CHICO CITY COUNCIL TO MULL BAG BAN
The Chico City Council will continue looking at a proposed plastic bag ban at tomorrow’s meeting. Save the Plastic Bag Coalition has proposed legal action if the council fails to produce an environmental impact report on the ban, according to the Chico Enterprise-Record. Stephen Joseph, an attorney for the coalition, advised the city in an email to take the prudent path and wait for the state to take the lead on this issue. But council member and former mayor Ann Schwab said that Chico voters have been asking her to move on this issue since 2004 and that the state hasn’t been able to pass a ban in that time. The council meets tomorrow evening at 6:30 in the Chico City Council Chambers.
(Story by Northstate Public Radio report Matt Shilts)
FROM THE CAPITOL: BILL TO CHANGE HEALTH CARE PARADIGM, NEWSOM IN SACRAMENTO, LOW-INCOME EARNERS PAYING HIGHER PERCENTAGE IN TAXES
(Stories by Capitol Public Radio Network reporters Pauline Bartolone, Katie Orr and Amy Quinton)
BILLS SEEK UPDATES TO VOTING, ELECTION SYSTEMS
California’s online voter registration system was in use for the first time last year and proved so popular that lawmakers want to build on its success this year. Wider promotion of the system and a push toward online voting are among several election-related bills under consideration as the Legislature approaches a midyear bill deadline. About 800,000 Californians used the online registration system. The author of the original bill, Democratic state Sen. Leland Yee of San Francisco, now wants all state websites to link to the secretary of state’s voter registration page to publicize the system. Meanwhile, Democratic Assembly member Phil Ting of San Francisco has proposed AB19 to review the security of online voting software and eventually create a pilot program. (Copyright 2013 The Associated Press)
HARRIS URGES DEMOCRATS TO LEAD POLITICAL CHANGE
Attorney General Kamala Harris is urging Democrats to use their gains at California’s ballot box to push for changes on gun control, gay marriage and other issues. She addressed about 2,000 delegates at the state party’s convention Saturday in Sacramento. Harris came onstage to U2′s “Beautiful Day” but made no direct reference to President Barack Obama’s remark last week calling her the nation’s “best-looking” attorney general. It generated a national discussion about whether such remarks detract from women’s accomplishments. Obama also called Harris brilliant and tough. Harris’ remarks seemed more like a stump speech for a gubernatorial bid than a summary of her accomplishments as attorney general, touching on school funding and even climate change. Harris is one of the party’s rising stars and a top gubernatorial prospect for 2018. (Copyright 2013 The Associated Press)
FRESNO MAN HOPES TO FLY AROUND THE WORLD IN 36 DAYS
On May 1, a 20-year-old pilot will take off from a Fresno airfield in a single-engine airplane. His destination: the record books. The Fresno Bee reports Jack Wiegand will attempt to get into the Guinness Book of World Records as the youngest person ever to fly solo around the world. Wiegand, who has logged about 600 hours as a pilot, is scheduled to return to Fresno 36 days later, on June 6. His 23 stops will include Italy, Egypt, India and Bangladesh. The young pilot, who has been flying since he was 16, will be at the controls of a Mooney Ovation2 GX plane. He expects to average about 800 miles a day. Wiegand will attempt to break the unofficial record set last year by a 22-year-old Swiss man. (Copyright 2013 The Associated PressInformation and The Fresno Bee, http://www.fresnobee.com)
From The California Report
California Democrats have been riding high since last November’s election wins. That means the state party’s annual convention in Sacramento was focused on other things — like education funding, new taxes on oil and legalizing marijuana. Reporter: Scott Detrow.
Tens of thousands of people lace up to compete in the Boston Marathon on Monday. One of the grand marshals this year is the first woman to run the race, back in 1966. Brooke Binkowski met up with her at a San Diego cafe before the big day. Reporter: Brooke Binkowski.
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