Governor considers early release of 22,000 from state’s prisons
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is considering the early release of 22,000 inmates from the state’s prisons to save hundreds of millions of dollars in an effort to ease California’s looming budget crunch.
The idea is one of many that have been presented to the governor by his departmental budget directors, and he has not decided if he likes it or not, Schwarzenegger spokesman Bill Maile said Thursday. But if the plan were to be put into action, it would constitute one of the biggest early releases of prisoners in U.S. history.
“The governor asked his department heads to work with their budget managers to find ways to cut the budget by 10 percent because of the budget crisis we are facing, and this idea was one of many that was floated in reaction to that request,” Maile said. “It’s not a proposal yet, just an idea. . .
Tancredo’s Single Issue Victory
Matt Johnson was driving to Tom Tancredo’s offices in the Des Moines suburbs when he heard that his favorite candidate was dropping out of the race. “I’m going, ‘What the heck? Jeez!’” said Johnson, standing in front of Tancredo’s locked and already empty offices. Johnson had been on the last leg of the 90-minute drive from his home in Creston when he heard Tancredo’s statement live on the radio. “I wanted to volunteer,” said Johnson. “Oh, well.”
Like most Tancredo supporters—and admittedly, it was an exclusive club; the Colorado congressman garnered just 3% in the latest Insider Advantage poll of likely GOP Iowa caucus-goers— Johnson liked Tancredo’s stance on illegal immigration. “He represents a lot of what Americans believe,” Johnson said.
Tancredo was always a self-professed one-issue candidate. And far from being disappointed at his meager poll showings, Tancredo says he achieved more in this election cycle than he dreamt possible. In part due to his cage-rattling, immigration is one of the biggest issues in the race, on both sides of the aisle. . .
Addicted Doctors
A Call Kurtis Investigation
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) A Call Kurtis Investigation uncovered doctors can keep their addictions a secret from patients. The California Medical Association and the American Medical Association support that.
Becky Anderson is one of several patients who say former Sacramento area doctor, Brian West botched their operations. She now lives with her intestines on the outside of her body, covered by a skin graft.
None of his patients had any idea he battled an alcohol addiction, or had drunk-driving arrests. None knew Dr. West was enrolled in the California Medical Board’s confidential rehab program, called Diversion. He eventually flunked out. . .
LAX controllers call airport unsafe
Air traffic controllers are overworked and understaffed to the point that serious mistakes could go unnoticed on the runways at Los Angeles International Airport, the head of the controllers’ union said on Wednesday.
The shortage at LAX tower often means two overtime shifts every month for each of the controllers, who might not catch close calls on the runways, according to Michael Foote, local president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
“No one silver bullet is going to solve the complex issue of runway safety, but the biggest safety concern at the airport is the lack of experienced controllers working at LAX tower,” Foote told the Los Angeles City Council’s Trade, Commerce and Tourism Committee. . .
