The California Strawberry Commission has just about had it with UC -- The university is going private with its berry-breeding program and the commish has filed a lawsuit in Alameda County to challenge it.
From Capitol Weekly's Greg Lucas: "Strawberry growers are literally being cheated out of the fruits of their labors by the University of California, according to a lawsuit filed against the Board of Regents by the California Strawberry Commission."
"UC Davis is ending its strawberry breeding program and replacing it with a private company created by its two long-time strawberry researchers. The two plan to sell strawberry varieties, including those they developed over the past 30 years at UC Davis backed by annual payments of $350,000 by the strawberry commission."
"Filed in Alameda County Superior Court, the commission’s eight-page lawsuit wants to block the move, saying the university “seeks to appropriate to itself and a private entity… the fruits – both literally and figuratively – of decades-long research the commission funded.”
A Bay Area lawmaker is launching an investigation into the remodeled Bay Bridge's big price tag and the lengthy time frame it took to get the project done.
From the Contra Costa Times' Lisa Vorderbrueggen: "Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Mark DeSaulnier will launch in November a legislative probe into why the new Bay Bridge cost so much and took so long to build."
"Back in 1998 when Bay Area officials chose the unique self-anchored span design, engineers estimated construction would take four years and cost $1.4 billion; instead, it took 11 years and cost $6.4 billion."
"We are asking the question, 'Why was the bridge so over budget and why did it take so long?'" said DeSaulnier, D-Concord. The committee is prepared to use its subpoena powers if necessary, DeSaulnier said."
The rookies are on a roll in the Capitol, with a big class of newbies who have a chance to stick around longer than their predecessors.
From Capitol Weekly's Samantha Gallegos: "Over the last year, an unprecedented class of freshmen legislators has been wading in the waters of California’s new governing rules."
“Most freshmen classes, Republicans and Democrats, come in with great ideas on how they’re going to change the institution, but ultimately the institution changes them,” said Jim Brulte of Rancho Cucamonga, the chairman of the California Republican Party who served as his party leader in both houses of the Legislature. The timing for change, however, appears opportune...."
"With 41 newbies – 39 chosen in regular elections and two in special elections — it is the largest batch of first-term lawmakers at least since California voters approved a full-time Legislature in 1966. The new lawmakers were voted into office under new term limits and election policies. Also new: supermajorities of Democrats in both houses."
The feds are telling California: Okay, if you decide not to do standardized school testing in math and english, it's going to cost you -- at least $15 million.
From EdSource's John Fensterwald: "The state now knows how much federal funding it stands to lose by declining to give state standardized tests in math and English language arts next spring to all students: at least $15 million – and potentially tens of millions of dollars more."
"An assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Education cited that figure and warned that the fine and the impact on school districts could be greater in a letter released Monday to State Board of Education Michael Kirst and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson."
"The Legislature, by passing Assembly Bill 484last month, put the state out of compliance with the federal testing requirements law. AB 484 ends most state standardized tests, including English language arts and math for grades 3 to 8 and 11, which are required annually under the No Child Left Behind law. Instead, the state is requiring that all districts administer a preliminary test in the Common Core State Standards in either math or English language arts – but not both – in those grades. In her letter, Assistant Secretary of Education Deborah Delisle said that offering one of the two tests wouldn’t meet the law or provide the results that the public relies on."
A group that seeks better conditions in nursing homes says the state has failed to properly act on complaints.
From the Bee's Marjie Lundstrom: "A Sacramento advocate for the elderly is suing the state for allegedly endangering vulnerable residents by failing to promptly investigate nursing home complaints, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in San Francisco."
"The suit, brought by the Sacramento-based Foundation Aiding the Elderly, accuses state regulators of “taking months and sometimes years” to complete investigations of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Filed in San Francisco Superior Court, the lawsuit names the CaliforniaDepartment of Public Health and two top administrators."
“This is jeopardizing all patients,” said Carole Herman, president of FATE. “The industry is not afraid of the regulators, they are so lax in their responsibilities.”
