Lawmakers take a new look at privatizing California Lottery -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and some lawmakers are newly interested in a push to privatize the state lottery as one of the least painful possibilities for addressing the state's financial troubles. But it's become clear that in order to make the business enticing to private investors, voters would have to agree to authorize bigger jackpots and allow games that are currently banned. Judy Lin in the
Sacramento Bee -- 4/22/08Silicon Valley life expectancy has jumped from 72 to 80 since 1961 -- Maybe your exorbitant mortgage bill is worth it after all. Silicon Valley residents have one of the highest life expectancy rates in the nation, with the average baby born in 1999 on track to live to 80, according to research appearing in today's edition of the journal PLoS Medicine. On average, that's eight years longer than their grandparents might live. Julie Sevrens Lyons in the
San Jose Mercury -- 4/22/08Backers of California gay marriage ban ready to submit petitions -- The sponsors of a proposed constitutional amendment to outlaw same-sex marriage in California said Monday they have gathered enough signatures to qualify the measure for the November ballot. LISA LEFF
AP -- 4/21/08Can a porn tax boost CA's economy? -- Lawmakers in Sacramento are looking at all sorts of ways to bring in revenue for our cash strapped state. The latest proposal is a porn tax in the adult entertainment industry. X-rated film makers to strip club owners would have to pay an extra percentage of their earnings to the state. Nannette Miranda
ABC7 -- 4/21/08Debt may be a factor in suspicious house, car fires -- Some folks celebrate their last home mortgage payment by setting fire to their loan agreement. Lately, some people behind on their mortgages are simply setting fire to their homes. Ken Bensinger in the
Los Angeles Times -- 4/21/08Support group needs to 'CRAFT' a less-scary GOP brand -- The first step on the road to recovery is admitting there is a problem. Some influential Republicans did that last week in announcing formation of a support group. George Skelton in the
Los Angeles Times -- 4/21/08No-driving bills would ground dropouts in California -- Targeting what most teenagers lust for, California lawmakers may ban dropouts from driving in a last-ditch attempt to entice them back to school. The approach, if signed into law, would mark the first time California has used driving as leverage to get kids to stay in school. Jim Sanders in the
Sacramento Bee -- 4/21/08The young host of a Christian music television show has come out publicly as a gay man, and to his surprise he has received more encouraging support than expected from churchgoers. "I’ve received literally hundreds of
emails from everyone around the world and they're all encouraging," said Azariah Southworth, host of "The Remix," in an interview with After Elton, a publication on gay and bisexual men. While many of the e-mail were also negative, 21-year-old TV host said the “amazing amount of support and encouragement has astounded me.” “I've never received so much encouragement like this, not from the Church," he added. Southworth made his announcement last week in Out and About, a Nashville-based LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) publication. He said it was a long time coming and that he now wants to live his life honestly. "I believe by me living my life honestly and authentically now, I am able to be a better person and a better Christian," said Southworth. The Christian Post
