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Connecting the Dots: Top news stories for Tuesday, January 17

Home to both Hollywood and Silicon Valley, California has become ground zero for the fight against online piracy. Filmmakers are looking for a way to stop the distribution of pirated content, but leaders in the internet world are vehemently opposed to policing the web. Craigslist and Wikipedia have both said they will go dark on Wednesday to protest proposed anti-piracy legislation…

Speaking of monitoring, a new state law aims to reform the parents of truant children. AB177 expands the 2007 Parental Accountability Act, intended to prevent gang activity, into the realm of school attendance. The state can now order parents to take a 16-hour class on talking to their kids... 

Enrollment in CalWorks, the state's welfare program, has increased steadily over the past five years, but the number of CalWorks recipients without homes has shot up 98%. The tough job market coupled with soaring rent prices leaves people with few places to turn, and if Governor Brown’s proposed cuts are approved, things may get even worse…

But it’s not all doom and gloom. A real estate investment company, lead by former 49ers place kicker Doug Brien, is buying foreclosed homes from banks and allowing families to continue living there as renters. The famililes then gradually earn credit toward buying back their house. Foreclosure rates throughout the Bay Area have dropped by a third since 2010…

There's also some hope on the job front. After settling a dramatic tax battle with state government last fall, web retailer Amazon looks like it will be upholding its promise to create jobs. The company is soon expected to break ground on a new distribution center that would employ 1,500 people.

Connecting the Dots brings the day's news together. 

 

 

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