Jerry Brown

Orange County Register Wildfire Coverage Has a Huge Hole in It: Media Watchdog

Orange County fire officials recently held a press conference to go over their strategies and, more importantly, warn the public about an ever-earlier fire season. The Orange County Register covered this, as it did Southern California's recent wildfires, but a media watchdog saw a huge hole in the c ... More >>

Tim Carpenter, OC-Tied Director of Progressive Democrats of America, Calls On Federal Spending Boost

Cal State Fullerton graduate Tim Carpenter--a longtime, popular liberal activist in Orange County before moving to Massachusetts--is calling on Democrats to resist Republican attempts to shortchange middle class and low income Americans in advance of the federal government's so-called looming "fisca ... More >>

California Schools Can Now Sell Produce Grown In Their Gardens

The basic lesson "Money doesn't grow on trees" is becoming less pertinent, thanks to a bill signed by Governor Jerry Brown. AB 2367, authored by Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla (D-Concord), allows California schools to sell their garden produce and reinvest the money in their garden programs. The i ... More >>

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom To Address Orange County Democrats Tonight in Anaheim

Gavin Newsom--the onetime San Francisco mayor, current California lieutenant governor and possible future governor or U.S. senator--is scheduled to give the keynote speech tonight at the 18th Annual Truman Awards Dinner in Anaheim for the Democratic Party of Orange County.Newsom follows Barney ... More >>

Pat Brown and Jerry Brown's Thorny Political and Father-Son Relationship on TV Tonight

Tonight, Southern California's PBS station, which is based in Costa Mesa, airs the broadcast debut of a documentary I found enlightening and warts-filled despite being made by the main subject's loving granddaughter.It's California State of Mind: The Legacy of Pat Brown, Sascha Rice's cinexamination ... More >>

Cal State Fullerton Sends 20,000 Budget-Cut-Themed Valentine Cards To Gov. Jerry Brown

​"Roses are red, violets are blue. Secure California's future--re-invest in the CSU." The message is being spread by Cal State Fullerton students, employees and other supporters who, on this Valentine's Day, are trying to urge Gov. Jerry Brown to remember the Cal State University system amid ... More >>

OC's Happiest Pro-Tax Increase Cheerleaders Are Democrats, Right?

​Those of you who don't believe that Orange County is loaded with ironies aren't paying attention.We've got vociferously anti-gay public figures who are secretly gay or bisexual. We've got Democrats who are more Republican than, well, Republicans. And, perhaps most amazingly, we've got self-descri ... More >>

State Supreme Court Upholds Abolition of Redevelopment Agencies

​Governor and Norcal Democrat Jerry Brown and Assemblyman and OC Republican Chris Norby don't agree on much, but they do see graying eyebrow to graying eyebrow on abolishing local redevelopment agencies to help close the state budget gap. Today, they and other RDA opponents scored a victory when t ... More >>

[UPDATED with I.D.'s, More Details:] John Kristopher Altamirano, OC Homicide No. 60: Found Dead in Truck

DMVJohn Kristopher Altamirano​UPDATE, DEC. 7, 5:10 P.M.: When sheriff's deputies found a dead John Kristopher Altamirano in his white pickup parked in front of his Laguna Niguel residence Monday afternoon, the 34-year-old had cuts and bruises on his face as if he'd been in a fight.However, the inj ... More >>

Seal Beach Salon Stylists Should Have Been Packing More Than Hair Dryers, Says Open-Carry Advocate

​"What you will see if you restrict people's gun rights is more of what happened in Seal Beach last week, where people don't have the right to defend themselves." --Jeff Dunhill, an open-carry advocate who is incensed by Gov. Jerry Brown earlier this month signing a ban prohibiting the spectacle ... More >>

Paul Crowder, Murderer of Anaheim Basketball Star on Her Prom Night, Wins Parole Bid (Again)

​After murderer Paul Crowder was granted parole last year, then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger reversed it.Today, the Board of Parole Hearings, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation once again determined the killer of a 17-year-old Anaheim basketball star on her prom night should be ... More >>

[UPDATED with Not Enough Signatures:] OC Groups Rally to Overturn Gay History Law

In the children's book King & King, a prince falls in love with a prince. ​UPDATE, OCT. 13, 4:17 PM.: Stop SB 48, the group that aimed to repeal the so-called Gay History Law, was unable to gather enough signatures from voters by this week's deadline.    "Despite the overuse of the ... More >>

[UPDATED: Gov. Brown Vetoes Bill] Lou Correa Pushing New Marijuana Buffer Zone Law in Sacramento

​UPDATED, SEPT. 21, 2011, 2:31 pm: Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed SB847, according to this article in the 420Times. Needless to say, celebratory emails are bouncing all over the medical marijuana activist community, especially among members of Americans for Safe Access, which waged a massive call-in ... More >>

Five Interesting Songs With 'California In The Title

Nate Chacon​Did you know that this month is the 161st anniversary of California's admission as the 31st state in the Union? I didn't think so. Sure, the Golden State is notorious for fiscal calamity, traffic jams and a plethora of sub-par reality stars, but you have to admit it's still an inspira ... More >>

OC Groups Rally to Overturn Gay History Law

In the children's book King & King, a prince falls in love with a prince. ​In July, Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 48, also known as the FAIR Education Act, which requires that California public schools incorporate the contributions of gays and lesbians in their lessons.Or, as Anaheim-based Tradi ... More >>

Governor Signs Bill Requiring Parents of Young Thugs to Attend Anti-Gang Classes

​Legislation that clarifies the intent of the Parental Accountability Act of 2007 to punish parents for certain crimes committed by their children was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown today.Assembly Bill 177 expands the violations committed by minors that require their parents to attend anti-gang par ... More >>

[UPDATED: TelPhil Comments; Costa Mesa Mayor Calls For DA Investigation of Berardino] OC Fairgrounds Sale Dead (Never Buried); New Names Join the Party

​John Gilhooley/OC WeeklyJeff Teller​UPDATE, AUG. 18, 5:04 P.M.: If Nick Berardino's intention was to stir shit up around the Orange County Fairgrounds, he's officially succeeded. Now that the OC Fair is over, the focus has returned to the fate of the Orange County Fairgrounds--a now two-ye ... More >>

AB 131, Second Half of California DREAM Act, Suspended in Appropriations Committee, Local Activists Host Press Conference

​In July, Governor Jerry Brown signed AB 130, a bill that gives undocumented students access to private financial aid.Now, activists are pushing to get AB131 -- a second bill that undocumented students call "the real California DREAM Act -- pulled from the Senate appropriations committee, whe ... More >>

Jerry Brown Signs Half of California DREAM Act; Illegal Immigrants Now Eligible For Private College Scholarships

​Having made a campaign pledge to do so, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the California DREAM Act yesterday.  Well, half of it.During a town hall meeting at Los Angeles City College, Brown signed AB 130, the part of the two-bill package that gives illegal immigrants who live in California and at ... More >>

[UPDATED with Veto:] Looming Deadline For Gov. Jerry Brown in United Farm Worker's-Backed SB 104

UPDATE, JUNE 29, 2:55 P.M.: The last line in Gov. Jerry Brown's letter addressed to state senators reads: "I am returning Senate Bill 104 without my signature."​In the veto letter, Brown cites his past experience with farm labor legislation. He reminds the readers that in 1975 the nation's fi ... More >>

[UPDATED with NMA Video:] Supreme Court Overturns State Ban on Sales and Rentals of Violent Video Games to Kids

NMA.TV​UPDATE, JUNE 28, 2:50 P.M.: Next Media Animation, the largest full-service animation studio in Asia and subsidiary of Hong Kong's largest publicly listed print media company, is getting faster at turning around animated video on news stories around the world.Take Monday's U.S. Supreme Court ... More >>

Looming Deadline For Gov. Jerry Brown in United Farm Worker's-Backed SB 104

Alas, he can ignore it no more. ​Gov. Jerry Brown has to either sign or veto SB 104 by 11:59 p.m. tomorrow. The bill, which was introduced by Sen. Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), would get rid of secret-ballot elections and implement a card-check method for farm workers deciding whethe ... More >>

Assembly Passes Second California DREAM Act Bill, To Allow State Financial Aid For Illegal Immigrants

​Another hurdle cleared for illegal immigrant college students. On Wednesday, the state Assembly passed the second part of the California DREAM Act, a bill that would allow them to apply for state grants.  The two-bill package was introduced by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), wh ... More >>

Larry Agran, It's Time for You to Go

[Moxley Confidential] Recent interview inadvertently reveals the slimy side of Irvine's most powerful politician

[UPDATED With New Death Threats Against Obama and More Against Jerry] Jerry Brown Receives Death Threats in Santa Ana Graffiti Scrawls--Twice

​UPDATE, FEB. 21, 11:09 A.M.: Whoever left two graffiti death threats last month against California governor Jerry Brown is at it again--and has included President Barack Obama in the vile vandalism.It's most likely the same person, since the writing and childish language is the same as in previou ... More >>

Long Beach Says Goodbye to Annual Celebrity-Studded Women's Conference

​The annual, superstar-studded women's conference that brought speakers like Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Diane Sawyer, Sandra Day O'Connor, Sarah McLachlan and Suze Orman to Long Beach, along with major tourism dollars, will not be back to the city this year.    It is uncerta ... More >>

Gov. Brown's Proposed Budget Cuts Will Affect State Parks, Including Those in OC

Chasen Marshall/OC WeeklyIt's technically San Diego County, but OC treats San Onofre like its own​Jerry Brown hasn't held the governor title for long, but he's already worthy of our unsupportive scowl. Reasoning? Part of his current suggestions for budget cuts milk state parks for $11 million thro ... More >>

Jerry Brown's Budget Slashes Higher Education Funding By $1.4 Billion

The Gov. ​The University of California president called it "a sad day for California." Today, Gov. Jerry Brown released his 2011-12 state budget proposal, one he described as "a tough budget for tough times," and higher eduction is feeling the blow.  Under the proposed budget, funding for the ... More >>

Grab Bag o' Goodies

Nine great posts from our Stick a Fork In It blog you might've missed

Anaheim Hills Cosmetic Surgery Center Comes Under an Unfriendly Light

​It's enough to put a permanent frown in your forehead.After a plastic surgeon through the courts successfully challenged the state's authority to regulate surgery centers, California in 2007 stopped licensing such facilities that are at least partly owned by a licensed doctor. According to the ... More >>

New York Times Data: OC Elections Aren't Really Contests

Ed Royce: Shoo-in elections are fun.​Do we have real congressional election contests in the Orange County/Long Beach area or, despite all the hullabaloo, is the whole affair preordained?Data from The New York Times, based on FiveThirtyEight Forecasts, shows the answer isn't necessarily uplifting. ... More >>

Are Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina Giving Sarah Palin Cold Padded Shoulders?

​As Bubba ties up Santa Ana traffic and rallies the Democrats behind his former foe Jerry Brown, his brown amiga Loretta Sanchez and that San Francisco mayor with the hair today, Anaheim is bracing for a traffic/media/politico crush Saturday with the arrival of Sarah Palin, plain and tall.

Carly Fiorina Gets the Worm at Tequila Summit

​When it comes to the four major party candidates for California's highest state offices this November--Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman for governor and Democratic incumbent Barbara Boxer and Republican Carly Fiorina for U.S. Senate--it is Fiorina who has so established herself as ... More >>

3 Orange County Car Washes Among 8 the State is Targeting for Allegedly Exploiting Workers

​Car washes in Irvine, Laguna Hills and Laguna Niguel are among eight targeted by California Attorney General Jerry Brown in a $6.6 million lawsuit that alleges a "widespread pattern of worker exploitation," unpaid wages and illegal business practices.All eight car washes are owned by the Sikder ... More >>

Sunday News Notes

​News highlights include:Meg Whitman's cash is buying her second placeCathleen Decker of the LA Times reports that new polling shows Jerry Brown gaining a "slight edge" over Meg Whitman and that Barbara Boxer has "opened a wider margin over GOP nominee Carly Fiorina in the race for U.S. Senate. ... More >>

Will Meg Whitman's Stands Against Prop. 187 and Arizona's SB 1070 Chill Her Likely Voters?

​We told you here how California Democrats are hopeful the marijuana-legalization initiative will help the ticket in November despite the party's gubernatorial nominee coming out against it.Republicans are hopeful the anti-immigration fervor does the same for their ticket despite the party's guber ... More >>

[UPDATED:] Today's Important Unimportant Election, From My TV Screen to Your Computer/Phone Screen

​11:15 p.m.: Don't be surprised if KOCE is accused of turning over its election coverage to that rare Orange County bird known as the "Democrat." The "live, election night edition of Real Orange" came from the Artists Village in Santa Ana, OC's version of Havana. Their election expert was the Voic ... More >>

One Paper Questions Poizner's Fitness to Govern, Another Makes Same Case Against Whitman

Steve Poizner photo by Jack GouldWhitman for sale; heil, Poizner!​From Los Angeles Times Capitol Journal columnist George Skelton: Steve Poizner's Wild-Eyed Accusations Against Meg Whitman Don't Bode Well: The GOP gubernatorial candidate alleges his opponent used attempted bribery and extortion to ... More >>

Bummer Summer for San Onofre's Nude Sunbathers

Photo by Tim MelidoNaturist attorney Allen Baylis loses latest round in court but vows to press on. As last summer was winding down, the Naturist Action Committee scored a legal victory in their fight to retain the right for nude sunbathers to go au natural on San Onofre State Beach's traditionally ... More >>

It's a Quick Read 36: HOT! Weekend and Monday Edition

Orange County Register: The current heatwave broke 51-year-old records in Orange County. . . . The CHP needs your help nabbing whoever took a potshot at an officer responding to a freeway overpass suicide attempt last week. . . . Two of the 10 worst charities in America are based in Orange County. . ... More >>

It's a Quick Read 27

Orange County Register: Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement agents, Inglewood police and members of a multi-agency task force surveilling Gerardo Medina Hernandez say they watched him pull packages from two compartments built into the front wheel wells of his 2005 Volkswagen sport utility ve ... More >>

OC Shows Respectable Level of Support for Prop. 8 Challenge

According to the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal and the ACLU, among the Orange County contingent filing "friend of the court" briefs in support of Attorney General Jerry Brown's legal challenge of same-sex marriage barring Proposition 8:Irvine United Congregational ChurchOrange Cou ... More >>

Police Chief Operates Surf City's Only Medical Marijuana Dispensary

Cops around here have developed a nasty habit: bogarting joints. That is, they illegally confiscate medical marijuana, get dragged into court for violating state law, lollygag in chambers for years, and have the local verdict kicked up to appellate court, where they ultimately lose and have to give ... More >>

Monday's Headlines. No Surprises: Shaky ground for the mayor-who-would-be-governor

Preparing for deportation: In the past fiscal year, Immigration and Customs Enforcement made almost twice as many arrests (30,396) in its fugitive operations program as it did the previous year, reports the Register. ICE also picked up more than 4,000 illegals in workplace raids - up 11 percent fro ... More >>

Thursday's Headlines & Surprises: Darth Vader Chases Janet Nguyen

Thursday's Headlines & Surprises

Best medicine you can buy?: Last November, Dr. Prem Reddy—chairman of Prime Healthcare—gave $100,000 to the Oakland charter school created by Attorney General Jerry Brown and—shazam!—three months later, last February, Reddy won AG approval of a sweet hospital deal. Brown said the 100 G's me ... More >>

Commie Girl

Madam Chairwoman: Rock on!

0 for 6

Ive never voted for a winner for president. And I wont now

Part 11: The Tim Carpenter Award for Jeffersonian Achievement

Political Football

Voting our conscience offers us a way to visionary leaders, a utopian society, and huge winnings in Vegas