Public employees are in the spotlight this week. In the coming weeks, Ward v. Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is expected to impact how the state handles hiring. In the case, former Chief Dentist James Ward at Ironwood State Prison was offered a permanent position when, in fact, there only existed a temporary one. Now that the job has fallen through, laws about who can offer state jobs have been called into question...
And the San Francisco Metropolitan Transportation Agency revealed last week that it expects to spend $60 million on overtime labor expenses this fiscal year. This comes after Prop G, a measure to cut overtime, passed two years ago...
In the wake of the fallout of the San Bruno blast lawsuit, more information is coming out about the cause of smaller blasts around the state. Pipe built in the 1970’s out of a plastic called Aldyl-A , used to deliver gas to people’s homes and businesses, has been found to rupture more easily than other pipes...
Other California technology has proved more reliable. Silicon Valley is leading the way in digital biomedical technology. Proteus Biomedical of Redwood City plans to begin selling its digital sensor to customers in the United Kingdom this fall. The chip will allow doctors to access information like patient vital signs and when medicine takes effect...
Growers of water intensive crops in the San Joaquin Valley will have access to more Northern California water than previously allowed under limitations by the Endangered Species Act. The bill, HR 1837, passed in the US House of Representatives February 29...
Speaking of farmers who might get breaks, East Bay animal rights activists have rescued 50,000 underfed chickensfrom a A&L Poultry, a factory farm Turlock, CA. Activists are concerned that ambiguity in the law will prevent the farm owner from any legal retribution.
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