Farmers in the Delta may for the first time in history may be investigated for diverting consumers’ water from upstream dams.
Matt Weiser reports in The Sacramento Bee: “The water agencies want to know whether farmers on Delta islands are intercepting that water before it can reach their pumps. They suspect this because they know how much water they are releasing from their dams, Vogel said, and they’re not seeing the same amount of water available later to divert at their Delta pumps.”
“In addition to serving their customers, DWR and Reclamation are required by state law to release stored water to prevent salinity intrusion in the Delta, which alters water quality in the estuary. They say the effectiveness of these releases also potentially is being compromised.”
Since prison realignment, inmates are being released at a greater pace.
Paige St. John reports in The Los Angeles Times: “Across California, more than 13,500 inmates are being released early each month to relieve crowding in local jails — a 34% increase over the last three years. A Times investigation shows a significant shift in who is being let out of jail, how early and where.”
“The releases spring from an effort begun in 2011 to divert low-level offenders from crowded state prisons to local jails. The move had a cascade effect, forcing local authorities to release their least dangerous inmates to make room for more serious offenders.”
A new report commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce is causing more debate about California’s business and economic climate.
Patrick McGreevy reports in The Los Angeles Times: “The report concluded that California's labor costs are high, ranking 46th of 50 states in employer costs per job, 43rd in costs per firm and 33rd in costs per capita.
But these figures, when used in a political context, are often debatable and subject to broad interpretations.”
“In this case, critics called the conclusions half-baked, politically motivated and unrepresentative of recent dynamic growth. They say California is creating jobs at a faster clip over the last 12 months than any state except Texas, its sometimes rival. What's more, they point out that the chamber's data contain some upbeat observations.”
Enviros aren’t happy with a proposed law to regulate California’s meat industry.
Aaron Kinney reports in The Mercury News: “The problem, environmentalists say, is that the law -- which Hill promotes as the first of its kind in the nation -- would be easy for industrial livestock operations to skirt. More than a dozen environmental and consumer advocacy groups oppose the bill, which cleared the Senate last week in a unanimous vote and now awaits Gov. Jerry Brown's signature.”
“Hill's legislation codifies voluntary guidelines issued last year by the Food and Drug Administration to phase out the use of certain antimicrobial drugs in animals used for food. There is increasing concern among scientists that pumping the animals full of antibiotics that are also used to treat humans is contributing to the growth of deadly "superbugs."”
Lawmakers are also looking to regulate on airborne paparazzi.
Patrick McGreevy reports in The Los Angeles Times: “Assemblyman Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park) introduced the pending state legislation. It would build on existing state law against invasion of privacy by photographers using enhanced devices such as telephoto lenses or long-range microphones.”
“Chau noted that the law does not clearly address the emergence of drones, and it could be argued that they are not enhanced devices. His bill would remove the enhancement element, extending the law to any device, including drones.”
Lit Guv Gavin Newsom embraces the small start-up office style because of the small price tag.
John Wildermuth reports in the San Francisco Chronicle: “The $5,500 a month or so that he pays for the main Sacramento office is a cost that's not going away. But when Newsom looked into snagging a satellite office in the state building in San Francisco, closer to his Marin County home, he found that elected officials don't get discounts.”
“"It was going to cost an enormous amount that my budget didn't have," he said. "I tried to work out a deal, but it didn't happen."”
“So when Zachary Bogue, a managing partner of the Founders Den, invited him to lease office space there, Newsom listened.”
“"As soon as he said '$500 a month,' I said, 'Sold,' " he said.”
Near East Sac, a marijuana clinic has made its home next door to schools and one popular family park.
Ryan Lillis reports in The Sacramento Bee: “And so when the operators of A Therapeutic Alternative went to the City Council last week seeking a permit that would allow them to stick around, you might have expected an angry resistance. Would you want your kid going to school across the street from a pot shop?”
“But not a single person showed up at City Hall to voice outrage. Instead, one person after another spoke fondly of Kimberly Cargile’s business. A guy who used to run a cafe across the street said the pot shop was a great neighbor. The directors of the Montessori school wrote the city a letter saying the dispensary is a compassionate, professional “asset to our neighborhood.””
