THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND ITS PARTNERS HAVE CLOSED ESCROW ON A CONSERVATION PLAN FOR THE HISTORIC 82,000 ACRE HEARST RANCH. THE HEARST CORPORATION, AMERICAN LAND CONSERVANCY AND CALIFORNIA RANGELAND TRUST HAVE PARTNERED WITH THE STATE TO PRESERVE 128 SQUARE MILES OF PRISTINE RANGELAND THAT INCLUDES 18 MILES OF SPECTACULAR COASTLINE ALONG SCENIC HIGHWAY ONE. COMPLETION OF THE AGREEMENT FOR $95 MILLION, AFTER MORE THAN SIX YEARS OF PLANNING, MARKS ONE OF THE LARGEST LAND CONSERVATION TRANSACTIONS IN STATE HISTORY. VALUED AT $230 MILLION, THE PROPERTY INCLUDES ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT COASTAL LAND GIFTS EVER MADE TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER GOT SOME ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR HIS REDISTRICTING PROPOSAL WHILE HE WAS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., FROM COMMON CAUSE. THE GROUP'S PRESIDENT, CHELLIE PINGREE MET WITH THE GOVERNOR AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS WHERE HE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT. THE PROPOSAL WOULD CREATE DISTRICTS THAT RESPECT GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES, AND ARE NOT INFLUENCED BY THE IMPACT ON INCUMBENTS OR POLITICAL PARTIES. COMMON CAUSE DESCRIBES ITSELF AS A NONPARTISAN NONPROFIT ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION FOR CITIZENS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND TO HOLD THEIR ELECTED LEADERS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC INTEREST. THEY HAVE NEARLY 300,000 MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS IN 38 STATES, INCLUDING CALIFORNIA.

STATE SENATOR JEFF DENHAM HAS INTRODUCED SENATE BILL 449, A MEASURE TO CRACK DOWN ON SEXUAL PREDATORS WHO USE THE INTERNET TO TARGET CHILDREN.
SPECIFICALLY, THE MEASURE WOULD CLOSE LOOPHOLES IN THE CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE AND PAVE THE WAY FOR MORE VIGOROUS PROSECUTION AND INCREASED JAIL TIME FOR PREDATORS ATTEMPTING TO HAVE SEX WITH CHILDREN BY USING THE INTERNET.

GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER IS SCHEDULED TO TRAVEL TO CHINA IN MID-APRIL TO MARKET CALIFORNIA AS A TOURIST DESTINATION AND AS A SOURCE FOR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, COMMODITIES AND SERVICES. HE WILL ALSO ENCOURAGE INVESTMENT IN THE CALIFORNIA MARKET.