Steve Geissinger reports that if the Legislature is going to solve the state's budget crisis
lawmakers must first overcome one major obstacle -- partisanship.
"Getting Democrats and Republicans to agree on a solution is another matter. Republicans complain that Democrats are too fixated on trying to raise taxes; Democrats accuse Republicans of grandstanding on proposed cuts, especially to prisons.
"Majority Democrats have set votes on a dozen bills Wednesday through Friday in advance of the Legislature's Feb. 23 deadline. But for those bills to go into effect immediately -- which would give the state the most relief -- they must be approved by a two-thirds majority in the Legislature, which means they would need some Republican support."
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A complex water-rationing plan for most of Southern California may be running into trouble, raising the specter of drastically deeper cuts than anticipated throughout the San Diego region during dry years," reports the U-T's Michael Gardner.
"
In letters to the board, legislators claim the new plan would disproportionately hurt lower-income ratepayers; reward regions that approve growth without having enough water; and provide farmers with subsidized supplies at the expense of urban needs."
"Los Angeles Police Department investigators routinely
fail to fully investigate citizens' complaints against allegedly abusive officers, often omitting or altering crucial information in ways that help exonerate the officers, according to a report to be released today," reports the LAT's Joel Rubin.
"
The 34-page report by the Police Commission's inspector general raises questions about the department's ability to police itself, adding to still-unresolved problems highlighted in previous reports."
Chip Johnson reports on the
controversial new candidate for Oakland City Council.
"Some people consider Oakland resident
Patrick McCullough a hero. In 2005, he made headlines when
he shot and wounded a 15-year-old boy during a confrontation with a group of men outside his home.
To others, he is regarded as nothing more than a nutty vigilante who broke the law and used a gun to solve a problem.
Whatever side of the fence you sit on, McCullough is now a registered candidate for the District One seat on the Oakland City Council, which is now held by three-time incumbent Jane Brunner.
His platform? You guessed it - law and order."
The U-T's Lori Weisberg reports that
soon, the entire country will look like California. But without the traffic.
"By the midpoint of this century, America will look much like California does today as it morphs into a far more racially and ethnically diverse nation that will owe most of its population growth to immigrants and their offspring, according to a report released yesterday.
"
By 2050, nearly one in five of the projected 438 million Americans is expected to be foreign-born, a proportion higher than at any other time in U.S. history. Whites will lose their majority status, a milestone marked by California nearly a decade ago."
For all you homeowners out there, the Chronicle knows your secret. When you're not busy checking
the Capitol Weekly salaries database, you are
incessantly Zillowing the value of your house.
Carolyn Said reports, "For many people, knowing their home is worth less on paper is just an academic exercise. But for anyone considering selling or withdrawing equity, a lower value translates into immediate, real-world effects. Sue McCullough, a computer programmer with Wells Fargo, "Zillowed" her home in Oakland's Laurel District on Tuesday and was dismayed to see it valued at $417,000 - about a 16 percent drop from a couple of years ago."
The LA Times has still not replaced political blogger Robert Salladay, but they did ad a new blogger this week --
Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Early topics cover everything from the Giants Super Bowl Victory to Barack Obama to Kareem's new children's book.
Fabian Nunez will be at the Sacramento Press Club forlunch today to handicap the race for speaker. Or something like that.
But one performer who won't be stepping out anytime soon is Dolly Parton, who was just forced to postpone a planned US tour. Reuters reports, "
Dolly Parton's breasts may be two of the wonders of the entertainment world, but the country music icon says they are a pain in her back.
"Parton, 62, said on Monday she would postpone her upcoming North American tour after doctors told her to take it easy for six to eight weeks to rest her sore back.
"'
Hey, you try wagging these puppies around a while and see if you don't have back problems,' the folksy singer-songwriter said in a statement."