California Catholic Conference: This Year’s Budget

Archdiocese of Los Angeles California Catholic Conference-Legislative Malaise Impacts Critical Bills A preoccupation with the budget impacted all legislation this year, including significant measures being tracked by the California Catholic Conference.  As for Catholic Lobby Day bills - AB 1057 (Beall - Food Stamps), SB 399 (Yee - Sentencing), AB 1048 (Torrico - Baby Surrender) - they will all be back next year.
Other bills on topics such as umbilical cord blood, marriage recognition, human trafficking and stem cell education are either on the governor's desk or have been significantly modified.  Read the summary list here or a more comprehensive list here.

Source: Catholic Legislative Network Public Policy Insights Vol. 2, No. 37

The August 2009 Job Cuts

The Washington Post- Employers cut 216,000 jobs in August. The unemployment rate went up to 9.7 percent. The rise in the unemployment rate is higher than analysts’ expected.

Remembering 911 in 2009 A.D.

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Photos from www.bing.com Images

Before 911, the emergency crisis, like the twin towering buildings we saw the light. After the 911 emergency crisis, like burning buildings, our economy is something no one or group wants to touch. Most of the individuals that made important financial decisions for the US died. Many emergency workers, police, fireman, and paramedics became apart of the fallen.

Not everyone believes in praying, if not, please take time to say a positive statement or two a day to counter the negativity that terrorist, para-terrorist, and our armed conflict enemies send.

The Hubble Craft: Space Views

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Photo Credits- NASA, from www.bing.com

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More Pictures from space: Astrnautix.com and News Technology

Van Jones, Special Advisor for green jobs at the White House Resigns

The Washington Post-  Van Jones, special advisor for green jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, resigns following weeks of pressure from the right and a flurry of revelation about his past statements.

From The U.S. Forrest Service The Firefight Continues in Little Tujunga Canyon

U.S. Forrest Service- September 3, 2009 the U.S. Forrest Service released this message about the wild fires:

Firefight continues in upper Little Tujunga Canyon near the Dillon Divide area. Heavy duty helicopters, called HeliTankers, are actively making water drops in support of ground crews there.

Commanders in the air are evaluating the smoke conditions in the Chilao area to determine if fixed wing aircraft can be deployed to slow the fire between Santiago Canyon and Bare Mountain. More than 30 aircraft are assigned or available to fight the fire today so maintaining visibility minimums are crucial to flight safety.

Plans are also in action to continue water and retardant drops near Mount Wilson. Crews have done a tremendous amount of work prepping the mountain top against the fire.

Crews are also working on completing containment lines by cleaning and brushing off existing truck trails above Sierra Madre.

Incident Commanders are pleased that residents in the areas of Acton, La Crescenta and La Canada-Flintridge areas were able return to their homes. They are well aware of how difficult the disruption to daily life can be when a wildfire forces people to flee so the decision to call for evacuations is never taken lightly. They will continue to actively review the areas under closure and lift those orders as soon as it is safe to do so. Again, the fire dictates our firefighting strategy and tactics and it is prudent for people in these areas to have a plan in place should conditions warrant.

If your are not sure that the fire is at a safe distance away please err on the side of safety and go to your pre-designated safe place. Don't wait for an order to evacuate. Visit http://www.fire.lacounty.gov/ for a downloadable document called "Ready, Set, Go! Your Wildfire Action Plan." Operations reported significant progress on constructed fire line during the overnight period. Divisions M, on the north side of the fire and Divisions E through W on the south side of the fire, remain quiet and in the mop-up phase.