Transporation Daily News May 30

Tourism:

 

*Visitors to S.F. in 2007 set record for spending -- Even as the nation's economy sputtered and consumer confidence waned, more than 16 million visitors came to San Francisco last year and spent $8.2 billion, both all-time highs for tourism in the city. A key factor was an anemic U.S. dollar. Foreign tourists came in record numbers - about 2.3 million of them, a 9.5 percent increase over 2006, according to figures released Thursday by the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau. SF Chronicle 5/30/08

 

Emissions:

 

*White House report backs climate change warnings -- President Bush's top science advisors issued a comprehensive report Thursday that for the first time endorses what most scientific experts have long asserted: that greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion "are very likely the single largest cause" of Earth's warming. LA TImes 5/30/08

 

Environmentalists say EPA approved faulty pollution plan -- On Thursday, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Coalition for a Safe Environment and East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice and Endangered Habitats League filed a petition for review in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. The groups say the EPA has approved a faulty regional emissions plan that is the first hurdle the state must clear in applying for funding needed to expand freeways. SJ Mercury 5/30/08

 

Infrastructure:

 

$52 million to upgrade Bay Area traffic signals -- The California Transportation Commission has approved more than $52 million to improve traffic signals in the Bay Area, with a good chunk of money going to Silicon Valley. The upgrades are expected to save motorists nearly $3 million a year in gas costs alone on San Jose streets and Santa Clara County expressways. SJ Mercury 5/30/08

 

Schwarzenegger applauds transportation allocations -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signaled his approval following the action by the California Transportation Commission on Thursday to allocate $382 million in transportation funding from Proposition 1B throughout the state. “When the people of California voted for the $19.9 billion transportation bond they wanted action — and this is that action,” Schwarzenegger said. Eureka Reporter 5/30/08

 

Express train proposed for coast -- With gas costing $4 a gallon driving record numbers of people onto the train, it is time to introduce express service on the nation's second-busiest passenger rail line and to accelerate laying a second track along the Southern California coast, officials said Thursday. The mayor of a North County city, San Diego city officials and the head of a regional planning agency used a rare San Diego meeting of the California Transportation Commission to propose a two-hour, limited-stop trip between the state's two largest cities and to lobby commissioners for political and financial support. North County Times 5/30/08

 

High-speed rail:

 

*High-speed rail, air fee bills advance -- The Valley air district could raise vehicle registration fees by up to $23 a car to pay for clean-air programs under a bill that passed the state Assembly on Thursday. Lawmakers in the lower house also approved a bill that redefines the statewide high-speed train measure on November's ballot. Fresno Bee 5/29/08

 

Villines' support for high-speed rail is crucial to region -- Today the Fresno Bee wrote an editorial calling on Assembly Minority Leader Mike Villines to support AB 3034 and high speed rail .Fresno Bee 5/30/08

 

Mass transit:

 

BART 'library' opens for business -- Commuters boarding BART trains at the Pittsburg/Bay Point station can now pick up a library book to take along on their trip.  A "Library-a-Go-Go" machine was installed at the station Thursday, allowing passengers carrying a valid Contra Costa County library card to swipe it through an ATM-like device to check out a book. East Bay Business Times 5/30/08

 

Shipping:

 

*All long-haul trucks on California roads to be subject to SmartWay environmental laws -- The California Air Resources Board (CARB) says it has drafted new regulations that, if enforced, will require tractors and trailers to be fitted or retrofitted with aerodynamic devices and low rolling-resistance tyres. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) says it has drafted new regulations that, if enforced, will require tractors and trailers to be fitted or retrofitted with aerodynamic devices and low rolling-resistance tyres, the eTrucker portal reports. Automotive World 5/29/08

 

Sunk: Shippers Try to Balance Fuel and Emissions Worries -- High oil prices and growing environmental awareness are already pinching industries like airlines and trucking, under fire for their greenhouse-gas emissions and under the gun as fuel costs cripple their businesses.  But the double-whammy of pricey oil and green politics are having an even bigger impact on the global shipping industry—and that could have even bigger knock-on effects throughout the global economy. Big cargo ships, like airlines, already have an economic incentive to be more fuel-efficient, curbing emissions at the same time. Wall Street Journal 5/30/08

 

Agriculture Daily News May 30

Health:

 

Four Japanese gang figures got liver transplants at UCLA -- UCLA Medical Center and its most accomplished liver surgeon provided a life-saving transplant to one of Japan's most powerful gang bosses, law enforcement sources told The Times. In addition, the surgeon performed liver transplants at UCLA on three other men who are now barred from entering the United States because of their criminal records or suspected affiliation with Japanese organized crime groups, said a knowledgeable law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity. LA Times 5/30/08

 

*Bill requires hospitals to report infections -- California hospitals would be required to step up prevention of drug-resistant infections and, for the first time, report any such cases to health authorities under a bill that passed the state Senate this week. SF Chronicle 5/30/08

 

Senate bill OKs druggists' sharing patient files -- A bill that would allow pharmacies in California to share patient prescription information with third-party businesses working for drugmakers was approved in the state Senate 21-16 Thursday. Under the legislation, pharmaceutical companies could send mailings directly to patients suffering from illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson's and schizophrenia.  SF Chronicle 5/30/08

 

Parks and forests:

 

*Fire-protection bills may add annual fees, wildland restrictions -- Democratic lawmakers yesterday advanced sweeping fire-protection bills that would impose new fees and building restrictions in wildland areas. Property owners could be annually charged $50 per structure to fund fire prevention programs, under legislation carried by Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego. Kehoe and Assemblyman Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, also succeeded in moving separate bills that would require developers to prove that there is adequate fire protection before new subdivisions can be approved in high-risk areas protected by Cal Fire. San Diego Union Tribune 5/30/08

 

Water:

 

SalmonAid in Oakland -- A two-day festival featuring 20 live bands is taking over Jack London Square in Oakland this weekend, all to raise awareness about the plight of wild salmon on the Pacific Coast and energize salmon-lovers to rally to protect the fish. Contra Costa Times 5/30/08

 

Seat on water board is hotly contested -- Some Silicon Valley residents also pay attention every election day, when seats on the seven-member governing board of the Santa Clara Valley Water District are on the ballot. The district is the main government agency that provides water and flood protection in Santa Clara County. The seat represents downtown San Jose, parts of East San Jose and Willow Glen. SJ Mercury 5/30/08

 

Agriculture:

 

*Assembly wants EIR before apple moth spraying resumes -- After a heated debate that included charges of fear-mongering, the Assembly narrowly approved a bill Thursday to require the state to complete an environmental impact report before moving ahead with aerial spraying to eradicate the light brown apple moth. The bill was sent to the Senate by a 41-32 vote, but it wouldn't take effect until January, four months after the Schwarzenegger administration plans to spray in seven San Francisco Bay area counties. SJ Mercury 5/30/08

 

Bio-fuels:

 

As Oil Prices Soar, Restaurant Grease Thefts Rise -- Much to the surprise of many people, processed fryer oil, which is called yellow grease, is actually not trash. The grease is traded on the booming commodities market. Its value has increased in recent months to historic highs, driven by the even higher prices of gas and ethanol, making it an ever more popular form of biodiesel to fuel cars and trucks. The City of San Francisco has its own grease recycling program run through the Public Utilities Commission called SFGreasecycle, which collects discarded vegetable oil from city restaurants at no charge and recycles it into biodiesel for use in the city fleet. NY Times 5/30/08

 

 

 

 

News Update May 28

Shipping costs rise for California-grown fruit -- Truckers and retailers have increased the costs they charge farmers to carry peaches, nectarines and plums to market. The increased cost of fuel has caused the independent truckers and the retailers to increase the cost of a load of fruit, particularly to the East Coast,” says Kerry Whitson, a Tulare County peach, plum and nectarine grower. Retailers want farmers to pay the bulk of the increase. Central Valley Business Times 5/29/08

 

Gasoline production drops in California -- California’s refineries made 6,332,000 barrels of gasoline meeting the clean-burning standards of the California Air Resources Board during the week ended May 23, the California Energy Commission reported Wednesday afternoon. The amount was 10.9 percent less than in the previous week and 10.1 percent less than was made in the comparable week a year earlier. Central Valley Business Times 5/29/08

 

U.N. Report Seeks Action to Address Food Crisis -- In anticipation of a global summit on the food crisis, the United Nations called on world leaders Wednesday to agree to urgent measures to ease demand for grains and alleviate high food prices. The report, by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, suggests that countries might need to reconsider policies that encourage the production of ethanol and other biofuels. NY Times 5/29/08

 

Transporation Daily News May 29

Tourism:

 

Don’t Bother With the Hotel Pool -- Swimming-oriented tours and vacations have been around for a while, but lately there are new trips of a single day up to a whole week for the recreational swimmer, such as those offered from Alcatraz Island to the San Francisco Aquatic Park. NY Times 5/25/08

 

Possible Influx of New Yorkers to CA for Gay Marriage as State May Recognize Unions -- As California prepares for the June 17 start-date for same-sex marriages, barring the Supreme Court does not stay the ban until the November election, New York state Governor Paterson recently "issued a memo telling all state agencies to recognize legally performed, out-of-state same-sex marriages as valid marriages. Los Angeles and San Francisco might be seeing an unexpected spike in tourism this summer and if that happens. LAist 5/29/08

 

Emissions:

 

S.F. among lowest carbon emitters in U.S. -- People living in cities with dense development and rail transit systems generally put out lower amounts of carbon emissions than citizens of sprawling bad-weather metropolises that use coal-fired electricity, according to new research. San Francisco and surrounding cities came in eighth in a ranking of lowest emissions among 100 metropolitan areas nationwide. SF Chronicle 5/29/08

 

General Motors Announces California Public Policy Partners in Chevrolet’s Project Driveway -- More than 100 electric vehicles, powered by hydrogen fuel cells, are being placed in the hands of drivers in New York, California and Washington, DC. Selected drivers include general public, media, influencers, celebrities, business and public policy partners. Webwire 5/29/08

 

Heavy lifting begins in California fight against greenhouse gas emissions -- A at the end of next month, the state Air Resources Board will release its draft plan on putting key provisions of the law, AB32 which Schwarzenegger signed in 2006, into effect. The report will kick off months of hearings leading up to a final approval in October. The provisions take effect in January—and then begins the drafting of regulations. Current proposals cover about 60 percent of the reductions, but debate over meeting the remaining 40 percent portion focuses on options over emission enforcement, market systems, including auctions; pay-to-pollute fees, environmental justice and offsets. Capitol Weekly 5/29/08

 

Suit targets air quality along freeways -- A coalition of environmental groups plans to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today to force it to overturn motor vehicle emissions limits for Southern California, charging that the targets fail to address hazardous pollution faced by 1.5 million people who live next to freeways. In a petition to be filed in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, the Natural Resources Defense Council is demanding comprehensive monitoring of air quality along freeways, including the 710 Freeway, where traffic flow averages 12,180 vehicles per hour -- more than 25% of them diesel trucks. LA Times 5/29/08

 

Infrastructure:

 

US rail network facing congestion 'calamity' -- While the nation's attention is focused on air travel congestion and the high cost of fuel for highway driving, a crisis is developing under the radar for another form of transportation — the freight trains used to deliver many of the goods that keep the U.S. economy humming. The nation's 140,000-mile network of rails devoted to carrying everything from cars to grain by freight is already groaning under the strain of congestion, with trains forced to stand aside for hours because of one-track rail lines. And it's probably going to get worse over the next two decades, according to an analysis of government and industry projections. AP 5/29/08

 

$382 Million in Proposition 1B Funding Approved for Transportation Projects -- The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced today that the California Transportation Commission (CTC) has approved $382 million in transportation funding from Proposition 1B, the 2006 voter-approved transportation bond. From that $10 million was allocated to Alameda county for station and track improvements at the Emeryville Station. Business Wire 5/29/08

 

Caltrans helpless to stop highway thieves -- Burglars and metal thieves are descending on local Caltrans facilities in droves. Terri Kasinga says many are striking at night along busy freeways in plain view of passing motorists. “We’ll be putting security cameras in all angles of the yards and there’s a chance we may have to start hiring security guards,” Kasinga said. Inland News Today 5/29/08

 

Shipping:

 

Shipping costs rise for California-grown fruit -- Truckers and retailers have increased the costs they charge farmers to carry peaches, nectarines and plums to market. The increased cost of fuel has caused the independent truckers and the retailers to increase the cost of a load of fruit, particularly to the East Coast,” says Kerry Whitson, a Tulare County peach, plum and nectarine grower. Retailers want farmers to pay the bulk of the increase. Central Valley Business Times 5/29/08

Agriculture Daily News May 29

Agriculture:

 

*Some US farms outsourced to Mexico – Many American farm have moved their fields to Mexico, where they can find qualified people, often with U.S. experience, who can't be deported. American companies now farm more than 45,000 acres of land in three Mexican states, employing about 11,000 people, a 2007 survey by the U.S. farm group Western Growers shows. U.S. direct investment in Mexican agriculture, which includes both American companies moving their operations to Mexico and setting up Mexican partnerships, has swelled sevenfold to $60 million since 2000, Mexico's Economy Department said. AP 5/28/08

 

Chilean grape surplus could clog U.S. market -- A glut of late fruit from Chile has hurt markets for early-season grapes from California and Mexico, grower-shippers said. The Packer 5/28/08

 

*With prices soaring, Valley rice farmers face a gamble -- Riding the coattails of the tight global commodity markets, the spot-market price of California rice – the money farmers can get for their crop – has doubled since June and sits at $24.75 for 100 pounds. The volatile market has spawned an explosion of new marketing techniques that make it possible for state rice farmers to sell their crop long before harvest, betting on whether the market will fall in the future or continue to rise. For every dollar the price shifts, even relatively small farmers stand to gain or lose tens of thousands of dollars. Sacramento Bee 5/29/08

 

*San Bruno takes stand against aerial moth spraying -- Spurred by a group of concerned citizens, the City Council has unanimously backed a resolution opposing a proposed aerial spraying program to control the Bay Area's growing population of light brown apple moths. The resolution was by far the most strongly worded response of any Peninsula city to the pheromone spraying plan proposed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. CC Times 5/28/08

 

Health:

 

Court weighs if doctors can not treat lesbian -- The issue at Wednesday's hearing in San Francisco was whether the doctors, or any business owners or employees, can invoke their religious beliefs to justify refusing to provide service to a particular person or group. The doctors in the case are asking the court to let them rely on their religion as a defense in her pending damage suit. The suit is against a fertility clinic in Vista (San Diego County) and two of its doctors who refused in 2000 to provide intrauterine insemination for a lesbian couple because of religious belief. SF Chronicle 5/29/08

 

Assembly OKs paid sick leave for all -- California would become the first state to require paid sick leave for every worker under legislation passed Wednesday by the Assembly. The measure would allow the sick leave to be used for a personal illness, to care for a sick family member, or to recover from domestic violence or sexual assault. Sacramento Bee 5/29/08

 

Bio-fuels:

 

Sapphire Energy turns algae into 'green crude' for fuel -- A San Diego company said Wednesday that it could turn algae into oil, producing a green-colored crude yielding ultra-clean versions of gasoline and diesel without the downsides of biofuel production. The year-old company, called Sapphire Energy, uses algae, sunlight, carbon dioxide and non-potable water to make "green crude" that it contends is chemically equivalent to the light, sweet crude oil that has been fetching more than $130 a barrel in New York futures trading. LA Times 5/29/08

 

Food and wine:

 

Winery goes solar with 'Floatovoltaics' -- Take nearly 1,000 photovoltaic panels and mount them on 130 pontoons floating in a Napa Valley irrigation pond, and what do you have? A first-of-its-kind solar power array and the latest example of why Northern California's wine industry - with its scores of entrepreneurs and mavericks - is a leader in embracing solar power. Representatives of the Far Niente winery in Oakville pointed out the unique aspects of a $4.2 million solar venture during a tour Wednesday in advance of today's ceremonial unveiling of the project.  SF Chronicle 5/29/08

 

Costco profit climbs 32 percent, tops outlook -- Costco Wholesale reported a 32 percent jump in third-quarter profits today to top Wall Street expectations, as cash-squeezed customers flocked to its warehouse clubs in search of bargains on food and toiletries. AP 5/29/08

 

Economy down, Spam sales up -- Sales of Spam are rising as consumers are turning more to lunch meats and other lower-cost foods to extend their already stretched food budgets. CC Times 5/29/08

 

Water:

 

Daniel Weintraub: Old idea that’s new again: Rainwater harvesting -- With California on the edge of drought and water restrictions already beginning in some areas, the state might soon be looking toward an ancient practice that is attracting renewed interest around the world: rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting wouldn't be a panacea, but for many people, it might at least be the difference between having a green yard or a brown one, or provide enough water to wash their car when they want to. Sacramento Bee 5/29/08

 

 

Economic Daily News May 29

Economy & Business

 

Suffering From Foreclosure Scams -- Mortgage and foreclosure fraud is growing. According to the FBI 2007 Mortgage Fraud Report, suspicious activity reports grew 31 percent to 46,717 in 2007. The 1,204 mortgage fraud cases pursued in fiscal year 2007, which ended Sept. 30, resulted in 321 indictments and court orders for $595.9 million in restitution. In the Bay Area, counties are ranked by mortgage fraud with Santa Clara being the highest and then followed by Alameda and Contra Costa counties. CC Times 5/27/08

 

*Nevada sales down -- Nevada merchants reported another bad month in March—sales totaling $4.3 billion for a nearly 4 percent decline over the same month a year earlier. But even though that resulted in the 10th straight monthly decline in tax collections based on sales, Nevada's budget chief said the "good news" is that the state's combined revenue shortfall projection through mid-2009 still remains below $1 billion. AP 5/29/08

 

*Patelco steps up to help ailing Sterlent -- Sterlent Credit Union said Wednesday it has struck a deal with Patelco Credit Union that is designed to stabilize Sterlent's ailing finances, which have been jolted by the implosion of the housing market. The terms and nature of the agreement between Pleasanton-based Sterlent and San Francisco-based Patelco were not immediately disclosed. It was not made clear on Wednesday what Patelco's ownership, management or financial stake in Sterlent might be. Federal regulators are expected to review the proposal. CC Times 5/28/08

 

New jobless claims filings rise -- The number of new people signing up for unemployment benefits increased last week. It was the latest sign of softness in employment conditions. The Labor Department reported today that new applications filed for unemployment insurance rose by a seasonally adjusted 4,000 to 372,000 last week. The increase left claims slightly higher than the 370,000 level that economists were forecasting. AP 5/29/08

 

Costco profit climbs 32 percent, tops outlook -- Costco Wholesale reported a 32 percent jump in third-quarter profits today to top Wall Street expectations, as cash-squeezed customers flocked to its warehouse clubs in search of bargains on food and toiletries. AP 5/29/08

 

Energy & Environment

 

*San Jose is nation's 7th-greenest city -- San Jose has one of the smallest carbon footprints of any large U.S. city, research to be released today by the Brookings Institution reveals. The San Jose metropolitan area, including Sunnyvale and Santa Clara, ranked No. 7 among the 100 largest cities in terms of the amount of carbon produced by its residents' energy use. San Francisco, which researchers pair with Oakland and Fremont, finished eighth. SJ Mercury 5/29/08

 

After record year, Chevron faces the music -- Despite a record-setting financial performance in 2007, Chevron Corp. faced a fusillade of criticism about its operations in several countries during the company's shareholders meeting here Wednesday. Yet Chevron is being besieged on multiple fronts over its activities in Ecuador, Myanmar, Iraq, Nigeria and other countries. The company also is taking heat as gasoline prices skyrocket. Inside Bay Area 5/29/08

 

Assembly passes bag fee legislation -- Supermarket shoppers in California would be charged a quarter a bag beginning in July 2011 if the store at which they shop doesn't meet plastic bag-recycling goals, under a bill approved Wednesday by the Assembly. The bill, which now goes to the Senate, passed the Assembly on a 40 vote, with only majority Democrats in support. Ventura County Star 5/29/08

 

Heavy lifting begins in California fight against greenhouse gas emissions -- A at the end of next month, the state Air Resources Board will release its draft plan on putting key provisions of the law, AB32 which Schwarzenegger signed in 2006, into effect. The report will kick off months of hearings leading up to a final approval in October. The provisions take effect in January—and then begins the drafting of regulations. Current proposals cover about 60 percent of the reductions, but debate over meeting the remaining 40 percent portion focuses on options over emission enforcement, market systems, including auctions; pay-to-pollute fees, environmental justice and offsets. Capitol Weekly 5/29/08

 

Sapphire Energy turns algae into 'green crude' for fuel -- A San Diego company said Wednesday that it could turn algae into oil, producing a green-colored crude yielding ultra-clean versions of gasoline and diesel without the downsides of biofuel production. The year-old company, called Sapphire Energy, uses algae, sunlight, carbon dioxide and non-potable water to make "green crude" that it contends is chemically equivalent to the light, sweet crude oil that has been fetching more than $130 a barrel in New York futures trading. LA Times 5/29/08

 

Winery goes solar with 'Floatovoltaics' -- Take nearly 1,000 photovoltaic panels and mount them on 130 pontoons floating in a Napa Valley irrigation pond, and what do you have? A first-of-its-kind solar power array and the latest example of why Northern California's wine industry - with its scores of entrepreneurs and mavericks - is a leader in embracing solar power. Representatives of the Far Niente winery in Oakville pointed out the unique aspects of a $4.2 million solar venture during a tour Wednesday in advance of today's ceremonial unveiling of the project.  SF Chronicle 5/29/08

 

Daniel Weintraub: Old idea that’s new again: Rainwater harvesting -- With California on the edge of drought and water restrictions already beginning in some areas, the state might soon be looking toward an ancient practice that is attracting renewed interest around the world: rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting wouldn't be a panacea, but for many people, it might at least be the difference between having a green yard or a brown one, or provide enough water to wash their car when they want to. Sacramento Bee 5/29/08

 

Media & Entertainment

 

*Digital arts festivals take over Bay Area -- The Bay Area is North America's new-media hub. At no time with this be more evident than next week, as two major Bay Area digital arts festivals welcome the public to admire, participate and enjoy. Starting Sunday, the UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive will host Berkeley Big Bang 08, a three-day event featuring talks, digital arts displays and an open house. Big Bang 08 is timed to precede a bigger event in San Jose, the biennial 01SJ: A Global Festival of Art on the Edge (June 4-8). Both festivals are celebrating what is commonly known as "electronic art," which uses computers in some form to get a message across. CC Times 5/28/08

 

Finance, Budget & Tax

 

Walnut Creek looks at trimming 13 positions, other cuts, to balance 2008-10 budget -- The council reviewed its draft 2008-10 operating and capital investment budgets Tuesday, looking at leaving 13 positions vacant and cutting back in several areas, including contributions to nonprofit organizations and schools. The city is experiencing a drop in sales tax revenue, which makes up about 44 percent of total revenues. CC Times 5/29/08

 

Venture Capital, Technology, & Silicon Valley

 

Fee for unlisted phone number unlikely to end -- A bill by state Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) that would have eliminated phone-company fees for keeping numbers out of phone directories and unavailable through 411 directory assistance failed to pass in the Senate on Tuesday. In the face of intense lobbying from AT&T, Verizon and smaller companies, Kuehl said she had given up trying to combat fees that now run as high as $25 a year. LA Times 5/29/08

 

Silicon Valley janitors end their strike -- Janitors who clean facilities for some of Silicon Valley's major technology companies ended a nine-day strike Wednesday after ratifying a contract that will bring them a 22 percent wage increase and improved health care benefits after four years. SF Chronicle 5/29/08

 

IPhone buzz fueled by new network -- Buzz about the new iPhone — expected to be released in June — has less to do with the phone itself than its use of AT&T's 3G network. That 3G network, which refers to a third generation of wireless networks, would dramatically improve the performance of some iPhone features, such as Web browsing. CC Times 5/28/08

 

Intel looks to smaller gadgets -- ntel's push to create and boost new categories of small, cheap Internet-connected devices is taking the world's largest chip maker in some unusual directions.It's investing in wireless networks, or even buying them outright. It's relying on software that isn't from Microsoft. And it's looking at making processors cheaper and smaller rather than faster and faster. SJ Mercury 5/29/08

 

Google mobile phone software draws raves at conference -- Google showcased a phone using the Android mobile software system for the first time at a developer conference in San Francisco on Wednesday to some rave reviews. The prototype of a phone using Google's free software for mobile devices shown Wednesday resembled the iPhone in its minimalist design and responsiveness to gentle touches and taps. But it also sported some fresh features that may prompt a few iPhone users to upgrade. SJ Mercury 5/29/08

 

Transporation Daily News May 28

Emissions:

 

*States sue EPA over ozone pollution standards -- New York, California, and 12 other states have sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, claiming it violated the Clean Air Act by not toughening ozone pollution standards enough in March, the New York attorney general said on Wednesday. Reuters 5/28/08

 

CARB Proposes New Air Quality Regulations -- The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is circulating a draft regulation that would require heavy duty tractors and 53-foot box-type trailers to be equipped with devices that would reduce drag and rolling resistance in an effort to improve efficiency and reduce greenhousegas emissions. Material Handling Management 5/28/08

 

Ports and water:

 

*East Bay Regional Park District bans out-of-state boats -- The East Bay Regional Park District has banned out-of-state boats from its recreational lakes in the latest crackdown by a local agency to prevent two non-native mussels from infecting new waters in California. Park managers are trying to stop the spread of quagga and zebra mussels, which can stow away in boats from infested lakes or rivers and hitchhike rides to new waters. SJ Mercury 5/28/08

 

Alcohol use is No. 1 contributing factor in boating fatalities -- According to the most recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics, alcohol use is ranked No. 1 as a contributing factor in fatal boating accidents in the United States. There were 133 alcohol use-related boating fatalities in 2006 (the latest statistics available). In California in 2007, the California Department of Boating and Waterways reported 1,800 alcohol-related boating accidents.  Lakeco News 5/24/08

 

*Long Beach port's Middle Harbor plan aimed at clearing region's air -- Vessels would have to be able to plug into the electrical grid and turn off their auxiliary diesel engines, and yard equipment would have to operate on the cleanest energy. The reason: As planned, Middle Harbor would be permitted to emit no more than half of current pollution levels. The 10-year, $750-million project would combine two terminals that are too old, inefficient and dirty to meet the port's goals for pollution reduction and greater productivity. LA Times 5/27/08

Infrastructure:

 

Bay Bridge coming together slowly but surely -- From their through-the-windshield vantage point on the upper deck of the Bay Bridge, morning commuters can spy a structure being built to their left as they near Yerba Buena Island. During the next few months, they'll see another structure rising on their right. Still, both will play an important role in the next four to five years of construction on the new Bay Bridge. And they're manifestations of why construction of the $1.04 billion single-tower suspension span is so costly, so complex and will take so long to complete. SF Chronicle 5/28/08

 

“To toll or not to toll”: State transport leaders singing the highway funding blues -- State transportation budgets are being broken around the country by a decreased level of federal funding at a time when transport and logistics infrastructure needs are growing at an alarming rate. Up until about 20 years ago, the primary means of funding transport projects in the Golden State was through the tradition “80-20” federal-state funding arrangements. But now, McKim says, the federal government is paying only about 15 percent of California’s share of highway funding. In addition, revenue from state gasoline taxes fell 5 percent in the past year as drivers revolt from $4-a-gallon gasoline. Logistics Management 5/27/08

 

Cement industry trying to meet demand while curbing emissions -- Now, the cement industry has the full attention of one of 11 Climate Action Team subgroups, comprised of industry representatives, state agencies such as the Air Resources Board and environmentalists, and they want to know what cement industries will be doing to support California clean air initiatives. In an apparent effort to reduce costs, plants such as Hanson are looking at different fuel sources - some of them not so new.  SJ Mercury 5/28/08

 

High-speed rail:

 

High-speed rail solution for chronic sky troubles – An editorial by Bruce Reed, president of the Democratic Leadership Council and Paul Weinstein, chief operating officer of the Progressive Policy Institute and a visiting fellow at Johns Hopkins: That's why the next president and the new Congress should commit to building five new high-speed rail corridors in the next 10 years. Roads and airports have direct sources of financing - namely, taxes on gasoline and ticket purchases. If high-speed rail is going to become a reality, it will need a similarly robust stream of income. That's why policymakers should establish a trust fund that would finance construction and maintenance. Newsday 5/28/08

 

Transportation:

Parking officers prepare to deal with rising tide of anger -- With assault cases against San Francisco’s parking control officers in double digits, The City is putting its ticket-dispensing employees through a new conflict-resolution program to help them defuse the angry reactions of unruly citizens. Assault cases against parking control officers, who are overseen by Muni, rose from 17 in 2005 to 28 in 2006. Examiner 5/28/08

 

Agriculture Daily News May 28

Food:

 

The Accidental Vegetarian: Grilling the Japanese way -- A few vegetarian Japanese restaurants have opened in the Bay Area during the past few years, and it was at one of them that I was reminded of how simple, yet how full-flavored good Japanese dishes can be. SF Chronicle 5/28/08

 

Bay Area women are eating their veggies -- San Francisco Bay Area women racked up the best scores for healthful eating and low body-mass index for large metropolitan regions in a study released last week by the American Heart Association. In addition to eating their veggies and keeping their weight down, Bay Area women are more likely to get regular exercise and avoid smoking, according to the survey. On the downside, they tend to drink more alcohol and have access to fewer cardiologists and teaching hospitals per capita than the national average. SJ Mercury 5/28/08

 

Water:

 

Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force to Meet  -- The Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force will meet May 28 and 29 to hear recommendations from four workgroups established to assist them: delta ecosystem, water reliability, Delta as place and governance and finance. The Task Force also will issue directions to staff for development of a strategic plan. Delta Vision webpage 5/16/08

 

DFG moves to solve salmon mystery -- King salmon smolts have been implanted with acoustical tags under a multi-agency research project to provide scientists answers to why as many as 90 percent of the young fish die each year while out-migrating through the south Delta and San Joaquin River. The transmitters are programmed by the U.S. Geological Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and two private consulting firms are providing technical assistance to the project. Stockton Record 5/28/08

 

Water quality data and water quality report for 2007 -- The following is an excerpt from the 2007 Water Quality Report provided by Stanford in compliance with the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Stanford News Service 5/28/08

 

Bay Point voices environmental justice issues – A survey found that industrial pollution and illegal garbage dumping were the top two concerns of Bay Point residents, followed by poor water quality. The goal of the survey and workshop is to educate Bay Point community members on environmental justice and how residents can prioritize issues to improve their condition, said Roxanne Carillo, manager of the Contra Costa Health Services Healthy Neighborhoods Project. SJ Mercury 5/28/08

 

Health:

 

US child obesity 'hits plateau' -- An analysis of data from 1999 to 2006 by the US government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed obesity rates stable at 16%.  Public health experts remained cautious about the findings and were unable to pinpoint the reasons for them.  BBC 5/28/08

 

Bill would let pharmacies sell medical records -- Pharmacies in California would be allowed to sell confidential patient prescription information to third-party marketing firms working for drug companies under a bill expected to be voted on Thursday by the state Senate. The legislation would allow pharmaceutical firms to send mailings directly to patients. Supporters of the proposal say the intent is to remind patients to take their medicine and order refills. But consumer privacy advocates are outraged. SF Chronicle 5/28/08

 

Lead exposure in children linked to violent crime -- The first study to follow lead-exposed children from before birth into adulthood has shown that even relatively low levels of lead permanently damage the brain and are linked to higher numbers of arrests, particularly for violent crime. 5/28/08

 

Parks and forests:

 

Could $10 DMV fee pay for state parks? -- Attempting to solve the recurring budget shortfalls that have left California's once-renowned state parks system struggling with too many repairs and too few rangers, Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, plans to introduce a proposal today to increase funding for parks through the state's vehicle fees. SJ Mercury 5/28/08

 

States agree on Tahoe area fire prevention -- A state of emergency was declared Tuesday in the Lake Tahoe basin by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons, who took the advice of a two-state commission that declared the region ripe for catastrophic fire. The emergency declarations mean more money and resources will be sunk into fuel removal projects, fire department personnel and fire prevention techniques over the next 10 years in an attempt to reduce the threat to life and property. SF Chronicle 5/28/08

 

Agriculture:

 

Costlier food: Pain for some, but bigger profit for others -- The steepest increases in food prices since 1990 are hurting grocery shoppers, restaurants and school cafeterias. But there are winners in the new food economy, including crop farmers selling corn and wheat at near-record highs after years of crushingly low prices. Also, ingredient-makers such as Cargill Inc. and Archer Daniels Midland Co. are rife with profit, and fertilizer and tractor companies are cashing in. AP 5/28/08

Agriculture Daily News May 27

Health:

 

*Combat leads to brain injuries in one-fifth of veterans -- While clinicians work with a sparse arsenal for treating largely invisible brain injuries, the Bay Area has a role as a hotbed of research and innovative treatments for combat-related neurological trauma. During a recent conference in San Francisco, more than a dozen experts in neurology, psychiatry and brain imaging described to an audience of nearly 100 scientists and journalists nascent efforts to develop effective treatments for brain traumas sustained by combat veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan. Inside Bay Area 5/24/08

 

*Federal ruling keeps $5 billion cut to Medicaid at bay for now -- Hospital officials around the Bay Area breathed a sigh of relief after a federal judge on Friday blocked a new Bush administration regulation trimming an estimated $5 billion over five years in Medicaid funds for public hospitals. The ruling came two days before a congressional moratorium blocking the Medicaid cuts expired Sunday, although it provides only short-term protection. If the cuts do take effect, 22 California public hospitals stand to lose $600 million annually.  SJ Mercury 5/26/08

 

Turning cell phones into tools of medicine -- Three Bay Area research teams are using cell phones to stretch the power of diagnostic equipment and medical services by devising simple, inexpensive ways to avert, treat and rehabilitate people after medical crises. Already, researchers are putting cell phones in area ambulances to monitor heart attack patients, and they plan to use phones in developing nations to help spot internal bleeding among women who've just given birth. here are about 2 billion cell phones worldwide, making the communication devices ideal for delivering top-tier medical care in developing countries or rural locations hours from the nearest hospital. Inside Bay Area 5/27/08

 

State cuts to health and social services will hit some hard -- Schwarzenegger has proposed cutting $3.4 billion from health and social service programs, from a projected budget of $33.2 billion to $29.8 billion. State general fund spending is second only to education. Low-income would be particularly hard hit under the governor's plan because they receive assistance from different state programs. Under his plan, an estimated 84,000 seniors would lose help with daily chores like laundry, cleaning and bathing. Seniors and the blind and disabled would not receive a cost-of-living increase in their Social Security Income checks despite rising gas and food prices. Poor adults would lose basic dental and vision care. Sacramento Bee 5/27/08

 

Hospitals, patients clash on privacy rights -- When patients check into hospitals or doctor offices, they presume their information will be kept in strictest confidence, but often, amid the pile of papers, they overlook fine print describing how their personal information can be farmed out for fundraising. Hospitals and other health care organizations widely use patient information, without patients' explicit permission, to raise funds. To the dismay of privacy-rights advocates and some in the medical field, fundraising to benefit medical institutions is allowed under federal law. SF Chronicle 5/26/08

 

Health plan for all being fought by Bush administration, restaurants -- San Francisco, known for its progressive social policies, is addressing a problem that has proved too complex or difficult for nearly all state, federal and local officials: how to provide regular, effective care for the uninsured. But the city's 10-month-old program has provoked fierce opposition from the Bush administration and restaurant owners who have gone to court to strike down the employer fees that provide a crucial source of funding. They contend that the city ordinance violates a federal law that gives Congress some authority to regulate private-sector health benefits. San Diego Union Tribune 5/24/08

 

Food:

 

*Food banks face high costs but feeding more people -- To meet growing demand, America's Second Harvest-The Nation's Food Bank Network, pressed lawmakers for the past year to increase the annual level of funding for The Emergency Food Assistance Program, commonly know as TEFAP, from $140 million to $250 million annually.  A survey it conducted of 180 food banks in late April and early May found that 99 percent have seen an increase in the number of clients served within the last year. The increase is estimated at 15 percent to 20 percent, though many food banks reported increases as high as 40 percent. The money was included in the Farm Bill recently approved by Congress, but won't be available until the next fiscal year, which starts in October. AP 5/26/08

 

Parks and forests:

 

State bolsters firefighting efforts -- Californis is hiring an extra 1,100 seasonal firefighters, commandeering a super-size tanker that can release 12,000 gallons of fire retardant in a single drop, and imploring homeowners to do their part. To pay for the beefed-up firefighting, the governor has proposed a surcharge on homeowner insurance policies - 1.4 percent for homes in disaster-prone zones, 0.75 percent for homes elsewhere - that he says would generate more than $100 million annually. SJ Mercury 5/24/08

 

*Parks in peril: With money tight, repair needs mount -- This Memorial Day weekend, campsites are booked from Mount Shasta to San Diego. But California's state park system - once considered the best in the nation - is falling apart.  Throughout the system, sewage pipes are crumbling. Roofs leak and thousands of scenic acres are padlocked for lack of rangers. The number of state park employees - 2,970 rangers, lifeguards and others - has remained unchanged since 1988. But during the same time, the number of park visitors has increased by 5.3 million people. SJ Mercury 5/25/08

 

Funding parks: How would you feel about 'Budweiser Beach'? -- Parks supporters have explored a wide range of ideas to bring the park system back to health, from higher fees to corporate sponsorship to new taxes. But most are controversial and have a downside as well as an upside. California's state parks department has tried to expand corporate partnerships in the past two years, for example, but when Gov. Pete Wilson's administration explored a plan in the mid-1990s to allow corporate logos into parks, the public and environmental groups protested vehemently and it was dropped. SJ Mercury 5/26/08

 

Count on a long Northern California fire season -- Fire season has arrived early in Northern California, with a number of major wildfires already popping up in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Sierra foothills.  Although blazes aren't unheard of this time of year, fire officials are alarmed by what they've seen so far — not just fires breaking out in densely vegetated areas but dozens of homes burning down as a result.  Inside Bay Area 5/24/08

 

Immigration:

 

Tougher Border Enforcement, and More Corruption -- A pattern has become familiar on the California-Mexico border: Customs officers wave in vehicles filled with illegal immigrants, drugs or other contraband. A Border Patrol agent acts as a scout for smugglers. Trusted officers fall prey to temptation and begin taking bribes. Increased corruption is linked, in part, to tougher enforcement, driving smugglers to recruit federal employees as accomplices. NY Times 5/27/08

 

Agriculture:

 

*Lofty Prices for Fertilizer Put Farmers in a Squeeze -- Fertilizer prices are rising faster than those of almost any other raw material used by farmers. In April, farmers paid 65% more for fertilizer than they did a year earlier, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That compares with price increases of 43% for fuel, 30% for seeds and 3.8% for chemicals such as weedkillers and insecticides over the same period, according to Agriculture Department indexes. Those skyrocketing costs are making it harder for farmers to expand their harvests in response to the global food crisis that has sparked rioting, rationing and export controls in many countries. Wall Street Journal 5/27/08

 

Farmer recalls eminent-domain fight -- Bob Brocchini of Brocchini Family Farms recalled battling the city of Stockton for much of the 1990s over land next to the former Austin Road landfill. He spent all the money he received for the 95-acre property and more on legal and court costs. And what he was paid amounted to just one-third of a private offer he had on the land, but that was withdrawn once the city announced its intent to acquire the farmland through eminent domain. Stockton Record 5/26/08

 

Salmon:

 

Salmon resurgence in Butte County – Butte Creek now holds the largest population of wild spring-run chinook, or king salmon, in the Sacramento River system. The number of spawning fish returning from the ocean to Butte Creek increased 10 percent from 2006 to 2007. But the most dramatic resurgence occurred over the past 10 years, when an average of almost 10,000 salmon a year swam back up the creek, according to Harthorn, who co-founded Friends of Butte Creek in 1999 after years battling farming interests and Pacific Gas and Electric over its DeSabla-Centerville plant. SF Chronicle 5/26/08

 

 

 

 

Transporation Daily News May 27

Water:

 

Soaring gas prices may sink boating plans -- As prices continue to skyrocket, motorists are not the only ones cringing at the pump. Personal boaters are also feeling the pinch of high fuel prices, and it is keeping some indoors, most closer to home, and has left others to ride with friends. Some have said, though,  drought conditions would have a bigger impact on boating than gas prices. CC Times 5/23/08

 

Boating industry hits economy's troubled seas -- From the lazy byways of the Delta to the shores of Lake Tahoe, a soggy economy and stratospheric fuel prices are hurting Northern California's boating industry. With Memorial Day weekend launching the summer boating season, boat sales are down, and marina operators say they're noticing a drop in business. Sacramento Bee 5/25/08

 

Ports:

 

Investigators find gaps in port security program -- A Department of Homeland Security program to strengthen port security has gaps that terrorists could exploit to smuggle weapons of mass destruction in cargo containers, congressional investigators have found. The report by the Government Accountability Office, being released Tuesday, assesses the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT), a federal program established after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to deter a potential terrorist strike via cargo passing through 326 of the nation's airports, seaports and designated land borders. AP 5/27/08

 

Air travel:

 

Airlines raise fares $60 for round trip -- Airlines ratcheted up the pressure on fliers before the holiday weekend, significantly raising ticket prices to offset runaway fuel costs. The three biggest carriers each boosted most domestic fares by up to $60 round trip, while budget airline AirTran Airways raised its leisure fares by $30 round trip. AP 5/24/08

 

Virgin America grows as rivals cut back -- With the rest of the industry staggering under the burden of rising costs - American Airlines saying this week it will cut domestic capacity by 12 percent and shed jobs in the fourth quarter - here's the view from Burlingame: "I would rather be growing in this environment than shrinking in this environment," said C. David Cush, 48, the president and chief executive officer of Virgin America, who arrived in December after 20 years of senior management experience at American Airlines. SF Chronicle 5/24/08

 

Emissions:

 

San Carlos grapples with emissions -- Adopting a plan to fight climate change is one thing, but agreeing on whether it even exists has proved a tougher challenge for the city council in San Carlos, where one council member recently called global warming "a total lie." At issue was a choice to sign the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement, which commits a city to the Kyoto Protocol goals of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012 - or to sign an alternative letter that sets no specific benchmarks and suggests many actions the city may choose to take over time. SJ Mercury 5/26/08

 

Infrastructure:

 

Report shows how millions in Stanislaus road tax might be spent -- A draft environmental document provides clues on dozens of potential street, bridge and traffic signal projects if Stanislaus County voters approve a road tax in November. Some officials representing the county and its nine cities are making good on a February pledge to pinpoint how $700 million from a bump in sales tax would be used in specific transportation projects during the next two decades. Modesto Bee 5/27/08

 

Shipping:

 

Pricey diesel fuel drives up trucking companies' costs -- The trucking companies that make up the American Trucking Associationscan at least buy their fuel wholesale, and they're also in a better position to impose a fuel surcharge to cover their higher costs than truckers who own and operate their own rigs.  As a result, independent drivers are getting slammed by higher diesel costs, said Todd Spencer of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association near Kansas City, Mo.  San Diego Union Tribune 5/24/08