California NEWS INDEX

CULVER CITY, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Derrick Jones, a former MMA fighter, is helping kids avoid gang violence through a Junior MMA tournament. The tournament will be held on December 9, 2012 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Focus Self Defense, 9000 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90231.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Tuesday, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the following appointments: first, Carol Monahan Cummings, 54, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief counsel at the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, where she has served since 2003.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Author Arnold Rudnick and publisher Paraphrase, LLC, have donated 100 copies of new children's book 'Little Green' (ISBN: 978-0981587974) to the My Stuff Bags Foundation and have pledged all net profits from book sales for the month of December 2012.

CAMARILLO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Thousands of 44th Assembly District residents in certain unincorporated areas will be receiving in the mail a new California state tax bill charging property owners an additional fee for fire prevention services within the "State Responsibility Area" (SRA). The office of Assemblyman Jeff Gorell (R-Camarillo) is asking the media to help inform residents of this new bill and the very short time window allowed to challenge or appeal an erroneous fee.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Starlight Children's Foundation's Winter Wonderland - a day when more than 350 Starlight kids, siblings and their parents are given the opportunity to experience the holidays by decorating cookies, making ornaments, meeting Hollywood celebrities, and more - will be held Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. at CBS Studios. The current 'X Factor' soundstage is being turned into a children's wonderland courtesy of Northwestern Mutual.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) has introduced Assembly Joint Resolution (AJR) 1, a measure that begins the process to amend the United States Constitution to nullify the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. In Citizens United, a deeply divided Supreme Court held that corporations are due the same free-speech rights enjoyed by natural persons.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On behalf of all Californians, Governor Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown honor Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin R. Ebbert, who bravely gave his life in service to our state and nation. The Governor and First Lady extend their deepest condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) introduced Senate Bill 15 today which is the first attempt in California to establish regulations on domestic use of drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /Califonria Newswire/ -- California State Senator Alex Padilla (D-Pacoima) released the following statement today regarding the California State Auditor’s report on Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) handling of child abuse allegations:

SAN DIEGO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- San Diego Children’s Choir is holding auditions in December and January. The Choir offers children a chance to achieve artistic excellence, attain personal goals and perform service to the community. Short 5-10 minute auditions will be held on Dec. 12 and 13 as well as Jan. 9 and 12 for children in grades 3-12. No audition is required for grades 1-2. The Choir has five convenient sites in Del Mar, Mira Mesa, Hillcrest, Lake Murray and Rancho Bernardo.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Gilbert A. Romero to a judgeship in the Ventura County Superior Court. Romero, 40, of Ventura, has served as senior deputy district attorney at the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office since 1999.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Bunmi O. Awoniyi and Steven M. Gevercer to judgeships in the Sacramento County Superior Court. Awoniyi, 48, of Elk Grove, has served as a principal attorney with a family law practice since 1994.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Michael S. Williams to a judgeship in the Napa County Superior Court. Williams, 66, of Napa, has served as a court commissioner for the Napa County Superior Court since 2001.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Michael J. Jurkovich to a judgeship in the Madera County Superior Court. Jurkovich, 57, of Fresno, has served as attorney at Gilmore Wood Vinnard and Magness since 2011.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Brian M. McNamara to a judgeship in the Kern County Superior Court. McNamara, 57, of Bakersfield, has been a sole criminal law practitioner since 1998 and a professor of business law and management information systems at California State University, Bakersfield since 1986.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the appointment of Adrienne M. Grover as associate justice of the Sixth District Court of Appeal. Grover, 50, of Carmel, has served as a judge for the Monterey County Superior Court since 2002.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Monica Samaniego Hunter, 63, of Los Osos, has been appointed to the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, where she has served since 2005. Hunter has been director of research at PAST Foundation since 2010 and has served as the central coast watersheds program manager at the Planning and Conservation League Foundation since 2004.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Surfers Healing, a non-profit working to enrich the lives of children with autism by exposing them to the unique experience of surfing, is competing for grants ranging from $125,000 to $1 Million through the American Giving Awards, presented by Chase. Residents can help ensure their favorite charity's success by simply voting for Surfers Healing through the American Giving Awards program on Facebook.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Tuesday, S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee and District 4 Supervisor Carmen Chu announced the launch of a new Invest in Neighborhoods pilot program called the Americans with Disabilities Act Small Business Assessment Program. The pilot will begin in District Four and will provide small businesses with an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) assessment report, a plan for compliance, and access to new grant funding and loan programs to make upgrades.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee on Monday announced Marc and Lynne Benioff and the Salesforce.com Foundation will renew their important financial support to house homeless families in San Francisco and announced additional contributions from City agencies. Contributions will ensure a second successful year for the Home for the Holidays initiative.

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Sunday December 9, Erik Cutter, Managing Director of Alegria Fresh, will speak at Foodprint LA as an expert panelist about innovative ideas for the future of food production within dense urban environments.

BURBANK, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) announced on Tuesday that he is seeking applications from local business owners to serve on his District 43 Business Advisory Commission. The commission will meet several times in the months ahead, with the goal with formulating one or more legislative proposals that would be introduced by Assemblyman Gatto in the 2013 state legislative session.

MILL VALLEY, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- ArteQuesta Collectors Drs. Holly and Mark Monroe will loan a portion of their collection for display in ArteQuesta's private museum, Rayah Levy and Jessica Jacobson, co-founders of ArteQuesta, announced today.

MISSION VIEJO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- PCM of California, Inc. (PCM), an Associa company, announced today that it has assumed management of Mission Viejo's Highland Park Homeowners' Association, effective November 1. The 208-home community is the fifth to be added to PCM's Orange County management portfolio in recent months. PCM now manages 18 associations in the city of Mission Viejo.

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Orange County Great Park is proud to welcome Artist-in-Residence Jennifer Backhaus, an award-winning choreographer, who will invent and direct one-of-a-kind dance works at the Great Park. Visitors will see and experience dance performances developed by one of Orange County’s premier choreographers.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Today, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced a number of appointments to posts including District Court of Appeal, and County Superior Court positions.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Aaron Robertson, 44, of Roseville, has been appointed chief deputy director at the California Department of Parks and Recreation. Robertson has been deputy director of administration at the California Department of Parks and Recreation since 2012.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced today that he will return without signature a City Council election ordinance to place a half-cent sales tax increase on the March 5, 2013 ballot:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Jason Bush, 42, of Fresno, has been appointed to the Carcinogen Identification Committee. Bush has served as associate professor of cancer biology at California State University, Fresno since 2012 and was assistant professor of cancer biology from 2006 to 2012.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Today, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the 81st Annual Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, December 5 on the West Steps of the State Capitol. This year's tree is a 50-foot tall white fir tree from the Latour Demonstration State Forest located near Redding in Shasta County and is the first Capitol Christmas tree from a state forest.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Monday, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the following appointments: First, Ken DaRosa, 46, of Sacramento, has been appointed chief deputy director at the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). DaRosa has served in multiple postions at the California Department of Finance since 2004, including program budget manager, assistant program budget manager, principal program budget analyst and staff finance analyst.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Patrick Macdonald-King, CEO Sample Digital/DAX LLC, emphasized technology's critical role, in both the creative and business aspects of media, in his address as a featured speaker at the 1st Annual Media and Entertainment Forum in Tianjin, China. Organized by KPMG Advisory China and AID Partners Capital in Tianjin, the international conference assembled key executives from the U.S. and Chinese to explore the state of the media and entertainment industry.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Friday, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians agreed to an amended tribal-state gaming compact between the State of California and the Tribe.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On Friday, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced the following appointments: first, Paul Marchand, 64, of Kelseyville, has been appointed to the 49th District Agricultural Association, Lake County Fair Board. Marchand has been an independent emergency physician and contractor since 1985 and owner of Highland Springs Equestrian Center since 2005. He is a founding member of the Lake County Horse Council and Lake County Dressage Society.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mayor Edwin M. Lee announced the launch of the San Francisco Enterprise Zone Web App, a web-based tool that allows San Francisco businesses to apply online for the City’s popular Enterprise Zone hiring tax credit program. The Enterprise Zone Web App will replace a completely paper-based process with a web based tool which increases government efficiency and makes it easier for businesses to utilize the program.

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- The Orange County Great Park today announced the top winners of the third annual Scarecrows in the Park fundraising competition, which challenges local businesses and community organizations to build creative, themed scarecrows that are displayed for public voting at the Great Park’s Farm + Food Lab and on the Great Park’s website.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Mayor Edwin M. Lee today at the U.S. Green Building Council Greenbuild International Conference and Expo being held at the Moscone Convention Center announced that the City and County of San Francisco has filed for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for eight buildings in San Francisco’s Historic Civic Center District.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- S.F. Mayor Edwin M. Lee today announced an agreement between the Golden State Warriors, local building trades unions and community groups to hire a minimum number of San Francisco residents for the construction of a proposed basketball and performing arts venue on San Francisco’s waterfront.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Hal Geiogue, 71, of Sacramento, has been appointed to the California Student Aid Commission. Geiogue was the chief consultant to the California Assembly Education Committee from 1995 to 2002, and was assistant state treasurer to the California State Treasurer from 1991 to 1995.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- On behalf of all Californians, Governor Brown and First Lady Anne Gust Brown honor Sgt. Clinton K. Ruiz, who...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that Major General Anthony L. Jackson, USMC (Ret.) has been appointed director of the California Department of Parks and Recreation.

IRVINE, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Edupoint(TM) Educational Systems, a leading student information system (SIS) solutions provider to the national K-12 market, has been selected by Poudre School District to implement its Synergy(R) SIS solution. The centralized web-based system will connect the district's schools and administration facilities to serve students, their parents, teachers, and district staff.

CAMARILLO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- AMT Datasouth Corporation is pleased to introduce its new Accel 7450 serial-dot-matrix (SDM) printer. The Accel 7450 features the latest technology in motors, drivers and electronics. The Accel 7450 is the successor to the very successful Accel 6300 and 7350 series printers.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Calif. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Elaine Howle, 54, of El Dorado Hills, has been appointed state auditor for the California State Auditor’s Office. Howle has served in multiple positions at the California State Auditor’s Office since 1993, including state auditor, deputy state auditor and principal auditor.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: First, Meredith Biasca, 54, of Loleta, has been appointed to the 9th District Agricultural Association, Redwood Acres Fair Board. Biasca has been manager at Don’s Rent-All since 2005. She was manager at the Party Place from 1990 to 2005.

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- 'This food will keep you alive and vital, and I am living proof,' says Francis Lingel, a 90-year young veteran who has joined Alegria Farm's team to assist with farm tours. 'Fresh greens are the secret to longevity,' he adds.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Bonne Foi Beauty Products, an anti-aging skin care line, is proud to host its first Autumn Open House event in downtown Huntington Beach on Tuesday, November 13, 2012. Bonne Foi will feature its full line of anti-aging skin care and hair care products for guests to try at its Open House.

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Having just been selected as one of nine artists nationwide to be showcased at Art Basel Miami in December 2012, in conjunction with Russell Simmons' Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series, John Waguespack will exhibit his 'New Works' at 111 Minna Gallery November 16, 2012 through January 26, 2013.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- Delivering on his pledge to ask the people of California to vote on the best path forward, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today hailed the passage of Proposition 30 as a clear and resounding victory for children, schools and the California dream.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. /California Newswire/ -- L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa late last night released a statement on the re-election of President Barack Obama: President Obama campaigned on a vision of strengthening America’s ladder of opportunity, expanding our middle class and making the investments that will ensure America’s future prosperity. Tonight, this vision won.