RESTAURANT ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELLING PROHIBITED WHALE MEAT

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT RULES AGAINST CALIFORNIA'S BAN ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE

Tue, Feb 07, 2012 10:28 am -0800 PST

Supporters of same-sex marriage in the Coachella Valley and across the Golden State scored a major victory Tuesday. A federal appeals court says California's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a federal judge's decision to overturn Proposition 8. A separate ruling is due on whether the judge should have recused himself from the case because he's gay. The case is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. A stay on same-sex marriages in California remains in effect while the court case continues. George Zander with Equality California says there aren’t any firm plans to rally Tuesday in Palm Springs to celebrate the ruling.

FORMER GOVERNOR PETE WILSON ENDORSES MITT ROMNEY

Tue, Feb 07, 2012 7:10 am -0800 PST

Mitt Romney has received the endorsement of former California Governor Pete Wilson. The "Sacramento Bee" says Wilson will serve as Romney's honorary co-chairman in California. Critics say the endorsement will hurt Romney with Latino voters because of Wilson's support for Proposition 187 in the mid-1990's. The measure, which has since been overturned, restricted state services to undocumented immigrants. In a statement, Wilson called Romney, quote, "a success in creating American private sector jobs."

MEDICARE OFFICIALS REJECT STATE'S CO-PAY PROPOSAL

Tue, Feb 07, 2012 7:09 am -0800 PST

The Obama administration has blocked an effort by California to charge Medicaid patients co-payments, and allow health-care providers to turn away those who can't pay. A law signed by Governor Brown last March would have allowed the state to collect co-payments that would have saved the state 575-million dollars next fiscal year. Federal law doesn't allow states to collect co-payments from most Medicaid beneficiaries, including low-income children and elderly or disabled people. A letter from Marilyn Tavenner, acting administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, informed California's health-care deputy Toby Douglas that the administration found no legal or policy support for the state's request.

BEAUMONT ASSEMBLYMAN INTRODUCES TAX CREDIT BILLS

Tue, Feb 07, 2012 7:08 am -0800 PST

Assemblyman Paul Cook introduced three bills that would lower taxes until the state economy recovers. The Beaumont Republican says state leaders need to realize that reducing the tax burden on citizens and small businesses will create thousands of jobs and bring economic stability. The first calls for reducing state sales taxes if the unemployment rate remains at or above eight percent. Another would give companies with 50 or fewer employees a three-thousand dollar tax credit for every new employee. And, workers who have sustained 10 percent salary losses over the last two years would be eligible for a tax credit amounting to one-tenth of the loss.

SUSPECTS PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO ID THEFT

Tue, Feb 07, 2012 7:08 am -0800 PST

A man and woman busted for allegedly running an identity theft ring out of their homes in Rancho Mirage and Cathedral City pled not guilty Monday to numerous felony charges. Tracy Cross and Joe Loera allegedly stole mail from hundreds of people across the state, and used the info to create fake checks, credit cards and other IDs. Deputies obtained a search warrant and reportedly found stacks of mail at the suspects' homes, some of it shredded and taped back together. They also found printers, laminating machines, fake ID documents and computers with check-writing software.

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