No One's Happy With the Budget
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
posted by Sharon Ito at 12:49 PM |
We'll be live streaming Governor Schwarzenegger's news conference and his revised budget plan at 1 p.m. He wants to use money from the lottery to close the state's budget deficit. Teachers aren't happy with some of the proposed budget cuts and protests are planned throughout the day. We'll be live streaming those demonstrations and opening up the Live_Online chat to get your comments.
This morning on Live_Online, author and grape grower Paula Moulton shared her story. One of our longtime viewers, Walt from Roseville, hit the mark again when he called Paula a "modern pioneer woman." Paula knew it was time to make a change in her family's life, to slow things down and find a simpler life in the country. She knew nothing about growing grapes when they moved to Sonoma County, but knew her passion was working the land. So she took a year's worth of classes and basically learned how to farm through trial and error, but over the years she's sold her grapes to some of the best-known wineries. She is now creating a new wine to be called Midnight Moulton, after her late husband Chuck Moulton. He died in a car crash several years ago, three days before Paula's memoir was released. Paula is now doing a belated book tour for "Seasons Among the Vines: Life Lessons from the California Wine Country." She's working on a second book about her family's struggle to overcome adversity, hitting rock bottom but surviving, and carving a new path in life.
Tell us what you're talking about and the topics you'd like us to explore on Live_Online. Send us an email: LiveOnline@news10.net
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Shred It & Forget It
Friday, May 2, 2008
posted by Sharon Ito at 1:01 PM |
We'll continue our online chat on identity theft at 5 p.m. with John Holt of Debt and Credit Solutions in Sacramento. He'll talk about how to restore your credit after your identity's been stolen.
In our 11 a.m. online chat, privacy expert Joanne McNabb told us when it comes to identity theft, a majority of the victims have no idea how their personal information was stolen -- whether it was through mail theft, online theft or someone pilfering through the garbage. So one of the ways to reduce your risk of ID theft is to destroy as many documents as you can that contain your personal data.
With that end in mind, the Better Business Bureau is holding a "Shred It & Forget It Event" tomorrow, May 3rd, at American River College from 10 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. You can bring up to six boxes of documents (old bank statements, credit card bills and other papers) and have them professionally shredded. The first three boxes will be shredded at no cost. For additional boxes, there's a $3 per box donation for the Boys & Girls Club of Sacramento County.
Joanne gave us another ID theft prevention tip. If you're a catalog shopper and have a lot of catalogs around the house, be sure to shred the order form that has your name on it. That form is often tied to your billing information and someone could get their hands on it, if it isn't shredded.
Coming up Monday on Live_Online at 11 a.m., we'll continue our Sacramento mayoral candidates forum. Candidate Adam Daniel will be taking your questions online.
Be sure to watch News10 and news10.net on Wednesday, May 7th, when our mayoral forum takes place at the California Museum, in conjunction with the Sacramento Bee. All seven candidates have accepted our invitation to appear. If you have a question for the candidates, go ahead and email me: LiveOnline@news10.net
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Too Much Emphasis on Testing?
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
posted by Sharon Ito at 1:09 PM |
On Live_Online at 5 p.m., News10's Dana Howard will tackle the controversy surrounding standardized tests. Are schools and teachers putting too much emphasis on the tests? What do the exams truly measure? Do test scores reinforce racial stereotypes, such as Asian and affluent white students do better than black and Latino students? Our studio guest is Nancy Lucia, Associate Superintendent in the Elk Grove Unified School District.
This morning, our Live_Online chat focused on the threat of West Nile Virus. It can be astonishing the damage one tiny mosquito bite can inflict, but that's the reality of the virus. We talked with two people who know the threat first-hand: Marie Heilman is a mother from Winters who contracted West Nile Virus in the summer of '06 and is still recovering today, and Gary Goodman is a manager with the Sac-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District.
Gary told us the vast majority of people who are bitten by a mosquito carrying West Nile Virus won't get sick and won't even realize they've been infected. But 20-percent of people who are infected will experience flu-like symptoms, fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash. In the most severe cases, the virus is fatal.
Marie first noticed vision and coordination problems, then nausea. She couldn't walk or talk, lost part of her hearing, later developed meningitis and at one point, her doctor told her husband that she might not survive. Her condition was ultimately traced to West Nile Virus and Marie suspects a mosquito bit her while she was gardening. She still has vision and hearing problems today. There's no vaccine against West Nile Virus.
Right now, the only line of defense is the use of repellents to prevent mosquito bites and getting rid of standing water so they don't have a place to multiply. You can find out more information about West Nile Virus and eradication programs under the Links section on the Live_Online page.
You may have seen a previous story we aired on News10, how the foreclosure crisis could play a role in the spread of West Nile. That's because some of those homes have backyard pools that are now unattended, turning foul and becoming the breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Gary said vector control crews will come out and deal with the problem, but "Fighting the Bite" is everyone's job.
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How's the Air We're Breathing?
Friday, April 11, 2008
posted by Sharon Ito at 9:00 AM |
Have you been walking around with watery eyes, a running nose, and a stuffy head? We're talking about air quality, allergies and asthma on Live_Online today. At 11 a.m, our studio guest is Lori Kobza with the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District. At 5pm, our online guest is Dr. Rajan Merchant, an allergy and asthma specialist with Mercy Woodland Healthcare. Log on and send us your questions and comments.
It's time to check our News10 Forums to see what you're saying about some of the stories in the news. The week ends with more canceled flights at American Airlines due to the massive inspections now underway.
Viewer, Kittylove, is concerned that previous inspections weren't taking place:
"I can't believe these airline companies putting innocent lives at risk to so they can fill their pockets with the money they saved from having regular inspections. This is just unacceptable."
Viewer, Daily Reader, is just glad inspections are finally underway:
"You would think that these people would be thinking on the level where if these planes did not have the inspections done, there would be a very high probability that they could die."
This week we reported on a State Senate committee approving a ban on helium-filled metallic balloons because those balloons drift into power lines and cause power outages.
Viewer, RevDeacon, responded:
"Give me a break!!! The legislator needs to be spending his time on the really IMPORTANT stuff--like children with no health insurance, or families with no homes!!!"
Also at the State Capitol, an Assembly committee passed a bill requiring paid sick leave for California workers.
Viewer, Why Me, liked the idea:
"It's about time this thing pass because when people get sick they will not get paid and instead show to work and make others sick and then there are many sick people at work. It's a good idea to keep a healthy place to work and more helpful to all."
Viewer, Bob S, isn't entirely convinced:
"I agree in theory that workers should not be forced to work when they are sick, but is the State trying to run small business into the ground? Between workers comp, taxes, and insurances, I don't know how any of them can survive."
You can post a comment on any story you see on news10.net. Just scroll to the bottom of the story and join the conversation.
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Let the Debates Begin
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
posted by Sharon Ito at 12:47 PM |
Mayoral candidate, Kevin Johnson, promised us a lively online chat and he delivered.
Regarding Mayor Heather Fargo's frustration that he wasn't debating her, Johnson replied he would absolutely debate her. He said his campaign has received more than a hundred requests and they're still sorting through everything. One of the debate invitations is from News10, The Sacramento Bee and the California Museum for a candidates forum on May 7th. Although I couldn't pin him down on a formal acceptance, I think he'll be there.
If you joined our chat, you saw it was a half-hour of rapid fire questioning and most of the questions were sent by our viewers. On public safety, Johnson said he wants to add more police officers and firefighters, but some administrative positions may have to be cut and other jobs left vacant in order to increase manpower on the streets. On an arena for the Kings, he said he'd like to see a larger project that includes an entertainment center built in Sacramento, but he's heard the voters' resounding rejection of public funding for an arena and knows he'll need to find another way to finance it. As for education, he plans to use his influence, if elected mayor, to crack down on truancy and increase graduation rates. Johnson said he doesn't want to raise taxes or fees to close the city's budget deficit, but wouldn't go so far as pledging "no new taxes." While Johnson said Barack Obama's run for president is inspiring, his real inspiration comes from Martin Luther King and the struggle for civil rights. Johnson is a supporter of gay rights and said gay couples should have all the rights given to everyone else. We even had a few viewers ask how Johnson's shooting is doing these days. He told us the last time he picked up a basketball was a couple of years ago for his 40th birthday, when he found out age had caught up with him. He wasn't able to dunk!
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Ask Kevin Johnson
posted by Sharon Ito at 9:00 AM |
We'll be streaming video from San Francisco, in anticipation of today's Olympic torch relay. Supporters of the Beijing Olympics, along with people condemning China's human rights record, will be along the route. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom says they're ready to change the route at the last minute, for the sake of safety if it's necessary.
We're talking mayoral politics at 11 a.m. on Live_Online. Kevin Johnson will join us in the studio to answer your questions. Sacramento Mayor Heather Fargo said her main opponent has a great image and star quality as a former NBA player -- but that Kevin Johnson lacks the experience to run a city. Johnson, for his part, is already suggesting the city change its charter and put more power in the hands of the mayor. Under the platform Johnson's already unveiled, he's calling for more police officers on the street and a new gang task force. He also wants "responsible budgeting that does not rely on new taxes to bail out fiscal mismanagement." And his Web site said under a Johnson administration, "every school in this city will have a band, a choir, an active arts program and after-school opportunities for every child willing to learn." What are the issues that are important to you in this election? What do you want to ask Kevin Johnson? Here's your chance. Log on to Live_Online at 11 a.m. and join the conversation.
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A Note From the Coroner
Monday, April 7, 2008
posted by Sharon Ito at 1:05 PM |
What's the biggest source of stress for CHP officers? Approaching a driver who's been pulled over on a dark highway and preparing for a possible confrontation? While that's stressful, it's not the most stressful scenario. In today's online chat Jon Hamm, with the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, told us the most stressful experience for even veteran officers is dealing with accidents that claim the lives of young people, crashes that are often the result of distractions, inattention and inexperience. The state is launching a new driver's ed program called Impact Teen Drivers, that will target every sophomore in California public schools. It features an interactive Web site (featured in our Links section) and includes the stories of families who've lost a teenager in a car crash, putting a face to the heartbreaking statistics. Debbie Smith lost her 17-year-old son, Joel, in a crash several years ago. Their family had just wrapped up Debbie's birthday celebration and Joel was heading out with some friends on that Friday night. The next morning Debbie noticed a note from the coroner's office in their mailbox, asking that someone call the department. That's how she found out her son died in a car crash. Joel was a passenger, and the driver was a teenage friend who was driving too fast, got distracted and lost control. Debbie told us she's sharing her family's loss to get teens to slow down, and to remind them to drive with their futures in mind. The Web site also asks parents how they're driving these days. Are they distracted, multi-tasking, inattentive drivers who drive a tad too fast? Our example behind the wheel speaks volumes.
We'll continue the conversation on teen driving on Live_Online at 5 p.m. The Impact Teen Drivers program has support from the highest levels, from the CHP commissioner to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. You can chat with these top officials, Live_Online.
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