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History tells us that every off-year election is normally a win for the opposition party. This, coupled with anti-incumbent fever particularly on the right, is expected to fuel big losses in November for Democrats. In fact, Democrats may possibly lose the House even with their current 77-seat majority. However, it looks like California will not be playing a part in this scenario. According to the Cook Political Report, only two races have been identified as competitive in California – incumbent

Last December, Antonio Maria Costa, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, said $352 billion in criminal money was laundered and kept the financial system afloat during the worst of the crisis. "In many instances, the money from drugs was the only liquid investment capital. In the second half of 2008, liquidity was the banking system's main problem and hence liquid capital became an important factor," he said. Keep that in mind as we explore the increasingly unstable border between the US a

With less than three weeks until Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveils his revised budget plan for the fiscal year starting July 1, he and the Democratic majority Legislature have done little to reduce the state’s projected $18.8 billion budget shortfall. Almost the only thing they have accomplished is agree that increasing taxes won’t be part of whatever solution they stitch together over the next 10 weeks.  “In this budget I refuse to raise taxes because there are so many other areas where Sacr

One winter storm that hit the east coast this past winter had the anti-global warming advocates claiming victory over Al Gore and environmental groups pursuing legislative solutions to anthropogenic (man-made) climate change. The fact that – at the same time as snowfall records were set in Washington and New York – warm temperatures had enveloped western ski areas was largely ignored by the knee-jerk, anti-global warming crowd.  But, not the businesses affected by climate change. A recent Sla

Here in the High Sierras, winter hasn’t relinquished its hold on the atmosphere.  A snowstorm during the first week in April dumped as much white stuff on the top of cars and roofs as any this year.  More snow is possible next week.  And while spring peeks its head through the clouds more and more frequently, there seems to be no end to the season of powder days and perfect skiing.  Tahoe has looked a lot like Colorado this year. What makes all of this good for California is the snowpack, whic

The most heated debate in Sacramento during the past two years hasn’t been budget cuts depriving poor children of health care or awarding billion-dollar tax breaks to corporations.  It hasn’t even been California’s massive multi-billion dollar budget shortfalls. Generating far more public outcry is the mandatory spaying and neutering of cats and dogs. In 2008, unsuccessful spay/neuter legislation logged some 32,000 letters and e-mails either in support or opposition -- many thousands more th

Most everything we do is dependent in some way upon electricity. Without it, as we’ve all discovered during blackouts, our modern life screeches to an immediate halt, affecting everything from traffic lights to internet access. The California ISO (Independent System Operator) is a key link in the system that keeps the electricity flowing. They are a non-profit public-benefit corporation that manages most of the high voltage power grid in the state, moving huge amounts of power along the wholesa

The independent and nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) in Sacramento says there will be some economic disruption and higher energy costs if the 2006 climate change law is implemented.  Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto), an opponent of the law, requested the analysis and accurately sums up its key findings. More jobs will be likely lost in the near term. Overall job impact in the long term is unknown. Certain individual businesses and households would be seriously affected. Nea

Starbucks, replying to a petition from a gun control group, has said it will not ban the carry of handguns in its stores, if permitted by local law. The controversy ignited in Walnut Creek, CA when members of Bay Area Open Carry, a group advocating the legal carry of loaded handguns, began carrying open, unloaded handguns at Starbucks (which is generally legal under California law, with some exceptions.) The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence responded to this by starting a national campai

Driving around Lake Tahoe communities you see snow piled up everywhere.  Ten, twenty foot high mountains of snow that have been pushed off of streets, parking lots and driveways.  Snow is plentiful this season, which has not been the case for the past three winters when disappointing amounts of powder have led to water shortages throughout the state. The snow is so good this year that record numbers of skiers are braving chain controls and black ice to reach Tahoe area ski resorts for the chanc