Gov. Jerry Brown, under a federal order to reduce the prison inmate population, laid out his controversial plan before a three-judge panel.
From the Bee's David Siders: "In a status update filed with a three-judge panel overseeing the case, the administration said the Legislature is "now actively engaged" in considering the measure. While the plan has the support of Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, D-Los Angeles, and the Republican leadership of both houses, the court filing did not mention significant opposition in the upper house, from Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg."
"The administration called the legislation "an additional means of complying with the population cap to avoid placing undue stress on the state's criminal justice system." However, officials said the state is "continuing to diligently develop the measures in the court-ordered plan."
"In its filing, the administration said it has finalized the framework for a court-ordered early release system, ranking offenders based on criteria including a risk assessment, prior felonies and behavior while incarcerated."
California schools didn't do too well in the latest round of testing intended to measure their progress in meeting the requirements of a sweeping federal law.
From the Chronicle's Jill Tucker: "Across California, just 14 percent of schools made it to the 2013 target under the law, which called for 89 percent of students to have grade-level skills in language arts and math, according to state results released Thursday."
"Few were expected to meet 100 percent proficiency by the end of this school year, said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson."
"While most schools failed to reach the lofty federal goal, many have showed great improvement over the past several years, boosting test scores and graduation rates, which are not acknowledged under No Child Left Behind, he said."
What office is he running for? Mayor? District attorney? Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg, soon to be termed out, is pushing legislation to fast-track the Sacramento sports arena.
From the News and Review's Nick Miller: "The proposed Sacramento Kings arena will soon receive a Kevin Johnson-worthy assist from Darrell Steinberg: The state senate leader plans to introduce an 11th-hour bill to fast-track the proposed downtown arena’s construction and development."
"The pro-tem’s forthcoming bill, confirmed by multiple sources who asked to remain anonymous, will streamline the arena’s environmental review."
"That’s not unusual; Steinberg’s introduced bills in the past to facilitate sports arena’s CEQA review. But the bill also apparently will help out the city with the Kings eminent-domain battle against the Macy’s store at Downtown Plaza, which many consider a controversial move."
Legislation is pending that would give the Public Utility Commission authority to levy a flat $10 charge on customers' electricity bills.
From Capitol Public Radio's Ben Adler: "Right now, California electric rates are based on several tiers of usage: The more energy you use, the more you pay. But because some hot-weather parts of the state use much more power than others, they end up paying more."
"So Fresno Democratic Assemblyman Henry Perea negotiated legislation with utilities and consumer groups that would allow the California Public Utilities Commission to charge everyone a flat fee of up to $10 – thus alleviating some of the pressure on the highest tiers of energy use..."
"But environmental groups say the flat fee would discourage rooftop solar and other energy-saving practices and programs. After all, what's the point in spending all that money up front on solar panels if you'll have to pay the flat fee anyway?"
Jerry Brown is getting a lot of positive national press lately, and the latest lauds his "tough love" recipe for California.
From Rolling Stone's Tim Dickinson: "But in astonishingly short order, America's shrewdest elder statesmen blazed a best-worst way out of California's economic morass. With a stiff cocktail of budget cuts and hard-won new taxes, Brown has not only zeroed out the deficit, he's also begun paying down the debt. "Jerry Brown's leadership is a rebuttal to the failed policies of Republicans in Washington," says Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress. "California is proving you can have sane tax systems, raise revenues, eliminate structural deficits and have economic growth."
"Fed up with the state's own obstructionist Republicans, California voters have even given Brown a Democratic supermajority in the state legislature. As a result, the Golden State is now reasserting itself as a proving ground for the kind of bold ideas that Republicans have roadblocked in Washington – including a cap-and-trade carbon market, high-speed rail and education-funding reform."
"As a younger man, Brown suffered an acute case of "Potomac fever," bidding three times for the White House and once for the U.S. Senate, suffering each time the sting of rejection. But after a career reboot beginning in 1999 that saw him serve as mayor of Oakland and state attorney general, he defeated Romney pal Meg Whitman for governor and returned to Sacramento with a clarity of purpose. "Very few people get to be governor 38 years after they first started," Brown says. "I spent some time in the wilderness. But I'm back."
And from our "The Sky Is Falling" file comes word of new fashion apparel that will protect you against drone attacks. Next time you're in the Big Apple, pick one up.
"Visitors to the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City can now purchase an “anti-drone scarf” from the museum’s gift shop."
"Designed by Adam Harvey and Johanna Bloomfield, the scarf retails for $450 (though members can grab one at a discount price of $382.50)."
"According to the Privacy Gift Shop: Inspired by Muslim dress, the Anti-Drone Scarf conceptually aligns itself with the rationale behind the traditional hijab to act as “the veil which separates man or the world from God”, replacing God with drone. The metalized silk scarf protects against thermal imaging surveillance (a technology used widely by UAVs/drones) by reflecting heat, masking the wearer’s thermal signature. The enhanced garment is lightweight, breathable, and safe to wear."