YubaNet.com

Calif. schools employing fewer nurses, librarians

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:42:25 PST

California is issuing fewer credentials for public school service positions such as librarians, school nurses and administrators, and its schools are employing fewer service staff, according to a recent report by the state Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Robert Reich: Romney Has Public and Private Morality Upside Down

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:40:08 PST

Mitt Romney's reaction to J.P. Morgan Chase's mounting losses from reckless trades is "the market will take care of it." His spokesman says "no taxpayer money was at risk" so we don't need more financial regulation. Romney has even promised to repeal Dodd-Frank if he's elected president.

Sign the kids up for Placer County Sheriff Office horse day camp in Auburn

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:36:34 PST

It's time to sign up for the Placer County Sheriff Office's annual Ride With Pride, a one-day camp that pairs grade-school children with deputies and their horse partners.

CCC Veterans Crews Complete Training; Working on Fire Reduction Efforts

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:29:54 PST

Fifty military veterans, members of four all-veterans California Conservation Corps crews, are now working in California national forests on fuel reduction and fire prevention efforts.

Sexual Violence, Harassment of Immigrant Farmworkers

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:57:58 PST

Hundreds of thousands of immigrant farmworker women and girls in the United States face a high risk of sexual violence and sexual harassment in their workplaces because US authorities and employers fail to protect them adequately, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The current US Senate bill reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) would go some way toward fixing the problem and should be enacted, but much more needs to be done, Human Rights Watch said.

Congressman Jared Polis to Congress: Pizza is Not a Vegetable

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:55:02 PST

To reverse Congress' absurd decision to define pizza as a vegetable in school meals, Congressman Jared Polis today unveiled new legislation—the SLICE (School Lunch Improvements for Children's Education) Act—to protect students' health by allowing sensible nutrition standards for pizza in the meals our children eat at schools. Last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed a rule that would have prevented pizza from being counted as a vegetable in meals but Congress succumbed to lobbying from the frozen food industry and blocked it.

AG Harris Announces $40 Million Nationwide Settlement with Makers of Athletic "Toning" Shoes

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:53:43 PST

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris announced today that she, along with 44 other attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission, has reached a $40 million settlement with Skechers USA, Inc. to resolve allegations the company made unsubstantiated claims about the health benefits of its rocker-bottom shoes, including the Shape-ups, the Tone-ups, and the Skechers Resistance Runners.

Updated: Feds Raid Commercial Pot Grow in Penn Valley - 5 Arrested

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:31:17 PST

Yesterday afternoon federal agents arrested 5 people on the 19000 block of Valley Vista Way in Penn Valley. According to available information at this time, a large commercial marijuana grow was the target of the DOJ operation. The statutes listed in the jail record include: Ex-felon with a firearm (bail set at $1,000,000), posession of marijuana for sale, committing a felony while armed and criminal conspiracy.

LAO Report - The 2012-13 Budget: State Should Consider Less Costly Alternatives to CDCR Blueprint

Wed, 16 May 2012 10:03:38 PST

In April 2012, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) released a report (referred to as the “blueprint”) on the administration’s plan to reorganize various aspects of CDCR operations, facilities, and budgets in response to the effects of the 2011 realignment of adult offenders, as well as to meet various federal court requirements (such as reducing the inmate population to meet specified population cap targets).

BLM Issues Fire Restrictions for Public Lands

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:56:10 PST

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is issuing fire restrictions on public lands in the California desert, including requiring permits for campfires and barbecues.

Endangered Species Act Success Story: Two CA Plants Proposed for Downlisting From Endangered to Threatened

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:47:06 PST

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed today to downlist two California plants, the San Clemente Island lotus and San Clemente Island paintbrush, from endangered to threatened based on substantial recovery of the plants' populations. Both plants declined dramatically after goats and pigs were brought to the islands and were protected as endangered species in 1977. Following this protection, the Navy, which owns the island and uses it for training, worked hard to remove nonnative ungulates and develop a management plan to protect the plants and other rare species from its training activities.

California Agriculture License Plate to make offical debut in 2013

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:06:04 PST

We did it! Congratulations to the agricultural community, FFA and everyone who made this opportunity to create a California agriculture license plate a reality! We have collected 8,355 plate orders – meeting DMV's threshold of 7,500 applications to establish a California Special Interest License Plate.

Elephant seal tracking reveals hidden lives of deep-diving animals

Wed, 16 May 2012 08:52:36 PST

Researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who pioneered the use of satellite tags to monitor the migrations of elephant seals have compiled one of the largest datasets available for any marine mammal species, revealing their movements and diving behavior at sea in unprecedented detail.

Why omega-3 oils help at the cellular level

Wed, 16 May 2012 08:51:49 PST

For the first time, researchers at the University of California, San Diego have peered inside a living mouse cell and mapped the processes that power the celebrated health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. More profoundly, they say their findings suggest it may be possible to manipulate these processes to short-circuit inflammation before it begins, or at least help to resolve inflammation before it becomes detrimental.

Sugar makes you stupid

Wed, 16 May 2012 08:26:25 PST

Attention, college students cramming between midterms and finals: Binging on soda and sweets for as little as six weeks may make you stupid.

UMD Finding May Hold Key to Gaia Theory of Earth as Living Organism

Wed, 16 May 2012 08:24:19 PST

Is Earth really a sort of giant living organism as the Gaia hypothesis predicts? A new discovery made at the University of Maryland may provide a key to answering this question. This key of sulfur could allow scientists to unlock heretofore hidden interactions between ocean organisms, atmosphere, and land -- interactions that might provide evidence supporting this famous theory.

Nevada County Planning Commission Agenda - May 24: Adult Businesses

Wed, 16 May 2012 08:19:35 PST

Nevada County Planning Commission Agenda for May 24, 2012. Meeting starts at 1:30 pm in the BOS Chambers at the Nevada County Government Center. The main topic: Land Use regulations for Adult Businesses.

A Deeper Look at Centaurus A

Wed, 16 May 2012 08:07:03 PST

The strange galaxy Centaurus A is pictured in a new image from the European Southern Observatory. With a total exposure time of more than 50 hours this is probably the deepest view of this peculiar and spectacular object ever created. The image was produced by the Wide Field Imager of the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile.

New Campaign Highlights Stories of Military Families Harmed by So-Called "Defense of Marriage Act"

Wed, 16 May 2012 08:05:39 PST

A week after President Obama announced his support for ending marriage discrimination against same-sex couples, Freedom to Marry and Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) announced Freedom to Serve, Freedom to Marry , a new national campaign that will highlight the stories of military families harmed by the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The campaign launched with the release of an online video illustrating the real injury inflicted on gay and lesbian military families who, because of the federal government's refusal to respect their marriages legally, are denied the support and protections that all other military families receive.

Higher education and income levels keys to better health, according to annual report on nation's health

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:46:13 PST

People with higher levels of education and higher income have lower rates of many chronic diseases compared to those with less education and lower income levels, according to Health, United States, 2011 – the government's annual comprehensive report on Americans' health.

Sub-Saharan Africa cannot sustain growth without ending hunger - UN report

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:44:45 PST

Sub-Saharan Africa cannot sustain its present economic growth unless it eliminates the hunger that is affecting almost a quarter of its people, according to a new United Nations report launched today, which calls for new approaches to empower local communities to ensure food security in the region.

The Center for the Arts Presents: Indigo Girls on June 22

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:24:12 PST

Grammy-winning folk-rock duo the Indigo Girls with their full band and opening act, The Shadowboxers are coming to downtown Grass Valley June 22, adding another big-name attraction to the local stage as part of the Center for the Arts 2012 off-site series. Tickets, including limited VIP seating, go on sale exclusively to Center for the Arts members on Monday, April 16 with tickets on sale to the general public on May 1.

Breastfeeding When Is It Enough

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:16:04 PST

Breastfeeding When Is It Enough - cartoon by David Fitzsimmons

JP Morgan Chase Gambling

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:13:52 PST

JP Morgan Chase Gambling - cartoon by Daryl Cagle

Cutting Him Off

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:12:06 PST

Cutting Him Off - cartoon by Christopher Weyant

Nevada County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) Agenda for May 17

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:07:24 PST

Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) Agenda for a Regular Meeting on May 17, 2012.

Broken

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:01:17 PST

Broken - cartoon by Luojie

Planned Parenthood Strongly Opposes House Version of Violence Against Women Act

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:53:16 PST

In advance of debate in the House of Representatives over the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) later this week, Planned Parenthood Federation of America announced it strongly opposes the current House version of the bill and urges passage of the Senate version of the legislation instead. The Senate version of VAWA has already received bipartisan support.

Citizens, Groups Calling for a Ban on Fracking in California

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:52:07 PST

At a press conference today with one of the country's largest urban oil fields in the background, national consumer organization Food & Water Watch joined with Josh Fox, the Oscar-nominated director of Gasland, Environment California, Citizens Coalition for a Safe Community, Grassroots Coalition, and residents of surrounding neighborhoods to call for a ban on the controversial oil and gas practice called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in California. Already, 50,000 Californians have signed Food & Water Watch and CREDO Action petitions supporting a ban.

Miners Foundry Cultural Center and Nevada City Film Festival present "The Other F Word" on June 14

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:31:04 PST

Celebrate and honor the important men in your life this Father's Day with "The Other F Word", a consistently hilarious, raucous, eye-opening, and unexpectedly wise documentary on what happens when a generation's ultimate anti-authoritarians — punk rockers– become society's ultimate authorities — dad's. With a large chorus of Punk Rock's leading men – Blink-182′s Mark Hoppus, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Flea, Rise Against's Tim McIlrath- "The Other F Word" follows Jim Lindberg, 20-year veteran of skate punk band Pennywise, on his hysterical and moving journey from belting his band's anthem, ‘F-K Authority', to embracing his ultimately pivotal authoritarian role in mid-life, fatherhood.

Feds Approve Key Permit for Digital 395

Wed, 16 May 2012 06:29:17 PST

Another major step has been achieved in the Digital 395 Broadband Project. Today, Monday, May 7, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the lead environmental agency, issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) under the National Environmental Policy Act, closing off one of the key steps for the 583-mile long fiber project through the Eastern Sierra. The project spans the desert and alpine regions between Barstow California on the south and Reno Nevada in the north with many service connections to schools, hospitals, government agencies and other critical facilities along the way. When it is complete, very high levels of broadband will be made available to over 35 communities, most of which have either no or very poor access to the internet today. The permit means the 583-mile fiber optic project is moving closer to breaking ground in the next 30 days.