Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/7687
SACRAMENTO (AP) — The California Legisla- ture approved a Democrat- ic bill Monday aimed at ending three-day-a-month furloughs for nearly 80,000 state employees. However, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was expected to veto the mea- sure. ''The governor cannot support any measure that would limit the state's abil- ity to respond to a fiscal emergency,'' Schwarzeneg- ger's spokesman Aaron McLear said. The bill by Senate Pres- ident Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, would reverse some of the 200,000 state employee furloughs imposed by Schwarzenegger. The reversal would apply only to those workers whose wages are paid from sources outside the general fund such as the federal government or user fees. Democrats argued that the furloughs cost the state more than it saves in wages because state auditors and money collectors are spending less time at work. ''We are losing $10 mil- lion per month in federal funds, just for failing to process disability claims,'' said Assemblywoman Alyson Huber, D-Lodi. State employee unions and others have filed more than 20 lawsuits challeng- ing the furloughs. An Alameda County Superior Court judge has issued several rulings against the policy and last month ordered back pay for more than 50,000 state workers he determined were illegally furloughed. Schwarzenegger's office appealed that ruling and has asked the state Supreme Court to consoli- date all the furlough law- suits. The governor plans to end the furloughs when they expire at the end of June, McLear said. Weather forecast 8B Mostly Cloudy 54/39 N EWS D AILY DAILY 50¢ TUESDAY MARCH 9, 2010 Cowboy Breakfast All-EAL Spartans Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com N EWS D AILY RED BLUFF TEHAMA COUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 See Inside SPORTS 1B American Profile 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 STOP THE PAIN FROM NEUROPATHY, SHINGLES, ARTHRITIS, AND POST SURGERY. DR. SWAIM'S PAIN CREAM NOW AVAILABLE IN OUR OFFICE AT 2530 SR MARY COLUMBA DR. RED BLUFF, CA 96080 (530) 527-7584 Smog Inspection $ 29 95 (MOST CARS & PICK-UPS) Pass or FREE retest 195 S. Main St. Red Bluff 530 527-9841 COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR + cert. Monday, March 15 Rolling Hills Casino, Corning 8am to noon (breakfast provided) $25 per person/ registration required Visit www.jobtrainingcenter.org or call 529-7000. Seeds of Opportunity III: Branding for a New Decade Tehama County's Economic Forecast Event Mother demands apology from school By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer Eight-grader Sarah Flickinger got her nose pierced because she saw a teacher with a nose stud and liked the look. But when Sarah went to school wearing a stud, she got in trouble. Los Molinos Elementary Principal Dane Hansen sent home a letter, dated March 3, stating the school's dress code, "Students with body piercing, other than ears, will be asked to remove them during the school day." It continues, "Sarah will be asked to remove her nose piercing if she comes to school tomorrow...If Sarah refuses to remove her piercing, she may be suspended from school." The school is creating a dou- ble standard by not letting Sarah wear her nose ring while allowing a kindergarten teacher to do so, Sarah's mother, Kim- berly Flickinger, said. "If Sarah gets in trouble for having a piercing then the teacher should, too," Kimberly said. "If the principal lets adults wear nose rings, why can't stu- dents do the same thing?" Both Flickingers claim the only reason Sarah got her nose pierced was because of the kindergarten teacher. "Teachers are supposed to be a role model, and when Sarah saw the teacher with the nose ring, she wanted to be just like her," Kimberly said. Sarah admits that even though she wants to be like the 'If Sarah gets in trouble for having a piercing then the teacher should, too. If the principal lets adults wear nose rings, why can't students do the same thing?' Kimberly Flickinger Risky X-ING Daily News photo by Geoff Johnson Students at William Metteer Elementary School get ready for the weekend. Red Bluff police say traffic complaints have increased around the school lately. Staff report Red Bluff suffers some of the highest vehicle per pedestrian collisions for cities of its size. California Highway Patrol statistics put the city among the top for vehicle versus pedestrian collisions in cities with between 10,000 and 25,000 people, Red Bluff Police Sgt. Kevin Busekist said in a press release. Schools in particular seem to be a source of traffic hazards, and citizens have been spotting traffic viola- tions. Busekist singled out William Metteer Elementary School on Kimball Road, where speed limit signs alter- nate between 35 mph and 25 mph "when children are present" and drivers have been accused of a number of moving violations. "When children are present simply means when children are present on school property," Busekist said. State seeks input on river species Staff report The public comment period is open again for a project that could allow landowners to improve rare species habitat along a 222-mile stretch of the S a c r a m e n t o River. The draft Safe Harbor A g r e e m e n t between the US Fish and Wildlife Ser- vice, California Department of Fish and Game and the Sacra- mento River C o n s e r v a t i o n Area Forum will be open for an additional 30- day comment period through April 8. During the initial comment period in late December 2009 and early January, several people asked for more time to comment. Comments submitted earlier do not need to be re-submitted, according to a press release. The voluntary pact would give landowners along the river the opportunity to gain legal protection from federal and state Endangered Species Acts when they improve native habitat in the course of ranching and farming operations. Under the draft agreement, seven species could benefit from landowner activities — the federally listed valley elderberry longhorn beetle and giant garter snake, and the state-protected western pond turtle, Swainson's hawk, bank swallow, willow fly- catcher and western yellow-billed cuckoo. The species can benefit from management prac- tices carried out by property owners along the river, 'Voluntary partnerships with farmers and ranchers who know and understand the Sacramento River riparian habitat is an ideal way to help at-risk species' Susan Moore, Fish and Wildlife Courtesy photo Dewey Lucero, center, gets olives ready for pressing at the Lucero Olive Oil Mill with his grandfather Tony, left, and father, Bobby, during the beginning of the season in September. Local oil strikes gold By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer CORNING — For the second year in a row, a Corning olive oil company has struck gold with its product winning big at the California Olive Oil Coun- cil Competition in Febru- ary, including another best of show. "It's a huge honor to receive best of show two years in a row," said Dewey Lucero, owner of Lucero Olive Oil. "It just goes to show that California Olive Legislature tries to end furloughs See SCHOOL, page 7A See RIVER, page 7A See X-ING, page 7A See GOLD, page 7A