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Knight Ridder Washington Bureau
JERUSALEM - President Bush began an eight-day Middle East peace mission Wednesday as Israeli leaders warned him and the world not to forget about the regional threat that Iran poses.
Standing on the airport tarmac with Bush looking on shortly after his arrival, Israeli President Shimon Peres relegated peace talks with the Palestinians to secondary status and issued a warning to Iran.
"We take your advice not to underestimate the Iranian threat," Peres said. "Iran should not underestimate our resolve for self-defense."
While Bush is trying to shore up fragile Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, Iran also is central to the talks that he's holding across the region in the coming week.
"Ira...
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BILL REPEALS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TUITION BENEFIT WHILE PROVIDING FREE COLLEGE FOR CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD MEMBERS.
Irvine, Calif. – In an effort to bolster membership and retention in the California National Guard, Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine) is proposing an education assistance program that would provide members of the Guard free tuition at state colleges and universities. Assembly Bill 1758: the California National Guard Tuition Assistance Bill was submitted to the Assembly this week.
Despite being the most called upon, California ranks last in the nation in educ...
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You may be surprised at the following information: to vote in Mexico, a citizen must provide not only photo identification, but a thumbprint. This system has been praised by many and was credited with producing the first President from the opposition party.
In contrast, when voters head to their polling places here in California next month to cast ballots for the presidential primary, all they will have to do is verbally state their name. It’s disconcerting that, as a state which leads in production, technology and progressivism, we have failed to protect the inherent right of the g...
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Congressman fought to get federal dollars to build coastside tunnel.
SAN MATEO – The San Mateo County coastside tunnel currently being constructed on Highway 1 at Devil’s Slide will be named in honor of the man who secured much of the funding necessary for the $272 million project. Alongside a number of coastside leaders, today Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) announced legislation to name the bypass “Tom Lantos Tunnel at Devil’s Slide” in honor of the retiring Congressman.
“No one single person is more responsible for this important project coming to frui...
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SACRAMENTO – Lt. Governor John Garamendi had the following comments on the proposed budget:
“The budget proposed (yesterday) fails a very simple test: it does not meet the needs of California.
“Thirty years ago, I began my career in public service hopeful that our state could do more to improve the lot of California’s families. Sadly, the budget debate today is about how our people can get by with less – less education, less healthcare, and fewer opportunities for the future.
“California is at a crossroads. We know we can no longer paper over the fiscal challenges that confront st...
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Opposes Proposed Constitutional Amendment.
(Sacramento, CA) – Speaker pro Tempore Sally Lieber (D-San Jose) reacted to yesterday’s proposal to fast track executions. California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ron George presented the plan today in a hearing before the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice. He called for a constitutional amendment to deny Supreme Court review to condemned inmates.
“We must address wider reforms to this entire issue, such as disparate application standards and mistakes made in the process, rather than focus on speeding u...
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Sacramento, CA - Senator Denise Moreno Ducheny, Chair of the California State Senate Budget Committee provided the following reaction to yesterday’s release of the Governor’s Budget Proposal. Attached is also an audio clip which includes other reactions not included in the statements below. The audio clip may also be found at www.sen.ca.gov/ducheny.
“The Governor’s proposed Budget presents the stark reality of the national economic downturn which is being driven by the housing foreclosure crisis and its direct impact on our State budget. Next week, the State Senate Budget Committee w...
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Sacramento – Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto) released the following statement in reaction to the Governor’s release of his 2008-2009 budget:
“I really appreciate that the Governor continues to hammer on the fact that what we have is a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Projections show that revenues are up $3 billion and yet we are woefully in the red. We simply have to rein in our spending – there’s no way around it. While I don’t agree with all of the cuts proposed by the Governor, there are many that I do. We need to immerse ourselves in the details of the budget, priorit...
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SACRAMENTO – Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, chair of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee, responded to the governor’s release of his proposed 2008-09 budget:
“As a former budget chair, I believe the governor’s call for 10-percent, across-the-board cuts is the least responsible way to balance a budget,” Oropeza said. “This is like using a blunt hatchet instead of a sharp scalpel.”
“Just as school scores are beginning to show improvement, the governor calls for suspension of Proposition 98 and additional cuts that give no consideration to the work and investment already made.”
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Senator Aanestad Ready to Support Governor on Some Issues.
SACRAMENTO: Senator Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley) reacted somberly to Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget proposals unveiled today in Sacramento. The proposed 2008-2009 spending plan contains nearly $9 billion in budget cuts, over $4billion in borrowing plus a number of fee and tax hikes that are intended to close a $14.5 billion budget gap. In addition, the Governor is asking the State Legislature to take immediate action on a number of mid-year spending reductions.
“Nobody is going to like this budget,” predicted ...
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“It’s NOT a fee, it’s NOT a user fee, it’s a TAX!”
Sacramento—Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore) today wasted no time in responding to the Governor’s release of the 2008-09 budget. “I applaud the Governor for finally coming back to the table to control the growth of state spending.” Stated Assemblyman Jeffries, “However, I must strongly oppose the proposed new $125 million tax on Homeowner and Business Insurance policies.”
The Governor has proposed a 1.25% surcharge on all homeowner and business insurance policies that the administration states will go to imp...
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Sacramento – Assemblywoman Sharon Runner (R-Lancaster) issued the following statement regarding Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal:
“The Governor’s proposal is a starting point, but more must be done. We need to re-evaluate the way we spend taxpayer money and find better ways to be good stewards of public funds.
“While we reign in irresponsible spending, we must not forgo government’s top priority – protecting the safety of Californians. Releasing prisoners is not the answer to the budget problem.
“In searching for solutions to the budget deficit, it is extre...
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(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (Oakland) issued the following statement reflecting on the failed Iraq occupation, one year after President Bush announced the surge of U.S. troops:
“It's been a year since the president chose to escalate our presence in Iraq - keeping our brave men and women in harm's way and continuing to make the world less safe.
“The reality is that this so-called ‘surge’ can hardly be called a success. The decrease in violence that has been reported only represents a temporary lull in the conflict.
“President Bush claimed the escalation of troops wo...
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COSTA MESA – Republican elected officials at every level of government have long searched for any and every reform proposal that could encourage a greater role for parents in the education of their children.
To that end, California State Assemblyman Van Tran was proud to team up with former Newport Mesa School Board Member and concerned parent, Wendy Leece, to improve the accuracy of our children’s textbooks. Leece also serves as a Costa Mesa Councilwoman.
At yesterday’s California State Board of Education meeting, at the urging of Tran and Leece, the BOE adopted Section 952...
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(SACRAMENTO) – Legislation by Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) that prohibits health plans and insurers from imposing extra fees on consumers who do not consent to receiving their bills electronically via their computer cleared the Senate Health Committee today.
The measure, SB 349, counters the growing trend of health care companies to charge people just to get their bill through standard mail. Two large California firms, Blue Cross and Health Net, currently use such surcharges.
“This practice is unfair to people who either don’t have computers or don’t use th...
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LOS ANGELES--California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today attacked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for betraying its “sacred mission” to protect the environment and called upon Congress to require the agency’s top staff to explain, under oath, their flawed and illegal decision-making process.
“Charged with protecting the environmental trust, the EPA has instead betrayed its sacred mission,” Attorney General Brown told members of the Senator Barbara Boxer’s Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works at a briefing in Los Angeles. “The agency’s top staff should expl...
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Yee fights to take patients out of payment disputes between insurers and doctors
SACRAMENTO – The Senate Health Committee today approved legislation authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) designed to stop the practice of patients receiving surprise medical bills after being treated at a hospital.
Each year, thousands of patients who already have healthcare benefits receive surprise medical bills following hospital visits, a practice known as balance billing. These bills can range from $100 and under to upwards of $20,000 or more, and come even though a hosp...
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Measures Designed to Penalize Governor and Legislature for Missing Key Deadlines.
MERCED—State Senator Jeff Denham (R-Merced), the major budget holdout last summer, today introduced his “Budget Reform Package.” The package includes a total of six measures: three Senate Constitutional Amendments, two Senate Concurrent Resolutions and one Senate Bill. Denham previously sent a letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in August 2007 outlining some of these same ideas and asked the Governor to convene a budget revision panel.
“It’s ridiculous and irresponsible to actually start...
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SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Nicole Parra (D-Hanford) announced her landmark legislation, AB 27, has moved an important step forward after presenting the bill at a hearing of the Assembly Jobs, Economic Development, and the Economy Committee. The bill passed by a unanimous vote and now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
“The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley has a track record of success. Placing the Partnership in statute would allow it to carry out the many goals in the Strategic Action Proposal, which outlines a 10-year time frame for action, said Ass...
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State continues legal fight to protect children from excessively violent video games.
SACRAMENTO – This week, the State of California officially filed the opening brief in their appeal of a lower courts decision granting a permanent injunction on the state’s violent video game law. The 58-page brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit continues the State’s legal fight to protect children from excessively violent video games.
Despite the fact that for the first time a court recognized a state’s compelling interest to intercede in the video game industry...
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Workers Walk Off The Job After Facing Alleged Retaliation For Testifying in Federal Government Hearing.
Wilshire Plaza Hotel workers walked out on strike Wednesday after facing alleged retaliation by management and other unfair labor practices. The allegations of retaliation included charges that workers who were subpoenaed by the Federal Government to testify in a National Labor Relations Board hearing had their hours reduced and their working conditions changed, the quality and quantity of the food in the worker cafeteria was decreased, and the hotel will no longer be providing ...
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AB 56, by Assemblywoman Ma, seeks to streamline and provide efficiency in State’s anti-poverty programs.
SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) presented legislation to create a cabinet-level Secretary to End Poverty in the Assembly Human Services Committee. AB 56, which received bipartisan support, cleared the committee on the same day that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger delivered his State of the State Address where he proclaimed that spending cuts will appear in his upcoming budget and that “Government can work. It can be efficient. It can lead.”
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SACRAMENTO: Senator Sam Aanestad (R-Grass Valley) reacted to Governor Schwarzenegger’s “State of the State” address to the State Legislature today, saying he and fellow Senate Republicans will stand firmly behind the Governor’s efforts to cut spending to solve the $14 billion budget deficit.
“Senate Republicans remain united in our pledge to help this Governor fulfill his most important campaign promise to California voters: to balance the budget with no new taxes,” said Senator Aanestad. “I’m pleased to hear this Governor admit that California does not have a revenue problem, we ha...
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Sacramento, CA – California State Assemblymember Dr. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) today issued the following statement after Governor Schwarzenegger’s remarks in his fourth State of the State address.
“I welcome the Governor making our state budget the top priority through both his comments today, and his recent declaration of a fiscal emergency. We need to have a real conversation about our budget and what we value as Californians, and I look forward to working with Governor Schwarzenegger and my colleagues in the Assembly and Senate to find comprehensive solutions to the challe...
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"The Governor is striking the right tone that we have got to deal with the Budget problem in California. We can already see the handwriting on the wall. The Legislative Majority won’t like the Governor’s cuts and they will likely come up with alternatives that include raising taxes. Fortunately the Governor has said no to tax increases and I agree with him completely. Californians are overtaxed. It’s already a heavy burden on our families today, so taxes are not the answer. We’ve got to control spending."
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Los Angeles, CA -- Assemblymember Portantino (D – La Cañada Flintridge), Chairman of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, gave the following statement in response to the Governor’s State of the State Address:
“In what is widely considered to one of the worst fiscal crisis’ our state has ever faced, I am extremely disappointed the Governor did not call for the elimination of exorbitant pay raises given to UC and CSU executives. Many vulnerable segments of our population have been asked to bear the budget burden year after year, yet these unaccountable executives who run our publ...
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SACRAMENTO – Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) issued the follow response to the Governor’s State of the State Address:
“While I share the Governor’s concerns over the budget, I do not believe spending cuts should be made across the board. Not only is the concept ill-advised, it is unconstitutional.
Our families can not afford another hit to social and health services. Our children can not afford another hit to education. And our state can not afford to balance the budget on the backs of the most vulnerable.
If we have learned anything over the past few months, it...
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Sacramento – Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto) released the following statement in reaction to the Governor’s State of the State address this afternoon:
“The Governor is correct – our budgetary system does need more stability. We need to put an end to gimmickry, an end to budgetary smoke and mirrors, an end to out of control spending that is not related to revenue – we need to stop pretending like we only spend money that we actually have. My Senate Republican colleagues and I tried to put an end to these practices last year. While we were able to receive some spending reductions, i...
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Houston Predicts Year Long Battle for Budgetary Reform
(Sacramento) – Today, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger gave his annual State of the State Address to a Joint Session of the California State Legislature. Assemblyman Guy Houston (R-San Ramon) issued the following statement in reaction:
“The Legislature must respond to the Governor’s call to rein in spending. The State of California must take a hard look at its spending priorities and its funding obligations. Retiree pension and health care costs and our water storage and delivery infrastructure are only two of many...
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(SACRAMENTO, CA) The following is a statement released by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, on the Governor’s State of the State Address.
“Californians value public education, safety nets for the poor and disabled, public safety, transportation, and environmental protection. For years we have compromised these programs by cutting their funding in a vain effort to balance the budget. This vicious cycle cannot continue. Difficult choices are ahead and all options must be on the table.
The Governor has put himself, and us, in a tight ...
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At Second Inaugural, Mayor Pledges Leadership On Health, Environment, Education.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Today Mayor Gavin Newsom delivered his second inaugural address in the rotunda of City Hall and pledged to continue San Francisco’s leadership on issues such as health, the environment, and education.
“On the most important issues of the day,” said Newsom, “San Francisco is providing leadership for our nation and the world.”
Newsom chose School Superintendent Carlos Garcia as the Master of Ceremonies to emphasize the close partnership between Newsom and the school district.
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What is this great middle Whitman talks about? Thanks to GOPers and crazed religious zealots who deny evolution and perhaps next will scream that the sun goes round the earth, the public discussion of issues and problems has moved so far to the right that any "consensus" towards the middle will hardly satisfy any reasonable person who can remember...
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On February 2, The Pasadena Symphony explores how folk songs and folk tales have influenced composers from Gustav Mahler to John Williams, whose composition “Viktor’s Theme” was written for former Pasadena Symphony principal clarinetist Emily Bernstein.
PASADENA, Calif. - Composer John Williams entitled the four-minute track from his sc...
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The holidays can be particularly challenging for many Ventura County charitable organizations, who often struggle to make ends meet towards the end of the year, while continuing to provide valued services to residents throughout local communities.
“The Ventura County Contractors Association (VCCA) and its members are thrilled to have donate...
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Elizabeth House – the only shelter for homeless, pregnant women in the San Gabriel Valley – will hold “Era for Change” benefit on March 29 at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale.
PASADENA, Calif. - Nationally syndicated radio host Dennis Prager, who can be heard here in Los Angeles on KRLA 870 AM from 9 a.m. to noon, has received many acco...
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LOS ANGELES — Farmers Insurance claims personnel, agents and employees throughout California are helping victims of the storms that are sweeping the state from Washington State to Southern California.
Farmers Senior Vice President, State Operations Steve Feely said, “according to weather reports California is in the middle of a series of storms ...
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Ed Moses "Zaco" 2005 Edition of 20
The Venice Community Trust, dedicated to “Inspiring Creativity through Arts and Education,” is an organization that reaches out, not only to the LA community, but far beyond, wherever the Internet can reach.
While schools all over the country have had their art programs cut back, the Venice Community Trust...
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ANAHEIM, Calif. -- As Disney Parks celebrate the "Year of a Million Dreams," local Disneyland Resort guests can experience the magic of the celebration first-hand with the value-packed "Southern California 2Fer Ticket" that features admission to Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure parks on two different days -- all for the price of one par...
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Senator Yee authors laws to bring transparency to UC/CSU, improve public safety, assist children, protect workers.
SACRAMENTO – Several bills authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/San Mateo) are set to become law on January 1, 2008. These new laws range from bringing transparency to executive compensation matters at the ...
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“Side Men (Winds)” will feature Geoff “Double G” Gallegos, founder of the DAKAH Hip-Hop Orchestra, musicians from The Pasadena Symphony, and Bubba Jackson, morning drive host of KJAZZ 88.1 FM.
PASADENA, Calif. - It was undoubtedly only a matter of time before Jerri Price-Gaines, Director of Education and Community Engagement for The Pas...
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When, those who understand the deplorable state of human rights in China heard that Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard had invited Beijing to submit a float in the internationally famed Rose Parade on New Year’s Day, they immediately formed a coalition to oppose the float or at least to give human rights equal time.
However, no matter what the coa...
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Deadline to enter contest is January 15. NOW ACCEPTING entries from students in Ventura, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara counties and the San Fernando Valley!
The Ventura Music Festival will select one high school student to play on stage with Latin-Jazz legend Poncho Sanchez and his band February 16, 2008.
“One talented stu...
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From vibrant color and bold brushstrokes to amazing sculpture and assemblage presentations, 2008 art works are exceptional jewels, on display beginning January 5 with hosted reception at Artists Union Gallery in Ventura.
For several seasons, art has been an integral component to the Ventura Music Festival, enhancing and supporting ...
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During a special investigative hearing of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee in Rio Vista on December 6, Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) demanded answers from state and federal agencies responsible for the massive fish kill in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta at Prospect Island in November and blasted them for their lack of co...
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Holiday dreams for more than 360 children and their families will come true, thanks to PODS, the community and Casa Pacifica.
When PODS container was reserved to use as a collection center at a Ventura company for employees and clients to donate toys for children at Casa Pacifica, Steve Yapp, owner of PODS Ventura, provided the PODS con...
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POPULAR FREE PROGRAM OF JAZZ, CLASSICAL MUSIC AND DISCUSSION PRESENTED BY THE PASADENA SYMPHONY.
PASADENA, Calif. - As anyone who regularly attends Clazzical Notes is well aware, the audience for The Pasadena Symphony’s popular free program of jazz, classical music and discussion among the musicians has continued to grow since its debut...
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 LOS ANGELES -- In 1991, Kharma Amos dressed up as a condom to pass out HIV prevention materials in Tulsa, OK.
That same year, 16-year-old Joshua Love began volunteering for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and AIDS serv...
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Los Angeles – Dozens of workers and unions of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO gathered on the steps of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to announce their endorsement of Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas in the June 3rd race to replace current Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite–Burke. Burke announced her retirement earlier this yea...
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SACRAMENTO — Fifteen local Target stores have donated three Christmas trees each to local families, thanks to a national partnership between Target and United Way of America. United Way California Capital Region worked with the local Targets on the annual “Share a Tree” program to select several nonprofit partners to distribute the trees to local f...
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Co-Hosts Make Donation to SAG Foundation for the 12th Consecutive Year.
Los Angeles - PEOPLE and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF) will co-host the official SAG Awards™ Gala, held immediately following the 14th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® on Sunday, Jan. 27. Stanlee Gatti, the renowned San Francisco event designer, ...
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Los Angeles – Through field operation plans that outreached to over 22,000 union and 40,000 non-union voters, the Los Angeles Labor Movement helped deliver the vote for Warren Furutani during the December 11th Special Election race for the 55th Assembly District.
Over the course of the campaign, workers made over 30,500 calls to union vot...
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