Layoffs Looming for Thousands of California Prison Guards

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- Thousands of California prison guards are now faced with the possibility of being laid off, due to a budget crisis and a decision to shift more inmates from state to county custody.

The California Department of Correction will reportedly send out approximately 26,000 layoff warning notices by Friday, although it is not clear just exactly how many prison guards will actually be laid off, reports ABC's San Francisco station KGO-TV. Labor laws and union contracts require that workers be warned at least 120 days before layoffs occur, allowing workers time to be transferred or demoted.

The layoffs will follow a decision by Governor Jerry Brown to have some low-level inmates be placed in county jails instead of state facilities, with the aim of easing overcrowding and saving the state money.

The California Correctional Peace Officers Association views layoffs as being an unreasonable move, while others think the $10 billion corrections budget should be spent in other ways, according to KGO-TV.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Oversight Committee Says Housing Agency Foreclosing on Clients

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- The state Senate Office of Oversight and Outcomes says the California Housing Finance Agency is foreclosing on borrowers who rent out their homes due to what it perceives to be taking advantage of a loophole.

The agency, which makes low-interest loans to first-time homebuyers, says it only allows borrowers to rent out their home if they suffer a major economic setback, such as losing a job. According to the report, the agency is foreclosing on clients who rent out their homes and move into cheaper rental properties, even if they are current with their mortgage payments.

The report says 21 clients have already been foreclosed on, and another 186 are in jeopardy of the same.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Five 'Occupy San Jose' Protesters Arrested; Another Reaches New Heights

(SAN JOSE, Calif.) -- Five anti-Wall Street demonstrators were arrested for illegally camping in the plaza outside City Hall early Monday morning, while another protestor stood up for what he believed in -- literally, in a precarious position on a wall -- ABC News San Francisco affiliate KGO-TV reports.
 
That protester, identified as Shaun O'Kelly, climbed to the top of a wall at least two stories tall outside City Hall early Monday with an "Occupy San Jose” sign.

O’Kelly climbed the wall overnight and was seen perched there around 7:30 a.m., holding another sign that read, "Stand up for what you believe in."

San Jose police officer Jose Garcia said it was too dangerous to attempt to remove him, so police left him alone while he aired his grievances from two stories up.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Mayoral Candidates Ask Federal Government to Monitor Election

(SAN FRANCISCO) -- On Sunday, seven San Francisco mayoral candidates asked the federal government to oversee and monitor Nov. 8th's mayoral election, citing allegations against the current mayor.

The letter was in response to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle that claimed witnesses had seen Mayor Ed Lee supporters filling out absentee ballots for voters in Chinatown on Friday. Lee's campaign said they are not involved in the incident and support an investigation.

The seven candidates who signed the letter are public defender Jeff Adachi, city attorney Dennis Herrera, former supervisor Michela Alioto-Pier, businesswoman Joanna Rees, state Senator Leland Yee, and Board of Supervisors David Chiu and Supervisor John Avalos.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Calif. First State to Adopt Cap-and-Trade Emissions System

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- On Thursday, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) adopted the last cap-and-trade regulations in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.

In approving the regulations, California became the first state to implement the program by addressing climate change through providing financial incentives to companies to cut their carbon emissions. The goal is to reduce the state's pollution levels by 2020.

"It sends the right policy signal to the market, and guarantees that California will continue to attract the lion’s share of investment in clean technology.  When the nation addresses the growing danger of climate change, as I believe it must and will, California's climate plan will serve as the model for a national program," said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

California Bumped to No. 2 on Energy Scorecard

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy released a report Thursday that bumped California to second place in its rankings, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The new State Energy Efficiency Scorecard put Massachusetts at the top, beating California by 1.5 points. New York and Oregon took third and fourth place.

The ACEEE looks at utility information and efficiency legislation to make their rankings.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Governor: Bond Sale to Generate Tens of Thousands of Jobs

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- The sale of California's $1.8 billion dollars in tax free bonds has been described by Gov. Jerry Brown as a means of generating tens of thousands of jobs throughout the state.

In a statement Thursday, the governor said that in addition to job creation, the bond sale will help economic recovery efforts through the funding of infrastructure projects across California.

"Investor confidence in California’s fundamental strengths, combined with an on-time, balanced budget, means that we can make important investments to boost the state’s economic recovery and put Californians back to work," Brown said.

However, there may be some questions about the willingness and ability of individual investors to purchase bonds in the latest sale, as in October individual investors reportedly accounted for 22 percent of the bonds sold, down from September, when such investors accounted for 28 percent of bonds sold, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Residents Participate in Annual Earthquake Drill

(LOS ANGELES) -- An estimated 8.5 million people registered to participate in the Great California ShakeOut, an annual statewide earthquake drill.

On Thursday at 10 a.m., emergency responders, law enforcement, businesses and individuals participated and practiced ducking under tables during an earthquake. The ShakeOut.org site lists information on what to do when an earthquake hits and provides an emergency kit checklist for residents to use when assembling their homemade kits.

"Our goal is to make sure everyone has a plan –- and, after the fact, a survival story!" said Mark Benthien, communications director at the Southern California Earthquake Center at the University of Southern California.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

California Increases Yield on Tax-Free Muni Bonds

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- Under pressure from investors, California raised interest rates on the sale of tax-free municipal bonds on Wednesday.

The state raised the yield from 3.51 to 3.70 percent on the 10-year muni bonds. Five-year bond yields were raised from 2.10 to 2.28 percent.

Earlier in the week, investors only agreed to about a fifth of the $1.8 billion collection, forcing state Treasurer Bill Lockyer to act.

California also sold $205 million in taxed bonds on Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

DMV Offering More Appointments to Customers

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) says it should now be easier for customers to make an appointment to conduct business, as it has expanded the number of appointments available.

The department announced Wednesday that it now offers "more advance appointments to customers than ever before," with officials saying that the move will allow customers to do business at times that are more convenient to them.

"The DMV is committed to making appointments for our customers as attractive and efficient as possible," DMV Director George Valverde said in a statement. "Our goal is to continually improve efficiencies for our more than 30 million customers."

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio