State prosecutes fewer elder abuse cases

Attorney General Jerry Brown has dismissed an increasing number of criminal cases against defendants suspected of elder abuse in contrast to Bill Lockyer, who made such cases a priority.
GRAPHIC: Comparing two administrations on elder abuse

BP benefits from stimulus funds despite Gulf spill

A joint venture involving BP stands to receive tens of millions of dollars, even as the oil giant faces intense scrutiny and a criminal probe. Local activist Tom Frantz, at left, has questioned the decision.
Struggling community’s residents torn on power plant plans
How to get engaged in the BP story

Builder wins jobs despite questionable work

The Los Angeles Community College District has awarded a series of multimillion-dollar contracts to a firm that district officials said needed to be baby-sat. The firm is also a big campaign donor.
GRAPHIC: Timeline for construction contracts and Sinanian Development

Majority of California's largest districts shrink school year

Survey of the state's 30 largest school districts finds that most are cutting instruction days.
GRAPHIC: California's school year falls short compared to rest of world
GRAPHIC: Comparing state's largest districts on length of school year
For parents, shortened year raises anxieties, costs
Health and Welfare
State prosecutes fewer elder abuse cases
Environment
BP benefits from stimulus funds despite Gulf spill
Higher Ed
Builder wins jobs despite questionable work
K–12
Majority of California's largest districts shrink school year

California WatchBlog

General Assignment

Illegal immigration slows in California, across the U.S.

A U.S. Army National Guard soldier watches the U.S./Mexico border near Nogales, Ariz.
September 2, 2010, 12:05am | Joanna Lin

The number of illegal immigrants in the United States has declined for the first time in 20 years, and California's share of the undocumented population has shrunk, from 42 percent in 1990 to 23 percent in 2009, according to a study released yesterday by an independent research group.

The Pew Hispanic Center estimates there were 11.1 million illegal immigrants living in the U.S. in 2009 – an 8 percent drop from a peak of 12 million in 2007 and about the same as in 2005....

Money and Politics

Flurry of bills, 98 in all, pass Legislature before deadline

September 2, 2010
California State Capitol

Tuesday at midnight marked the rancorous end to yet another legislative session here in California. And like many sine dies before, it was filled...

Higher Ed

UC commission looks to boost grad student enrollment

September 2, 2010

A commission that advises the University of California on its long-term goals this week recommended increasing the proportion of graduate students...

K–12

Charter school scandal could bolster transparency bill

September 2, 2010

An audit released this week that accuses a former San Fernando Valley charter school administrator of misusing roughly $2.7 million in taxpayers...

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K–12

Whitman overstates excess jobs in California Department of Education

September 1, 2010, 12:05am
Meg Whitman has finally given a specific example of jobs she would go after should she become governor: 150 jobs in the California Department of Education.  "The Legislative Analyst's Office found that the Department of Education has...
Money and Politics

Maldonado takes aim at Newsom with new video

September 1, 2010, 12:05am
As the Bay Citizen noted, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom was “conspicuously absent” from the City Hall steps last month when a cheering crowd gathered to celebrate the landmark ruling overturning Prop. 8. Newsom’s early and...
Environment

Report: High-speed train good for economy, environment

September 1, 2010, 12:05am
Report says high-speed rail would create jobs and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Scientists say a California high-speed rail system will not only get you from San Francisco to Los Angeles in less than three hours, but will create thousands of jobs and eliminate millions of pounds of carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere....
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Inside The Newsroom

Social media ramps up California Watch distribution

Thursday, August 5, 2010 - 12:20am | Ashley Alvarado and Meghann Farnsworth

The California Watch newsroom was buzzing Tuesday – even more than usual. News broke that Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., had released an oversight report highlighting questionable stimulus projects – a $175 million award to BP chief among them.

That BP had received this money came as no surprise to us; we were set to publish Will Evans’...

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