Jacko Arrives at Court for Jury Selection
The pop icon got to court about noon EST (9 a.m. PST), wearing all white and shielded from the sun by an umbrella. He waved to supporters as he strode inside. After more than an hour’s wait, Jackson and his attorney stood and faced the first group of prospective jurors filing into the courtroom. Some predicted jury selection could take a month or more. Jackson, 46, is charged with molesting a cancer patient – then aged 13, now 15 – after plying him with alcohol. Before the singer’s arrival on Monday, dozens of dancing, hollering fans gathered outside the courthouse. Supporters blasted a Jackson song deriding the district attorney and booed a woman who held a sign backing the alleged victim. Many had camped out overnight. Read the story here.
Costs Make Employers See Smokers as a Drag
Employers have recently tried every carrot they can think of – including cash incentives and iPods – to persuade employees to quit smoking. Now some are trying the stick. Pointing to rising health costs and the oversized proportion of insurance claims attributed to smokers, some employers in California and around the country are refusing to hire applicants who smoke and, sometimes, firing employees who refuse to quit. “Employers are realizing the majority of health costs are spent on a small minority of workers,” says Bill Whitmer, chief executive of the Health Enhancement Research Organization, an employer and healthcare coalition in Birmingham, Ala. Federal and state laws bar employers from turning down applicants or firing workers based on race, religion or gender. Some states have enacted laws offering similar protections for smokers. But experts say workers in nearly half the states, including California, have few legal options if employers decide to prohibit them from smoking outside the workplace. Read the story here.
Driver’s license saga could end this year
The ad – headlined “Nominated: Best Nanny in a Supporting Role” – featured a Latina and two young children, and called on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to allow illegal immigrants to obtain California driver’s licenses. No stranger to the intersection of Hollywood and politics, Schwarzenegger said he appreciated the ad, which ran last week in the trade paper Variety before the Academy Award nominations were announced, and the entertainers who signed it. But during an appearance at the Sacramento Press Club, the governor indicated he is not likely to soon sign the measure offered by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles. “The federal government is coming up with a solution in the next 18 months to let us know what the guidelines should be,” he said, referring to supporting documents that applicants would have to present to guard against terrorists’ acquiring driver’s licenses. The long-running debate, however, could be put to rest this year if Schwarzenegger calls a special election to press a package of reforms. That could pave the way for a separate measure on the November ballot that would deny state benefits, including driver’s licenses, to illegal immigrants. Read the story here.
Friday, January 28th, 2005
Thanks to all our listeners who showed up at the Ayres Hotel in Anaheim yesterday. We raised over ten thousand dollars and received almost five thousand signatures. Remember, you have a little over two weeks to get those petitions back to Save Our License, So get out there, get the signatures, and SEND THEM BACK IN!
The secret list of ID theft victims
Linda Trevino, who lives in a Chicago suburb, applied for a job last year at a local Target department store, and was denied. The reason? She already worked there—or rather, her Social Security number already worked there. Follow-up investigation revealed the same Social Security number had been used to obtain work at 37 other employers, mostly by illegal immigrants trying to satisfy government requirements to get a job. Trevino is hardly alone. MSNBC.com research and government reports suggest hundreds of thousands of American citizens are in the same spot—unknowingly lending their identity to illegal immigrants so they can work. And while several government agencies and private corporations sometimes know whose Social Security numbers are being ripped off, they won’t notify the victims. That is, until they come after the victims for back taxes or unpaid loans owed by the imposter. It’s a thorny problem that cuts to the heart of America’s undocumented worker issue. Immigration opponents say it’s another reason to shut the borders tight; immigrant rights groups point out that identity theft is an inevitable outcome of unfair labor laws that push foreign visitors deeper into the shadows. Read the stroy here.
Residents Upset Over Influx Of Sex Offenders
People in the College area of San Diego say their neighborhood is being turned into a warehouse for sex offenders and violent criminals, 10News reported. Neighbors said they blame Faith House, a nonprofit organization and its owner. It operates at least six halfway houses in the area and two others were recently closed. Paul Fiskratti said he is moving his children out of the neighborhood because of what is across the street from his home; three homes housing at least five sex offenders according to California’s Megan’s Law website. “Something’s got to be done about that. You just can’t house them and not have them regulated. It’s got to be looked at and well controlled,” Fiskratti said. Many of the Faith House residents are on probation or parole for sex offenses, including child molestation and rape. Some have multiple convictions, according to 10News. Read the story here. Tonight at 6pm, Paul Fiskratti will tell John & Ken his story.
Alvarez Makes Brief Court Appearance
The suicidal man facing murder charges following a deadly train wreck that killed 11 people was granted a delay of his arraignment during a brief court appearance on Friday. Juan Manuel Alvarez , 25, had stabbed and slashed himself after Wednesday’s rail crash, and had been under suicide watch since his arrest. He was taken to court on Friday in what appeared to be a hospital smock and bandages around his wrists. Standing in shackles, Alvarez’s head was tipped forward and his eyes were downcast, but he looked up occasionally to glance across the courtroom. Superior Court Commissioner Dennis Mulcahy granted the defense’s request for a delay in the arraignment, which was pushed back to Feb. 15. There was no objection by the prosecution. Read the story here.
Michael Jackson Jury to See ‘Erotic’ Material
The judge in pop star Michael Jackson’s child molestation case ruled on Friday that “erotic” material, including pictures of nude children, seized from the entertainer’s Neverland Ranch could be shown to jurors at his upcoming trial. Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rodney Melville ruled that “sexually explicit” material police found in a search of Jackson’s sprawling estate, including books, magazines and DVDs, could be introduced at the trial. Jackson’s accuser, now aged 15, and his brother will have to testify in open court after the judge rejected a prosecution request to close the courtroom for that portion of the trial. Prosecutors had argued that giving evidence in open court would traumatize the boys. But in another setback for the defense, Melville ruled that a British television documentary about Jackson could be shown to jurors as evidence. Read the story here.
For all the young actors out there who are hoping for a chance to be in a movie with Robert DeNiro, hang in there. He seems to be in about fifteen or twenty a year, so your opportunity may come. At least it did for little Dakota Fanning, who gets to play Emily, the girl who loves to play “Hide and Seek”.
Now here is a “paint by numbers” movie, which is actually well made, but follows all the rules, right down to the dumb finish line. Emily’s Mom, played by Amy Irving, (yes, where has she been? Oh, that’s right, she’s a woman, too old now to get any prime Hollywood roles) dies in the first five minutes. It’s sad – Dad (DeNiro) finds her dead in the bathtub. Little Emily wakes up and views this tragic scene. It’s too much for her, and she ends up in therapy. Lucky thing Dad is a psychologist himself, because he calls on a colleague (Famke Janssen) to take care of his daughter.
It’s a pretty bad funk that Emily is in – so bad, Dad decides to move out of the City and take her upstate to “heal”. That’s good – we need an old house in the near deserted countryside so we can have just the right special effects. That would be rainstorms, wind, creepy wooded areas, and oh yes, perfect, Emily brings along a cat. No movie of suspense and horror is complete without a cat – a dog wouldn’t do, for only a cat can creep around and pop out at just the right moment in one of those false moments of suspense. (more…) Thursday, January 27th, 2005
We need all our listeners to pick up a few petitions and go get them signed. This is the final push before the February 11th deadline. We are talking about the safety of our state and the rest of the country. The draw of a California driver license will lead terrorists and illegals to further destroy our nation. Also, if you have anything to give, saveourlicense.com needs donations! If you can donate five dollars, do it, if you can donate a thousand dollars, DO THAT! They need the money to pay signature gatherers to get the signatures that they need.
If you wish to donate to SaveOurLicense.com, you can click here, or call (626)357-8237
RNC Seeks Donations to Push Bush Agenda
WASHINGTON - The Republican Party is following up record fund raising for President Bush’s re-election effort by asking donors to finance its efforts to get Bush’s message “past the liberal media filter” to the public.
Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman sent a fund-raising e-mail Wednesday telling supporters donations are needed to help Bush advance his second-term agenda.
Read the full story here.
Tell Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman how you feel! kmehlman@rnchq.org
Wednesday, January 26th, 2005
Man Faces Charges in Metrolink Collision
At least 10 people died and nearly 200 were injured this morning when two commuter trains collided after one hit a car parked on the tracks by a man intent on killing himself, officials said. Police said they had taken a man into custody and he was expected to be charged with homicide in connection with the chain reaction of crashes that left train cars mangled and seared in Glendale near the Los Angeles border. Debris including seat cushions, bloody towels and luggage discarded by fleeing passengers littered the area. A southbound commuter train heading to downtown Los Angeles hit the Jeep Grand Cherokee parked on the tracks, said Glendale Police Chief Randy G. Adams. The train then apparently crashed into a northbound Metrolink commuter train and a Union Pacific freight train was hit and derailed, officials said. The investigation was continuing. Adams identified the suspect as Juan Manuel Alvarez of Compton. He said Alvarez had attempted suicide before. Read the story here.
Baca’s Plan to Screen Inmates OKd
A controversial plan to train clerks at the Los Angeles County jail to identify inmates who are illegal immigrants and turn them over to immigration officials was approved Tuesday by the county Board of Supervisors. After hours of intense debate, the board voted 3 to 2 for the plan, the first time a California jailer has agreed to screen inmates for immigration violations. “People who come here illegally and commit crimes need to be prosecuted, do their time and then return to their home country,” Sheriff Lee Baca said Monday. Currently, two federal immigration agents stationed at Twin Towers Jail interview as many as 20 convicted foreign-born inmates daily. About 80% are placed in federal custody for possible deportation or prosecution on federal immigration charges. Read the story here.
Blake wife ‘gave up child rights’
Bonny Lee Bakley signed a prenuptial agreement which would also prevent her inheriting Mr Blake’s assets if she lost child custody, the court heard. Lawyer Cary Goldstein said he advised Ms Bakley against signing the “abusive and controlling” agreement. Mr Blake denies murdering Bakley, who was shot in Los Angeles in May 2001. Prosecutors offered Mr Goldstein’s testimony in order to support its contention that Mr Blake’s desire to keep Ms Bakley away from his daughter led him to kill her. Mr Goldstein said he first met Ms Bakley in May 2000 when she was trying to prove that Mr Blake was the father of their child. When DNA tests proved this, Ms Bakley showed Mr Goldstein the child custody agreement Mr Blake had asked her to sign. It specified that if either Ms Bakley or Mr Blake caused their forthcoming wedding to be cancelled, the other would take custody of the baby. Read the story here.
Tuesday, January 25th, 2005
Four Chinese Nationals Not Linked to Terrorism
Four Chinese nationals who were arrested while being smuggled into the US from Mexico have no connection to terrorism and are simply illegal immigrants, Department of Homeland Security officials said today. The four, two men and two women, were arrested on board a private plane, a Cessna 172, as it landed at Stinson Field, a small airport near San Antonio, last night. The pilot, identified as a Mexican national, was also arrested. “We do not believe and all indications from all the queries we have run through our joint task force agents, indicate that this is not connected to the Chinese involvement in the alerts in Boston,” Alonzo R. Pena, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said late this morning. Read the story here.
2,000 new border agents aren’t part of budget, Ridge says
President Bush will not ask Congress for enough money to add 2,000 agents to patrol the nation’s borders in his 2006 budget, even though he signed a bill last month authorizing the increase. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Monday that Bush’s new budget, to be released in early February, will propose a “good incremental increase” in the number of agents. But he made it clear the number would not approach 2,000. The new agents were to be the first hires toward doubling the size of the force over five years. As part of a sweeping intelligence bill passed in December, Congress called for nearly doubling the size of the Border Patrol by adding 10,000 agents over five years. The agency has about 11,000 agents; 90% work along the southern border with Mexico. But in an interview with USA TODAY, Ridge scoffed at the notion of adding so many agents and said it would be an inefficient use of precious homeland security dollars. Read the story here.
Nobel Nominee Doesn’t Belong in Death Chamber?
A CSUN Professor, Lew Yablonsky, feels the former L.A. gangster Stanley “Tookie” Williams could be a force for good. See Lew’s website here. Tonight at 6pm, John & Ken will speak to Mr. Yablonsky about Mr. Tookie.
