California NEWS INDEX

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Mortgage Collaborative, the nation's only independent mortgage cooperative, today announced a strategic partnership with Mortgage Quality Management and Research, LLC ("MQMR"), a national leader in risk management and compliance services.

SILICON VALLEY, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Manipal Global Academy of IT, part of Manipal Global Education Services, a leading international provider of high-quality higher education services, announced today the appointment of Mr. David Fradin, founder of SPICE Catalyst, LLC, as an Advisor and Distinguished Professor of Practice, Product Management Programs. Known as the 'Guru' of Product Management, Mr. David Fradin has trained thousands of product managers throughout the world.

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Cloudvirga(SM), developer of next-generation loan officer and direct-to-consumer point-of-sale (POS) systems, has named Michael Schreck its chief executive officer. He succeeds cloudvirga co-founder Bill Dallas, who will continue as chairman of cloudvirga's board of directors.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- ChemDiv Inc., a fully integrated California-based CRO, announced today that Arcus Biosciences selected ChemDiv as the sole source of molecules for Arcus's growing HTS screening collection. This collaboration, which utilized Arcus's medicinal chemistry knowledge and ChemDiv's computational and synthetic chemistry expertise, has resulted in the selection of several hundred thousand structures from which Arcus expects to identify starting points for several of the discovery programs in its portfolio.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mortgage Capital Trading, Inc. (MCT), a leading mortgage hedge advisory and secondary marketing technology firm, announced that its COO, Phil Rasori, will be a key note speaker at the Illinois Mortgage Banking Association's Mortgage/Capital Market Update event on June 8, 2017. As a keynote speaker, Mr. Rasori will discuss topics that include hedging, pricing and servicing.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Utelogy, which makes software for control, enterprise management and analytics of audiovisual systems for business and education, announces Giang "Jimmy" Ho joins the company as Vice President, Product Development. Utelogy has seen steady growth in clients, representative firms, and solution partners throughout North America.

TORRANCE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the mortgage industry's leading provider of document production, automated compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it has been accepted into the Elite Provider Program for American Land Home Title Association (ALTA).

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Calif. State Assembly voted 54-21 to approve legislation to bring equity to California’s criminal justice laws, by ensuring the use and manufacturing of false immigration documents carries the same penalties as the use and production of a fake driver’s license. Assemblymember Raul Bocanegra's (D-Pacoima) AB 222 requires California voters to repeal sections 113 and 114 of the California Penal Code.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Today, Calif. Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D – Discovery Bay) passed his remaining bills from the Assembly Floor leading up to today’s House of Origin deadline. Ten of his bills were brought up for a vote this week, passed and now head to the Senate.

PALO ALTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- VLP Law Group LLP is pleased to announce that David B. Franklin has joined the firm's Real Estate Practice Group as a partner based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Mr. Franklin's practice concentrates on real estate transactions and land use, primarily in California and Hawaii.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Calif. State Assembly voted 77-0 to approve Assemblymember Raul Bocanegra’s (D-Pacoima) legislation to establish a teacher residency program that will address the state’s dire need for high-quality special education, bilingual, math, and science teachers. The California Teacher Corps Act of 2017, AB 1217, would provide a resident teacher with financial assistance in the form of a stipend in exchange for participating in the program.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The California State Assembly has approved AB 406 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), which would prohibit for-profit corporations from managing and operating charter schools in the state. The measure was approved on a 48 to 23 vote.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- In recognition of Gun Violence Awareness Day tomorrow, U.S. Representative Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) has introduced a resolution that would compel Congress to take action in the face of gun tragedies. H.Res.370, cosponsored by more than 100 Members of Congress, would require that any moment of silence held on the floor of the House of Representatives due to a tragedy involving gun violence be promptly followed by a hearing to discuss the cause of the tragedy and how similar events might be prevented in the future.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Calif. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) today announced he has appointed Chula Vista City Councilmember Steve Padilla to the California Coastal Commission and reappointed Commissioner Carole Groom.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- In response to President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. issued the following statement today: "Donald Trump has absolutely chosen the wrong course. He's wrong on the facts. America's economy is boosted by following the Paris Agreement.

G on Politics (OPINION): Research demonstrates that a conservative differs from a normal human being in a number of ways. Note: ‘Normal human being’ means someone with a soul and an I.Q. above 70. A conservative is a strange creature. As you can see by their actions in Congress and in state houses across the country.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Calif. Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) announced that multiple bills passed through the Senate Appropriations Committee. Among the lengthy list of bills before the committee were several pieces of Legislation from Senator Mendoza, notably Senate Bills 4, 45, 268, and 693.

SAN JOSE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Hoge Fenton, a leading Northern California law firm, announced today that they have signed on with Boston-based Gradifi, the industry's first provider of the Employer SLP Plan(TM) (Student Loan Paydown Plan) to introduce a new benefit for its associate attorneys: financial assistance with student loans.

WASHINGTON, D.C. and SAN FERNANDO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Thursday, U.S. Representative Tony Cárdenas will receive the Congressional Advocate Award at the 2nd Annual Multicultural Media Correspondents Dinner. Congressman Cárdenas is being recognized for his role in founding the Multicultural Media Caucus and for championing media diversity issues in Congress.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The California State Assembly today approved AB 424 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D- Sacramento), which will update California’s Gun Free School Zones law to make schools truly gun free. The measure was approved on a vote of 43-23.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Today, Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the following appointments: First, Rebecca May, 41, of Sacramento, has been...

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ – This Wednesday (May 24, 2017), U.S. Representative Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) will pair up with Ally Alvarez, a twenty-three year-old young woman from Sun Valley, for the 6th Annual Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day. Ally is a student at Los Angeles Valley College and spent seventeen years in the foster care system.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Monday, Calif. Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D - Discovery Bay) passed Assembly Concurrent Resolution 64 declaring May 22, 2017 as Special Olympics Day, and subsequently honored the Special Olympics of Northern California (SONC) and the Special Olympics of Southern California (SOSC) by presenting Assembly proclamations for their continued commitment to provide outstanding programs for Californians with and without disabilities.

G on Politics (OPINION): From its sinful foundation to its current crop of liars and bunko artists, here is the story of the pestilence called conservatism. Concise! Accurate! Easy-to-read!* (*Note: Language may be too advanced for Trump supporters.)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- In an open letter that ran as a full page ad in today's Sacramento Bee, elected leaders from six of California's eight largest cities called on California Governor Jerry Brown and the State Legislature to include prevailing wage standards in state housing reforms. The ad was paid for by Smart Cities Prevail (SCP).

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- California Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), Senate Republican Leader Pat Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood), and Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes (R-Yucca Valley), released the following statement today announcing the inaugural Capitol Cup soccer match scheduled for Wednesday, June 21, 2017.

WASHINGTON, D.C. and SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ – Today, legislation introduced by U.S. Representatives Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), Keith Ellison (D-MI), and Barbara Lee (D-CA), was included in the Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats’ Leading Infrastructure For Tomorrow’s (LIFT) America Act. The Low Income Solar Act aims to help low-income families access solar energy opportunities.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Uproar Entertainment is excited to announce the release of "Black Wives Matter" by Gayla Johnson. A diverse, intelligent comedienne, Gayla Johnson entertains audiences with her stories and her characters, treating her listener to her unique view of the world we live in.

PALM DESERT, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Visual artist Bernard Hoyes has accomplished yet another career defining feat. The master craftsman was recently commissioned by a private collector to recreate the divinely celebrated winged stallion Pegasus, one of the best-known creatures in Greek mythology. The five-foot "Roots of Pegasus" bronze sculpture is currently on display until the end of June.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Wholesale Trading Insurance Services, LLC (WTIS) announced today that industry veteran William Reyes has joined the firm as Director/Casualty Broker in Laguna Niguel, Calif.; he will work in conjunction with the firm's principal office in San Francisco.

G on Politics (OPINION): Excessively coddled and carefully coifed, Ivanka Trump is not the 'orange whisperer' who will guide our fascist madman president away from errors. As Ivanka Trump plods robotically through her embarrassing public appearances, it is obvious that she is laboring under a ton of cosmetics and probably a Quaalude or two.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Thomas Tom Oseransky, Prime Time Softball League (PTSL) board member, congratulates "Lethal Weapon #1" who beat "Pure Genius" 12 to 11 to win the Championship. It was an exciting game that went back and forth and was finally over after an eighth and extra inning.

ONTARIO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mag Instrument Inc., the world leader in flashlight technology, has been awarded the National Hardware American Manufacturing Award for Best New Product. The honor was given to the MAGLITE(R) brand for its new compact to mid-sized Traffic Wands that fit most popular MAGLITE model flashlights (including the new MAGLITE ML25 & ML50 series of mid-sized flashlights).

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Palmer Productions and The Most Innocently Inappropriate Couple That Never Was Presents the new world-renowned musical, "The Final, Final Farewell Tour of Dick & Delores DelRubio," starring Alan Palmer and Andrew Orbison.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- New Legislation by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D – Discovery Bay) that will raise penalties for candidates for office who make willful misrepresentations on their candidate statements passed the Assembly Elections committee on an unanimous 7-to-0 vote.

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Mortgage Collaborative (TMC), the nation's only independent mortgage cooperative, announced the hiring of LaNette Holley as their Director of Strategic Initiatives. Holley comes to The Mortgage Collaborative with over 25 years of experience in the area of mortgage lending.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Greenbar Distillery, one of California's original craft distilleries and home of the world's largest portfolio of handcrafted, organic spirits, today announced that it has unified its seven core spirits lines under a new heart brand that evokes the company's origins as a love story between the two founders, Litty Mathew and Melkon Khosrovian. In sharp contrast to how most distilleries design their packages to stand out within categories, such as vodka or whiskey, Greenbar Distillery's new look echoes the maker-focused branding of craft brewers.

ONTARIO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mag Instrument, Inc., the world leader in flashlight technology, will introduce its most powerful flashlight yet -- the rechargeable ML150 LR(TM). Despite its mid-size (C-cell format) dimensions, the ML150LR(TM) generates a stunning 1,000 lumens and achieves a beam distance of over a quarter-mile. And thanks to multiple power settings and critical efficiency innovations, it can run for up to 75 hours on a single charge of its state-of-the-art Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) battery.

TORRANCE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- DocMagic, Inc., the mortgage industry's leading provider of document production, automated compliance and comprehensive eMortgage services, announced that it completed an integration with BeSmartee, a leader in mortgage automation technology.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Friday, May 12, 2017, Our Family Coalition (OFC), California's premier LGBTQ family organization, brings together 400 attendees for a Night Out to celebrate the organization's 21 years of advocacy, education, and community-building. The gala event includes elected officials, corporate sponsors, community partners and major donors, many of whom are LGBT people with children.

G on Politics (OPINION): Betsy DeVos has a deep and profound love of fairytales and she plans to slather that love all over the children of America. You often hear the phrase "conservative values" but what does that phrase mean? It is similar to phrases like "square circle" and "dry water" in that it is an oxymoron.

WASHINGTON, D.C., and SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Today, U.S. Representative Tony Cárdenas, a member of the LGBT Equality Caucus, joined U.S. Representative David N. Cicilline (D-RI) to introduce the Equality Act of 2017 along with more than 190 co-sponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Jose Saenz, MD, PhD, of Washington University School of Medicine was named the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Research Foundation-Gastric Cancer Foundation latest Research Scholar in Gastric Cancer. The AGA Research Award Program identifies and supports talented investigators who are pursuing careers in digestive disease research.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Moving to fill potholes, smooth thousands of miles of pavement, repair bridges and strengthen public transportation, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed a package of legislation to improve transportation and create jobs in communities across California.

G on Politics (OPINION): When the conservative geniuses in the Trump misadministration released a one-page 'tax plan,' a cheer was heard from everyone whose job requires them to come up with detailed plans for things. A single page for the country's tax plan? One page? Seriously, only one page?!?! Wow, I didn't know you could get away with something as lazy as that.

PARAMOUNT, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Tuesday, April 18, the Paramount City Council, by a unanimous vote, became the first city in California to support Assembly Bill 1132 authored by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens). The proposed legislation enhances the ability of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) to quickly shut down businesses that are emitting dangerous levels of air pollution in violation of federal or state air quality requirements.

WASHINGTON, D.C. and SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Thursday, U.S. Representative Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) and U.S. Representative Blake Farenthold (R-TX) reintroduced the bipartisan Trade Protection Not Troll Protection Act to defend American manufacturing. This legislation would modernize the manner in which the International Trade Commission (ITC) reviews claims, ensuring that American businesses receive fair treatment.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Springtime in Sacramento often means lunch outside. On Tuesday May 2nd, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount), Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes (R-Yucca Valley), Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), and a bipartisan group of Assembly members and staff will spend their lunchtime helping establish a community orchard in the Del Paso Heights neighborhood in Sacramento.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs (PBI) at Cal State LA will honor Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon as its 2017 Public Servant of the Year, and will recognize Dr. Drew Altman, president and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation with its 2017 Public Service award.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- A measure to make Calif. county governments more representative, accessible, and accountable to the populations that they serve was introduced today by Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia).