government

Friday, September 11, 2009

Burbank, the city council, and that disturbing water wasting video

  Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank Burbank officials have hammered residents with new water restrictions, penalties, and higher rates recently. We’re in a water crisis they insist. Well, you’d think if the shortage is as serious as they say, the first order of business would be to make the city as water efficient as possible. There are indications this has not been a high priority or the […]
Friday, September 4, 2009

Water a hot issue at the Burbank City Council meeting

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank  We’re deep in the heat of a Southern California summer with temperatures  reaching over 100 degrees on many days. So what does the Burbank City Council do?  Last Tuesday, they voted to slap stiffer restrictions on water use. Hopefully, the council will reconsider this decision when the issue comes back for a final review.  At this week’s city council meeting, Dr. David Gordon was […]
Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Senator Ted Kennedy dies at 77

File Photo: April 2008  Adam Hunger/Reuters One of the most powerful figures in American politics is being remembered today. U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy died last night at the family compound in Hannis Port, Massachusetts at the age of 77 after a valiant battle with brain cancer. Since the assassination of his brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy in the […]
Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Burbank City Council selects new police commissioner

Photo: FLLewis/A Writer’s Groove — Burbank City Hall Now that the Burbank City Council has filled the vacant seat on the police commission, hopefully, that body can move forward with a busy agenda. Last night, real estate consultant and long time Burbank business owner, Raymond Gerald Adams, was the top vote getter out of a field of six contenders. Adams received […]
Thursday, August 13, 2009

Actor Sidney Poitier among Medal of Freedom winners

Photo: Chuck Kennedy/White House A special ceremony at the White House last night honored 16 super achievers with the nation’s highest civilian award, the Medal of Freedom. In the photo above, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson congratulates fellow medal recipient, Actor Sidney Poitier. The other medal winners included Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, Scientist Stephen Hawking, Tennis Star Billie Jean King, Entertainer Chita Rivera, […]
Monday, August 10, 2009

White House launches new health insurance reform resource

  The debate over the pros and cons of health insurance reform is seriously heating up. In an effort to get its message out about what it considers the “stability and security” of health insurance reform, the White House launched a new online resource today WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck  The Obama administration is encouraging the public to visit  “Reality Check” to find out what is really in health insurance […]
Saturday, August 8, 2009

Sonia Sotomayor sworn in as U.S. Supreme Court Justice

Photo: Jim Young/Reuters It’s official. Judge Sonia Sotomayor is now an associate justice of the 220-year-old U.S. Supreme Court. Sotomayor went through two swearing-in ceremonies this morning, one private and one public, at the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath. After the public ceremony, Sotomayor is shown in the photo above being congratulated by Chief Justice Roberts while her […]
Thursday, August 6, 2009

Judge Sonia Sotomayor makes history

Photo: Jason Reed/Reuters  Judgment Day turned into a shining moment for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Today Judge Sotomayor won confirmation from the U.S. Senate on a sweeping 68-31 vote. Nine Republicans joined Democrats in voting for the 55-year-old federal appeals court judge. Sotomayor will be the first Hispanic and only the third female to sit on the nation’s highest court. Republican opponents insisted Sotomayor was […]
Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Two freed California reporters arrive in Burbank

                                                     Photo: Irfan Khan/ Los Angeles Times  Two California journalists, newly freed from North Korea, shared an emotional reunion with family and friends at  the Bob Hope Airport in Burbank this morning. After months of negotiations, Former President Bill Clinton was able to fly to North Korea yesterday and secure the release of 36-year-old Euna Lee and 32-year-old Laura Ling. In the photo […]