Web gambling, a popular topic in California and the target of legislation next year, has received a boost from the Obama administration, which issued an opinion that reversed years of policy.
From Reuters' Jim Wolf and Nicole Leske: "A Justice Department opinion dated September and made public on Friday reversed decades of previous policy that included civil and criminal charges against operators of some of the most popularonline poker sites."
"Until now, the department held that online gambling in all forms was illegal under the Wire Act of 1961, which bars wagers via telecommunications that cross state lines or international borders."
"The new interpretation, by the department's Office of Legal Counsel, said the Wire Act applies only to bets on a "sporting event or contest," not to a state's use of the Internet to sell lottery tickets to adults within its borders or abroad."
David Crane, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's fiscal adviser and appopintee to the UC Board of Regents, won't remain as a regent after all: His appointment lapsed after the Senate failed tio confirm him.
From the Bee's Kervin Yamamura: "Finally Some Good News for UC Students, Faculty, and Workers," blared the headline of an 1,100-word news release last week from Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, celebrating Crane's impending departure."
"Former GOP Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named the millionaire investment banker to a 12-year term on the UC board. Democrats, unions and other public pension defenders saw it as a poke in the eye.Crane, a Democrat, was Schwarzenegger's point man on public pensions."
"He contended that the state's three largest funds, including UC's, were committing "generational theft" by understating their liabilities and siphoning money from schools and social programs."
Californian's newly drawn political districts mean a hard time indeed for candidates in inland Southern California. The Press-Enterprise's Jim Miller and Ben Goad have the story.
"Republicans dominated the region, and Democratic caucuses had better prospects elsewhere."
"Beginning next year, however, the Inland region – and particularly its Riverside-San Bernardino core – could see major Assembly and State Senate campaigns thanks to this year’s redrawing of political lines by the Citizens Redistricting Commission."
"In a report earlier this month, the Public Policy Institute of California listed three Assembly districts – the 40th, 60th and 61st – and one State Senate district – the 31st – as potentially highly competitive in 2012."
"All the seats lack incumbents running for re-election. Voter registration is closely matched between the major political parties. In past elections, the districts' voters have supported both Democratic and Republican candidates running statewide."
The 2012 ballot is shaping up as a landmark battleground for initiatives, and one local measure would require Los Angeles porn actors to use condoms.
From Scott Glover in the LAT: "A proposed ballot measure that would require porn actors to wear condoms while filming in the city of Los Angeles has qualified for the June ballot, according to a letter from the city clerk certifying that proponents had gathered enough valid signatures."
"The initiative still faces a legal challenge by Los Angeles City Atty. Carmen Trutanich. Trutanich filed court papers earlier this month saying that Los Angeles voters would have no legal authority to adopt the proposed measure even if it were placed on the ballot."
"Trutanich argued that only the state — not the city — could legally impose rules requiring the use of condoms on porn sets and charging fees to pay for inspections."
"The city attorney's opinion is at odds, however, with that of the head of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which regulates workplace safety."
And speaking of porn, from our "Interesting Jobs" file comes the tale of a Quebec school employee who was let go because she had an after-hours job as a porn star.
"After being fired from a school board job she held for nearly a decade, a Quebec office assistant who moonlighted as a porn actress has wholly embraced the industry that got her into hot water in the first place."
"The woman — who prefers to go by her porn moniker Samantha Ardente — set tongues wagging in the spring when her off-hour escapades came to light after a student recognized her in an adult film."
"Months after she sparked widely varying opinions on her activities, Ardente started a production house for adult films and starred in the company's debut flick."
"I feel positive about everything that happened," Ardente said through a translator. "It was a life experience but I came out a bigger and better person."
Us, too....