Thursday | September 2, 2010

It’s the Pacheo Pass for the bullet train, says EIR

SAN FRANCISCO, 9/2/10 1:21pm

• Minimizes impact on wetlands, waterways

• ‘Today’s decision marks another major step forward’

CPUC report: Nothing wrong with ‘smart meters’

SAN FRANCISCO, 9/2/10 1:09pm

• But critics remain unconvinced

• ‘I am happy to hear that PG&E's Smart Meters are functioning properly’

Unified Wine & Grape Symposium set for January

SACRAMENTO, 9/2/10 12:14pm

• To be held in Sacramento

• Some 12,000 expected

State veterinarian retires

SACRAMENTO, 9/2/10 12:06pm

• Richard Breitmeyer is replaced by Annette Whiteford

• ‘One of the most respected animal health authorities in the nation’

Property values decline statewide

SACRAMENTO, 9/2/10 10:24am

• Second statewide decline in California’s history

• But Kern County sees state’s biggest increase

Loan servicer fires 901 Californians

SACRAMENTO, 9/2/10 9:34am

• Sends jobs to Uruguay, India

• Acquisition of HomEq costs jobs

Little used Tulare County rail line could be a winner says report

VISALIA, 9/2/10 8:23am

• New ownership could see big profit margin

• County urged to act swiftly

Del Monte Foods sales drop

SAN FRANCISCO, 9/2/10 6:03am

• Decline in consumer sales noted

• ‘We remain confident in our competitive, long-term growth model’

Californians asked to restrict public retirement investments in Israel

SACRAMENTO, 9/1/10 9:01pm

• Initiative enters circulation

• Proponent says it mirrors anti-apartheid efforts

Loan modifications: Swinging in the winds of trial limbo

WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/1/10 9:00pm , by Karen Weise, ProPublica

• Profiles of people trying to save their homes through the loan modification process

• ‘I ain't gonna believe it until I have it in my hand’

WEBCAST: The Stock Market Review

WARM IN BAKERSFIELD TODAY, 9/1/10 2:29pm
Markets sharply up; Crude almost $2 up

• Brief market observation and commentary

• Dow Jones and Nasdaq indexes

• Stocks of local interest

• U.S. Crude for October delivery

WEBCAST: The Day's Top Business News

NICE IN BAKERSFIELD TODAY, 9/1/10 2:00pm
Job cuts in August fall to lowest level in over a decade; Stockton has been ordered to strip all Advanced Life Support equipment from trucks; A hydrogen-powered power plant project planned for west of Bakersfield has preliminary approval from California Energy Commission; That bill to eliminate all plastic throw-away bags from grocery stores lobbied to defeat by the chemical industry.

• News you can use

• Interviews that inform

• Fact ... not OUR opinion

Central Valley gets $601,070 in stimulus grants

SACRAMENTO, 9/1/10 12:22pm

• Plus a $3 Million loan to a hospital

• ‘Will aid in reigniting California’s economy’

Kern County clean air projects get $2 Million EPA grant

BAKERSFIELD, 9/1/10 11:46am

• Aimed at reducing diesel emissions

• ‘Strong grant programs such as this are needed’

More workers stretched thin as Great Recession grinds on

CHICAGO, ILL., 9/1/10 9:55am

• One-in-five workers has trouble making ends meet

• More now live paycheck to paycheck

Americans still seriously concerned about work/life balance

NEW YORK CITY, N.Y., 9/1/10 8:13am

• Survey says most find it a significant problem

• ‘The strain … is clearly showing’

Legislature defeats plastic bag ban

SACRAMENTO, 9/1/10 7:43am

• Grocers blame chemical industry’s lobbying

• ‘It’s clear that the Senate felt pressure’

Most California small businesses bracing for double-dip recession

SAN FRANCISCO, 9/1/10 5:10am

• Eighty-five percent concerned about another downturn

• Three-quarters say they are prepared to weather the storm

Alliance of Women in Energy gets additional support

BAKERSFIELD, 9/1/10 4:57am

• Bank of the Sierra cuts $1,500 check to Kern Economic Development Foundation

• To help encourage high school girls in ‘STEM’ courses

InsWeb to acquire Potrero Media

SACRAMENTO, 9/1/10 4:48am

• Adds health and life insurance categories

• Acquisition valued at up to $12 Million

Planned job cuts drop to 10-year low of 34,768

CHICAGO, ILL., 9/1/10 4:30am

• Layoff plunge after three consecutive increases

• ‘We are at pre-dot.com-collapse levels when it comes to monthly job-cut announcements’

Stockton ordered to stop providing advanced life support emergency care

STOCKTON, 8/31/10 9:17pm

• Turf war squabble with San Joaquin County now puts 283,000 lives at risk

• ‘There’s no rhyme or reason to it’

Kern hydrogen power plant clears one hurdle

SACRAMENTO, 8/31/10 9:04pm

• Energy Commission preliminary staff assessment favors plant

• But it’s just the first of many clearances that will be needed

Bakersfield tax preparer pleads guilty of tax evasion

FRESNO , 8/31/10 9:03pm

• Faked returns for himself and wife

• Combined tax loss tops $60,000

State says 9,000 Californians will be killed this year by tiny particles

SACRAMENTO, 8/31/10 9:02pm

• Fine particle air pollution responsible for premature deaths

• Report based on U.S. EPA peer-reviewed study

State expands probe into troubled pool and spa company

SACRAMENTO, 8/31/10 9:01pm

• Says 77 complaints have been filed against company

• ‘We’d encourage Aqua customers to get legal advice’

Legislature hopes to end pension spiking

SACRAMENTO, 8/31/10 9:00pm

• OKs bill to end the practice by public employees

• ‘An abusive practice that robs Californians of vital services and precious dollars’

WEBCAST: The Day's Top Business News

LITTLE WARMER IN SPRINGVILLE, 8/31/10 2:00pm
California 11th Graders show 5% increase in English proficiency; Clint Gregory of Stockton CalTrans office, admits to fraud costing $1.2 million; AmWINS Group sold the Fresno office to Crouse & Associates of San Francisco; 70% of all small business owners not even thinking about retiring until after 65.

• News you can use

• Interviews that inform

• Fact ... not OUR opinion

WEBCAST: The Stock Market Review

NICE DAY IN SPRINGVILLE, 8/31/10 1:59pm
Markets nearly flat today; Crude down over $2.75

• Brief market observation and commentary

• Dow Jones and Nasdaq indexes

• Stocks of local interest

• U.S. Crude for October delivery

Good news about Lake Tahoe’s health

LAKE TAHOE, 8/31/10 1:17pm

• Not out of the woods, but it is getting better

• Overall, we remain cautiously optimistic

Plug-in cars get HOV lane green light

SACRAMENTO, 8/31/10 12:59pm

• New law lets latest ‘green’ vehicles use faster lanes

• ‘Will help jump-start sales of these green vehicles’

Central Valley’s church lawsuits spread to Stockton

STOCKTON, 8/31/10 12:52pm

• Episcopal Diocese files ninth lawsuit against former congregations

• Contends it should get back church property

Central Valley gas station makes the list of the state’s worst tax bums

SACRAMENTO, 8/31/10 12:29pm

• State says it owes $893,634

• Top 250 tax non-payers owe $333 Million

Sacramento County nails down airport rebuild financing

SACRAMENTO, 8/31/10 11:26am

• Closes its ‘Big Build’ $128.3 Million bond sale

• ‘Both a tangible facility and financial gain’

Caltrans employee pleads guilty to bribery, bid rigging, contracting fraud

SACRAMENTO, 8/31/10 10:59am

• State suffers $1.2 Million loss

• Persian rug, cell phone among the bribes

Small business owners delaying retirement

SAN FRANCISCO, 8/31/10 10:02am

• Great Recession pushes owners to shift retirement strategies

• Forty-seven percent say they never plan to retire

Revenue, profits grow for seed company

FIVE POINTS, 8/31/10 7:47am

• S&W Seed says revenues up 36 percent

• Net income edges up

Crouse and Associates acquires Fresno office from AmWINS

FRESNO , 8/31/10 5:10am

• Deal details not made public

• ‘A unique opportunity that would mutually benefit’

Tax preparer banned from preparing federal tax returns

WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/30/10 9:02pm

• Federal court issues order against Sacramento company

• Accused of false or inflated business deductions and sham partnerships

California settles lawsuit with Corinthian Title

SACRAMENTO, 8/30/10 9:01pm

• State alleged illegal rebates to get business

• ‘I refuse to allow title companies to break the law’

California high schoolers doing better on one pre-college measurement

LONG BEACH, 8/30/10 9:00pm

• Increased English language skills noted this year

• Math skills add up to about the same as last year

Bullards Bar Reservoir reopens for boaters

BULLARDS BAR, 8/30/10 3:41pm

• Wildfires fade in Yuba County

• Campgrounds also reopened

WEBCAST: The Day's Top Business News

NOT BAD IN SPRINGVILLE, 8/30/10 1:59pm
Bullard Fire, eastern Yuba County, largely contained after burning over 1,300 acres; Small business employment grew slightly in August; Comerica Bnk says California's economy showed signs of life in July; Look for 3.5 million OTHER drivers on the roads this weekend.

• News you can use

• Interviews that inform

• Fact ... not OUR opinion

WEBCAST: The Stock Market Review

WARMER BUT STILL VERY NICE IN SPRINGVILLE, 8/30/10 1:55pm
Markets off today; Crude down a bit as well.

• Brief market observation and commentary

• Dow Jones and Nasdaq indexes

• Stocks of local interest

• U.S. Crude for October delivery

Claim: Sepsis prevention program saved 991 lives

SACRAMENTO, 8/30/10 1:03pm

• Catholic Healthcare West implements program in its hospitals

• Reduces costs by $36.5 Million

Comerica: California economy matches recent high

DALLAS, TEXAS, 8/30/10 10:40am

• Retail sales, exports and travel help the economy

• ‘The unbalanced California state budget is a significant downside risk’

California gasoline and diesel demand drops

SACRAMENTO, 8/30/10 10:31am

• Gasoline down a bit but diesel falls 2.1 percent in May

• Prices were higher than a year earlier

Sacramento TV station replaces general manager

SACRAMENTO, 8/30/10 10:20am

• KXTV GM Russell Postell resigns

• News Director to succeed him

Small business job growth rate slows

MOUNTAIN VIEW, 8/30/10 8:48am

• August sees 26,000 jobs added

• Wages and hours worked remain steady

Bullard Bar wildfire tamed

MARYSVILLE, 8/30/10 7:59am

• Seventy-five percent contained as of Monday morning

• Total containment by Tuesday

Study determines what motivates purchases

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, 8/30/10 5:38am

• Desire to improve or preserve quality of life - not price or bank account size

• When to launch ad campaigns

Labor Day travel expected to see comeback

LOS ANGELES, 8/30/10 5:08am

• Up 11 percent over last year

• ‘A steady increase in people making travel plans again’

VIDEO: Facebook tips for businesses

STOCKTON, 8/29/10 9:01pm , by Melanie Sinclair

• What approach should you take when promoting your business?

• Tips and pointers on what to avoid on your Facebook page

VIDEO: A ‘golden’ small business success story

STOCKTON, 8/29/10 9:00pm

• How Californians are creating a booming new industry

• It’s a real taste of success

State of emergency declared for Yuba County

BULLARDS BAR, 8/28/10 12:45pm

• Wildfires force evacuations

• About 1,000 acres consumed by midday Saturday

Saturday News Briefs

STOCKTON, 8/27/10 9:00pm

• Finally, budget votes in the Legislature

• Controversial Delta dam plan advances

• Casey at the bat – in Visalia

• And more!

AUDIO: Today's top business news

STOCKTON, 8/27/10 2:00pm

• Financial Crisis panel to hold two hearings in Valley

• Davis research turns up possibly good news about some dairy runoff

• Geezers catching up to the kids in social media

AUDIO: Today's stock market report

STOCKTON, 8/27/10 2:00pm

• Bernanke speaks, but does the market listen?

• Gloomier than expected report on nation's Q2 economy

• How stocks of local interest fared

Study finds small amounts of dairy antibiotics in groundwater

DAVIS, 8/27/10 9:03am

• Largest study of its kind

• ‘Generally degrade in the top 12 inches of soil’

Social networking – not just for kids any more

WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/27/10 8:00am

• Use among Internet users ages 50 and older has nearly doubled

• Status updating also grows in popularity among older users

Fed’s Bernanke says economy is improving, but…

JACKSON HOLE, WYO., 8/27/10 7:19am

• Indicated Fed will act to preventany backsliding

• ‘Falling into deflation is not a significant risk for the United States at this time’

Legislature toughens requirements for paying last wages

SACRAMENTO, 8/27/10 5:49am

• Must pay within 90 days of face penalties

• ‘To strengthen the hand of prosecutors’

Gasoline prices fall as worries over economy deepen

LOS ANGELES, 8/27/10 5:00am

• Tumble as much as a penny a day in some cities

• ‘Prices are almost identical to where they were this time last year’

YouTube beckons and Fresno responds

FRESNO , 8/26/10 9:03pm

• City posts videos for the world to see

• ‘In the past, the public had to rely on traditional media outlets’

Financial meltdown investigators come to Central Valley

WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/26/10 9:02pm

• Will hold hearings in Bakersfield and Sacramento

• Want to hear from the victims of the meltdown

State warns of contaminated cheese

SACRAMENTO, 8/26/10 9:02pm

• Listeria detected in Morningland brand raw milk cheese


• Consumers urged to discard product immediately



People in the News

STOCKTON, 8/26/10 9:01pm

• New assignments in higher education

• Attorney moves into a national position

• And more….

Banks’ self-dealing super-charged the financial crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C., 8/26/10 9:00pm , by Jake Bernstein and Jesse Eisinger, ProPublica

• The secret history of the financial meltdown

• Devastating consequences for homeowners

Palin contract released

TURLOCK, 8/26/10 5:30pm

• CSU Stanislaus Foundation makes deal details public

• Action follows judge’s order

AUDIO: Today's top business news

STOCKTON, 8/26/10 2:00pm

• Underwater homes throughout the Valley

• The prospect of some "green" jobs for the Valley

• And more....