International criminal organizations consider California a top target, according to a new report.
Don Thompson reports for the Associated Press: “Along with trafficking in drugs, guns and people, criminals are also turning to cybercrime to target wealthy, innovative businesses and financial institutions in the state, the report by the state attorney general says.”
Trips hosted by nonprofit groups for lawmakers would be required to disclose donors under a proposed law.
Patrick McGreevy reports for the LA Times: “Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) has expanded an existing bill of his to require the nonprofits to disclose the names of their donors to the state Fair Political Practices Commission and the public.
The annual trips include one attended last year by 18 lawmakers in Maui for a five-day conference at the Fairmont Kea Lani.”
Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom wants young voters to be wary of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul’s political message.
Carla Marinucci reports in SF Gate: “Newsom said Paul could be just what the Republican Party needs on the national level - a fresh face and unorthodox voice, calling for change and openness in his own party.”
“Democrats' message to young voters about Paul, should it come to that, would be "What you see is not necessarily what you get," Newsom said.”
A University of California school snagged President Obama as a graduation commencement speaker.
Jason Song and Larry Gordon report in the LA Times: “As his wife did several years ago, President Obama agreed Thursday to give the commencement speech at a UC campus, officials announced. The first lady was the speaker at UC Merced's first full graduation in 2009, and the president will deliver the address at Irvine's 50th anniversary ceremony in June.”
A Pew Research Center survey gives a glimpse at how two major groups are approaching Obamacare.
David Lauter reports for the LA Times: “As the deadline approaches for enrolling in Obamacare health coverage this year, younger Americans have warmed somewhat to the president’s healthcare law, but Latinos remain closely split over it.”
Rep. Ami Bera is on the reelection campaign trail and touting his concerns about the new healthcare law.
Kathy Robertson reports in the Sacramento Business Journal: “He offered no concrete solutions but suggested competition could play a role. Studies show health care costs in Sacramento are higher than those in Southern California, where there is more competition among providers.”
Parental input is being pushed by most school districts implementing the new Local Control Funding Formula.
Louis Freedberg and Alex Gronke report in Ed Source: “The new law requires districts to get written parental input as they prepare their accountability plans, which must lay out how schools will improve student performance in numerous “priority areas” – from test scores and implementation of the Common Core standards to more abstract goals such as “school climate” and “student engagement” – as well as how they intend to spend state funds to achieve them.”
California’s film and television tax credit program is a boon for the state economy.
Dakota Smith reports in the LA Daily News: “For each dollar of tax credit issued, $1.11 was returned to local and state governments, the study reported. That figure revises slightly downward an earlier finding by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. — the group that actually conducted this study — which put the return at $1.13.”