Good afternoon all, and a lucky Friday the 13th to you. In today’s news:
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California officials announce closure of 70 state parks;
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After Japan nuclear disaster, extra scrutiny for Calif. plants;
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Environmental champion Debra Bowen defended from campaign attacks;
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And much more.
Top of the Ticket
Capitol Alert (Sacramento Bee blog) 5/13/11
California officials announce closure of 70 state parks
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/05/california-officials-70-state-parks.html
California Watch 5/13/11
After Japan nuclear disaster, extra scrutiny for Calif. plants
http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/after-japan-nuclear-disaster-extra-scrutiny-calif-plants-10258
Associated Press 5/13/11
House GOP passes drill bill; Thompson opposed bill, fears of drilling on North Coast
http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_18056271?nclick_check=1
Daily Kos (cross-posted at Calitics) 5/13/11
Marta Evry: CA-36 Debra Bowen's Opponent Goes Negative With "Hit Piece" Mailer
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/05/13/975719/-CA-36-Debra-Bowens-Opponent-Goes-Negative-With-Hit-Piece-Mailer
Editor’s note: read the statement from CLCV CEO Warner Chabot defending Debra Bowen against negative campaign mail: http://www.ecovote.org/bowen-statement-chabot
And read the letter from several environmental champions on the same topic: http://www.debrabowen.com/news/?id=0087
CA Environmental News
San Francisco Chronicle 5/13/11
Sierra Club wants landmark climate law altered
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/13/BAJL1JF37G.DTL&type=green
Fresno Bee (editorial) 5/13/11
An agreement must be reached to restore Delta
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/05/12/2386402/editorial-an-agreement-must-be.html
Los Angeles Times 5/13/11
The Dry Garden: Looking at redesigned LADWP bill and considering the true cost of water
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2011/05/ladwp-new-bill-.html
California Progress Report 5/12/11
Robert Cruickshank: Legislative Analyst Wants to Give High Speed Rail the Scott Walker Treatment
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/node/8972
Climate Watch 5/13/11
High Marks but Few Takers on California Transit
http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/05/12/high-marks-but-few-takers-on-california-transit/
Listen to the radio version of this piece here: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201105130850/b
Los Angeles Times 5/13/11
California gas prices should drop soon, analyst says
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-gas-prices-20110513,0,2720172.story
Greenspace (LA Times blog) 5/13/11
LAPD experiments with electric bicycles
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/05/lapd-electric-bicycles.html
San Francisco Chronicle (editorial) 5/13/11
It's time to end ethanol subsidies
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/13/EDLD1JES31.DTL
San Francisco Chronicle 5/13/11
Pesticide bombing of Farallones mice spurs debate
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/13/BALN1JFI64.DTL
Bay Citizen 5/12/11
Nuclear Plants Not Required to Prepare for Fukushima-Like Disaster
http://www.baycitizen.org/energy/story/diablo-canyon-nuclear-plants-unprepared/
San Diego Union Tribune 5/13/11
UCSD historian honored as national climate communicator
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/may/12/ucsd-historian-honored-national-climate-communicat/
Los Angeles Times 5/13/11
Coastal fireworks in south O.C. and San Diego County now need pollution permits
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-0513-coast-fireworks-20110513,0,1418709.story
Modesto Bee 5/11/11
Don Pedro critics, defenders speak
http://www.modbee.com/2011/05/11/1684891/don-pedro-critics-defenders-speak.html
State Politics
Multiple sources 5/13/11
GOP budget plan: no new taxes, no cuts to schools
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/13/BAGT1JFDL9.DTL
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-budget-republicans-20110513,0,3990919.story
http://blogs.kqed.org/capitalnotes/2011/05/12/gop-unveils-deficit-fix-sans-taxes/
Sacramento Bee 5/13/11
Jerry Brown set stage for budget fight with campaign tax promise
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/13/3623660/jerry-brown-set-stage-for-budget.html
Sacramento Bee 5/13/11
Latinos hope Jerry Brown signs bills on illegal immigrants, farmworkers
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/13/3623802/latinos-hope-jerry-brown-signs.html
LA Weekly 5/13/11
Who Replaces Jane Harman?
http://www.laweekly.com/2011-05-12/news/who-replaces-jane-harman/
Calbuzz 5/13/11
Gene Maddaus: Looks Like Hahn & Bowen
http://www.calbuzz.com/2011/05/15729/
Big Oil in the News
Multiple sources 5/12/11
House goes 3-0 on bills to expand and speed up offshore oil and gas drilling
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/house-goes-3-0-on-bills-to-expand-and-speed-up-offshore-oil-and-gas-drilling/2011/05/12/AFjbyx0G_story.html
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54871.html
Politico 5/13/11
Democrats, oil executives face off at hearing
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54834.html
The Hill E2 Blog 5/13/11
Menendez: Dems will ‘insist’ on oil tax break repeal in debt fight
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/161121-menendez-dems-will-insist-on-oil-tax-break-repeal-in-debt-ceiling-fight
Washington Post 5/13/11
Senate committee puts big oil execs in the hot seat
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/senate-committee-puts-big-oil-execs-in-the-hot-seat/2011/05/12/AFDcD6zG_story.html