Months after the pepper-spraying of Occupy protesters on the University of California, Davis campus, the school is looking at a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union. The suit argues that UC Davis violated the protestor’s constitutional rights. (Click here for a transcript of this story from The Associated Press)

CSU BOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIR MAY LOSE SEAT

The State Senate will need to reach a supermajority to approve the nomination of Herbert Carter. Bob Huff, Senate Republican Leader, said that he and his colleagues are unconvinced that Carter is the right man for the job. (Click here for a transcript of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Ben Adler)

OBAMA SURGING IN CALIFORNIA

The most recent Field Poll shows that the majority of California voters would re-elect President Barack Obama for another term. His approval rating is also more than 50 percent for the first time since June. The number of those who say they would not vote for him outright has dropped from 44 percent to 41 percent. (Click here for a transcript of this story from The Associated Press)

STATE CONGRESS MEMBER PUSHES FOR BIKE AND PEDESTRIAN PATHWAYS

Sacramento representative Doris Matsui has, with Ohio representative Steven LaTourette, co-authored an amendment to a transportation bill that would provide more safe paths for cyclists and pedestrians. (Click here for a transcript of this story from the California Capitol Network)

REPUBLIC ASSEMBLY MEMBERS PUSH GOV. BROWN’S PUBLIC PENSION PLAN

Governor Jerry Brown’s plan proposes sweeping changes to the state’s public pension plan to help relieve budget pressure – and legislative Republicans are pushing it forward, word for word. Some Democrats are concerned about elements of the plan, but they plan on addressing those issues by the time a budget passes in mid-June. (Click here for a transcript of this story from the California Capitol Network reporter Ben Adler)

PG&E MAY SEE FEWER FINES FOR SAN BRUNO EXPLOSION

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. may see $3 million in total fines for the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion that killed eight. That is little when compared to the possible $1 million for every day the company didn’t hand over records about its lines. (Click here for a transcript of this story from The Associated Press)

CALIFORNIA REPORT STORIES

CA Community Colleges Face Bigger Budget Shortfall

California’s community college Chancellor is warning the system faces a third round of budget cuts this year, because it looks like the system’s deficit is $149 million dollars bigger than previously estimated.

The big California water bill working its way through the U.S. House of Representatives has grabbed the attention of lawmakers at the State Capitol. The measure would send more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to Central and Southern California. (Click here for transcripts of the stories from California Capitol Network reporter Ben Adler)

REDDING COPS GRANT

A COPS grant for $145,000 was accepted by the Redding City Council yesterday. The monie will help fund public safety, but according to city officials, will not come close to replaced the $330,000 lost from Vehicle Liscence Fees. Councilmember Rick Bosetti said the state was being heavy handed. “If we were their child we’d be sent to Child Protective Services,” said Bosetti, a candidate for state Assembly. (Click here for the transcript of the story by Northstate Public Radio news reporter Kelly Frost)

PROPOSITION 8 REVIEW

The backers of California’s same-sex marriage ban have petitioned a federal appeals court in San Francisco to review a split decision by three of its judges that struck down the voter-approved law known as Proposition 8. Lawyers for the religious and legal groups that qualified the ban for the 2008 ballot had faced a deadline yesterday for asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to rehear the 2-1 decision made two weeks ago. The ruling declared Proposition 8 to be a violation of the civil rights of gay and lesbian Californians. Andy Pugno, legal counsel for the Protect Marriage Coalition, says the backers appealed to a bigger 9th Circuit panel instead of going directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. The move means same-sex marriages will remain on hold at least until the 9th Circuit decides to accept or reject the rehearing petition. (Copyright 2012 The Associated Press)

CALIFORNIA PRIMARY POLL

California’s Republican voters have warmed up to the surging candidacy of Rick Santorum, but are also expressing growing dissatisfaction with the field of GOP presidential candidates. Today a new Field Poll was released that shows the former Pennsylvania senator is preferred by 25% of Republicans, up from just 2% in November. Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney remains Republicans’ top choice, with support from 31% of those interviewed. Despite growing support for Santorum, just 10% of Republican voters say they are very satisfied with the GOP field. 400 registered Republicans were polled by telephone from February 2-18 with a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 7 percentage points. The survey period included Santorum victories in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado. California’s primary is June 5th. (Copyright 2012 The Associated Press)

REWARD OFFERED IN FRESNO COUNTY FOR AGRICULTURALLY-RELATED ARSON

$100,000 is being offered as a reward in Fresno County for information leading to an arrest in last month’s arson attack at the state’s biggest beef processor, Harris Ranch, in Coalinga. The January 8th fire destroyed 14 big-rig tractors and several trailers at the ranch, with an estimated loss of $2 million. Animal rights activists claimed responsibility for the fire through an anonymous email released by the North American Animal Liberation press office. The email included a description of the containers of accelerant and kerosene-soaked rope apparently used to set the blaze. Sheriff’s investigators have declined to comment on whether the group’s description matches details from the investigation. Officials say they have not identified any offenders yet (Copyright 2012 The Associated Press)

HEATING PAD ON TORTOISES IN GARAGE CAUSES FIRE

A garage fire in Castro Valley was blamed on a heating pad used to keep a pair of tortoises warm. The two African tortoises, each about 3 feet in diameter, escaped unharmed. But a firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion at a hospital and was released. Authorities believe the fire was caused by an electrical malfunction in the heating pad. Damages were calculated at about $50,000. (Copyright 2012 The Associated Press)

STORIES FROM THE CALIFORNIA REPORT

Brad Graverson/Torrance Daily Breeze

LA Backpedaling On Truancy Policy

Schools in Los Angeles face big struggles with student attendance. In some districts truancy rates are above 50 percent. For the last several years, the city has taken a hard-line approach, conducting police sweeps around campuses and issuing tickets with hefty fines to truants and even tardy students. But today, the L.A. City Council is expected to change that approach. Reporter: Krissy Clark.

• More: Story from the Center for Public Integrity

A pair of young children tested positive for controlled substances at Mercy Medical Center in Redding Saturday evening. Police were called to the hospital and told that both children had tested positive for methamphetamine and one of them also tested positive for opiates. Officers responded to the juveniles’ home on Kenyon Drive in Redding where they found 5 more children living in what they described as “poorly maintained…and filthy” conditions. The children range in ages from one to six years. Two children were found away from the home at a later time. All of the children were taken into protective custody and released to Shasta County Children and Family Services. There is no word of who is responsible for the children or if any arrests were made.

NEAR AIR DISASTER

The owner of a helicopter flight school with a student who was involved in a midair collision over Northern California says the aircraft narrowly escaped what could have been a deadly crash. Wayne Prodger, the owner of Vertical CFI Helicopters in Hayward, tells The Associated Press the chopper pilot, a 29-year-old woman, is an experienced commercial airplane pilot who was logging night-flying hours toward a helicopter license. Prodger says the woman told him she briefly saw the Beechcraft Bonanza behind her around 7 p.m. Sunday. The next thing she knew, the plane struck the chopper’s skids and she was falling to the ground. He declined to give his student’s name, saying she’s still shaken up. Both pilots suffered only minor injuries. Prodger says it would have been a full-on collision if the Beechcraft was just a few feet higher.

CLARITY ENTERTAINMENT AUDITIONS

Governor Jerry Brown announced Friday that California will be home to two Chinese trade offices within the next eight months. He says China could provide more than two trillion dollars in investments in the United States within the next ten years. (Click here later for transcripts of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Bob Moffitt)

FOODSTAMP FINGERPRINTS

Last year, California lawmakers passed a bill that eliminated the requirement for food stamp recipients to be fingerprinted. now, a Republican State Senator wants to bring that requirement back. (Click here later for transcripts of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Ben Adler)

REDDING NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT

About two hundred members of the 132nd multi-role bridge company will be leaving for Afghanistan next week for a one-year deployment. On Saturday, family and friends got together at the Redding Civic Center to send them off. (Click here later for a transcript of the story from Northstate Public Radio News reporter Kelly Frost)

SAN FRANCISCO FORECLOSURES

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier are asking federal authorities to investigate whether error-riddled foreclosures in San Francisco violated federal law. According to The Associated Press, the San Francisco Democrats sent a letter Friday to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder requesting that Justice Department fraud investigators look into the issue. The San Francisco assessor’s office released a report this week that found more than 80 percent of foreclosures examined were missing documents or signatures or otherwise violated state law. The report ordered by Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting said homeowners may have been accused of defaulting on loans that they had never agreed to in the first place. The congresswomen called the report’s findings troubling and said it raised questions about whether homeowners were denied due process.

LEGISLATION, PARK REVENUE BOOST

A bill making its way through the Capitol would create a minimum funding level for parks and encourage local governments and non-profits to step in and help run them. Dozens face the prospect of being shut down later this year. (Click here later for transcripts of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Marianne Russ)

STATE LAWMAKERS, HOLIDAY PER DIEM

Both houses of the California Legislature are changing their schedules before the President’s Day holiday, meeting for less than hour to ensure they collect $142 a day in per diem payments until they reconvene tomorrow. The Associated Press reports that lawmakers in the state Assembly and Senate eulogized departed constituents, introduced guests and commemorated Japanese-Americans on Friday. They did not debate any policy. Per diems are meant to compensate out-of-town lawmakers for daily living expenses when they travel to the capital, but legislators can collect the tax-free payments from home or even if they’re ill. Bob Stern, former president of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles, says the whole thing is done for lawmakers to line their pockets. Six Sacramento-area lawmakers decline the per diems, but most others defend them.

ON THE CALIFORNIA REPORT

Concert to Remember Philanthropist Hellman

Yesterday, nearly 10,000 people came out to a beach in San Francisco to hear musicians like Emmylou Harris, Steve Earl and Gillian Welch put on a free concert. It paid tribute to businessman and philanthropist Warren Hellman, who died last December of leukemia. Reporter: Lisa Morehouse.

In an annual ranking of state gun control laws, California is at the top. The state scored 81 points out of a possible 100. (Click here for a transcript of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Jenny O’Mara)

RICE SYRUP ARSENIC

Baby formula, breakfast bars and energy supplements may contain amounts of arsenic in excess of what’s allowed in drinking water. While a member of the California Rice Commission says the arsenic is naturally occurring, that group has joined members of the House of Representatives in asking the FDA to establish limits for arsenic in food and beverages. (Click here for transcripts of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Bob Moffitt)

SF ILLEGAL FORECLOSURES

California Attorney General Kamala Harris says her office is reviewing a new report that found most residential mortgages in foreclosure in San Francisco are missing documents or signatures or otherwise violate the law. According to The Associated Press, Harris said yesterday the findings of the report requested by San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting came as no surprise. The report says it was possible homeowners were accused of defaulting on loans that they had never agreed to in the first place and were being foreclosed by lenders that didn’t own the loans. Harris says she would introduce legislation this month to enact reforms that would bring stiffer penalties for violations such as those alleged in San Francisco. San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon says he is awaiting documents from Ting’s office to determine if crimes occurred. (Copyright AP)

TAX INITIATIVE PARE DOWN

California Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg says the governor’s initiative to temporarily raise taxes on sales and high incomes deserves to stand alone on this year’s ballot. Also approved to be on the ballot are a so-called “millionaires tax” and another to raise money for K-12 education. Many state leaders say the conflicting measures could confuse voters, resulting in the failure of all three. (Click here for transcripts of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Jenny O’Mara)

US WINE EXPORTS, ALL-TIME HIGH

The Associated Press reports that U.S. wine exports hit an all-time high in 2011, thanks in part to higher demand in Asian markets. Figures released yesterday by the Wine Institute in San Francisco show that exports set a new $1.4 billion record in revenues. That’s up nearly 22 percent over 2010. California vintners are finding success marketing high-end cabernets and chardonnays to a new generation of upscale consumers in China. Wine exports to China grew by 42 percent last year, and similar increases were noted in other Asian nations. It nearly doubled 2010 export numbers as more winemakers are seeking to crack a relatively untapped market. However, the biggest market for U.S. wines remains the European Union, which accounts for 34 percent of all exports. (Copyright AP)

LA RADIO HOSTS SUSPENDED FOR HOUSTON COMMENTS

A Los Angeles radio station has pulled two popular talk radio hosts off the air for comments they made about Whitney Houston. The Associated Press reports that KFI AM 640 suspended John Kobylt (KOH’-bahlt) and Ken Chiampou (SHAM’-poh) for using a derogatory term to describe Houston. Audio posted at UrbanInformer.com shows that the hosts of the “John and Ken Show” also said she was “cracked out for 20 years.” The station said in a statement Thursday that Kobylt and Chiampou were “suspended for making insensitive and inappropriate comments about the late Whitney Houston.” Kobylt said in a statement that he and Chiampou “used language that was inappropriate” and they “sincerely apologize” to their listeners and to Houston’s family. The hosts, who often rail against taxes and illegal immigration, will return to the airwaves Feb. 27. (Copyright AP)

FEDERAL BUILDING SHOOTING

The FBI says an immigration agent shot and injured another agent and was then killed by a third colleague in a federal building in Long Beach. According to The Associated Press, FBI Special Agent Steven Martinez says the shooting occurred at about 5:30 p.m. last night. There were conflicting early reports about the number of people shot, with local authorities saying two were dead and one wounded, while ICE said one was dead and one wounded. Martinez characterized the incident as a case of workplace violence involving two federal agents. He says one agent fired several rounds at another agent, wounding him. At that point, another agent intervened and additional rounds were fired, resulting in the death of the shooter. (Copyright AP)

ON CALIFORNIA MORNING REPORT

Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images

Xi Jinping Visits Los Angeles…to Catch the Lakers

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping may have been wined and dined all over the U.S. this past week, but the highlight of his trip happens tonight. He’s got tickets to see the Lakers in Los Angeles.

Riverside Says ‘No’ to Rock Quarry

After months of raucous public meetings, Riverside County Supervisors voted 3-2 to block a proposed rock quarry.

Sasha Khokha/KQED

Pesticides May Be Key Culprit in Bee Deaths

Bees, which play a key role in California’s food production, have been dying off at alarming rates. Some beekeepers think they’ve homed in on the cause: a new class of human-friendly pesticides. Reporter: Sasha Khokha.

The Chico Unified School Board voted 4-1 last night to begin the next three school years in the third week of August. That option was one of 21 presented. Seven of the options would have students start during the second week, seven during the third, and the final seven during the fourth week of August.  (Click here for a transcript of Northstate Public Radio News reporter Tom Gascoyne’s story)

SENATE BILL COULD PRODUCE MUCH-NEEDED PARKS FUNDING

State Senator Noreen Evans introduced a bill that would utilize money already owed to the state to help relieve the financial pressure facing California’s state parks, 20 of which are slated for closure July 1. (Click here for a transcript of Northstate Public Radio News reporter Kelly Frost’s story)

OBAMA PROPOSES INCREASED SPENDING ON COMMUNITY COLLEGES

California’s 112 community colleges could see a budget boost if President Obama’s $8 billion increase to career-technical education passes. The House of Representatives and the Senate would both have to approve the program. (Click here later for a transcript of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Ben Adler’s story)

CALIFORNIA UNEMPLOYMENT STEADILY DECREASING

The Los Angeles County Economic Corporation reports that by 2013, the unemployment rate in California will be at just over 10 percent – that’s about one percent lower than it is currently. We’re still fairly far from a normal rate, which would be about 7.5 percent. (Click here for a transcript of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Jenny O’Mara’s story)

SHOOTING LEAVES TWO DEAD

A Yuba City man shot three women Tuesday, killing two of them. Steven George Williams, 53, shot and killed his sister-in-law Janis Lyn Williams and Kimberly Yancey. A third unidentified woman was also hit, but is expected to survive. (Copyright AP)

CALIFORNIA FORECLOSURES LOOKS BETTER THAN REST OF NATION

Although California’s foreclosures are expected to increase 10 percent this year, the state still is closer to ending the foreclosure crisis than the rest of the country. Foreclosure rates should increase everywhere now that states and banks have settled their negotiations.   (Click here for a transcript of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Ben Adler’s story)

 THE CALIFORNIA REPORT

The Sweet and Sour of California Citrus

At this time of year, many Californians are buried in citrus. The trees in back and front yards all over town are covered with ripe fruit. In the market, heaping piles of green, yellow and orange tempt us to buy more than we can really consume in a week, or two or even three. For some savvy citrus processing strategies, we called up Evan Kleiman, host of KCRW’s weekly public radio show, “Good Food.”

A Cottonwood man was arrested Friday night on charges of attempted murder after he allegedly intentionally rammed an ambulance parked in front of the Mercy Medical Center emergency room. Police identified the driver as 26-year-old Joel Michael Haller. Three Emergency Medical Technician were inside the vehicle at the time and one was injured and treated for back pain.

(Click here later for a transcript of the story from Northstate Public Radio News reporter Tom Gascoyne)

REDDING SHOTS FIRED

Redding police are looking for a man involved in an incident where shots were fired yesterday afternoon. Police were called to a residence on Celestial Street in Redding after witnesses reported hearing shots fired. Upon arrival, 28-year-old James Muck of Anderson told officers that 27-year-old Daniel Lusby of Redding fired several shots at him from a handgun. The victim said he was helping a friend move property at the residence when Lusby arrived, accused Muck of stealing property from him and then pulled a semi-automatic handgun from his waistband. Muck said he tried to grab the pistol to prevent Lusby from shooting him, at which time Lusby fired several shots inside the living room of the residence before he was able to gain control of the pistol. No one was struck by any of the bullets but bullet holes were found in the floor and wall of the living room. A pistol was found on a table inside the home and Lusby fled the scene in a charcoal grey Chevy four-door pick-up truck. Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Daniel Lusby is asked to contact the Redding Police Department.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CHALLENGE

A federal appeals court is set to hear another legal challenge to California’s 15-year-old ban on affirmative action. The Associated Press reports that the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeal is scheduled todayto hear arguments in a lawsuit seeking to overturn Proposition 209. That law barred racial, ethnic or gender preferences in public education, employment and contracting. The lawsuit was filed in 2010 by minority students and advocacy groups seeking to allow the consideration of race in admission decisions at the University of California. The court rejected a similar challenge in 1997. The plaintiffs say the ban has led to a steep drop in black, Latino and Native American students at UC’s most prestigious campuses. Advocates say their campaign has been bolstered by recent court decisions and support from Gov. Jerry Brown.

POLITICAL MAP SUIT DISMISSED

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of Republicans challenging California’s newly drawn congressional maps. The California Citizens Redistricting Commission announced Friday that U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Wilson dismissed a challenge led by former congressman George Radanovich. Current chairwoman Jeanne Raya says the voter-created commission was able to fend off another “baseless partisan” attack. The Los Angeles-based federal judge found that the California Supreme Court already considered and rejected the petition. Attorneys representing Republicans did not immediately comment. Republicans argued that the commission improperly used race as a factor in creating voting districts. They have the option to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court over the federal Voting Rights act.

SCHOOL BUS FUNDING

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed compromise legislation that allows school districts to preserve transportation funding after parents and advocates complained about losing school bus services. According to The Associated Press, the governor’s office announced Friday that Brown signed SB81, which was passed by lawmakers earlier this month. The bill alters a $248 million school transportation spending cut lawmakers included in the state budget they passed last summer. The cut was to take effect automatically at the start of the year because tax revenue was running well behind projections. School officials say the cut would have had the greatest impact on rural districts, where students often travel long distances to get to and from schools. The measure takes effect immediately. It allows school districts to absorb the spending cut anywhere in their overall budgets.

PART-TIME LEGISLATURE

A California Assemblyperson has proposed a ballot initiative that would turn the state’s legislators into part-time employees. She says they spend too little time actually working at the Capitol. State President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg warns doing so would help special interests garner more government control.

(Click here later for transcripts of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Ben Adler)

DIABETICS, MEDI-CAL COSTS

New numbers are out on showing that diabetics in California cost Medi-Cal more than three-and-a-half billion dollars.

(Click here later for transcripts of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Pauline Bartolone)

CALIFORNIA CASH

The state Controller’s office has announced that January revenues again came in below projections.

(Click here later for a transcript of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Ben Adler)

California Attorney General Kamala Harris says the state will receive 18 billion dollars to help some 250 thousand homeowners hurt by the mortgage crisis. The money comes in a multi-state deal with banks.

(Click here later for transcripts of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Jenny O’Mara)

FORREST RANCH MURDER

Wednesday afternoon the Butte County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a man in the Yankee Hill area reporting his friend and roommate was dead in his Nelson Bar Road home. 64-year-old John Lawrence Halsema said he shot his friend last week. Deputies responded to the residence and found the body of a man later identified as 49-year-old Craig Stephen Davies. According to a press release, Davies appears to have been shot and the sheriff’s office said it is not releasing details as to the gunshot wound or type of firearm used. Halsema was booked into the Butte County Jail with bail set at $1 million. He’s expected to be arraigned today. Investigators discovered a methamphetamine lab inside the residence during their investigation. A motive for the killing has not been determined.

SHASTA DAM INCREASE FEASIBLE

A new federal study shows that raising Shasta Dam to boost the state’s water supply is feasible and economically justified. According to The Associated Press, the study by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released this week found that a height increase of 18.5 feet to the top of the 602-foot-high dam would increase storage capacity of Lake Shasta by 14 percent. It would also improve hydropower and salmon habitat. But raising the dam also would mean some businesses and resorts would have to move. And it would cause flooding of lake-side religious sites of the Winnemem Wintu tribe. Lake Shasta near Redding is the starting point for the federally run Central Valley Project. The system of reservoirs, canals and aqueducts funnels water to 3.2 million acres of farmland and supplies water to about 2 million Californians.

CROWN MOTORS INSURANCE FRAUD

A former Crown Motors auto detailer was convicted of insurance fraud for false claim that he hurt his back at the business in 2007. Tony Stevenson received more than $8,000 in restitution and $21,600 was spent on investigating the case. He’s been ordered to pay more than $30,000 and could spend 4 year and 4 months in county lockup.

(Click here later for a transcript of the story from Northstate Public Radio News reporter Tom Gascoyne)

SERIAL KILLER’S MAP LEADS TO BODY

Searchers following a map prepared by a serial killer on California’s death row have unearthed human remains that could be one of his victims. Wesley Shermantine was convicted of four murders and sentenced to death in 2001. Investigators believe he and childhood friend Loren Herzog, a pair known as the “Speed Freak Killers,” may have been responsible for as many as 15 killings. Herzog committed suicide last month in Lassen County after serving time for the killing of Cyndi Vanderheiden. Shermantine recently offered to lead authorities to the burial spots of Vanderheiden and other victims on property once owned by his family. Vanderheiden’s father, John, says the San Joaquin Sheriff’s Department called him Thursday to tell him they found a human skull. He believes it belongs to his daughter, who disappeared in 1998.

HIGH SPEED RAIL SUPPORT

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was in Sacramento yesterday and avowed that the feds would support the state’s contentious high speed rail plan.

(Click here later for a transcript of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Bob Moffitt)

CALIFORNIA REPORT

Slow Progress in Prison Health Care

Six years ago, a federal judge seized control of medical care in California state prisons, and appointed a receiver to fix it. At the time, an average of one inmate a week was dying from misdiagnosis, delayed, or shoddy treatment. Six years later, the receiver says lawmakers must deliver on promises to upgrade facilities before he can wind up his oversight. Reporter: Julie Small.

REDDING OKS USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN

The Redding City Council voted 4-1 to approve the use of eminent domain. The owner of the land in question says that the developer didn’t bargain in good faith, but the council went ahead and gave Greenview Development the go-ahead. (Click here later for a transcript of Northstate Public Radio News reporter Kelly Frost’s story)

STATE PENSION REFORM BACKERS CHANGE PLANS

The group California Pension Reform has withdrawn a measure that was intended for the November ballot that would have overhauled the state’s pension program. President Dan Pellisier said part of the reason stemmed from Attorney General Kamala Harris’ title for the summary which, he said, makes the measure sound misleadingly unappealing. (Click here later for a transcript of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Ben Adler’s story)

ADVANCED PLACEMENT TESTING NUMBERS UP

A College Board report shows that the number of California high school students taking Advanced Placement exams is up from 2007. There are still disparities in representation by Hispanic and African-American students. (Click here later for a transcript of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Jenny O’Mara’s story)

MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES COULD SEE RELIEF FROM COLLEGE FEES

California Assembly Speaker John Perez is proposing a two-thirds reduction in University of California and California State University fees for certain families. The reduction would apply to families who make less than $150,000 annually but too much to qualify for financial aid. Perez would pay for these scholarships by closing a tax loophole on state businesses. (Click here later for a transcript of the story from California Capitol Network reporter Ben Adler’s story)

DEPORTATIONS HALTED

The Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled to stop the deportation of seven immigrants on Monday. The court requested that the Obama Administration make clear whether or not the immigrants qualify for a reprieve under its new immigration directive, which aims to deport criminals and not necessarily law-abiding immigrants with family ties in the country. (Click here later for a transcript of this story from The Associated Press)

CALIFORNIA REPORT

Contraceptive Mandate Already Exists in State

Roman Catholic bishops across the country are speaking out against a recent decision by the Obama administration that religious-affiliated schools and hospitals are not exempt from the federal requirement that employee health plans cover contraception. But the issue appears to be largely moot in California; the state already requires that coverage. Reporter: Stephanie Martin.

Former Northstate assembly member and  state senator Sam Aanestad is running for the Congressional seat being vacated this year by longtime Republican representative Wally Herger. Aanestad’s campaign manager, Tim Clark, was quoted in yesterday’s Record Searchlight — saying that though no official press statements have been released, Aanestad will make an announcement soon. Two weeks ago Clark “confirmed” to the Paradise Post that Aanestad was “contemplating” a run for Congress. His entry into the race means there are now four Republicans running in the June Primary for Herger’s seat. The others are State Senator Doug LaMalfa, of Richvale; retired Air Force pilot Pete Stiglich of Cottonwood, who ran against Herger two years ago; and Douglas Cheadle, a real estate broker from Happy Valley. They will be joined in the race by Democrat Jim Reed, an attorney from Fall River Mills, who lost to Herger two years ago. The 65-year old Aanestad is a dentist, who was elected to the 3rd District Assembly seat in 1998, replacing Chico’s Bernie Richter. In 2002 he won the 4th District State Senate seat, defeating incumbent Maurice Johannessen of Redding. Aanestad was termed out of office in 2010 and replaced by LaMalfa. The two candidates who receive the most votes in the June primary, regardless of party affiliation, will face off in the November general election.

RCAC KEEPS CITY CONTRACT

The Redding City Council granted a one-year contract to Redding Community Access Corporation last night. The council members demanded more transparency in the organization’s record keeping and in its dealings with the public. Board meetings will only go into closed session if there are personnel matters or litigation to discuss. Critics complains of closed door meetings and the inability to acquire meeting minutes of the private non-profit organization. (Click here for a transcript of the story by Northstate Public Radio news reporter Kelly Frost)

CSU CELEBRATES 125 YEARS – COLLABORATES WITH PARTNERS — CITY OF CHICO SPONSORS STATE OF THE COMMUNITY EVENT

California State University, Chico is celebrating its 125^th anniversary this year. The campus is the second oldest in the state, starting as the Northern Branch of the State Normal School 125 years ago with ninety students and five faculty members. According to CSU officials, there are now over 15,000 students.

Yesterday (Tuesday) CSU Chico President Paul Zingg announced some new initiatives designed to illustrate the service university students, faculty and alumni provide to Northstate communities.  The “My Service Counts” initiative will track volunteer hours. The goal is 125,000 hours of service in 2012 for each group.  The “North State Initiative Task Force” will work to find new ways to work with and for the people of the university’s twelve-county service region.  The Chico Stat Expo 125 will be held in mid-April to provide a community open house and will highly close community connections with the university.

Tomorrow President Zingg will join the President of Butte College and representatives from the City of Chico for a “State of the Community” symposium. The various constituent groups will each present a SWOT (pronounced SWAT) analysis of their strengths, weaknesses and threats. Students will the work to analyze this information. A future symposium will be held where students present their findings concerning how the groups could partner for community benefit.

SACRAMENTO MIWOK NAMED AS GOVERNOR’S TRIBAL ADVISOR

Cynthia Gomez, a 54 year old from Sacramento, was appointed Governor Brown’s tribal advisor and executive secretary for the Native American Heritage Commission.  Gomez has a long history serving the state in regards to legal affairs, transportation and the environment. Gomez received a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Northern California, Lorenzo Patino School of Law. Since 2010 she has been the chief justice for the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Tribal Court.

She previously served as assistant secretary of environmental justice and tribal governmental policy for the California Environmental Protection Agency; chief of the Native American Liaison Branch for the California Department of Transportation; and a housing and community development representative for the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

Governor Brown created the Tribal Advisor position to provide a direct link between his office and tribal government on legislation, policy and regulation.

DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME NOTIFIES U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS OF INTENT TO SUE

According to the California Department of Fish & Game, the Army Corps of Engineers failed to comply with the federal Endangered Species Act when it adopted a national policy requiring the removal of virtually all the trees and shrubs on federal levees. This was a policy put in place after Hurricane Katrina. Only five percent of the Central Valley’s original riparian forest remains, and according to the DF&G, that would all have to be removed under the new policy. The riparian habitat is considered essential for several endangered species including Chinook Salmon, Central Valley Steelhead, Valley elderberry longhorn beetle, riparian brush rabbit, Western yellow-billed cuckoo and the Swainson’s hawk. About 1,600 miles of federal levees along the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and tributaries are impacted by the Corp’ policy. The DF&G is also concerned that the cost of compliance is about $7.5 billion dollars — which would divert funding that could be used to fix levee structure deficiencies due to seepage and erosion. The state agency wants the federal agency to comply with the federal Environmental Species Act, the national Environmental Policy Act and the federal Administrative Procedure Act before any action is taken on California’s levees.

PG&E UPDATES ON NATURAL GAS PIPELINE AND SMART METERS

PG&E told the Public Utilities Commission that they have finished inspecting their urban natural gas pipelines in Northern and Central California. They have verified the Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure for 2,000 miles of pipelines. Now they will continue checking 4,660 miles of rural pipelines in more remote locations. According to Nick Stavropoulos, PG&E’s executive vice president of gas operations, this marks a milestone for PG&E as they work to regain the public’s trust. The PUC required this action by the energy company in the wake of the September 2010 San Bruno pipeline incident.

PG&E is also is addressing the concerns of customers who dislike the SmartMeters, based upon a new decision by the PUC. Residential customers can now choose a new SmartMeter, or can replace it with a traditional analog meter. PG&E told the PUC they will have installed about 10 million meter in 2011 and 2012. Though independent studies have affirmed accuracy of the meters, many customers have complained of large increases in their monthly bills. The utility will charge customers who opt out $75 for initial setup and an additional $10 monthly charge to cover the costs of reading the meters manually. Low-income customers will pay a $10 setup fee and a $5 monthly charge.

CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN PARTY TO HOST NEWT GINGRICH

The California Republican Party will host presidential candidate and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich during its convention later this month. Party Chairperson Tom Del Beccaro said yesterday (Tuesday) that Gingrich will address the twice-annual gathering in Burlingame on Saturday, February 25th. Del Beccaro calls Gingrich one of the most dynamic figures in GOP politics in the last 50 years.Gingrich’s finance chairperson in the state, Eric Beach, says California will be a key primary state this year, although it does not hold its primary until June. (Copyright AP)

CALIFORNIA REPORT

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Federal Appeals Court Strikes Down Prop. 8

Yesterday’s ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, and gave many Californians a reason to celebrate. But the decision won’t go into effect immediately, and many observers expect the case to end up in the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Oakland’s Activist Past Contributes to Occupy Conflict

The city of Oakland faces challenges shared by many other California cities: a crumbling tax base, layoffs of city workers, schools laboring with state budget cuts. But only Oakland is locked in a sustained conflict with Occupy protesters, exposing the Oakland Police Department?s strained relationship with the community. Reporter: Mina Kim.