After weekend revelations of her mental health struggles, California’s secretary of state vows to complete her final months in office.
Jim Miller reports for The Sacramento Bee: “Bowen said she has received “so many supportive messages” since the Los Angeles Times reported in Saturday’s editions on Bowen tearfully describing a “debilitating” flare-up of the depression that she has battled for decades. The Times also reported several tax liens since 2009 against Bowen alone or with her husband, the last of which, he said, was paid off Friday.”
“There have been no calls for the Democrat to leave the post she first won in 2006 following 14 years in the Legislature. Bowen, who will be forced out by term limits at the end of the year, insisted that she can continue to do her job, whether it’s in the office or from the mobile home she recently moved to. She said a medical leave isn’t necessary. Colleagues and election officials have rallied to her side.”
In court, a former state Senate peace officer, involved in a shoot out in suburban Sacramento, gave his account of that night.
John Howard report for Capitol Weekly: “My heart went into my throat and I started fearing for my life.” Lopez acknowledged that he had been drinking and consuming marijuana earlier in the evening, but “I was sober at that point. That sobered me up real quick.”
“The shootout followed a night of partying at a bar and Lopez’s Greenhaven home that turned sour after one of those present, Frank Trevizo, complained that someone had taken a $100 from him, according to Lopez.”
Taxpayers can now more easily track state spending data.
Jon Ortiz reports in The Sacramento Bee: “A new website went live Monday that culls more than decade of California city and county financial information into a searchable database compiled by the State Controller’s Office.”
“ByTheNumbers.sco.ca.gov allows taxpayers to track revenues, expenditures, liabilities, assets, fund balances and other information provided by more than 450 cities and the 58 counties statewide. The data runs from fiscal year 2002-03 through 2012-13.”
Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made a rare return to the Capitol to unveil his official portrait.
Samantha Gallegos reports in Capitol Weekly: “The big painting — it’s about seven feet long by five feet wide — will be the largest official portrait hanging on the walls of the state Capitol. That seemed fitting for the movie star governor, who today brought a media blitz with him not seen in the building’s corridors since he left office.”
“An array of California politicos attended the event, including State Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte, former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, a former Assembly Speaker; and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.”
“Before arriving for the portrait unveiling, which took place in the Capitol rotunda, Schwarzenegger spoke at a climate change conference hosted by the University of Southern California Schwarzenegger Institute and the Air Resources Board at the California Environmental Protection Agency building.”
In Congress, California’s representatives are among the wealthiest.
Christopher Cadelago reports for The Sacramento Bee: “Topping the rich list for the second consecutive year is Republican Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista in San Diego County, the automobile alarm magnate whose estimated wealth includes seven high-yield bonds worth more than $50 million apiece, according to a review of disclosure forms by the publication CQ Roll Call”
Two misdemeanor DUI charges were filed against state Sen. Ben Hueso yesterday.
Chris Nichols reports for UT-San Diego: “Hueso was stopped early on the morning of Aug. 22 by the CHP after he was spotted driving the wrong way on a one-way road in downtown Sacramento, authorities said at the time. His blood alcohol content was over the state's 0.08 limit, though the CHP declined to specify the test results.”
“State Senator Ben Hueso booking photo. Sacramento County Sheriff's Dept.
The charges include one count of misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and one count misdemeanor driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more, Shelly Orio, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, said on Monday. They carry a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.”
Tech-savvy terrorist group ISIS is using Twitter to troll the social media platforms employees.
Kale Williams reports for The San Francisco Chronicle: “All of the tweets were accompanied by a hashtag that translated to “the concept of lone wolf attacks.””
“Twitter would’t say whether it was heightening security at its downtown San Francisco headquarters, saying only that its “security team is investigating the veracity of these threats with relevant law enforcement officials.””
