'US News'에 해당되는 글 115건

  1. 2008.10.29 Autopsy: Hudson nephew shot multiple times by CEOinIRVINE
  2. 2008.10.27 Jennifer Hudson Family Murdered by CEOinIRVINE
  3. 2008.10.24 Newest Source of Teen Ire: Webcams in Their Cars by CEOinIRVINE
  4. 2008.10.24 Rick Warren News by CEOinIRVINE
  5. 2008.10.24 Teenage beauty queen busted by CEOinIRVINE
  6. 2008.10.21 An overwhelmed mom's deadly mistake by CEOinIRVINE
  7. 2008.10.21 Taliban: Aid worker killed for preaching by CEOinIRVINE
  8. 2008.10.21 Court to Hear Case on Illegal Immigrants' Use of Fake IDs by CEOinIRVINE
  9. 2008.10.20 California's propositions by CEOinIRVINE
  10. 2008.10.20 Fifteen California Wines for Under $25 by CEOinIRVINE
Jennifer Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson,  brother Jason Hudson and nephew Julian King were shot to death.

Jennifer Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, brother Jason Hudson and nephew Julian King were shot


Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson's 7-year-old nephew -- one of three Hudson relatives found slain in Chicago since Friday -- died of multiple gunshot wounds, the Cook County medical examiner's office said Tuesday.

But the office, which performed an autopsy on Julian King's body Tuesday, didn't answer questions about when the child died and where his wounds were.

Julian was found shot to death in an abandoned Chevrolet Suburban on Chicago's West Side on Monday. Police had begun a massive search for him on Friday, the day Hudson's mother, Darnell Donerson, and brother, Jason Hudson, were found shot to death in their South Side Chicago home.

Julian was the son of Jennifer Hudson's sister, Julia Hudson, who police said found Donerson's body and called police.

William Balfour, 27, who is Julian's stepfather and Julia Hudson's estranged husband, was detained Friday for questioning in connection with the slayings, a police representative said. Julian was not with Balfour when he was detained.

Balfour was later transferred to prison on a parole violation, the police representative said. According to the Department of Corrections, he spent nearly seven years in prison for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and possessing a stolen vehicle.

No charges had been filed against anyone in connection with the slayings.

The Illinois Department of Corrections said it could not comment on the specifics of Balfour's parole or how he violated it. But Balfour's parole history report shows the department issued a warrant for him Saturday on allegations he violated his parole by possessing a weapon and failing to attend anger management counseling and a substance abuse program, according to The Associated Press.

Parole records also show that Balfour had missed a meeting with his parole agent on Friday, and that the agent subsequently reached him by phone around the time the first bodies were found, the AP reported.

Balfour told the agent he was "baby-sitting on the West Side of Chicago," and that the agent thought he heard a child in the background, the records show, according to the AP.

Balfour will be held until a prisoner review board takes up his case, a department representative said. That process could take several weeks.

On Tuesday, William Balfour's mother, Michele Davis-Balfour, said her son had nothing to do with the slayings.

"I'm sorry this happened to this girl's family, but they're not going to put it on my own son," she said. "He hasn't been framed, but he's been wrongly accused."

She said that after her son got out of prison, he was trying to improve his life by working at a sandwich shop. She also said he obtained his GED in prison by studying horticulture. "How many minorities are in the penitentiary and study horticulture?" she said. Video Watch Davis-Balfour's emotional appeal »

Later Tuesday, Davis-Balfour told CNN's Nancy Grace that Balfour's brother told her Balfour was with "one of his girlfriends" around the time of the killings

Authorities have said the Chevrolet Suburban in which Julian was found was Jason Hudson's. During the search for the boy, postings on Julia Hudson's MySpace page showed a picture of Jason Hudson and the white SUV.

Julia Hudson posted a message on the page after her son's body was found.

"His li'l soul is at ease, I take comfort in knowing that Julian is with my mother and my brother and most of all the Lord, and now he's my angel, he's protecting me," she wrote.

"Now because I chose to do what was natural to me and love someone, it cost me my beautiful family, my wonderful beautiful loving supporting mother, Darnell, my true blue baby brother, Jason, I love u big baby ... and last but never not least, my only son, Julian," she added.

Meanwhile, mourners continue to offer their support for the Hudson family.

On Monday night, a group of women huddled together in the cold singing "Spotlight," Hudson's latest hit song. "No I don't like living under your spotlight," they sang, "just because you think I might find somebody worthy." Mourners left stuffed animals, cards balloons and crosses.

"The hurt that she's feeling, this community is feeling for her," a woman said into a microphone about Julia Hudson.

"I'm really concerned for the mother and how she's feeling. I just want her to know she is in my prayers," neighbor Stephanie Patton said.

"I don't understand how someone could be so cruel," said the Rev. Krista Alston, a cousin in the Hudson family. "I mean, God gives life and God takes life, and it's just so devastating to our family."

Jennifer Hudson made her second trip in three days to the Cook County medical examiner's office. She first identified her mother and brother, and on Monday, had the grim task of helping her relatives identify Julian by viewing images the medical examiner projected on a video screen.

Police are confident they will soon catch the killer, Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis said. "I suspect that we'll have some evidence that will link us to the killer," he said. Video Watch police say they've ID'd the body »

Police are collecting evidence from the SUV and reviewing surveillance tapes from all over the city as the investigation continues, Weis told reporters.

"There's a lot of work to be done. We'll be sure we go through this thoroughly," Weis said.

Asked about possible motives, Weis replied, "We don't know what the motive really was at this time. But, clearly, you have people who do know each other, so it wasn't a case of a stranger-type homicide."

Over the weekend, Jennifer Hudson offered a $100,000 reward for the safe return of her nephew.

"Please keep praying for our family and that we get Julian King back home safely," Hudson said in a posting on her MySpace page Sunday. "If anyone has any information about his whereabouts, please contact the authorities immediately."

Jennifer Hudson also posted two pictures of her nephew in the brown-and-orange-striped polo shirt he was wearing when he was last seen. Video Watch the latest on the Hudson case »

Police said the bodies of Hudson's mother and brother were found about 3 p.m. Friday, when Julia Hudson arrived and found the body of a woman on the living room floor. Hudson backed out of the house and called police, authorities said. Authorities found Jason Hudson shot to death in a bedroom.

The Cook County medical examiner's office said Saturday that Donerson and Jason Hudson suffered multiple gunshot wounds and ruled the deaths homicides.

Neighbors reported hearing gunshots earlier Friday, Deputy Police Chief Joseph Patterson said. Authorities found no signs of forced entry to the home and were not sure whether other items were missing. Video Watch the scene outside the house »

You've got two people who were killed inside a home. That alone will produce a great deal of evidence," Weis, the police superintendent, said of forensic evidence at the crime scene.

Hudson won a best supporting actress Oscar for her portrayal of Effie in the film version of the Broadway musical "Dreamgirls." She competed on the third season of "American Idol" in 2004, making it to the top seven contestants before being eliminated from the contest.

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In this Tuesday, May 27, 2008 file photo, Jennifer Hudson attends the premiere of "Sex and the City" at Radio City Music Hall in New York. At least one of two people found shot dead Friday, Oct. 24, 2008 at a South Side Chicago home was believed to be a relative of Jennifer Hudson, and police were seeking a missing child who might also be related to the singer and Oscar-winning actress. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

How did it happened?

I thought she was a nice singer. I knew that she made a lot of efforts to be here.


Scary..




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In an effort to reduce teen car crashes Maryland parents are recording their kids driving. A look at what

Ken Richardson does not have to ride in his 17-year-old daughter's Ford Escort to know when she takes a turn too fast.

The camera system installed in her car will e-mail him about it.

"She's at that age where she's a little rebellious," said Richardson, 54. "And I'm at the age where I'm not gonna take any crap."

The Richardsons are among more than 100 families in Southern Maryland enrolled in a state-sponsored study to install camera systems that record the moments before and after an unusual driving maneuver, such as sudden braking or a too-sharp turn. State officials say the cameras could decrease the number of teen drivers killed in crashes.

Some of the teenagers have other thoughts on the matter.

"I feel like I'm being babysat, like I'm being watched constantly," said Stacie Richardson, Ken Richardson's daughter. "It drives me nuts."

The cameras are among the latest tools in the struggle to reduce teen car crashes, a problem that has been particularly vexing in Maryland. Last year, crashes involving drivers ages 16 to 20 killed 112 people in the state. Such accidents, including one this week in Montgomery County, are often caused not by alcohol or overt recklessness but by simple driver inexperience. The problem has persisted despite efforts by lawmakers to restrict teen driving privileges.

"Really, the single most dangerous thing we let our children do is drive a car," said Daniel McGehee, director of the human factors and vehicle safety research program at the University of Iowa. "It's frustrating for those of us who study crashes in general."


Until recently, the in-car monitoring systems being installed in Southern Maryland were used primarily by commercial companies interesting in monitoring their drivers. In the battle against driver inexperience, they are joined by other devices that keep a detailed log of a driver's speed or use GPS technology to constantly track the driver's position, said Bill Carpenter, an executive with DriveCam, the San Diego company that makes the cameras.

The camera, mounted on the front windshield, captures footage of what is happening outside as well as in the vehicle. It saves about 20 seconds of that footage only when its sensors are triggered by excessive G-forces. Those forces tend to accompany unusual driving maneuvers such as sudden braking or swerving.

Saved footage is transmitted back to DriveCam via a cellular network. DriveCam experts review the videos, add tips for the young drivers and post them to a Web site where parents can see them a day or so later. Parents receive an e-mail alert when the videos are posted.

The camera can capture anything going on in the car, but the company uploads only footage that involves unsafe driving. "If an event is captured that is embarrassing to the teen . . . then we're not going to return it to the family," Carpenter said.



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Rick Warren News

US News 2008. 10. 24. 22:33


Dear Saddleback Family,
 
NO SUCH THING AS LONG-RANGE PLANNING!
When life throws you a curve-ball, like our sudden discovery of Jaime's brain tumor, we realize once again that much of our schedule is often beyond our control.  Unforeseen crises prove the futility of long range planning.  No one but God knows the future.  While the Bible tells us that we ought to prepare for the future, no one can predict the future.  No one.  As Jeremiah said, "Lord, I know that a person's life doesn't really belong to him. No one can control his own life."  Jeremiah 10:23 (NCV) The Living Bible translation says it this way: O Lord, I know it is not within the power of man to map his life and plan his course."
 
The godly way to plan is scenario planning - having the attitude of, "We'll do this...IF such and such happens..."  This is the kind of planning that the Bible recommends: "Instead, you ought to say, "IF it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." James 4:15 (NIV) 
 
          Thanks for your prayers for Jaime. She is an incredibly strong woman, refusing self-pity, fighting back, and making progress everyday in her recovery. I cancelled all my commitments through this weekend (including speaking at the White House yesterday) so I can stay with Josh and Jaime. In life or death situations with your kids, I would expect you to do the same. We are still awaiting the pathology report to tell us what kind of brain tumor it was.  You can click here for a video update on Jaime's condition.  Also, I encourage you to visit the CaringBridge website, where you can read and write comments to Jaime.  THANK YOU for loving my family.
 
ENCOURAGING NEWS FROM YOU
          One of the things that has encouraged me here in the hospital waiting room, is reading so many great stories from 40 Days of Love.  Your stories are so inspiring.  Please keep sending them to pastorrick@saddleback.net
 
One stunning development is that our members have started over 400 new Workplace small groups that meet in businesses and offices during the day across Southern California!  Workplace groups are made up largely of people who don't attend church, but are open to attending a small group.  Teachers have started Workplace small groups at schools during lunch. Police and law enforcement folks have started precinct small groups. Nurses, doctors, realtors, retailers, insurance companies, and even government workers have started daytime groups at work. 
 
Imagine the impact these workplace groups are having on the atmosphere and relationships in all those worksites!  I am SO proud of these caring, courageous, and loving people!   Here are just a few stories:
 
1. AT A TELEPHONE COMPANY - An hourly service representative started a group with a small group kit for 6 people.  Today she is leading 2 groups with 37 people total!  She was told she could not use the conference room but she could use the lunchroom so she and her husband used their own money to buy a portable DVD player.  WOW!
2. AT A HIGH SCHOOL - An English teacher is leading a voluntary group for students. Several have already come to Christ and now the teacher has been asked to lead a group for teachers too. The principal supports these efforts as it is a way to combat violence in the city.
3. AT A TECH COMPANY - So many employees wanted to attend the Workplace 40 Days of Love group that HR ask them to move off site!  So they found a place close to their office to meet.  
4. AT A HEALTH CARE COMPANY  Everyone, from the CEO to the VP of Sales and VP of Ops to middle management and hourly workers have joined in together to go through 40 Days of Love to learn how to improve relationships!
 
What about YOUR workplace?  YOU COULD DO THIS TOO with the 3 week PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS series! 
 
 
THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS
          At Christmas, your friends, co-workers, neighbors, and relatives are more open to receiving the Good News than at any other time of the year.
Everyone will be hearing music about Jesus for an entire month. They will be thinking, "Why is Christmas such a big deal?"  So we have prepared 4 friendly tools for you to use in sharing Christ with your friends:
 
          • The Purpose of Christmas BOOK will be released in bookstores across America on Nov. 4.  The first printing is 1.7 million copies, and Wal-Mart ordered 500,000!   This book contains the clearest, simplest explanation of what it means to believe in Christ that I've ever written.  I created this gift book for you to give to all your unchurched friends this Christmas season.  Give the gift of salvation before Christmas. Inside this beautiful full-color gift book is a page where you can write a note to the person you are giving the book to.
 
         • The Purpose of Christmas MUSIC CD will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart. David Pack enlisted top artists for this project:  Sarah McLachlan, Martina McBride, Vince Gill, Third Day, Amy Grant, Stephen Curtis Chapman, David Benoit, Paul Baloche, David Pack, and Adam Watts.  My Christmas message is interspersed between Christmas songs.
 
         • The Purpose of Christmas AUDIO BOOK is a great gift for those who prefer listening to reading. 
 
         • The Purpose of Christmas SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE & DVD - A 3 week study that I want all of our small groups to complete before Christmas. I have videotaped 3 Christmas studies based on the 3 statements the angel announced at the first Christmas.
 
Just click here to pre-order these Christmas tools for you and your small group now.
 
 
PROPOSITION 8: THE MARRIAGE PROTECTION AMENDMENT

For 5,000 years, EVERY culture and EVERY religion - not just Christianity - has defined marriage as a contract between men and women. There is no reason to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2% of our population.  This is one issue that both Democrats and Republicans can agree on. Both Barack Obama and John McCain have publicly opposed the redefinition of marriage to include so-called "gay marriage."  Even some gay leaders, like Al Rantel of KABC oppose watering down the definition of marriage.  Of course, my long-time opposition is well known. This is not a political issue, it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about.  There is no doubt where we should stand on this issue.
 
This will be a close contest, maybe even decided by a few thousand votes.   I urge you to VOTE YES on Proposition 8 - to preserve the biblical definition of marriage.  Don't forget to vote!

Rick Warren
Saddleback Church
Purpose Driven Network

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Teenage beauty queen busted

US News 2008. 10. 24. 07:19

Posted by CEOinIRVINE
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OPRAH.com) -- For any mom who's ever felt frazzled, overwhelmed or rushed, Oprah says this show is for you. "It's your wake-up call to slow down," she says. "What happened to my guest today could so easily happen to any of you."
Brenda Slaby still blames herself for her daughter's death. She tells moms to slow down and appreciate their kids.

Brenda Slaby still blames herself for her daughter's death. She tells moms to slow down and appreciate their kids.

Brenda Slaby says she was once an assistant principal and mother of two who tried her best to be "supermom."

"It was very hard trying to be the perfect mom and the perfect employee," she says. "I try to be everything to everybody... I've always been the kind of person that lived for doing things for other people."

Then, on a hot August afternoon in 2007, she says she went from being a good role model for children, a good administrator and a good parent to being the most hated mom in America.

When Brenda woke up on August 23, 2007, she says she knew she had a busy day ahead of her. Summer vacation was coming to a close, and it was the first day back for teachers at her school. That morning, the rush to get out the door was more frantic than usual, she says.

Brenda and her husband, Gary, got their two young daughters, Allison and Cecilia, dressed and ready to go. Then, in a departure from their regular routine, Brenda loaded 2-year-old Cecilia into her car to take her to the babysitter's house.

"I had a dentist appointment, and I asked Brenda to take Cecilia," Gary says. "I normally took both Cecilia and Allison, dropped Cecilia off at the sitter and Allison off at preschool."



OPRAH.com) -- For any mom who's ever felt frazzled, overwhelmed or rushed, Oprah says this show is for you. "It's your wake-up call to slow down," she says. "What happened to my guest today could so easily happen to any of you."
Brenda Slaby still blames herself for her daughter's death. She tells moms to slow down and appreciate their kids.

Brenda Slaby still blames herself for her daughter's death. She tells moms to slow down and appreciate their kids.

Brenda Slaby says she was once an assistant principal and mother of two who tried her best to be "supermom."

"It was very hard trying to be the perfect mom and the perfect employee," she says. "I try to be everything to everybody... I've always been the kind of person that lived for doing things for other people."

Then, on a hot August afternoon in 2007, she says she went from being a good role model for children, a good administrator and a good parent to being the most hated mom in America.

When Brenda woke up on August 23, 2007, she says she knew she had a busy day ahead of her. Summer vacation was coming to a close, and it was the first day back for teachers at her school. That morning, the rush to get out the door was more frantic than usual, she says.

Brenda and her husband, Gary, got their two young daughters, Allison and Cecilia, dressed and ready to go. Then, in a departure from their regular routine, Brenda loaded 2-year-old Cecilia into her car to take her to the babysitter's house.

"I had a dentist appointment, and I asked Brenda to take Cecilia," Gary says. "I normally took both Cecilia and Allison, dropped Cecilia off at the sitter and Allison off at preschool."


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Taliban: Aid worker killed for preaching

Taliban: Aid worker killed for preaching

Gunmen on a motorbike fatally shot a foreign aid worker Monday as she was on her way to work in Kabul, the Afghan Interior Ministry said. The Taliban claimed responsibility, saying it killed the "foreign woman" for preaching Christianity there. In another incident, two German soldiers and five Afghan children died in a suicide bombing, a provincial governor said.

She was a person who always loved the Afghans and was dedicated to serving those who are disabled," Lyth said. "Needless to say, we are all in shock." Williams was one of 23 expatriates who worked for SERVE Afghanistan, which also employs 450 Afghans in the country.

A statement on SERVE Afghanistan's Web site -- attributed only to "C and E" -- described Williams as "one of the inspiring people of the world who truly put others before herself."

"She was killed violently while caring for the most forgotten people in the world; the poor and the disabled," the statement said. "She herself would not regret taking the risk of working in Afghanistan. She was where she wanted to be -- holding out a helping hand to those in need."

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned her killing as well as the recent killings of two U.N. aid workers in Somalia.

"The secretary-general deplores these acts of deliberate violence against those who are making every effort to alleviate the dire suffering of Somali and Afghan citizens," Ban's spokeswoman Michele Montas said at Monday's daily briefing in New York.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the death, saying on its Web site that it killed the "foreign woman" for preaching Christianity in the country and adding that it had been following the woman for some time.

In August, aid groups in Afghanistan said in a report that attacks on aid workers have forced them to scale back relief work.

The bomber who attacked the Afghan-German convoy was riding a bike when he detonated his explosives as the vehicles traveled outside the northern Afghan city of Kunduz, Gov. Mohammed Omar said.

Two German soldiers and two Afghan civilians were wounded, according to Omar. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in an Internet posting, claiming to have killed 12 German soldiers.

The Afghan and German forces went to Chahar Dara district to investigate enemy activity in the region when they were attacked, Omar said.

NATO's International Security Assistance Forces confirmed that a suicide attack in Kunduz province killed two of its soldiers and five local children, but did not reveal the ISAF soldiers' nationalities, as part of its standing policy.

ISAF spokesman Brig. Gen. Richard Blanchette said: "Acts such as this, which offer nothing but violence and death, will not deter us in our commitment to create a better Afghanistan."

NATO said one ISAF soldier and a civilian were also wounded in the attack.

The German Defense Ministry in Berlin confirmed a bomb attack near a base that houses a German provincial reconstruction team in the town of Kunduz, a ministry spokesman said. It had no information on casualties.

Germany has committed 3,200 troops to support NATO's mission in Afghanistan. The latest deaths bring to 25 the number of German soldiers who have died in the Afghan war since 2002.

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The Supreme Court today accepted a case with significant implications for the government's crackdown on illegal immigration, agreeing to review whether prosecutors have to prove that defendants in aggravated identity theft cases knew they were victimizing a real person.

The justices will hear the appeal of Ignacio Flores-Figueroa, a Mexican immigrant who used false identification to get a job at a steel plant in Illinois. He was convicted of aggravated identity theft and other counts and sentenced to more than six years in prison.

Flores-Figueroa argued that the government failed to prove that he knew the fraudulent documents belonged to a real person as opposed to being fabricated. Lower courts ruled that the government did not have to prove that, accepting the Justice Department's position in this and other aggravated identify theft cases. Three appellate courts have rendered decisions backing the government.

But three other appellate courts have ruled otherwise, and the Supreme Court is expected to resolve the dispute.

The importance of the case to prosecutors was shown during a raid on a kosher meatpacking plant in rural Iowa in May. As hundreds of immigrations agents descended on the plant, prosecutors summoned defense lawyers to the federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids.

Their message was blunt: The illegal immigrants arrested must plead guilty to lesser counts or face indictment on charges of aggravated identity theft and possible mandatory two-year prison terms.

"It was a hammer over everyone's head," said Dan Vondra, a lawyer who represented several of the 302 immigrants who quickly took the deal. "For these people, two years in federal prison was unbearable."

The raid highlighted the Bush administration's increasing use of the tough new charge in its crackdown on illegal immigrants at work sites, part of the escalating campaign against undocumented immigrants nationwide. But the tactic is under attack from critics, and the split among appellate courts over the government's burden of proof in aggravated identity theft cases has now prompted the Supreme Court review.

An adverse Supreme Court ruling probably would not affect the government's ability to charge aggravation in non-immigration identity theft cases. A criminal who, for example, steals someone's Social Security number and empties his or her bank account clearly knows he is victimizing a real person.

But experts said a loss for the Justice Department in the Flores-Figueroa case would devastate its ability to bring aggravated identity theft cases against immigrants because most of them do not know whether their fake IDs belong to someone else.

"It would effectively gut a provision clearly designed to crack down on immigration-related identity theft," said Dan Stein, president of Federation for American Immigration Reform, which favors tough immigration enforcement.

Critics of the administration's approach say that the charge is not needed and that deporting illegal immigrants should be enough. "They're just piling on," said Jeanne Butterfield, executive director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

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California's propositions

US News 2008. 10. 20. 12:19

Proposition 1A

What it does
: Authorizes $9.95 billion in bonds to build an electric train to get people from Los Angeles to San Francisco in just over 2 1/2 hours.

Back story: This is the governor's and the Legislature's baby, years in the making. They pulled similar measures off ballots in 2004 and 2006 because the stars didn't align for a win. An earlier version (Proposition 1) also got pulled from the 2008 ballot, this time for a revise (that's why it's now designated 1A). Lawmakers were arguing about, among other things, whether the train would run through Altamont Pass (the site of a deadly 1969 Rolling Stones concert) or Pacheco Pass (site of the hokey but fun tourist stop Casa de Fruta). They went with Pacheco.

Proposition 2

What it does: Bars use of pens and cages that don't give farm animals room to turn around, stretch, stand or lie down.

Back story: This is all about chickens. The language on veal calves and sows tugs on voters' heartstrings, but it's moot; California produces virtually no commercial pork or veal. Chief opponents -- egg producers -- argue that without tight cages, their chickens will eat each other and their own droppings. No matter what, the caged chickens are doomed: After a short life laying eggs, they are too spent even for the soup pot.

Proposition 3

What it does: Authorizes the sale of $980 million in bonds to upgrade and expand children's hospitals in California.

Back story: With interest, the measure would cost about $2 billion over 30 years. Backers are (no surprise) the state's children's hospitals. California voters authorized $750 million in bonds for this cause in 2004; just under half of those bonds have yet to be sold. But how can voters say no to sick kids?

Proposition 4

What it does: Amends the state Constitution to require a physician to notify a minor patient's parent or other adult family member 48 hours before performing an abortion.

Back story: Déjà vu. Californians defeated parental consent or notification for abortion measures in 2005 and 2006, but had last year off. (There is no limit on how often failed ballot measures may be resubmitted to voters.) Proposition 4 adds the "other adult family member" alternative to answer critics of earlier propositions. It also would require a girl who chooses that alternative to allege parental abuse. The Legislature passed a parental consent law in 1987, but it never took effect. The state Supreme Court upheld it in 1996, but on rehearing -- after court membership changed -- struck it down. Which is why Proposition 4 is a constitutional amendment.

Proposition 5

What it does: Mandates probation with treatment instead of jail or prison for many drug crimes and diminishes sentences and shortens parole for many nonviolent property crimes when drugs are involved.

Back story: This measure pits two well-known liberals against each other -- activist and actor Martin Sheen and billionaire philanthropist George Soros. Sheen, whose son Charlie had high-profile drug problems in the 1990s, leads the opposition because, he has said, "successful rehabilitation requires accountability." Soros and former Soros executive Jacob Goldfied are Proposition 5's top financial backers. If voters pass Proposition 5 and Proposition 6, they would simultaneously loosen and stiffen penalties for drug offenses.

Proposition 6

What it does: Commits close to 1% of the state's annual general fund budget for anti-crime programs. The state Legislative Analyst's Office estimates costs of $500 million for additional prison space.

Back story: This is the Son of Three Strikes and Jessica's Law. It's sponsored in part by Mike Reynolds, author of the 1994 Three Strikes Initiative, and state Sen. George Runner (R-Lancaster), whose anti-sex-offender Proposition 83 -- Jessica's Law -- won 71% of the vote in 2006. The top donor is Henry T. Nicholas III, who gave $1 million (see Proposition 9).

Proposition 7

What it does: Increases the clean-generation requirement on investor-owned utilities and extends them to municipal companies, like the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.


Back story: The primary backer (with a donation of $3 million) is Peter Sperling, son of University of Phoenix founder, cat-cloner and octogenarian liberal proposition-meister John Sperling (who in 2000 gave California Proposition 36, mandating treatment instead of prison for drug convictions, a failed initiative to soften three strikes, and several others besides). Caveat for green voters: This measure is intended to advance green power and improve the environment but is opposed by a host of high-profile environmental groups, who say it will undermine many green-power efforts.

Proposition 8

What it does: Outlaws same-sex marriage by adding the following words to the state Constitution: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

Back story: More déjà vu. Californians expressly outlawed same-sex marriage in a voter initiative in 2000. But that was mere law, which the state Supreme Court struck down earlier this year in a case that found that the right to marry is fundamental -- the state can't deny marriage to a couple based on their sex. Proposition 8 opponents tried (but failed) to get the court to also strike the measure from the ballot on the argument that voters cannot strip citizens of their state constitutional rights. If the initiative passes, they will be back.

Proposition 9

What it does: Amends the state Constitution to give enforceable rights to the families of crime victims.

Back story: This is the centerpiece of a law-and-order campaign by billionaire businessman and engineer Henry T. Nicholas III and is called "Marsy's Law" in memory of his murdered sister. It qualified for the ballot on June 6 -- the day after indictments were unsealed against Nicholas for a variety of drug charges and for allegedly violating securities laws. Nicholas gave $4.8 million to the campaign but distanced himself after the charges against him were reported. Among other things, Proposition 9 would limit the number of chances for parole for many convicted criminals.

Proposition 10

What it does: Authorizes the sale of $5 billion in bonds ($9.8 billion when interest is included) to provide rebates to buyers of natural gas and other alternative fuel vehicles.

Back story: Uncle T. Boone Pickens wants you: The Texas oilman is underwriting Proposition 10, which will likely drum up buyers for cars that run on natural gas. His company, Clean Energy Fuels Corp., produces and markets ... natural gas.

Proposition 11

What it does: Strips the Legislature of its power to draw the lines of Assembly and Senate districts (every 10 years, after new census figures come out) and turns the job over to a 14-member citizens' commission.

Back story: Do Californians care that most of the time district boundaries are drawn to consolidate incumbent power? If they do, why did they reject reform in 2005 and eight times before that? In a political sop to Nancy Pelosi, this measure leaves out congressional districts -- a fact that has alienated some Republicans. Minority advocates are alienated because there is no guarantee that anyone on the commission will speak for their constituents.

Proposition 12

What it does: Authorizes a bond to extend a state program allowing veterans access to low-interest mortgages.

Back story: The 27th time's a charm: Voters have already approved bonds for Cal-Vet mortgages 26 times since the program was established for World War I veterans in 1921. Opposition is hard to come by -- the "con" ballot argument was written by Gary B. Wesley, a Mountain View lawyer who for many years has taken for himself the task of writing against measures when no one else will. The current Cal-Vet program only covers veterans who served before 1977.

Robert Greene is a member of The Times' editorial board. See Vote-o-rama (latimes.com/elections) for an opinionated guide to the propositions and everything else on the Nov. 4 ballot.


Posted by CEOinIRVINE
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Consumers trying to find wine values have perhaps one of the more difficult paths to success in California than in any other wine region in the world. Prices for most of the finest cabernet sauvignons, chardonnays, and pinot noirs are well north of $20 to $25, which is the break point for what I consider value vs. expensive wines. In addition, areas such as Napa and Sonoma, the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Francisco, and even farther south, Santa Barbara, are glamour regions, and their wines fetch very high prices.

Nevertheless, California bargains still can be found, and here are some that are just too good to pass up.

87 points
2006 Beringer Chardonnay Napa

Beringer's 2006 Chardonnay Napa is a heck of a bargain. Crisp and lean, with copious amounts of lemon oil, guava, and nectarine aromas, it is a medium-weight, dry, refreshing white to enjoy over the next one to three years. $16

87 points
2006 Pavilion Winery Pinot Noir

A wonderful discovery, Pavilion appears to be making some terrific wines at incredibly low price points. It is hard to find a pinot noir equaling the quality of the 2006 from Pavilion for under $30 a bottle. Blended with 13% zinfandel from Edna Valley, the wine has briery, berry fruit, and forest floor-like characteristics that are offered in a medium-bodied, silky style to enjoy over the next one to two years. $15

87 points
2007 Round Hill Chardonnay Oak Free

The 2007 Chardonnay Oak Free, a tank-fermented and -aged offering, displays crisp orange and lemon blossom characteristics, medium body, good fruit and purity, and surprising character. It is remarkably low-priced for a wine this good. Drink it over the next 12 months. $11

88 points
2006 Beckmen Vineyards Cuvée Le Bec

An excellent source of high-quality as well as value-priced Rhône Rangers, Beckmen produces one of the wine world's finest bargains, the Cuvée Le Bec, a blend of Rhône varietals. The 2006 consists of 50% grenache, 28% syrah, and the rest mourvèdre and counoise. It is medium-bodied and soft with plenty of pepper, sweet cherry, herb, and spice characteristics. An ideal bistro red, it is a delicious, personality-filled, bargain-priced effort to enjoy over the next one to two years. $18

88 points
2007 Grayson Cellars Chardonnay

The 9,000-case cuvée of 2007 Chardonnay from Grayson Cellars exhibits elegant pear and lemon blossom characteristics, medium body, good acidity, a hint of wood, and an attractive finish. Drink it over the next several years. $10

88 points
2005 Summers Cabernet Sauvignon Adrianna's Cuvée

Finding a good 100% Napa cabernet sauvignon for under $50 a bottle is no easy task. Finding an excellent one is almost impossible. But that is exactly what the elegant, tasty, black currant, cedar, licorice, and spice box-scented 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Adrianna's Cuvée delivers. Classic cabernet aromas are followed by a medium- to full-bodied wine with loads of fruit, soft tannin, and a long finish. It should drink well for five to eight years. $22

89 points
2006 Cartlidge & Browne Sauvignon Blanc Dancing Crow

One of the premium purveyors of value-priced California wines (believe me, there are not many that offer high quality at low prices), Cartlidge & Browne continues to provide rewarding and surprisingly tasty drinking. Their brilliant 2006 Sauvignon Blanc Dancing Crow is a medium-bodied white loaded with melony fruit notes, crisp acidity, freshness, and a true sauvignon character. Drink it over the next year. $12

89 points
2006 Château St. Jean Fumé Blanc (Sonoma)

Readers looking for fabulous values in dry, aromatic, crisp, fruit-dominated whites with personality and soul should check out the wines from Château St. Jean. A killer value, the 2006 Fumé Blanc exhibits beautiful melony, honeysuckle, and orange-zest aromas offered in a crisp, dry, light- to medium-bodied, tasty personality. Enjoy it over the next 12 to 18 months. $13

Posted by CEOinIRVINE
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