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FRIDAY Metteer Council JANUARY 3, 2014 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com Kaep vs. the Pack Education See 4A SPORTS 1B DAILY NEWS RED BLUFF Mostly sunny 68/35 Weather forecast 8A TEHAMA COUNTY DAILY 50¢ T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U NTY S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Court grants law license to man in US illegally SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The California Supreme Court granted a law license Thursday to a man who has lived in the U.S. illegally for two decades, a ruling that advocates hope will open the door to millions of immigrants seeking to enter other professions such as medicine, accounting and teaching. The unanimous decision means Sergio Garcia, who attended law school and passed the state bar exam while working in a grocery store and on farms, can begin practicing law immediately. It's the latest in a string of Garcia legal and legislative victories for people who are in the country without permission. Other successes include the creation of a path to citizenship for many young people and the granting of drivers licenses in some states. ''This is a bright new day in California history and bodes well for the future,'' the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles said in a statement. The court sided with state officials in the case, which pitted them against the White House over a 1996 federal law that bars people who are in the U.S. illegally from receiving professional licenses from government agencies or with the use of public money, unless state lawmakers vote otherwise. Bill Hing, a law professor at the University of San Francisco, said the court made clear the only reason it granted Garcia's request is that California recently approved a law that specifically authorizes the state to give law licenses to immigrants who are here illegally. The new law, inspired by Garcia's situation, took effect Wednesday. It was unclear how many people would qualify to practice law under the ruling and Coming attraction By ANDRE BYIK DN Staff Writer The State Theatre for the Arts in Red Bluff is scheduled to host a screening of the documentary film, "The Monks of Vina," at 7 p.m. Jan 18. The film, directed by John Beck, focuses on a brotherhood of Trappist monks at the Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina and their self-sustaining production wine making. Of course, it's about more than that as well. Shot over a fourmonth period during harvest in 2012, Beck said in a phone interview that creating the film "was kind of a magical experience." While shooting the film, the Bay Area filmmaker and journalist said his wife would ask him why he kept driving back and forth to Vina, which is about 20 miles south of Red Bluff. "They grow olives and prunes and it's this magical place," he said. "I just found the whole place very mesmerizing." Beck's previous film, "Harvest," explored social issues such as illegal border crossings by following five family-run wineries in Sonoma County. It also shed light on an all-female picking crew — a rarity, Beck said, — from Mexico. Beck said his interest in Vina was piqued by a magazine article that was shared with him. He learned that conditions for wine making in Vina are not ideal, but said, See FILM, page 7A CalFire, Red Bluff and Tehama County fire departments were dispatched around 2:19 p.m. Wednesday to a reported structure fire at 18600 Dar Lane in Dibble Creek. The first unit at scene reported a 4,000square-foot residential structure with smoke showing from the attic area.The house was fully involved within ten minutes. The fire was contained after about 4 hours. 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 See LAW, page 7A DUI leads to a pair of collisions DN Staff Report A 31-year-old Chico woman was arrested for driving under the influence following a collision near Dye Creek Bridge late Monday night. The incident led to a second collision involving a Freightliner trying to avoid the scene. Maria Rae Miller was driving a 2010 Ford Focus southbound on State Route 99E approaching 61st Street at an unknown speed when due to the level of her intoxication she failed to negotiate a right curve in the roadway and crossed into the northbound lane onto the east shoulder, according to a California Highway Patrol collision report. The Focus struck a metal guard rail and continued south striking the concrete bridge abutment of Dye Creek Bridge. Miller was thrown into the southbound lane from the impact, while parts of the Focus came off the front end of the vehicle and blocked most of the northbound lane. A passerby discovered what had happened and started flagging down approaching traffic in order to avoid another collision. At the time Jeffery Paul Jones, 52, Chico, was driving a 2014 Freightliner southbound at 55 mph approaching the scene. Jones noticed the resident waving his arms to stop traffic and the Focus blocking the road ahead, according to the CHP report. He turned left to avoid the scene, but the right front side of the Freightliner struck the left front of the Ford causing minor damage to the semi. Miller was arrested, but released to Enloe Medical Center for treatment to her injuries. Confusion, relief mark start of new health reforms MediaNews Group file photo by Mike Jory Bay Area filmmaker and journalist John Beck discusses his documentary film, "The Monks of Vina" at a church in Benicia. Beck's film will be screened at the State Theatre for the Arts at 7 p.m. Jan. 18 in Red Bluff. Fire burns Dibble Creek residence Photo courtesy of Ross Palubeski whether it would influence other states. Legislatures and governors in more conservative states such as Alabama and Arizona are likely to be less receptive to the idea. Garcia, who plans to be a personal injury attorney in his hometown of Chico, said he hoped the decision would serve as a ''beacon of hope'' to others in the same situation. He ''can hang up a shingle and be his own company,'' said Hing, who represented the state bar association in SACRAMENTO (AP) — The new year brought relief for Americans who previously had no health insurance or were stuck in poor plans, but it also led to confusion after the troubled rollout of the federal health care reforms sent a crush of late applications to overloaded government agencies. That created stacks of yet-to-be-processed paperwork and thousands — if not millions — of people unsure about whether they have insurance. Mike Estes of Beaverton, Ore., finally received his insurance card on Dec. 27 after applying in early November. Still, the family was thrilled to have insurance through the Oregon Health Plan, Oregon's version of Medicaid, because their previous $380-a-month premium ''literally crushed our family's finances,'' Estes said. Obama administration officials estimate that 2.1 million consumers have enrolled so far through the federal and state-run health insurance exchanges that are a central feature of the federal law. But even before coverage began, health insurance companies complained they were receiving thousands of faulty applications from the government, and some people who thought they had enrolled for coverage have not received confirmation. Tens of thousands of See HEALTH, page 7A Police arrest suspect in Eureka priest killing EUREKA (AP) — Police arrested a suspect Thursday in the killing of a respected priest and educator who was found dead on New Year's Day in a church rectory in Northern California. Gary Lee Bullock, 43, of Redway was taken into custody by Humboldt County deputies in the killing of the Rev. Eric Freed, according to a statement by Eureka police. Police said Bullock had been in and out of police custody in the hours before Freed died and had been sent to a hospital for an exam because of his erratic behavior. Freed's body was found in the St. Bernard Church rectory after he failed to show up for morning Mass. Officials were still seeking a motive in the killing. Bullock was initially arrested on Tuesday for public intoxication in Garberville and taken 67 miles north to jail in Eureka. His erratic behavior led police to send him to a hospital for an evaluation. He became agitated and deputies had to restrain him. He was booked into jail for about eight hours then released shortly after midSee PRIEST, page 7A