Air pollution may contribute to the global obesity epidemic, according to new findings suggesting that babies exposed to diesel exhaust in the womb are significantly more likely to become obese in later life.

By Christine Hsu | July 19, 2012

Roger Hedgecock was the Mayor of San Diego for many years and now writes a column and has a Syndicated Radio Show which does very well.  Worth the read.

Written by Roger Hedgecock - former mayor of San Diego

I live in California. If you were wondering what living in Obama's second term would be like, wonder no longer. We in California are living there now.

California is a one-party state dominated by a virulent Democrat Left enabled by a complicit media where every agency of local, county, and state government is run by and for the public employee unions. The unemployment rate is 12%.

By Jack Humphreville

LA Watchdog writer for CityWatch, President of the DWP Advocacy Committee, Ratepayer Advocate for the Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council, and Publisher of the Recycler

Friday, July 13th, 2012

The Port of Los Angeles (the “Port”), one of the City’s three proprietary departments along with the Department of Water and Power and Los Angeles World Airports, is the leading container port in the United States. And along with the Port of Long Beach, they control 72% of the West Coast container market. The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (the “Ports”) are also one of the major engines of the Southern California economy, responsible directly and indirectly for over a million jobs and tens of billions in economic activity.

Obama’s heavy-handed regulation of the booming old-energy economy has left his party with few friends in the energy belt, writes Joel Kotkin.

by Joel Kotkin | July 12, 2012 5:45 PM EDT

In an election pivoting on jobs, energy could be the issue that comes back to haunt Barack Obama and the Democratic Party as the cultural and ideological schism between energy-producing Republican states and energy-dependent Democratic ones widens.

As the economy has sputtered since 2008, conventional energy has emerged as one of the few robust sources of high-paying work, adding roughly half a million jobs since 2007 as new technologies and changing market conditions have opened up a vast new supply of exploitable domestic reserves. This is good news for Mitt Romney: nine of the ten states that rely most heavily on the sector for jobs are solidly behind him. (Colorado, where polls show Obama with a narrow lead, is the one exception).

Dear Members,

As of February 2012 Michelin has changed the way it conducts business with all trade association members. Due to the high rate of fraud, Michelin has taken further steps to protect it's clients and it's trade association partners.

To all who would like to purchase or are considering of purchasing Michelin tires, you must first call CCTA office and have your Michelin account set up.

We will be asking for a bit of information to insure your tire purchases.

SACRAMENTO - Caterpillar, Inc., will pay a fine of $510,000 to the Air Resources Board for shipping more than 590,000 on-road and off-road engines that did not have legally required emissions controls installed.

The investigation of these violations was conducted with the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice based on similar conduct outside of California.  The settlement calls for the Illinois-based company to pay a total of

$2.55 million in penalties nationwide for violations of the Clean Air Act.

UPS Freight on Friday, June 29, announced a general rate increase averaging 5.9 percent covering noncontractual shipments in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The rate adjustment takes effect on Monday, July 16, and applies to minimum charge, less-than-truckload rates and accessorial charges.

Customers will be able to view and download the new rates at www.ltl.upsfreight.com.

President Obama signed the tenth extension of the last federal highway funding law late Friday--and plans to sign the final legislation as soon as it hits his desk...hopefully this week.

This measure, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) is largely a long term extension--27 months instead of the traditional six year bill.

Larry Russell resigns, Paul Von Berg named Interim Executive Vice President for SCCA

Larry C. Russell has resigned from the position of Executive Vice President of the Southern California Contractors Association to pursue new career opportunities, according to an announcement from SCCA President Pete Rasic to the Board of Directors.

By Patrick Temple-West and Alina Selyukh - Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Internal Revenue Service is signaling that it will increase its scrutiny of tax-exempt political organizations, which are becoming a force in elections by raising tens of millions of dollars from undisclosed donors.

The IRS has been corresponding with such groups and is preparing questions to ask them as part of effort to determine whether their fundraising or advertising work runs afoul of tax law. IRS spokesman Terry Lemons said on Thursday the scrutiny will affect a range of tax-exempt groups.

Joint Association 

Insurance Risk Transfer & Lien Law Seminar

Friday, June 27, 2012

10:00 am - 2:30 pm in Pine Room

Hilton Garden Inn
2540 Venture Oaks Way ● Sacramento 95833

(lunch provided)

For information & Reservations
Contact Lorraine - 909-982-9898

Association Members $50

Non-members $75

Event Co-sponsored by

Insurance Risk Transfer

10 a.m. - Guest Speaker

William C. Last, Jr.

Bio:  Bio: William C. Last, Jr. has been a construction law attorney for over 33 years. His practice primarily emphasizes litigation, arbitration, and mediation on behalf of companies and individuals involved in the construction industry. Mr. Last has represented developers, lenders, design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in a wide range of matters relating to mechanics' liens, stop notices, construction failures, latent defects, general contract and bidding disputes, and professional liability, as well as in disputes concerning delays, acceleration, disruption, and payment. Mr. Last is holds a California "A" and "B" contractor's license. He is active in a number of construction industry trade associations. He is a frequent presenter at construction industry seminars.

He is a Contributing Editor to the California Real Property Reporter, (Matthew Bender) and has authored numerous construction industry related published articles. Mr. Last worked closely with the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association, Bay Area Chapter to see SB 474 through to signature by the Governor. He was involved in reviewing and commenting on the bills draft and language and he testified before legislators in Sacramento in support of the bill.

Practical ways to reduce your liability
•    How to avoid assuming the liability of others
•    The effective technique to negotiate fair Risk Transfer provisions
•    The two principal methods of transferring risk
•    How Indemnity works & the changes under AB 2738 and SB 474 provisions
•    Meaning of key Contract terms & conditions
•    How to ensure you comply with necessary Contract Risk Transfer provisions
•    How to confirm your Insurance covers these risks
•    Recognize Insurance Endorsements that restrict or exclude coverage
•    What are the differences between various Additional Insured forms?
•    What are the risks and impact of using the wrong forms?
•    The NEW Danger of Self Insured Retentions—The Forecast Homes Decision
•    Overview of Contractual Liability coverage and Additional Insured coverage’s

Lien Law Updates

12:30 p.m. - Guest Speakers

John D. Darling

Bio: John D. Darling, a Shareholder of Hunt Ortmann Paiffy Nieves Lubka Darling and Mah, Inc., has dedicated the better part of two decades to growing a successful commercial litigation practice. He focuses on the resolution of construction and commercial real estate conflicts and on complex business litigation across numerous industry groups and business sectors nationwide. Mr. Darling has represented large and small business entities, business owners and operators, construction companies and independent contractors and sub-contractors, financial institutions, real estate investors and their affiliates. He has published several articles and given over 75 seminars.

Mr. Darling has tried over one hundred cases throughout California and the United States, developing a keen understanding of what it takes to win at trial, whether in front of a judge or an impaneled jury. Mr. Darling is equally adept at alternative dispute resolution, with a significant portion of his group’s success coming from either mandatory or elective arbitration proceedings.

With the commercial real estate and construction industries currently experiencing unprecedented and devastating losses throughout the country and particularly in Southern California, Mr. Darling’s industry savvy and intuitive business sense have helped clients assess damage and risk while crafting a path forward – benefits only an experienced attorney with a thorough understanding of this down-but-not-out industry sector could provide.

Mr. Darling is listed as a “Super Lawyer” by Law and Politics Magazine and a “Best Lawyer” by Woodward/White, Inc. As a business owner himself, he possesses an entrepreneurial spirit and aggressive, no-holds-barred pursuit of success that drives his approach to client service.

Presentation: Lien Law Changes, which take effect July 1.

The first rewrite of California Lien Law (SB 189) in decades means
•    New Preliminary Notice Rules
•    Lien Waiver Forms
•    Progress Payment Waivers
•    Final Payment Waivers
•    New Mechanic’s Lien Rules
•    Erroneous Information
•    Notice of Completion/Cessation Rules
•    Stop Payment Notices
•    Prompt Payment Rules