Here is what's happening in the Bay Area, as currated by KALW News:
Federal ruling protects pot dispensaries that follow state law//San Francisco Chronicle
"Congressional action prohibits federal drug enforcers from shutting medical marijuana dispensaries that comply with state law, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled Monday in a potentially precedent-setting case.
"The decision by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer is the first known ruling by a federal judge to protect pot dispensaries under a budget amendment approved by Congress in December 2014 and in effect through this December, when backers plan to renew it for another year. It bars the Justice Department from spending any money to prevent California and other states from 'implementing their own state laws' that authorize the medical use of marijuana."
India Sees Increase in Importation of California Walnuts //India West
"Kashmiri and Californian walnuts can co-exist in the booming Indian market with American growers of the healthy dry fruit eyeing it in a big way after exports to the traditionally strong Chinese market dropped amid a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy.
"'We are excited about the Indian market and feel it holds great potential for our industry,' Dennis A. Balint, CEO of California Walnut Commission, said."
Report: Women shouldn’t drink a single drop of alcohol while pregnant //KRON4
"A new report says women should not drink even a single drop of alcohol when they are pregnant.
"While other studies have hinted that a little drink or two might be OK, the new report said that no amount of alcohol is safe, including wine and beer.
"There have been warnings about the hazards of alcohol use during pregnancy for decades, but the CDC said that one in 10 women report drinking anyway."
Cal State Faculty to Vote on Major Strike Over Contract//NBC Bay Area
"Faculty members at the California State University's 23 campuses are voting online and in person on whether to permit their labor union to call a strike over stalled salary negotiations.
"The strike authorization vote started Monday and runs through Oct. 28. It's at least the fourth the California Faculty Association has held in eight years."
California’s Investment in Global Warming Reduction Programs Score Well//New America Media
"The revenue generated from California’s 2006 global warming law (AB 32) is making the air cleaner, saving families money and bringing green jobs to some of the state’s most disadvantaged communities.
"The Greenlining Institute evaluated 10 of the projects that were funded in fiscal year 2015 through polluter fees generated by the cap-and-trade law. It requires California to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020."
3rd-quarter surprise: 'Oakland's getting really expensive' //San Francisco Business Times
"The stream of San Francisco relocations to Oakland became a flood in the third quarter, accounting for four of the 10 largest leases in the Inner East Bay, which includes Oakland, Emeryville, Berkeley and Alameda.
"The biggest relocations included medical group Brown & Toland, environmental group the Sierra Club, research firm CoreLogic Inc. (NYSE: CLGX) and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine."
