Don’t mess with Rover: Dog owners vocal in park debate

By Alison Hawkes

03/14/2011

Put dog lovers against bird lovers to a match and guess who wins in the Bay Area? Despite this region’s love of the outdoors, love for Rover proves stronger. Dog power has become a major force in the debate over a national parks department proposal to restrict pooch access to beaches and parks. The local bird lobby has yet to squawk as loudly. [San Francisco Examiner]

Small businesses protest curbs to San Francisco Yellow Pages

By Alison Hawkes

03/14/2011

Small business advocates protested outside San Francisco city hall Monday morning to oppose an effort to restrict the distribution of the Yellow Pages phone books. The participants said they rely on the phone books to advertise their services. Board of Supervisors president David Chu introduced the measure last month in an effort to reduce city waste. Residents and businesses would receive the Yellow Pages only after being asked if they wanted one. [Read more -SFAppeal]

House GOP seeks to strip CA of fuel efficiency standards

By Alison Hawkes

03/14/2011

California has led the nation in its vehicle fuel efficiency standards, and it’s been in the process of developing new, tighter restrictions to meet the state’s climate change law, AB 32. But House Republicans are attempting to thwart that effort with a bill that would revoke the EPA’s authority to grant California the federal waivers it needs. A California Air Resources Board spokesman said the move is a violation of state’s rights and could eliminate a 25 percent cut to fuel consumption nationwide. [Read more - San Francisco Chronicle]

A california life lost to tsunami and damage in Bay Area

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/14/2011

A young man was swept away from the bank of the Klamath River by Friday’s tsunami and is presumed dead, making him the first California death from a tsunami in more than 40 years. Around the Bay Area, 18 boats sank in the Santa Cruz Harbor, which is expected to remain closed for the coming week as $17 million worth of damages is cleaned up. The Berkeley Marina suffered comparatively little upset, but docks and pilings were broken. [Read more - NPR, San Francisco Chronicle, Berkeleyside]

The paradox of Whole Foods in a city that eschews chains

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/14/2011

For a great read about the new Whole Foods in the Haight, check out writer Rachael Levin’s funny struggle with putting her foodie money where her mouth is and supporting local markets versus the gleaming, comparatively cheap bounty sold at Whole Zoo, as she calls it. [Read more - The Bold Italic]

A Japan update on KQED’s forum

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/14/2011

KQED’s Forum will discuss the relief effort underway in Japan. Among the panel of guests are Brad Alexander, spokesman for the California Emergency Management Agency, and Ross Stein, geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park. [Hear more - KQED]

California Delta canal plans threatened by little-known agency

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/14/2011

California’s big plans to build a canal flowing water around the Delta and down to Southern California is facing challenges from a little-known water agency whose members own more than half the acreage in the Delta. Landowners from the North Delta Water Agency say a canal may infringe on their rights to freshwater for crop production. Thirty years ago the state’s Department of Water Resources signed a contract with the agency agreeing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta would be managed to support their farming, or at least not harm it. [Read more - The Sacramento Bee]

Great list of ways to help in Japan

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/14/2011

Oakland Local has compiled a list of local and national organizations providing relief funds to people in Japan effected by the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant meltdowns. If you’re looking to help, check here. [Read more - Oakland Local]

Communities that opposed San Francisco’s Sunday Streets join the party

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/14/2011

The popular Sunday Streets events have added a new location: North Beach and Chinatown. The San Francisco program closes streets to cars for part of a day making room for community activities, including biking, information booths, and street performances. The Sunday Streets season begins this week with festivities along the Embarcadero between Mission Bay and Fisherman’s Wharf. [Read more - The San Francisco Examiner]

Health officials say radiation from Japan unlikely to be danger to U.S. West Coast

By Alison Hawkes

03/13/2011

As conditions at nuclear reactors in Japan continue to deteriorate, one obvious question for we West Coaster is the potential danger for radioactive fallout to travel across the jet stream. So far, authorities are downgrading the potential that the West Coast of North America is in danger. A spokesman for the California Department of Public Health said “at present there is no danger to California” and a monitoring system is in place to detect levels. Washington State is also monitoring air for radiation and said even in the event of a significant release, radiation would be so diluted before reaching [...]

Cockfighting found in seven Bay Area counties

02/24/2011

By Victoria Schlesinger

New data on cockfighting in California has revealed that in 34 of the state’s 58 counties law enforcement was called regarding the illegal practice, and that some 20,000 fighting birds were found, according to the Humane Society of the United States. Seven Bay Area counties were among those listed: Sonoma, Napa, Contra Costa, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara. [California Watch]

Tags: bay area counties, cockfighting