topbar

Archive | California News

Calif. Governor Brown Announces Appointments for Nov. 21, 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Aaron Robertson, 44, of Roseville, has been appointed chief deputy director at the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Robertson has been deputy director of administration at the California Department of Parks and Recreation since 2012.

Continue Reading

SF Mayor Lee Launches Season of Giving Campaign to Support San Francisco Families and People in Need

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee announced the launch of San Francisco’s Season of Giving campaign to support organizations that help San Franciscans and organizations helping victims of Hurricane Sandy. The Season of Giving will last through Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday weekend on January 15, 2013 and residents and […]

Continue Reading

California Governor Brown Announces Appointments for Nov. 20, 2012, including Carcinogen Identification Committee

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Jason Bush, 42, of Fresno, has been appointed to the Carcinogen Identification Committee. Bush has served as associate professor of cancer biology at California State University, Fresno since 2012 and was assistant professor of cancer biology from 2006 to […]

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Announces 81st Annual Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting on December 5

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Today, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the 81st Annual Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, December 5 on the West Steps of the State Capitol. This year’s tree is a 50-foot tall white fir tree from the Latour Demonstration State Forest located near Redding in […]

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Announces Appointments for Nov. 19, 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Monday, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the following appointments: First, Ken DaRosa, 46, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief deputy director at the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). DaRosa has served in multiple postions at the California Department of Finance since 2004, including program budget […]

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Announces Appointments for Nov. 16, 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Friday, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the following appointments: first, Paul Marchand, 64, of Kelseyville, has been appointed to the 49th District Agricultural Association, Lake County Fair Board. Marchand has been an independent emergency physician and contractor since 1985 and owner of Highland Springs Equestrian Center since 2005. […]

Continue Reading

SF Mayor Lee Launches Enterprise Zone Web App to Help City Businesses Access Tax Credits

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Edwin M. Lee announced the launch of the San Francisco Enterprise Zone Web App, a web-based tool that allows San Francisco businesses to apply online for the City’s popular Enterprise Zone hiring tax credit program. The Enterprise Zone Web App will replace a completely paper-based process with a […]

Continue Reading

Great Park Announces Scarecrows in the Park Winners: Competition raised $13,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank, and education programs

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The Orange County Great Park today announced the top winners of the third annual Scarecrows in the Park fundraising competition, which challenges local businesses and community organizations to build creative, themed scarecrows that are displayed for public voting at the Great Park’s Farm + Food Lab and on the Great […]

Continue Reading

San Francisco City Hall and Seven Other Historic Civic Center Buildings File For LEED Certification

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Edwin M. Lee today at the U.S. Green Building Council Greenbuild International Conference and Expo being held at the Moscone Convention Center announced that the City and County of San Francisco has filed for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for eight buildings in San Francisco’s […]

Continue Reading

SF Mayor Lee Announces Landmark Local Hiring Agreement Between Golden State Warriors, Labor and Community to Build Waterfront Arena

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced an agreement between the Golden State Warriors, local building trades unions and community groups to hire a minimum number of San Francisco residents for the construction of a proposed basketball and performing arts venue on San Francisco’s waterfront.

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Announces Appointments for Nov. 13, 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Hal Geiogue, 71, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Student Aid Commission. Geiogue was the chief consultant to the California Assembly Education Committee from 1995 to 2002, and was assistant state treasurer to the California State Treasurer […]

Continue Reading

California Governor Brown Announces Appointments for Nov. 9, 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Elaine Howle, 54, of El Dorado Hills, has been appointed state auditor for the California State Auditor’s Office. Howle has served in multiple positions at the California State Auditor’s Office since 1993, including state auditor, deputy state auditor […]

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Announces Appointments for Nov. 8, 2012 to District Agricultural Associations

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Meredith Biasca, 54, of Loleta, has been appointed to the 9th District Agricultural Association, Redwood Acres Fair Board. Biasca has been manager at Don’s Rent-All since 2005. She was manager at the Party Place from 1990 to 2005.

Continue Reading

L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa Releases Statement on the Re-Election of President Barack Obama

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ — L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa late last night released a statement on the re-election of President Barack Obama: President Obama campaigned on a vision of strengthening America’s ladder of opportunity, expanding our middle class and making the investments that will ensure America’s future prosperity. Tonight, this vision won.

Continue Reading

OC Great Park and Arts OC present ‘The Dig’ a new One-woman Play performed by Stacie Chaiken

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The Orange County Great Park and Arts Orange County are pleased to present a new Arts Happening featuring the premier of a new one-woman play: The Dig. Written by and starring Los Angeles-based actress Stacie Chaiken, The Dig recounts the dramatic tale of a world-renowned American archeologist who uncovers the […]

Continue Reading

San Diego Children’s Choir celebrates 22nd annual Holiday Concert and Community Sing-along in December

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The San Diego Children’s Choir (SDCC) will perform its annual Holiday Concert and Community Sing-along on Sunday, Dec. 9, at 3 p.m., at The First United Methodist Church of San Diego in Mission Valley. The children will sing selections from Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols and include traditional […]

Continue Reading

San Francisco Named Finalist in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Challenge

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — SF Mayor Edwin M. Lee announced San Francisco has been selected as a finalist for the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Challenge, a competition created to inspire United States cities to generate innovative ideas that solve major challenges, improve city life and can be shared with other cities across the nation.

Continue Reading

California Gov. Brown Announces Appointments for Oct. 25, 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Thursday announced the following appointments: First, Paul Helliker, 55, of Berkeley, has been appointed deputy director at the California Department of Water Resources. Helliker has been executive advisor at the Marin Municipal Water District since 2012 and general manager there from 2004 to 2012

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Announces Appointments for Oct. 24, 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Wednesday announced the following appointments: First, Bobbie Jean Anderson, 73, of Los Angeles, has been appointed to the Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. Anderson served as a field representative for Assemblymember Mike Davis from 2006 to 2009, supervising legal office assistant at the Los […]

Continue Reading

SF Mayor Lee Launches TechSF Workforce Training Initiative to Train, Place 2,500 San Francisco Residents in High Tech Jobs

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Joined by dozens of high tech student trainees and representatives of San Francisco’s major technology companies, Mayor Edwin M. Lee launched TechSF – a citywide workforce initiative that aims to train and place 2,500 San Francisco residents from diverse backgrounds in high technology jobs over the next five years.

Continue Reading

SF Mayor Lee Announces Square Moving to New Central Market HQ: Tech Company Plans to Employ 1,000 People in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Edwin M. Lee and Square CEO Jack Dorsey today announced that Square, the company “making commerce easy for everyone,” is relocating its corporate headquarters to 1455 Market Street in the City’s Central Market neighborhood. Square has signed a lease and expects to move into its new location in […]

Continue Reading

Annual Great Park Scarecrows in the Park Fundraising Competition Begins in Orange County

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The Orange County Great Park invites visitors to vote for their favorite scarecrow at the third annual Scarecrows in the Park contest, which challenges Orange County’s businesses and community organizations to show off their creative and philanthropic spirit by building creative, themed scarecrows. The 2012 edition of the fundraising and […]

Continue Reading

Calf. Governor Brown Announces Appointments to District Agricultural Associations for Oct. 19, 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Shawn Bagley, 61, of Salinas, has been appointed to the 7th District Agricultural Association, Monterey County Fair Board. Bagley has been a founding partner and vice president at Complete Produce Inc. since 2002.

Continue Reading

SF Mayor Lee and President Chiu Announce New Open Data Legislation for San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Tuesday S.F. Mayor Lee and Board of Supervisors President David Chiu announced introduction of new Open Data legislation to strengthen San Francisco’s landmark Open Data initiatives, including the creation of a Chief Data Officer and encouraging the use of information for more efficient government services.

Continue Reading

SF Mayor Lee Announces Moscone Center Achieves LEED Gold

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Mayor Edwin M. Lee on Monday announced that the Moscone Center has received LEED Gold certification, the first convention center on the West Coast to attain the green building honor. The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Continue Reading

Launch of Great Park Jack-O-Lantern Starts Countdown to O.C. Great Park Pumpkin Harvest

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The Great Park Jack-O-Lantern took flight today to mark the unofficial start of fall and the launch the countdown to the fifth annual Great Park Pumpkin Harvest on Saturday, October 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This year’s Pumpkin Harvest will feature a variety of activities and family entertainment, […]

Continue Reading

Calif. Assemblyman Gatto’s Bill to Bring Back Vintage License Plates signed by Gov. Brown

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Assembly Bill (AB) 1658, by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D–Los Angeles) was signed today by Governor Brown, establishing the California Legacy License Plate Program. The program will allow car enthusiasts to apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for one of three iconic California license plate designs.

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Announces Appointments for Sept. 28, 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, LaRonda Bowen, 60, of Pasadena, has been appointed small business ombudsman for the California Air Resources Board, where she has served since 2009. Bowen was sole proprietor of Bowen and Associates from 2000 to 2009 and was public […]

Continue Reading

Calif. Gov. Brown Signs Padilla Bill to Spur Job Creation in California – Incentivize Investment in Advanced Manufacturing

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Calif. Governor Jerry Brown today signed Senate Bill 1128 authored by State Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima). The bill will encourage investment, job creation and economic growth in California by allowing sales and use tax exemptions on the purchase of manufacturing equipment in the advanced manufacturing sector. The bill will go […]

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Issues Legislative Update for Sept. 27, 2012 – New Bills Signed Into Law

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that he has signed the following bills: AB 40 by Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) – Elder and dependent adult abuse: reporting. AB 41 by Assemblymember Jerry Hill (D-South San Francisco) – High-Speed Rail Authority: conflicts of interest: disqualification. (Additional follow.)

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Signs Padilla’s ‘Student-Athlete Bill of Rights’ – goes into effect on January 1, 2013

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Jerry Brown today signed into law Senate Bill 1525 authored by State Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima). The new law, known as the “Student-Athlete Bill of Rights”, will require universities located in California that generate on average more than $10 million a year in media revenues to provide specific protections […]

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Signs Padilla’s English Learner Reform Bills

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — A pair of English Learner reform bills authored by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) have been signed by Governor Brown. SB 1108 would reform the English Learners reclassification system by identifying and implementing uniform statewide best practices. SB 754 would require school districts to post online the Economic Impact Aid they […]

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Issues Legislative Update – Signs bills to improve education in California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that he has signed the following bills to improve education in California: AB 644 by Assemblymember Robert Blumenfield (D-Van Nuys) – Schools: average daily attendance: online instruction. AB 1723 by Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes (D-Los Angeles) – Postsecondary educational institutions: meetings: live video and […]

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Issues Legislative Update for Sept. 26, 2012 – Bills Signed into Law re Treatment of Animals

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that he has signed the following bills related to the treatment and welfare of animals: AB 1162 by Assemblymember Wesley Chesbro (D-Eureka) – Wildlife: poaching. AB 1776 by Assemblymember Paul Fong (D-Mountain View) – State government: Pacific leatherback sea turtle. (Additional follow.)

Continue Reading

Five evenings of award-winning short films will be screened at the Orange County Great Park in collaboration with the Irvine International Film Festival

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The Orange County Great Park in collaboration with the Irvine International Film Festival will host a series of screenings of award-winning short films at the Palm Court Arts Complex beginning October 4. The Independent & Inspired Film Series feature 18 films that will be screened over five evenings on select […]

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown to Sign Padilla’s Driverless Vehicle Bill today at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View

MOUTNAIN VIEW, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Jerry Brown will sign SB 1298 authored by State Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) today at Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California. The bill will establish safety and performance standards for the safe operation of autonomous vehicles on California’s roads and highways.

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Signs Padilla Bill to Expand Voter Registration – California Acts While Other States Move to Restrict Voting and Voter Registration

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Jerry Brown today signed into law Senate Bill 35 authored by Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima). The new law will facilitate voter registration and further California’s compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), commonly known as Motor Voter. The bill goes into effect on January 1, 2013.

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Signs Legislation to Bolster California Business and Create Jobs

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed a series of eight bills to bolster business and job creation in the state of California. “As California’s economy recovers from the deepest recession since the Great Depression, it’s important that state government bolsters local job growth,” said Governor Brown. “Simply put, these […]

Continue Reading

Closely Watched California Homemade Food Act Signed into Law

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Calif. Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s (D-Los Angeles) Assembly Bill (AB) 1616, the California Homemade Food Act, was signed into law today. The California Homemade Food Act legalizes the sale of homemade, “non-potentially hazardous” foods by creating a two-tier system of “cottage food operations” based upon the point of sale

Continue Reading

SF Mayor Lee Announces Accelerator That Will Help Minority Entrepreneurs Break Into Tech Sector

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Thursday S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee announced that NewME Accelerator, an accelerator for businesses led by underrepresented minorities in the technology industry, moved to the Bayview. NewME signed a three-year lease at 1552 Yosemite Avenue and is housing their members on nearby on Third Street.

Continue Reading

In O.C., Contemporary Artists Conceptualize the Year 1942 Exhibition Offers Artistic Complement to Farmers to Flyers Historical Perspective

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ — History and art collide to provide a unique interpretive experience at the Orange County Great Park’s Palm Court Arts Complex with a pair of exhibitions that contrast first-person story-telling and historical perspective with emotional interpretations of a time gone by.

Continue Reading

The Nature Conservancy gifts 750 acres to the Elkhorn Slough Foundation for continued conservation management

WATSONVILLE, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The Nature Conservancy today transferred ownership of the majority of their Elkhorn Slough land holdings (750 acres) to the Elkhorn Slough Foundation for continued conservation management. This is the largest single transfer of conservation lands in history of Elkhorn Slough and cements the Elkhorn Slough Foundation as a significant conservation […]

Continue Reading

Calif. Governor Brown Issues Legislative Update for Sept. 13, 2012 – Signs New Bills into Law

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that he has signed the following bills, including: AB 197 by Assemblymember Joan Buchanan (D-San Ramon) – Public employees’ retirement. AB 801 by Assemblymember Sandre Swanson (D-Oakland) – Illegal dumping enforcement officers and code enforcement officers. (Additional follow.)

Continue Reading

S.F. Mayor Lee Announces New Biotech Incubator – Mission Bay Biotech Innovation Hub

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Monday, Mayor Edwin M. Lee announced the opening of the Bayer HealthCare CoLaborator, an innovative shared lab for start-up life science companies in Mission Bay. Mayor Lee also announced two new biotech startups are relocating to San Francisco to be the first companies to locate in the CoLaborator: […]

Continue Reading

Calif. Gov. Brown Signs Bills into Law: Legislative Update for Sept. 7, 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that he has signed the following bills: AB 233 by Assemblymember Isadore Hall (D-Los Angeles) – Personal income taxes: voluntary contributions: California YMCA Youth and Government Fund. AB 432 by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson (D-Sacramento) – Transit: Sacramento County. Additional follow:

Continue Reading

Calif. Bill to Allow Motorists to Show Proof of Auto Insurance on Their Smartphones Signed into Law

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Assemblyman Mike Gatto’s (D-Los Angeles) Assembly Bill 1708 was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown today. The measure would give California drivers the option to present their proof of auto insurance in electronic form, such as on a smartphone or other personal electronic device.

Continue Reading

Farmers to Flyers: Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and Mid-Century Orange County Exhibition Offers Thought-Provoking View of Southern California History

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The Orange County Great Park will host a special reception to showcase the thought-provoking exhibition memorializing Marine Corps Air Station El Toro’s 50-year tradition of service and sacrifice titled, Farmers to Flyers: Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and Mid-Century Orange County.

Continue Reading

Governor Brown Announces Appointments for Sept. 5, 2012

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Wednesday announced the following appointments: First, Matthew McGuinness, 46, of San Francisco, has been appointed to the California Architects Board. McGuinness has held multiple positions at Interior Design Services Inc. since 1988, including president, vice president, sales and marketing manager, sales associate and bookkeeper.

Continue Reading

Calif. Brown Announces Pension Reform Agreement to Save Billions by Capping Benefits, Increasing the Retirement Age

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — On Tuesday, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. outlined a sweeping pension reform agreement that saves billions of taxpayer dollars by capping benefits, increasing the retirement age, stopping abusive practices and requiring state employees to pay at least half of their pension costs.

Continue Reading

O.C. Great Park 2012 Flights & Sounds Summer Festival Goes Out Rockin’ and Swingin’ with Two-Night Finale

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ — Themed Summer’s End Weekend, the finale of the Orange County Great Park’s 2012 Flights & Sounds Summer Festival features the costumed superhero rock group, The Aquabats on August 30, and the sultry sounds of Lavay Smith and Her Red-Hot Skillet Lickers on August 31. Both performances for Summer’s End Weekend […]

Continue Reading

Calif. Assembly Sends Wieckowski’s Spinal Cord Injury Research Bill (AB 1657) to Gov. Brown on 46-27 Vote

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — The California State Assembly voted this afternoon to approve a bill by Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) to raise funds to sustain a program, supported by disability rights advocates, the biotech industry, and neuro-scientists, that provides vital research into spinal cord injuries.

Continue Reading

Assemblymember Hall to Host Forum on Impacts of California’s ‘Cap and Trade’ Program

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ – California Assemblymember Isadore Hall, III (D- Los Angeles) and Assemblymember Susan A. Bonilla (D- Concord) will hold a forum, featuring California Air Resources Board (CARB) Chair Mary Nichols to discuss the impact of AB 32 (Chapter 488, 2006) and CARB’s Cap-and-Trade program on businesses, utilities, public universities and local […]

Continue Reading

Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes