptop computers as their plane flew past its Minneapolis landing by 150 miles -- a cockpit violation of airline policy that could cost them their licenses. more

The El Segundo Board of Education will meet Tuesday for a regular meeting and a budget study session. more

Oct. 25--Time was when the colorful bay checkerspot butterfly was a common sight in much of the Bay Area, from San Bruno Mountain to Mount Diablo, counties in between and south of there. more

The tale of record-level legal costs for Los Angeles County this year would be more satisfying if the villains were more clear-cut. more

LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson was honored with four American Music Awards on Sunday night, making history by collecting more AMAs during his career than any other artist and becoming the show's winningest posthumous artist. more

Meredith Vieira, Matt Lauer and Al Roker host the "83rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," at 9 a.m. on WHDH (Ch. 7). more

When his version of "The Da Vinci Code" was roundly criticized for being plodding and boring, director Ron Howard took it to heart. more

Boston, your agent is on Line 1. more

So, you want to be in pictures? more

Nov. 22--DERBY -- Two Naugatuck Valley towns have apparently been chosen for the setting of a new movie that will hit theaters late next year. more

Nov. 22--"Mamma mia, here I go again / My my, how can I resist you?" more

MADRID - Seven bulls being used on the set of a film starring Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz have broken free in Spain and slightly injured two people. more

Nov. 22--A self-described "geeky" girl when she was growing up on Long Island, Patty Cucco learned early on the value of laughter. more

Here are some tidbits to help tide you over until "Eclipse" moves in June 30: more

Nov. 22--BOONVILLE -- "If you saw that summer in a movie, you wouldn't believe it really happened." more

Nov. 22--Over the last several decades, the landmark operas of Leos Janacek have been emerging from the fringes of the repertory and winning deserved favor with mainstream audiences. more

Nov. 22--Either Hollywood has run out of ideas, or remake fever is infectious. more

Nov. 22--Heading into its winter and spring seasons, the Wexner Center for the Arts is dropping names: filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich and the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, for example. more

Nov. 22--Armen Dirtadian has been performing music in Tucson for 30 years. more

Nov. 22--"Velvet dress shows" -- the name that Fox Associates producer Mike Isaacson bestows on holiday entertainment that brings out little girls in all their finery -- play very well at his rococo extravaganza, the Fox Theatre. more

Donald Glover quit his job as a writer on NBC's "30 Rock" in the spring to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian and actor. more

Nov. 22--There is one name synonymous with Hong Kong action flicks -- John Woo. more

Nov. 22--Christmas season must be coming, because Mark Lazar has been fitted for his dress. more

Nov. 22--LOS ANGELES -- There was a moment where John Hillcoat and Joe Penhall, director and screenwriter, respectively, of "The Road," felt a simultaneous sense of dread. more

METRIC, with BAND OF SKULLS more

Nov. 22--As the holiday hype rises to jangle the nerves, music seems the perfect antidote to cloying seasonal TV movies. more

Nov. 22--The Da Vinci Code was a hugely successful book and movie, so it was pretty much inevitable that author Dan Brown's prequel, Angels & Demons, would find its way to the screen. more

Kevin Knox of Nahant, formerly of Stoneham and Tyngsboro, a headlining comedian, died Monday at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, 18 years after being diagnosed with malignant melanoma. more

Nov. 22--John F. Kennedy was only 46 when he died, and today marks 46 years that have passed since his murder in Dallas. more

Nov. 22--From "Ka" to "Kooza" and "Alegria" to "Zumanity," the Cirque du Soleil has conquered tents, casinos, theme parks and arenas in almost every corner of the world. more

Nov. 22--BILLERICA -- The face of the music industry is changing. more

Nov. 22--There's no single answer to the question of what's happening in jazz right now, but "Historicity" by the kinetic trio led by pianist Vijay Iyer represents one reasonable place to start (**--out of four stars, ACT). more

Nov. 22--It's almost enough to make you stop believin'. more

Nov. 22--If you go more

Nov. 22--Bedford Falls and George Bailey are coming to Aiken for the holiday season. more

Nov. 22--Regis Philbin misses Las Vegas. more

Ugly Betty may be getting her braces off this winter, but she still won't wow viewers as four new female characters on TV have this fall. more

They may not have red noses, but two dancing, prancing reindeer have alighted at Stone Zoo. more

ABC said production on its series "Cougar Town" has been temporarily shut down due to a "family matter" by the show's star, U.S. actress Courtney Cox. more

BURBANK, Calif. and SHANGHAI, Nov. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Walt Disney Company in China today announced the start of production on its third local co-production project in just two years, "Disney High School Musical: China." more

A Red Sox lovin' Chelsea musician knows in baseball it ain't over 'til it's over, so he's appealing his $400 billion copyright infringement suit against Jon Bon Jovi and Major League Baseball after striking out in federal court last summer. more

Nov. 22--Before Thanksgiving gets lost in the crush of Christmas cheer, settle in with new and old children's books about our great American feast, turkeys, Pilgrims and maize. more

Nov. 22--Lucky for you, Neil Goldberg suffers from insomnia. more

The gag in "A Dickens' Christmas Carol (A Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts)" is supposed to be that an inept, understaffed British theater troupe is having trouble staging its annual production of the holiday classic. more

Nov. 22--One thing's unbeatable about Tacoma: how you can drive downtown in ten minutes, find a free parking place one minute's walk from a cool black box venue, pay just $15 and see contemporary dance that Seattlites would kill for (or at least, pay through the nose.) more

Nov. 22--Box sets, when given as a gift, can say, "Hey, I know what you like, so I got this perfect gift for you." more

Nov. 22--The Spokane-filmed Antonio Banderas movie, "The Big Bang," doesn't just have Hollywood names (Sam Elliott), rap stars (Snoop Dogg) and up-and-coming Brits (Sienna Guillory). more

Nov. 22--Claudia Black saw "Sesame Street" for the first time from a 12-inch TV in Ethiopia. more

THE MACY'S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE _ It's not really Thanksgiving until giagantic floating balloons with big smiley faces invade our TV screens in the early morning hours. more

KELLY Jones looked out of his bedroom window and knew he had to take drastic action to stop his dream of becoming a rock star from literally floating away. more

DEVENDRA BANHART, with THE GROGS more

A STAR of acclaimed theatre hit Black Watch is being tipped to take the screen by storm. more

Muse showed exactly why they are rock's men of the moment with a powerhouse of a performance. more

FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD Welcome To The Pleasuredome My favourite track from Frankie Say Greatest... more