California Watch

October 12th, 2011

Feds to target newspapers, radio for marijuana ads

Federal prosecutors are preparing to target newspapers, radio stations and other media outlets that advertise medical marijuana dispensaries in California, another escalation in the Obama administration’s newly invigorated war against the state’s pot industry.

This month, U.S. attorneys representing four districts in California announced that the government would single out landlords and property owners who rent buildings or land where dispensaries sell or cultivators grow marijuana. Now, newspapers and other media outlets could be next. Read more.

Photo: The Sacramento News & Review published a special section of pot dispensary ads in April.

October 4th, 2011

Ever wonder where our investigative stories come from? Or how reporters piece them together? California Watch journalists explain how we do it and why it matters.

June 9th, 2011

From the very first meeting that led to the creation of the Chauncey Bailey Project, there were two goals … One was to continue Chauncey’s work and to make sure that when a journalist is murdered because of their work justice is served. There is no doubt that the work of the project helped keep law enforcement focused on this case, and revealed facts and evidence that may have never been disclosed. Today’s verdict is a reminder that journalists do make a difference and that their work is crucial to our democracy.

Robert Rosenthal, executive editor of the Chauncey Bailey Project and head of the Center for Investigative Reporting, responding to the news that former Your Black Muslim Bakery leader Yusuf Bey IV had been convicted of three counts of murder for ordering journalist Chauncey Bailey and two other men killed in summer 2007. (via centerforinvestigativereporting)

Reblogged from Center for Investigative Reporting

June 6th, 2011

In L.A.’s Boyle Heights, hyperlocal news comes in print

From KPCC:

An interesting experiment in bilingual journalism is taking place east of the L.A. River in Boyle Heights, this one with a sweetly old-fashioned component: a print edition.

The Boyle Heights Beat, or El Pulso de Boyle Heights in Spanish, launched this weekend. It’s a collaboration between the USC Annenberg journalism school and La Opinión and is reported by 14 neighborhood high school students, kids tapped from Roosevelt High School, the Mendez Learning Center, Puente Learning Center, and the Boyle Heights Technology Academy.

May 10th, 2011

Irvine may ban sex offenders from parks | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times

The Irvine City Council is considering a ban to prevent sex offenders from entering city parks, an action that mimics a law passed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors last month. The Orange County ordinance, passed April 5, bans registered sex offenders from entering county parks without written permission from Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. Violators could be punished with up to six months in jail or a $500 fine.

April 29th, 2011

The best investigative reporting lays bare issues, reveals, exposes and has a crucial role in our society to protect democracy. We will help audiences engage in this story, but there are times when it is up to the public to take responsibility as well. - Robert Rosenthal, Executive Director of CIR.

Investigating seismic safety before there are victims | Center for Investigative Reporting (via centerforinvestigativereporting)

Reblogged from Center for Investigative Reporting

April 26th, 2011

Death rate from childbirth rises in California

The rate of women dying from pregnancy-related complications has increased at a “statistically significant” pace, according to a long-awaited report on maternal deaths released today by the California Department of Public Health.

African American, low-income and less-educated women had higher deaths rates from complications related to childbirth, according to the report, which also noted “excessive gestational weight gain” and medical problems from C-sections as contributing to maternal deaths.

“More than a third of pregnancy-related deaths were determined to have had a good to strong chance of being prevented and some causes of death appeared to be more preventable than others,” the report said.

April 26th, 2011

motherjones:

Rolling Through the Bay, a 100,000-toothpick homage to San Francisco and the Bay Area with multiple ball runs. Scott Weaver spent 35 years making this mesmerizing contraption, on display at SF’s Exploratorium. Un. Real.

Reblogged from Mother Jones magazine on Tumblr

April 26th, 2011

California districts consider even shorter school year

CEFutcher/istockphoto.com The likelihood is growing that many school districts will have to cut the number of days students spend in class in response to the state’s deepening budget crisis, according to state education leaders and experts.

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