California may soon have its first Latino immigrant serving on the state Supreme Court, if the governor's nomination of a Standford law professor is approved.
Bob Egelko reports for the San Francisco Chronicle: "Cuéllar's appointment is "a statement to the rest of the nation as we go through this backlash against immigrants," said Laurie Levenson, a law professor at Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles."
"The state Senate's leader, President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, called the nomination "an inspired choice ... a timely reminder that our Golden State was forged by disparate immigrant communities who pushed frontiers and who, together, recognized a common strength in diversity.""
The number of out-of-state enrollees in the UC system is once again seeing an uptick.
Larry Gordon reports in the Los Angeles Times: "The extra tuition they pay “is crucial to UC’s core academic mission,” given past cutbacks in state funding and a tuition freeze in its third year, she said."
"However, some critics say UC has become too dependent on that out-of-state income and that California taxpayers and UC alumni are feeling estranged from the university."
Plans for enrollment will be cut in the California State University system due to a lack of funding.
Carla Rivera reports in the Los Angeles Times: ""From an integrity point of view, when we open our doors, we want to be able to serve that student. If that means we have to leave another qualified student out, we need to do that, as tough as that may be," White said."
"The lower level of funding will mean adjustments on most campuses. Cal State Northridge will still hire faculty but not as many, said President Dianne Harrison."
"The campus will probably close spring enrollment to new transfer students and defer many maintenance needs, Harrison added. She said these include roof repairs and adding air conditioning and hot water in buildings that lack them."
Expect delays in the trial for allegedly corrupt state Sen. Ron Calderon.
Christopher Cadelago reports in the Sacramento Bee: "Mark Geragos, his attorney in the case, described the amount of documents being produced by the government as voluminous and ongoing. Prosecutors agreed to Geragos’ request for time to go over the paperwork with his client ahead of the trial. The new date would be May 19."
"“That’s our estimate based on the amount of discovery,” Geragos said."
Write-in candidates fair better under California's new top-two primary system.
Jean Merl reports in the Los Angeles Times: "In the two state election cycles in which the new system has been used, it has produced several fall races pitting members of the same party against each other and, in a handful of contests opened the door for an unaffiliated candidate to compete head-to-head with a member of a major party."
"This fall, write-in hopefuls will appear on the ballot in a race for one seat on the state Board of Equalization and in two congressional, three state Senate and 10 Assembly district contests."
"How did that happen?"
The president arrives in the Bay Area to rake in cash.
Andie Waterman reports for The Mercury News: "Wednesday morning, the president will attend an event to raise money for the House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC, at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco. In the afternoon, Obama will attend a Democratic fundraising luncheon at real estate broker George Marcus' Los Altos Hills home, where the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will raise money for campaigns across the country."
Some BART board members will say bye-bye to their free lifetime transit passes.
Denis Cuff reports for The Mercury News: "On Thursday, the board will consider adding a restriction requiring retired board members to have served 10 years or more in office before they can get the lifetime privileges."
"Board President Joel Keller said he proposed the change as a modest starting point to help bring BART benefits more in line with those at other agencies."
""Currently, if you're on the board for one day, you continue to get the free pass privilege when you leave BART," said Keller, a Brentwood resident. "I think it's reasonable to require 10 years of service.""
