California Faultline

Photo the state Capitol in Sacramento by Paraflyer, used under Creative Commons.

NATIONAL

The Motion Picture Association of America voiced opposition to a pending Net-Neutrality Bill that would prevent internet service providers from selectively blocking web traffic. [CIO Today]

STATEWIDE

New rules proposed by California’s Fair Political Practices Commission would require elected state and local officials to disclose details of “gifts of overseas travel donated by nonprofits and businesses.” [LA Times]

31 of 58 California’s counties don’t meet the Environmental Protection Agency’s new health standard for smog, according to a nationwide list the EPA released. The list of violators: Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Riverside, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Joaquin, Santa Clara, Shasta, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo. [NY Times]

Piercing jewelry must have less than 10% lead as of March 1st, and less than 6% by mid 2009, according to a new state law. [San Jose Mercury News]

LOS ANGELES

The City of L.A. has discontinued it’s down payment assistance program for homeowners. [LAist]

Mayor Villaraigosa is upset LA City Council employees aren’t taking unpaid days off to help save the city money. If only every boss had Mayor V’s attitude. [Daily News]

BAY AREA AND CENTRAL VALLEY

Al Gore invested $35 million in hedge funds of “makers of environmentally friendly products” with Palo Alto’s Capricorn Investment Group LLC. [Bloomberg]

Health official in San Joaquin Valley are worried that budget cuts in tuberculosis prevention programs put Californians at risk. [Fresno Bee]

SAN DIEGO

American Indian students from the San Diego area endured 2 days of “political boot camp” at the Capitol in Sacramento. [San Diego Union-Tribune]