You are hereFeed aggregator / Sources / Latest Media Clips
Latest Media Clips
A history to be learned (La Opinión)
Wed, 08/06/2008 - 06:33La Opinión
August 6, 2008
California’s students should learn California’s history and the contributions made by our state’s men and women to the progress of the US. It is unacceptable that the teaching of this history is not being updated and it unfairly leaves out important facts about our national history.
Contra Costa County: Vasco Road Improvement Plans Moving Forward (CBS 5)
Sat, 08/02/2008 - 05:43CBS 5
August 2, 2008
Safety improvement plans for a deadly stretch of Vasco Road in unincorporated Contra Costa County are continuing to move forward, according to officials.
The Contra Costa Public Works Department and the Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission are conducting an environmental review of the plan, said Christopher Lau, county public works department transportation engineer.
Flawed school bills (MediaNews Editorial Endorses Tom's SB 1097)
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 00:18MediaNews Editorial
July 31, 2008
SEVERAL MEMBERS of the California Legislature have decided to become public school curriculum directors, especially in history. They have offered a number of bills that would mandate that particular pieces of California and U.S. history be taught in our schools.
Most of the additions would be welcome to history lessons. One bill would require that a landmark 1946 California school desegregation case be added to history lessons.
Bracing for steep pay cuts (Contra Costa Times)
Wed, 07/30/2008 - 22:40By Steven Harmon
Sacramento Bureau
Contra Costa Times
07/30/2008
SACRAMENTO — About 200,000 state employees are bracing for steep pay cuts as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger prepares to sign an executive order that would reduce their wages to the federal minimum wage — $6.55 an hour.
Schwarzenegger is slated to sign the order — which also includes laying off 22,000 part-time employees — today, the first day of the state's pay period. That has employees, legislators and public employee groups outraged and worried — especially because the budget negotiations appear to remain deadlocked.
Lawmakers scramble to change curriculum (Contra Costa Times)
Sat, 07/26/2008 - 21:11By Mike Dorsey
Sacramento Bureau
Contra Costa Times
07/26/2008
SACRAMENTO — How many students know that a 1946 California court case on segregation actually set a precedent for the widely heralded Brown v. Board of Education?
The case of Mendez v. Westminster is one of the great triumphs in California legal history — five Latino parents challenged a white private school in court for admission and won, leading to desegregation of all schools in the state.
Autism Legislative Briefing Hosted By The Help Group (PR Newswire)
Tue, 07/22/2008 - 20:11SHERMAN OAKS, Calif., July 22, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Senator Tom Torlakson and Dr. Barbara Firestone to address early identification and intervention initiatives in California
State Senator Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, is the keynote speaker at The Help Group's Autism Legislative Briefing on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. Dr. Barbara Firestone, President & CEO, The Help Group and Vice Chair, California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism will present an overview of the Commission's recommendations and the autism legislative package.
Education professor looking into state superintendent race in 2010 (PolitickerCA)
Mon, 07/21/2008 - 19:33By Ben van der Meer
PolitickerCA
July 21, 2008
An education professor in Sacramento has submitted a statement of intent to run for California's top education post in 2010.
A statement of intent to run for Francisco Reveles, a professor of educational leadership at California State University, Sacramento, was posted online within the last few days.
Reveles is apparently a newcomer to elective politics, though a web search shows he has spoken at several education conferences on the West Coast.
A message left at his work office was not immediately returned.
Restaurateur heads wellness efforts (Contra Costa Times)
Sun, 07/13/2008 - 21:21By Theresa Harrington
Contra Costa Times
7/13/2008
WALNUT CREEK — Cindy Gershen is a petite dynamo.
She is sweeping up people in a monumental cause — to transform the way people eat, exercise and think about health and wellness.
"It's very exciting to see it taking off," Gershen said, during a break at the Sunrise Bistro restaurant, which she owns and operates. "I'm an agent for change."
She speaks rapidly, emphatically and from the heart. Her dark brown eyes, determined facial expressions and enthusiastic body language come on strong, yet leave listeners eager to help.
It's Musical Chairs Time for California Pols (San Francisco Chronicle Politics Blog)
Fri, 07/11/2008 - 20:51Posted By: John Wildermuth
San Francisco Chronicle Politics Blog
July 11, 2008
In California's wonderful world of term limits, the future is now for any officeholder looking at the imminent -- or not so imminent --end to a political career. And in the state's version of musical chairs, those politicians already are figuring where to jump when the music stops.
State funds may soon hinge on fire agencies' protection programs (San Diego Union-Tribune)
Thu, 07/10/2008 - 21:11By Michael Gardner
San Diego Union-Tribune
July 10, 2008
SACRAMENTO – As California burns, lawmakers are threatening to withhold money routinely reimbursed to counties following devastating firestorms if local fire agencies do not provide high levels of protection and more aggressive prevention programs.
The broad policy fight – championed by legislators who resent agencies that do not fully invest in local defenses and still demand fire protection services from state taxpayers – could jeopardize a $1 million package for San Diego County.
Catherine Agnes Leary Torlakson (San Francisco Chronicle)
Sun, 07/06/2008 - 21:19San Francisco Chronicle
Obituary
July 6, 2008
Catherine Agnes Leary Torlakson October 17, 1923 - June 24, 2008, Resident of Antioch
Catherine moved on to her eternal peace on Tuesday, June 24th. She was in her home at Quail Lodge in Antioch. Catherine was a San Franciscan, born in this great city October 17, 1923.
Her parents were Michael Leary and Margaret Moriarty Leary. Michael was born in 1883 in County Kerry in Ireland. She was a proud sister to firefighter Jack Leary of SF and Margaret Lyons of South SF.
Support for gas tax hike drops with higher fuel prices (Contra Costa Times)
Thu, 06/19/2008 - 19:16By Denis Cuff
Contra Costa Times
June 19, 2008
Rising gas prices have soured support for the idea of imposing a 10-cents-per-gallon gasoline tax in the Bay Area to fight global warming by paying to expand public transit or reduce traffic congestion, according to a new poll by the region's transportation commission.
Only 37 percent of the 3,602 people polled in May said they would support or likely support the dime tax if it were placed before them on the ballot, according the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, a nine-county agency.
Assembly Education Committee Considers Vocational Training Requirements (KCBS-AM)
Tue, 06/17/2008 - 22:00SACRAMENTO (KCBS)
June 17, 2008
Two bills to require more vocational training in California high school are now working their way through the state Assembly.
Education cuts have meant fewer opportunities for students to receive training in a specific field such as the building trade or computer engineering, said the bills’ sponsor, Antioch Democrat Tom Torlakson.
State resolution (Contra Costa Times)
Mon, 06/16/2008 - 22:00By Jacquie Oliverius
Contra Costa Times
June 16, 2008
The Family Stress Center (FSC) has been serving Contra Costa County since 1978 with counseling, programs and support to treat and prevent child abuse and neglect, and help their families. More than 7,000 children and families are served each year with its multi-program approach.
In April, state Sen. Tom Torlakson and Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier honored the center by co-sponsoring a California Legislative Resolution commending the organization and 30 years of service.
Democrats, Seniors Citizens and Health Care Workers Denounce Governor's Cuts (California Political Desk)
Fri, 06/13/2008 - 22:00California Political Desk
June 14, 2008
(PLEASANT HILL) – The Governor´s budget cuts to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) would devastate thousands of families and hurt the economy by reducing hours and jobs for many health care workers employed by the valuable safety net program, Democratic legislators said today.
'Oscars' for Mt. Diablo schools (Contra Costa Times)
Tue, 06/10/2008 - 22:00By Julie Ross, correspondent
Contra Costa Times
June 11, 2008
Groups from 10 elementary schools in Contra Costa County, including five from the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, traveled to the Disneyland Hotel to be honored at the California Distinguished School awards ceremony.
In his congratulatory address at the May 16 awards banquet, Jack O'Connell, state Superintendent of Public Instruction said, "These are the Academy Awards for our public school system. Tonight we highlight our best performances."
Democrats to honor local leaders (Contra Costa Times)
Tue, 06/10/2008 - 21:36By Lisa Vorderbrueggen
Contra Costa Times
June 10, 2008
The Lamorinda Democratic Club will honor Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, D-Berkeley, and state Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch, for their public service at its June 20 dinner.
Assemblyman Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, will host the spaghetti dinner, and proceeds will help fund the club's neighborhood and youth outreach and get-out-the-vote programs.
Progressive Democrats Sweep Primaries (The Daily Californian)
Mon, 06/09/2008 - 22:00By Robert Klein
The Daily Californian
June 9, 2008
This year's June primary election was one of the most exciting Democratic Party races in recent memory. Despite record-low turnout, every crucial Bay Area race was decided in favor of an experienced, progressive Democrat. If students show up to volunteer in November, these candidates will lead the party to a likely landslide victory in November.
California Lawmakers Address Disaster Response, Automative Repair, and More (Insurance Journal)
Fri, 06/06/2008 - 21:00Insurance Journal
June 6, 2008
California lawmakers recently approved several insurance-related bills, addressing such topics as disaster response and automative repair following a crash. Following is a summary of recent legislation, as provided by the Association of California Insurance Companies.
Assembly Floor
California's Ambitious Online Drug Database (Internetnews.com)
Thu, 06/05/2008 - 20:22By Richard Adhikari
Internetnews.com
June 5, 2008
Despite its budgetary woes, California plans to plunk down $3.5 million in a massive effort to put its statewide database of prescribed drugs on the Internet.
The project, scheduled for completion by next year, is a bid to prevent drug addicts and dealers from acquiring duplicate prescriptions from unwitting doctors and pharmacists. It also will modernize what state Attorney General Jerry Brown described in his announcement as a "horse and buggy" system.
