CEO, Board Chairman of Calif. High Speed Rail Project Resign

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- Plans for California’s high speed train just slowed down with the announcement that both the project’s CEO and board chairman will resign.

Bloomberg News reports that Roelof van Ark, CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority since June 2010, will step down in about two months. Chairman Tom Umberg will step down from his position but will remain on the board, according to published reports.

The controversial project for the 220 mph train that will connect San Francisco to Los Angeles by 2033 was dubbed a “lemon” by Republicans in the Legislature earlier this week.

Gov. Jerry Brown says California should continue to pursue the project, according to reports.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Rep. Jerry Lewis Announces Retirement

(LOS ANGELES) -- Three longtime California Republicans announced their retirement from Congress this week in what amounts to an exodus of sorts for the state’s delegation as both parties adapt to a new, independently drawn congressional map in the country’s most populous state.

Rep. Jerry Lewis, a 17-term incumbent, announced his retirement on Thursday, joining Reps. Wally Herger and Elton Gallegly, who announced earlier in the week that they would not be seeking re-election.

"After months of consultation with loved ones and family, my wife Arlene and I have decided to retire from public life," Lewis said in a statement. "We are deeply grateful to so many who have provided their support over the years."

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

California Public Utilities Commission Changes Power Line Rules

(SAN FRANCISCO) -- The California Public Utilities Commission announced new rules concerning overhead power lines to reduce the risk of fires.

In response to the wildfires that devastated Southern California in 2007, the CPU is requiring utility companies to file plans on power line fire safety. Some of 2007's blazes were reportedly caused by power lines.

The fires in 2007 claimed the lives of 17 people and covered 780 square miles.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Gov. Brown's Revenue Estimates Could Be Off By $5 Billion

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- Gov. Jerry Brown’s new spending plan could be off by $5 billion, according to a recent analysis by California's chief fiscal examiner.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Mac Taylor’s analysis reveals that California could generate $5 billion less in revenue than Brown projected in his $92.5 billion spending plan.

"At this point, we're really not asking the Legislature to do anything about it. It's a little bit more, I think, waving the cautionary yellow flag," Taylor said, noting that Brown’s numbers "could be right."

Taylor added that it was too early to know whose projections were most accurate.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Livermore Teacher Arrested for Having Sex with Student

(LIVERMORE, Calif.) -- A math teacher at Granada High School in Livermore has been arrested for allegedly having sexual contact with a student.

Marie Johnson, 40, was arrested on Wednesday, accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with the victim, who was 14 at the time. The alleged sexual assault occurred between December 2010 and May 2011, according to officials, and took place in Johnson's car and other locations in Livermore.

The victim reportedly notified police about the alleged assault on Tuesday. Johnson has since been placed on leave, according to ABC News' San Francisco station KGO-TV.

"There's 24 accounts that range from sexual intercourse with a minor, lewd acts with a minor, and oral copulation," Livermore Police Officer Steve Goard told KGO-TV.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Gov. Brown's Plan to Tax the Rich Reliant on Vanishing Top-Earners

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- California’s rich are diminishing as are hopes for Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to stabilize the state budget by taxing them more. Bloomberg News reports that California’s wealthiest group shrunk in size by one-third from 2007 through 2009, partially due to the economy and because many wealthy people have fled the state's already high taxes.

The state agency Franchise Tax Board found that 2009 tax returns with adjusted gross incomes topping $500,000 fell to 98,610 from a peak of 146,221 in 2007.

Still, Gov. Brown insists his plan to make up for budget shortfalls by targetting the rich is sound -- even in the eyes of those who literally be paying the price. "Some of them welcome it with open arms," Brown said when asked in December what some of the states’ top earners thought of the proposed tax increase. "I'm sure if you made more than a million dollars a year, you'd be very happy to pay 2 percent on whatever else you made."

Brown's plan proposes a one percent income tax increase on any individual earning at least $250,000 and families earning $500,000 dollars annually. It's Americans in this same tax bracket who President Obama is describing when he, too, insists "millionaires and billionaires" should be paying "their fair share."

Should Brown’s tax plan be rejected, Brown will seek to cut $4.8 billion from schools.

California’s budget deficit currently stands at $9.2 billion.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

$1M Settlement Reached with Car Washes over Labor Law Violations

(SAN FRANCISCO) -- A settlement of over $1 million has been reached between the state and eight car washes in Northern and Southern California that have been accused of taking advantage of workers.

In October 2010, the state's Attorney General's office filed a lawsuit against the car washes, following allegations by workers that the businesses committed violations such as denying workers minimum wage and overtime, failing to pay wages owed to those who left the job or were terminated, denying rest and meal breaks and creating false records of time worked.

The settlement reached will see the businesses having to pay $1 million in restitution of unpaid wages and civil penalties, as well as $50,000 in employment taxes.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Rep. Herger to Announce His Retirement

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- U.S. Rep. Wall Herger (R-CA) will retire from Congress, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Herger's retirement is just the latest of several resulting from a new redistricting map. He was elected to the state Assembly in 1980, and subsequently to Congress in 1986.

The 66-year-old served on the House Ways and Means Committee.

The redistricting map was put together by a commission of California residents, rather than politicians.

Herger is expected to announce his retirement on Tuesday in Chico.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Legislator Introduces Bills for Gas Pipeline Safety

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- California Assemblyman and Democratic Caucus Chair Jerry Hill introduced three new bills on Monday.

ABC News affiliate KGO reports that Hill introduced three bills on gas pipeline safety to hold public utility companies accountable in the event of an accident.

In the wake of the Sept. 9, 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion that killed eight people, the assemblyman's bills will establish whistleblower protection, require state regulators to set gas rates according to a utility company's safety record, as well as implement safety recommendations.

Hill's proposals follow on the heels of legislation passed by President Obama last week in which utility companies will face higher fines for violating safety rules.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Calif. Governing Board of Community Colleges Approve Reform Plans

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) -- Collegiate reform plans were approved by California’s governing board of community colleges on Monday in Sacramento.

The Los Angeles Times reports that the reforms are designed to simplify graduation and transfer processes. Critics of the reform package say that  the new plan would penalize disadvantaged students, as the majority of the reforms would require students to meet their academic goals through incentives.

The policies were endorsed by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors on Monday and will be sent to the Legislature for review.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio