Monday, August 10, 2009 - Posts

• Valley Man = Shuttle flight - This Month !

  Jose Hernandez - from Stockton  is scheduled to be on the next flight to the International Space Station. ( Discovery - is set to launch on August  25th - from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.) Hernandez - went Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 9:31 PM by godogs | 1 Comments

• Tom Cruise's son in "Red Dawn" Remake

  Tom Cruise's son will have a role in the remake of Red Dawn. (Red Dawn was a 1984 action movie about Chinese and Russian soldiers who invade the U.S.) 14- Year old Connor Cruise - will reportedly join the cast. See it - Link it: reuters Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 9:19 PM by godogs | 2 Comments

• Saturn's Rings - Disappear Tuesday

  Saturn's rings - will disappear Tuesday. The rings have tons of ice - dust and rock. They shine because they reflect sunlight. But every 15 years -  the rings turn edge-on to the sun and reflect almost no sunlight. So, it will Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 9:14 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Gas prices - Jump 16 cents

  Have you noticed? Over the last couple of weeks gasoline prices jumped almost 16 cents. (Nationwide the average is now $2.64.) That would still be a bargain here in the Valley. See it - Link it: Gas Prices Jump 16 Cents article Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 9:08 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Start Over - Salvation Army – Homeless

  Start Over - Salvation Army – Homeless   In the Modesto Bee – they have an editorial about a program in Modesto that could help some homeless get back to productive lives.    See it – Link it:   Modesto Bee editorial   Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 9:07 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Tulare - Library Hours Cut

  Tulare - Library Hours Cut   Starting next month the Tulare Public Library will cut its hours – to 34 hours per week.    See it – Link it:   Visalia Times-Delta article     Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 9:06 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Feds - Stimulus Cash - Merced Cosmetology School

  Feds - Stimulus Cash - Merced Cosmetology School   Talk about a face-lift. The Federal Government is helping students at the Sierra College of Beauty. The school in Merced – reportedly getting more than $150,000 in additional grants. That’s Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 9:05 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Kohl’s Jobs in Merced

  Kohl’s jobs in Merced   Kohl’s – is looking at hundreds of job applicants to fill positions at its new store in Merced.   See it – Link it:   Merced Sun-Star article   Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 9:05 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Valley - Water Fight – Goes National - Tuesday?

  Valley - Water Fight – Goes National -  Tuesday?   On Tuesday, Fox News (Sean Hannity) is expected to focus some national attention on the valley’s water fight.   The topic of the drought will include comments from Congressman Devin Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 9:04 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Jerry Brown vs. Gavin Newsom

  Jerry Brown vs. Gavin Newsom   The primary elections are a long way off for the Governor’s race next year.   And yet, some worry that the key Democrats (Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom) could wear themselves fighting for the slot for the Democrats. Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 9:03 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• California – Out of the Budget Ashes – A New GOP?

  California – Out of the Budget Ashes – A New GOP? Sounds kind-of far fetched but who knows?   Some are hoping that the ‘silver lining’ in the state’s budget mess is that the GOP might gain some favor from frustrated voters.   See it – Link Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 9:02 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Ca Budget - Lawsuits – The Next Budget Mess

  Ca Budget - Lawsuits – The Next Budget Mess   Mounting lawsuits could be the next hurdle for California’s beleaguered budget.   Lawmakers – cut billions of dollars in spending.   (Now, some expect billions will be spent on lawsuits fighting Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 9:01 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• California’s – Boom-Bust Budgets

  California’s – Boom-Bust Budgets   Look for Governor Schwarzenegger and others in Sacramento to try to figure out a way to fix the state’s chronic budget problems.   Some think they’ll looking for a more reliable flow of tax revenue.   Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 9:00 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Fresno State - Sweet Corn – Get it – While you can

  Fresno State - Sweet Corn – Get it – While you can   The sweet corn at Fresno State’s market is going fast.   Get while you can.   See it – Link it:   Fresno Bee article Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:59 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• State of California – Still hiring – Still spending

  State of California – Still hiring – Still spending   Despite the recession California has actually hired about 4,000 more full-time workers.   (Many jobs are in the hospitals at state prisons and the state's unemployment office.)   Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:59 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Valley - Volunteerism - Up

  Valley - Volunteerism - Up   Despite the tough economy a new study says more people are volunteering in Kern County.   In Bakersfield some are donating close to thirty hours a year.   See it – Link it:   Bakersfield Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:57 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Bulls eye - “Cash for Guns” – Fresno?

  Bulls eye - “Cash for Guns” – Fresno?   This weekend - a  "cash for guns" event in Fresno collected almost 450 guns in about three hours.   Good shot Fresno.   See it – Link it:   Fresno Bee article   Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:57 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Water Wasters – City Government ?

  Water Wasters – City Government ?   Based on an article in the Sacramento Bee – some cities are water wasters.   See it – Link it:   Sacramento Bee article Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:56 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Upstream battle… California Salmon Rules?

  Upstream battle… California Salmon Rules?   It looks like legal challenges are in the works – challenging – rules to protect salmon and other fish here in California.   See it – Link it:   Stockton Record article Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:55 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Good Crop - Stanislaus County?

  Good Crop - Stanislaus County?   According to some recent agriculture and crop reports - Stanislaus County is doing okay in this economic down-turn.   See it – Link it:   Modesto Bee article Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:55 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Form over Substance - California’s next governor?

  Form over Substance - California’s next governor?   The San Jose Mercury News has a good article on who will be the next Governor here in California.    The premise asks this quesition:    Will voters go for a Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:53 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• California’s – Top agricultural commodity?

  California’s – Top agricultural commodity?   Last year dairy products topped the list of commodities here in California.   But some wonder if that will continue this year.   (Milk prices are down – and more dairy cows are being slaughtered) Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:52 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Visalia – Grant Money – Gang Intervention

  Visalia – Grant Money – Gang Intervention   Visalia applied for and got a grant of $286,000 for gang intervention.    See it – Link it:   Visalia Times-Delta article Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:51 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Sacramento – Lawmakers – Hire Hundreds of new employees

  Sacramento – Lawmakers – Hire Hundreds of new employees   What’s wrong with this picture?   It seems like everyone is cutting back...   .....except some lawmakers in Sacramento.   See it – Link it: San Francisco Chronicle Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:51 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Valley - Dairy Cows = Slaughter

  Valley - Dairy Cows = Slaughter   Milk prices are down.   And so are profits for valley Daries.   Now, tens of thousands of milk cows are heading to slaughter.   See it – Link it:   Hanford Sentinel article   Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:50 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• California Same Sex Marriage – by the Numbers

  California Same Sex Marriage – by the Numbers An associate math professor takes a look at the numbers needed to put gay marriage on the ballot next year. See it – Link it: San Francisco Chronicle article Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:49 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Lodi – High School 101

  Lodi – High School 101   This is a good idea.   In Lodi hundreds of freshmen are getting a "crash course" on high school life.   See it – Link it:   Stockton Record article     Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:48 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Valley – New School Year – New Threat

  Valley – New School Year – New Threat   For most Valley kids school starts this month.   And this year virtually every valley district is also bracing for a potential swine flu outbreak.   The government now has new guidelines on Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:48 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• “Back to School” … How much will you spend?

  “Back to School” … How much will you spend?   If you’ve got school aged kids you know sending kids back to school can be a pricy proposition.   (Books, paper, pens, clothes, shoes etc...)   On average - it adds up to over five hundred Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:47 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Merced – The Housing Squeeze

  Merced – The Housing Squeeze   It’s a classic – good news – bad news scenario.   In Merced the housing market is prices are down.   Which is good for first time home buyers.   But the bad news is – some fear that home investors Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:46 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Valley Clunkers – Keeping Up with Demand?

  Valley Clunkers – Keeping Up with Demand?   It it possible to have too much of a good thing?   Some are worried that with the surprising success of the governments cash for clunkers program – some local dealers might have a hard timing keeping Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:46 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Gate Keeper - Delta Gates – Water Solution?

  Gate Keeper - Delta Gates – Water Solution?   Some hope a $29 million water gate system could help protect so-called endangered species and at the same time protect valley farmers.   See it – Link it:   Stockton Record article Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:45 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Clovis – Recreation – Shut-down?

  Clovis – Recreation – Shut-down?   Tough budget decisions in Clovis have forced city leaders to shut-down most city recreation programs   See it – Link it:   Fresno Bee article Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:44 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Valley Redevelopment – Out $35 million?

  Valley Redevelopment – Out $35 million?   I’ve blogged on this before.    It looks like the latest round of state budget cuts – could hurt revitalization efforts from  Fresno – to Clovis – to Lemoore.   (Lawmakers took Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:43 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Update - Prop 8 – Federal Fight

  Update - Prop 8 – Federal Fight   A federal lawsuit – that seeks to overturn Proposition 8 has lost it’s a first round in court.   But, some say the battle over same-sex marriage is far from over.   (More lawyers – want to get Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:43 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• California Pot – 2010 Governor’s Race

  California Pot – 2010 Governor’s Race   Some say, we should expect to see some form of Legalized marijuana on the California ballot next year.   That could make things interesting for candidates for governor – who will have to announce their Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:42 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Crowded Race - Visalia City Council

  Crowded Race - Visalia City Council   In Visalia – Ten candidates are competing for three city council seats.   See it – Link it:   Visalia Times-Delta article Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:41 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• “Who’s Who” on the November Ballot..

  “Who’s Who”  on the November Ballot.   The November ballot is starting to shape-up.   (City council, school boards etc)   See it – Link it:   Fresno Bee article   Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:41 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• We hate Lobbyists – Unless they’re ours…

  We hate Lobbyists – Unless they’re ours…   Want Political clout?   Higher high paid lobbyists.   More here in the valley are doing it.   See it – Link it:   Merced Sun-Star article Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:40 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Fresno - Health Care Debate – Why Democrats are losing

  Fresno - Health Care Debate – Why Democrats are losing   According to an article in the Bee - Michael der Manoeul Jr. claims democrats losing health reform debate   (He’s the head of the Fresno County Lincoln Club)   See it – Link Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:39 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• Left Behind? California’s Recession Lingers?

  Left Behind?  California’s Recession Lingers?   If you look around the country some could argue that the recession is easing up a bit.         … except here in California.   See it – Link it:   Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:38 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• California Waste Watcher - Report Government waste here:

  California Waste Watcher - Report Government waste here.   The Governor has a Web site to help citizens report government waste.   It’s called Waste Watchers   So far the site has gotten over three thousand submissions and has saved Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:37 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• California - New Year – Old Text Books

  California - New Year – Old Text Books   Blame the economy but some California school districts – will "hit the books"  this year with – last year’s books.   (Cut backs are forcing some districts to postpone buying updated books)   Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:35 PM by godogs | 0 Comments

• California - Line Item – Lawsuit

  California - Line Item – Lawsuit   Democratic State Senate leader Darrell Steinberg – says he plans to file a lawsuit against Governor Schwarzenegger.    The reason?    The Governor used his line-item veto – to cut about Read More posted Monday, August 10, 2009 8:34 PM by godogs | 0 Comments