A court has flatly rejected Gov. Brown's demand that the federal government stop ordering reductions in California's prison population, saying the state still has a ways to go while putting a deadline in place.
From the Chronicle's Bob Egelko: "A federal court rejected Gov. Jerry Brown's challenge to its orders to reduce California's prison population Thursday. The court told state officials to meet a Dec. 31 deadline to reduce overcrowding by releasing low-risk inmates, or face being held in contempt."
"The three-judge panel ruled in 2009 that health care in the state's 33 prisons was so poor that it violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment, and that the main reason was an inmate population nearly twice the system's designed capacity. In an order the U.S. Supreme Court upheld in 2011, the panel told the state to lower the population by 33,000 inmates, to 109,500."
"Brown's "realignment" program of sentencing lower-level felons to county jail instead of prison has reduced the inmate population to 119,000. The governor declared in January that the prison health system now met constitutional standards, and asked the court to withdraw its population-reduction order."
The governor -- yes, he's still over there in China -- wants the Chinese to invest in California's high-speed rail project.
From the LAT's Anthony York: "Brown's top economic advisor and rail commission appointee, Mike Rossi, met in Beijing with Chinese investors eager for an update on its progress. And China's vice minister of commerce told a hotel ballroom packed with California government and business officials that his country wanted to explore "the possibility of investment in the high-speed rail project in California."
"A few potential vendors have already expressed interest. California rail board chief Dan Richard is set to meet Saturday with the China Railway Construction Corp., the country's second-largest government-owned construction concern."
"On Thursday evening, Brown, Richard and representatives of California-based railroad companies rode China's sleek bullet train to this bustling port city from Beijing, a five-hour trip that covered about 750 miles, roughly the distance from San Diego to the Oregon border. Strolling the aisles, shaking hands with Chinese passengers, Brown extolled the nation's 5,000-mile complex of high-speed rail, built in the last seven years."
There may be a lot more on Treasure Island than land and nice views: There also is nuclear material that has been linked to cancer.
From the Bay Citizen: "Land slated for development on Treasure Island contains elevated concentrations of cesium-137, a byproduct of nuclear fission associated with an increased risk of cancer, according to an independent analysis commissioned by the Center for Investigative Reporting."
"The findings, discovered through soil samples gathered by reporters and tested by two independent certified laboratories, appear to undermine some past statements by the U.S. Navy about the land’s historic uses and the present condition of the island."
Results show cesium-137 levels up to three times that previously acknowledged by the Navy and at least 60 percent higher than the Navy’s own thresholds for environmental safety...Exposure to cesium-137 “can result in cancer risks much higher than typical environmental exposures,” according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency."
Social network guru Mark Zuckerberg and some of his geek allies are getting into politics and advocacy.
From the Mercury-News' Brandon Bailey: "Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and other tech leaders took the wraps off a new political advocacy group on Thursday, while vowing to plunge immediately into the national debate over immigration policy."
"The new group, backed by a who's who of prominent and wealthy Internet industry figures, says it will lobby Congress and the White House, while using cutting-edge social-media tools to mobilize public support for immigration reform, better schools and more funding for scientific research."
"Calling itself FWD.us, or "Forward U.S.," the well-heeled group hinted it may also back individual politicians but did not spell out whether it plans to be involved in election campaigns."
The saga of the Sacramento Kings' potential departure to Seattle -- a topic that has obsessed the state capital for weeks -- took yet another a new twist, when the NBA asked Sacramento guarantee a $30 million nonrefundable fee.
From the Bee's Ryan Lillis and Dale Kasler: "The trade publication Sports Business Daily, quoting anonymous sources, reported today that the NBA has asked the Sacramento investors seeking to buy the Kings to compensate Seattle's investors for the $30 million non-refundable deposit they'd lose if Seattle doesn't get the team."
"Spokesmen for the NBA and the Sacramento bidders declined comment on the report."
"Chris Hansen, Seattle's lead investor, gave the Maloofs, who own the Kings, a $30 million non-refundable deposit as part of his deal to buy the team."