California

Friday, March 6, 2009

California Supreme Court to rule on controversial ban on gay marriage

Barbara Davidson/Los Angeles Times   Both sides in the bitter battle over same-sex marriage have had their say before the California Supreme Court, now it’s up to the justices to rule. While lawyers presented their arguments before the high court in San Francisco yesterday,  demonstrators, for and against, rallied outside with protest signs and chants. Proposition 8, passed by 52 per cent of the […]
Wednesday, March 4, 2009

More showers for our drought plagued Southland

Showers are sweeping through the Southland today. In Burbank, a steady rain is falling and it’s cold this morning. The temperature is around 50.  Only a few days ago, folks here were out jogging, walking, or driving with their convertible tops down in 80 degree weather! Right now the Golden State is suffering through drought conditions, so every little bit of rain is a big deal. Last June, Governor […]
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Schwarzenegger, the new state budget, and Hollywood

  photo from http://gov.ca.gov/  02/20/09  — Governor Schwarzenegger holds news conference yesterday to sign the new state budget into law.   After a painful three months of bitter debate, the state legislature finally approved a budget on Thursday and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed it into law yesterday. The budget reportedly solves a $42 billion deficit by raising taxes and cutting spending. The […]
Friday, January 2, 2009

Texting against the law for California drivers

FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank The reckless and foolish habit of texting and driving is now against the law in California as of yesterday, January first. The ban includes being stopped in traffic, at a stop sign or signal light. Since there is no grace period with this new law, the crackdown is in full force right now. To that […]
Monday, December 15, 2008

A record turnout in the state for the November 4 election

FLLewis / A Writer’s Groove Voters in line at a Burbank polling place on November 4, 2008    We first got a hint at the historic turnout in the November 2008 General Election from the many reports of voters waiting in long lines to cast their ballots. Now the numbers are in for California and they confirm that the turnout was indeed huge!  Secretary […]
Sunday, November 30, 2008

Welcome home space shuttle Endeavour

NASA TV   Strong crosswinds and thunderstorms in Florida forced a change of plans for the space shuttle landing today. So this afternoon, Endeavour returned to Earth with what NASA called a “safe and successful” landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California’s Mojave desert. Years ago, I was a TV news field producer assigned to cover the landing of a space shuttle at […]
Wednesday, November 19, 2008

California high court to hear challenges to gay-marriage ban

FLLewis / A Writer’s Groove – Burbank Today the California Supreme Court handed opponents of Proposition 8 a partial victory. The high court agreed to review several lawsuits that challenge the anti-gay marriage measure, which passed by 52 percent in the General Election earlier this month. A hearing is set for next March. The proposition amends the state constitution to restrict marriage to “a man […]
Thursday, November 13, 2008

More lawmakers join the legal fight for gay marriage

FLLewis/ A Writer’s Groove – Burbank If supporters of Proposition 8 thought a win at the ballot box on November 4 would end the debate over gay marriage, well they are facing a tough reality today. It ain’t over. Now the battle is being waged on two fronts; in the streets and in the California Supreme Court. Yesterday, The Los Angeles County  Board of Supervisors […]
Tuesday, November 11, 2008

State lawmakers join the legal battle against Proposition 8

FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove Two voters make their choices at a polling place in Burbank during the General Election on November 4, 2008  Gay marriage supporters have gained some more heavyweight support from Sacramento. Over the weekend, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger urged gay rights activists to keep up the fight against Proposition 8, the controversial measure that bans same-sex marriage. Then yesterday, 43 Democratic state legislators joined […]