The courts are pushing up their timetable to consider the Schwarzenegger
administration's plan to sell state property -- which means the case could be decided before Jerry
Brown is sworn in. The Chronicle's Bob Egelko has the
story.
"When the state's Sixth District Court of Appeal in San Jose blocked the $2.3 billion sale Dec. 10, it scheduled written arguments through Dec. 29. That would have left little chance of a final ruling
before Jan. 3, when Brown becomes governor."
"Brown has not taken a stand on the proposed sale,
but has been urged by its critics to cancel it. The Schwarzenegger administration urged the court on
Wednesday to act faster, saying the deal was in danger
of falling through."
Meanwhile, the Air Resources Board, as expected, approved the long-awaited market-based program to curb climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions, reports the Bee's Rick Daysog.
"The cap-and-trade system, which will begin operating in January
2012, is a key component of the state's landmark climate change law, which aims to reduce carbon emissions to 1990's level by 2020."
"Under the plan, the state will provide a limited amount
of carbon emission allowances for major industrial
polluters. Companies that pollute less then their limit can sell
their unused allowances to companies that pollute heavily,
creating market incentives for everyone to reduce emissions
voluntarily."
Gov. Schwarzenegger has asked the state attorney general's
office to investigate intimidation of parents in Compton
who want to shut down their low-performing elementary school.
From the L.A. Times' Howard Blume: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger asked the state attorney
general Thursday to investigate alleged intimidation
of parents trying to use a new state law to shut down
their children’s low-performing Compton elementary school and reopen it
as a charter campus."
"Instead of being supported in their effort to ensure
their children get the quality education that is a
constitutional right, these parents have been subjected
to threats and a misinformation campaign,” Schwarzenegger wrote in a letter to Atty. Gen. Jerry
Brown. McKinley is among the state’s lowest-performing schools but also among the fastest-improving over the last two years. Some parents said
organizers circulating the petition claimed the effort
was to beautify the school or prevent it from being
shut down."
Former congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Tom Campbell is a contender for the vacant position of executive
vice chancellor at UC Riverside, the Press-Enterprise reports.
"But some students and faculty have objected to Campbell's
candidacy because of his stance on immigration and
are calling on the university to extend the search
into next year."
"Given his controversial positions on immigration,
we think appointing Tom Campbell as EVC/Provost would send the wrong message about our priorities
as a campus that welcomes students of all backgrounds,"
Patricia Morton, a UC Riverside associate professor
of architecture history, said by e-mail Thursday."
Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Petaluma, announced she is considering retirement after completing
her 10th term in 2012. Her action set off a scramble among potential successors.
From the Press-Democrat: "Woolsey, 73, said she was talking about her future now to give
those vying to succeed her — in what would likely be a crowded and expensive race
— a chance to make their names known to voters. State Assemblyman Jared
Huffman, D-San Rafael, said he has formed a federally registered
exploratory
committee and will run for the Sonoma-Marin congressional seat if Woolsey steps
down."
"State Sen. Noreen Evans, D-Santa Rosa, said it was premature to declare her intentions
but she is not ruling out a run for Woolsey's job."
And from our "Art for Art's Sake File," comes the story of "Honesty," the vanishing art
work. It was just too good to pass up.
"Honesty walked right out the door of Normandale Community
College on Tuesday night and hasn't been seen since.
Muddy footprints and a trail of rolled-up dollar bills hint that a getaway car may have been
parked in front of the Fine Arts building, but officials
at the Bloomington school are baffled."
"Honesty" is, or was, a wire-mesh sculpture by John Ilg in which 316 rolled-up dollar bills were stuffed into the mesh to spell
out the word "Honesty." It had hung in the college
gallery since Nov. 9 with other works by Ilg. When it was first shown at
the Minnesota State Fair in 2008, visitors liked the sculpture so much they added $150 to the piece. It has been exhibited unharmed several
times since."
Should have been made with American Express checks...
