'Fracking' may be a dirty word to environmentalists, but for those pushing economic development it could mean boom times.
From Bloomberg's Alison Vekshin and James Nash: "Such drilling in the Monterey Shale Formation, in addition to increasing per-capita gross domestic product, may add as much as $24.6 billion in state and local tax revenue and as many as 2.8 million jobs by 2020, according to the report released yesterday by the Los Angeles-based university.
“Based on the experience of other states, not only would state unemployment fall, but significant migration of properly skilled workers into California would occur,” according to the study. “More job gains can be captured by Californians with appropriate education and training.”
Unlocking the oil within the 1,750-square-mile (4,532- square-kilometer) swath of rock southeast of San Francisco could require hydraulic fracturing, which injects water and chemicals into the shale. Environmentalists say it may damage water supplies.
A new system intended to give early warnings of earthquakes did something great this week -- it worked.
From the LAT's Joseph Serna: "In the seismic annals of California, Monday's magnitude 4.7 earthquake was little more than a footnote. It gave Southern California a small morning jolt but caused no damage and was largely shrugged off by noon."
"But in one important way, the quake was highly significant because it marked an advance in California's burgeoning earthquake early warning system."
"The quake struck in the desert town of Anza, about 35 miles south of Palm Springs, and hundreds of sensors embedded in the ground immediately sent an alert to seismologists at Caltech in Pasadena. They had 30 seconds' warning before the quake was felt there. "It was right," said Kate Hutton, a Caltech seismologist. "I sat really still to see if I could feel it and it worked."
The state's election officer, the secretary of state, offered a glimpse into her office's operations, which she noted has been hamstrung by budget cuts.
From the OC Register's Brian Joseph: "Speaking before Daly's Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on State Administration, Bowen, also a Democrat, described an office that processes hundreds of thousands of critical business documents using a filing system reliant on three-by-five index cards."
"She explained how the her agency's Sacramento office building, constructed in 1995, has "maxed out" on available electrical outlets and how the state's tortured procurement process virtually ensures that whatever software she orders will be obsolete by the time it's delivered."
"She blamed budget cuts, staffing shortages and a generally unresponsive and inefficient government system for embarrassing delays that businesspeople say is costing them money."
Scope-of-practice issues are intensifying this year in the wake of health care reform and the head of the Senate Health Committee has waded into the fray.
From the Bee's Laurel Rosenhall: "The so-called "scope of practice" bills set the stage for a massive fight with the state's doctors, who will likely fight to protect their role as gatekeepers to medical care."
"In a news conference at a Sacramento health clinic, Hernandez argued that because of a shortage of doctors in California, other kinds of medical professionals should be permitted to offer patients more care."
"Here in the state of California, we have a capacity issue. We have a work-force shortage," Hernandez said, adding that the problem is most severe in rural and inner-city areas."
Speaking of medical practices, a critical piece of federal health care reform in California is poised to crank up operations and wants the public to know about it.
From HealthyCal's Suzanne Potter: "California’s new health insurance marketplace — part of federal health reform — is preparing a massive information blitz to let state residents know about their new options for buying coverage."
"The health benefit exchange, called Covered California, will start enrolling members in October of this year for insurance coverage that will begin next January."
"The exchange is offering $43 million in grants to help non-profit clinics and community groups point their existing clients to Covered California’s website, once it is up and running. Recently, local agencies in Riverside and San Bernardino County met to plan their strategy for winning some of that grant money. The group included representatives from about 30 organizations, including the Desert Healthcare District and Borrego Community Health Foundation."
