Capitol and California

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State recovers $27M for San Diego fire victims

Published: 4:07 pm

SAN DIEGO -- The state has recovered more than $27 million from insurance companies for victims of the wildfires that ravaged San Diego County in October 2007.

Tom Ammiano: Gay assemblyman jokes to push a serious agenda

By Jim Sanders - Updated: 1:42 pm

Don't expect Assemblyman Tom Ammiano to celebrate by puffing a joint if he succeeds in legalizing marijuana for recreational use in California.

Bill to legalize, tax marijuana in California gets a hearing

Interior secretary says panel will review Delta science

Associated Press - Updated: 12:27 pm

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says independent scientists will explore alternative ways to protect a native fish species in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that could allow more water to California's farm belt.

Bee exclusive: State's recycled paper trail not so green for climate

By Tom Knudson - Updated: 9:25 am

Near Mark Oldfield's desk at the California Department of Conservation sits a ream of copy paper that is more than a routine office commodity.

U.S. warships still operate in San Francisco Bay's Coast Guard Island

By Jeff Mitchell - Updated: 3:03 pm

San Francisco Bay was once home port to some of the mightiest warships the world has ever known, but the U.S. Navy's presence now is largely just a memory.

U.S. Coast Guard at San Francisco Bay

It's time for a hard look at California tax dodges

Last June, the Public Policy Institute of California released a highly critical report on California's "enterprise zone" program that provides big tax breaks to businesses for supposedly hiring workers in areas of high unemployment.

Midtown's young and restless make the most of 'Funlough Friday'

From the painful pay cuts to extra minutes in the DMV queue, the toxic side effects of "Furlough Fridays" on California state employees have been thoroughly quantified.

CAPITOL ALERT

WATCH: Ammiano unfiltered

Posted by Torey Van Oot at 4:26 PM

I mentioned in an earlier post Bee colleague Jim Sanders' profile of Democratic Assemblyman Tom Ammiano. As noted before, the piece highlights the wise-cracking stand-up comedian-turned-lawmaker's reputation for speaking his ...