Brown's prison plan approved for November ballot

The California Supreme Court has decided to allow Governor Brown's prison plan to remain on the November ballot despite legal opposition claiming the proposal's amendments were illegally modified.

The AP's Paul Ellias reports in The OC Register: "The California Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that Gov. Jerry Brown can continue pursuing a plan to reduce the state’s prison inmate population by releasing certain non-violent felons early while it considers a legal challenge."

"The high court’s brief order means Brown’s supporters can gather signatures to qualify a measure for the November ballot while the court decides whether the governor made improper, late additions to a proposed juvenile justice proposed proposition."

"A Sacramento County judge halted the qualifying process last month after the California District Attorneys Association filed a lawsuit challenging the late additions. The judge ruled that Brown’s additions substantially changed the proposed ballot language after it had gone through a public comment period."

It's not a shotgun wedding, just a shotgun raffle prize. The governor and his lucky lady are the winning participants of a charity dinner raffle that left them with a new firearm and several tanks of propane.

Sac Bee's David Siders reports: "Gov. Jerry Brown and his wife went to a charity dinner in Colusa County over the weekend and left with a new shotgun and several canisters of propane, Brown’s office said."

"The Democratic governor and first lady Anne Gust Brown, who maintain a rustic cabin on family land west of Williams, won the items in a raffle at a Williams Volunteer Firefighters Association dinner on Saturday."

"Their prize winnings, first reported by the Colusa County Sun-Herald, consisted of a 12-gauge shotgun and propane. The Browns donated $1,000 for a table and raffle tickets."

Consequences of the Porter Ranch gas fiasco seem to be unending, with a bizzarre oily precipitation now coating many houses and objects in the affected area.

Alice Walton reports in LAT: "Life seemed normal at the park in Porter Ranch on Tuesday, as women power walked the perimeter, parents pushed toddlers in swings, men counted off pull-ups on an exercise bar."

"But hours later, authorities closed the gates to Holleigh Bernson Memorial Park and strung yellow tape to keep the public away until Southern California Gas Co. crews could scrub away an oily residue found on playground equipment."

"Discovery of the residue was just one of many lingering effects of the largest natural gas leak in U.S. history. The gas company plugged the leaking well in Aliso Canyon three weeks ago, four months after it was reported, and many of the thousands of displaced families have moved back to this master-planned community."

Ticket evasion on Sacramento's light rail system is so bad that the city is now hiring 30 officers to combat cheapskates by requiring fare inspections.

Tony Bizjak reports in Sac Bee: "Hoping to improve its light-rail train system before the downtown arena opens this fall, Sacramento Regional Transit announced Wednesday that it will hire 30 fare checkers this spring and have them patrolling most trains in the system by summer."

"Fare evasion has been an ongoing problem at RT, which does not have turnstiles at its stations to keep out people who don’t pay. RT security officials say as many as 10 percent of light-rail riders do not buy tickets, and recently acknowledged that it is a serious problem that cuts into revenue at the financially struggling agency."

"“People have come to believe they can get away with riding without fare,” said Sacramento police Capt. Norm Leong, RT’s security chief. “We need to change that culture.

Apparently, the Coastal Commission hasn't been able to catch a break since the ousting of Charles Lester--tempers fly and heated words were exchanged Wednesday during an assembly at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium.

Aaron Kinney reports in the Contra Costa Times: "A month after the Coastal Commission fired its executive director, public outrage over the controversial decision continues to burn."

"Dozens of citizens upset about the dismissal of Charles Lester lambasted the commission Wednesday morning at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, aiming their vitriol in particular at Commissioner Wendy Mitchell, whom environmentalists view as the primary force behind the ouster of Lester, who was sacked Feb. 10 in a 7-5 vote."

"The meeting threatened to run off the rails when Mitchell defended her vote to remove Lester, arguing it had to do with communication and trust issues, to a hostile crowd waving signs such as "Investigate the sham" and "Our coast is not for sale." She was met with boos and catcalls -- "Resign!" one man shouted -- and Chairman Steve Kinsey rebuked her several times for speaking out of turn."

And now, from our "Jaws" file ... Not only are fishermen going to need a bigger boat, they're going to need a bigger net as well. How'd you like to snag a 2,500 pound Great White Shark on your day off?

"A man in South Carolina was able to reel in a massive 2,500 pound great white shark off the coast of South Carolina on Tuesday."

"Outcast Sport Fishing shared photos of the shark captured by fisherman Troy Bowman of Bulls Gap, Tenn., around 2:50 p.m."

"The shark reportedly jumped completely out of the water after being caught on the hook for about two minutes, but the group was ultimately able to reel it in completely."