Investigation-Inside GovernmentCA Democrat Party Convention: Exclusive access to Friday’s VIP receptionMonday, April 15th, 2013 April 15, 2013 By John Hrabe California Democrats kicked off their annual state party convention on Friday night with dinners, parties and hospitality suites to celebrate last November’s historic victories. Riding President Obama’s coattails, California Democrats added six freshmen to the ... FPPC shuns investigation of CA legislators’ Cuba tripTuesday, April 9th, 2013 April 9, 2013 By John Hrabe and Katy Grimes After Friday’s report on CalWatchdog.com that at least two state legislators traveled to Cuba with a powerful Sacramento lobbyist, you’d think the state’s political watchdog might be launching a formal investigation. After all, the trip was h... Municipal Bankruptcy Can Restore Financial StabilityThursday, January 17th, 2013Jan. 17, 2013 By Todd C. Ringstad The threat of bankruptcy still haunts California. State and municipal finances have been improving, yet last year three cities filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy: Stockton, San Bernardino and Mammoth Lakes. Around the country, Jefferson County, Ala. went belly ... Prop. 36 takes a swing at three strikesMonday, October 29th, 2012Oct. 29, 2012 By Dave Roberts If Proposition 36 passes, about 2,800 inmates who have committed multiple felonies and are serving sentences of 25 years to life could be released from prison or re-sentenced to lesser terms. Those criminals were sentenced under California’s “three strikes and... Politics Still Beats Down Police ReformMonday, October 24th, 2011OCT. 24, 2011 By TORI RICHARDS A mentally ill homeless man was beaten into a coma that proved fatal by six Fullerton police officers as he screamed, “Help, dad!” Fresno police repeatedly punched a homeless man in the head while he was face down with his arms behind his back. Three BA... Brown’s Government Expansion ProjectMonday, September 26th, 2011SEPT. 26, 2011 By KATY GRIMES Many in the state say that Gov. Jerry Brown has demonstrated a propensity for doing things his way, even if it means bucking his own party. But what Brown really has shown a gift for is expanding government. Faced with 600 potential new laws sent to him in ... Merck Bankrolled Anti-Parent BillTuesday, September 6th, 2011 SEPT. 6, 2011 By JOHN SEILER Key California legislators passing an anti-parent bill grabbed campaign financing from the gigantic Merck conglomerate, a CalWatchDog.com investigation revealed. The legislation is AB 499 by Assemblywoman Toni Atkins, D-San Diego. In the bill's language, it "autho... Noted Lawyer Slammed in Judicial GulagTuesday, July 5th, 2011 JULY 5, 2011 By RICHARD TRAINOR When I met Richard Fine in the summer of 2001, he was riding high. Shortly after that he was rotting in jail. A prominent attorney with a thriving practice in Beverly Hills, in the sunny days of 2001 Fine was a political insider with powerful connections to U... Victims Program Needs Major OverhaulMonday, June 27th, 2011 JUNE 27, 2011 By RICHARD TRAINOR The California State Victims of Crime Program (VCP) is a neat little boutique agency designed to assist crime victims. It’s officially known as the Victims Compensation and Government Claims Board, or colloquially as the CalVCP. Formed in 1965, CalVCP is t... Stalking Law Hurts Small Claims CourtsTuesday, March 22nd, 2011 MARCH 22, 2011 By STAN BRIN California’s Small Claims Courts are in trouble. Every year, fewer people take their cases before the local Judge Judy. But no one seems to know why this is happening, or even that the problem exists -- or even if it is a problem at all. In 20 years, annual Sma... |