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Kidjacked | Jacked Up
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Once they leave foster care, these most troubled youths often have no reliable adults to advise them or provide emotional support, said Gary Stangler, director of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative.
California CPS News Archive
California News Coverage
Convicted sex predator sentenced to 248 years in prison
by Gillian Flaccus
A former state mental hospital director was sentenced to 248 years in prison for molesting his adopted son over eight years as part of what prosecutors claimed was a pattern of abuse that spanned four decades and ensnared a dozen young boys.
Superior Court Judge James B. Pierce called defendant Claude Foulk, 63, a "sick, sick man" and said he should have been the No. 1 patient at the mental hospital he oversaw. The judge drew applause from the courtroom after issuing the maximum possible sentence. Foulk was fired from his post at Napa State Hospital after his arrest last year.
salon.com
February 23, 2011
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Cleaning Up After A Storm
by Tina Falco
Sonora -- Tuolumne County Administrative Officer Craig Pedro is pleased with the many resources that have helped the County during the recent winter storms.
"PG&E has an amazing number of resources up here. They have 69 different crews and an additional 21 trouble men. I know AT&T and Comcast are also out in the field all trying to clear roads and restore communications as quickly as they can."
mymotherlode.com
February 20, 2011
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Twain Harte: A trip to the Sierra - and back in time
by Janis Cooke Newman
Twain Harte in the Sierra foothills is the Hot Tub Time Machine of the Eisenhower/Nixon years. A place where your rental cabin is likely to come equipped with paintings of poker-playing dogs and closets filled with board games that predate disco.
Where the local diversions take you back to a time when sugar cubes delivered polio vaccines instead of hallucinogens. A time that seems so familiar, I feel like a local every time I drive under the Welcome to Twain Harte sign. Because for me, visiting Twain Harte is like revisiting my childhood. Or at least how my childhood would have looked on black-and-white TV.
seattlepi.com
February 2, 2011
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California School Eyes Report of Sex by 2nd Graders
by Staff
Oakland - A second-grade teacher in Northern California was placed on leave while the school investigates a report by a student that classmates engaged in oral sex and stripped off some of their clothes during class, officials said Friday.
"We believe if the reports are true, there was a serious lapse of judgment or lack of supervision in the classroom," said Troy Flint, a spokesman for the Oakland Unified School District. The name of the Markham Elementary School teacher has not been released. The teacher said he did not see any of the suspected acts take place, Flint said.
cnsnews.com
January 21, 2011
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Knitted Thoughts: Homeschool Student Novels!
by PinonKnitter
These novels were written by the 12 homeschool kids in my Creative Writing class this semester. These kids range in age from 9-14 and they completed novels as long as 150 pages!
A long-term project like this takes grit and determination and these kids stuck with it all semester, meeting their word count deadlines and acting as another set of eyes for each other's writing. We worked together to encourage each other and I worked right along with them, writing my own novel during the course of the semester as well. Modeling what I taught really helped my students.
knittedthoughts.com
January 21, 2011
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Yosemite Waiving Entrance Fees This Weekend
by Tina Falco
In celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day next Monday, Yosemite National Park will offer free admission into the park starting this weekend.
The fee waiver is for all visitors Saturday, January 15th through Monday, January 17th. Fees being waived for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend include the fees associated with entrance into the park only.
My Motherlode
January 10, 2011
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Homeschooling is a Constitutional Right
by Pacific Legal Foundation
Are California parents prohibited from educating their kids at home unless they have state-issued teachers' credentials? That was the stunning assertion of a California appellate court in a ruling this past February.
In contrast, Pacific Legal Foundation took the side of parents, choice and competition in education, and fundamental constitutional freedoms. PLF's brief cited U.S. Supreme Court precedent upholding parents' rights to direct and oversee the education of their children, and quoted former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor: "[T]he Due Process Clause does not permit a State to infringe on the fundamental right of parents to make child-rearing decisions simply because a state judge believes a 'better' decision could be made."
pacificlegal.org
December 8, 2010
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California Regulators Reject Smart Meter Moratorium
by Tina Falco
Sacramento -- Despite concerns about the health effects of Smart Meters, California regulators have decided not to block PG&E from installing the devices.
The California Public Utilities Commission voted this week against the moratorium proposed by the advocacy group, EMF Safety Network. The group says federal radiation standards that regulate the meters are inadequate and that radiation from gas meters is harmful to people's health.
mymotherlode.com
December 7, 2010
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Rampant homelessness in former foster children yet to be addressed
by Bethania Palma Markus
Steven Navarrette was nearly 18 when he became homeless. The now-20-year-old was a foster child who had no one to turn to after being forced out of the child welfare system.
Navarrette's case isn't unique. The state foster care system has been criticized for high rates of homelessness and incarceration among former foster children. Studies show roughly 20 percent of youths become homeless and 40 percent get arrested or go to prison after aging out of the system at 18.
whittierdailynews.com
November 27, 2010
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Sheriff's Office Offers Online Service
by Tina Falco
San Andreas, CA -- Reporting crime to the Calaveras County Sheriff's Office will soon be getting easier.
Starting November 29th, a new online reporting option will be available to the community that will allow individuals to file certain incident types such as minor theft, vehicle burglary, lost property and crime tips over the internet.
My Motherlode
November 18, 2010
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Stanislaus County boy allowed to keep U.S. flag on bicycle
by Patty Guerra and Erin Tracy
DENAIR -- Cody Alicea looked a little unnerved as he approached his bicycle Friday afternoon.
The 13-year-old walked into a clutch of news crews, drawn to Denair Middle School after a school employee's request that Cody remove an American flag from his bike attracted national headlines. The district, in this small Stanislaus County town, reversed its stance Friday.
San Jose Mercury News
November 14, 2010
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Sonora May Extend Medicinal Marijuana Moratorium
by B.J. Hansen
The Sonora City Council will decide Monday whether to extend a temporary moratorium on medicinal marijuana dispensaries.
On October 18th the Council put a 45 day moratorium on medicinal marijuana clinics after an applicant came to the city and proposed to open a dispensary on Mono Way. The Council wanted additional time to consider how to deal with zoning and other issues related to this type of clinic.
My Motherlode
November 14, 2010
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Embattled head of L.A. County's child welfare office may be on the way out, sources say
Los Angeles County officials are putting plans in place to remove Trish Ploehn as the director of their embattled Department of Children and Family Services, according to high-level officials familiar with the matter.
Ploehn will likely be reassigned elsewhere in the county, and William T Fujioka, the county's chief executive, is expected to appoint an interim director to allow for the search of a permanent replacement, according to the sources who asked not to be identified because it was a personnel decision that had not been made public.
Los Angeles Times
November 12, 2010
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Sheriff's deputies track San Bernardino County's sex offenders
by Melissa Pinion-Whitt
San Bernardino County has more than 4,300 convicted sex offenders. Nearly all of them follow the rules, registering annually with law enforcement agencies to let them know where they're living.
But nearly 2 percent of them in the sheriff's jurisdiction are a thorn in the side of parole agents and detectives, because they simply don't want to register. Tracking down noncompliant registrants is crucial because investigators say about 50 percent of convicted sex offenders on the lam could claim more victims.
Redlands Daily Facts
November 6, 2010
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California Wins Dumbest State Award in Landslide
by Kyle-Anne Shiver
It's the proverbial morning after and with votes counted, California has won the Dumbest State Award in a historic landslide of monstrous proportions.
Michigan voters saw their future Greece-like fate and changed course. Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Florida did likewise. Others all across America's heartland had the smarts to rein in out-of-control Democrat-socialists before their states hit the fans of bankruptcy history. They got it. Californians still don't get it. You Californians made your bed yesterday. Now sleep in it and don't come crying to the rest of us when your lights go out, your water turns off, and your illegal-alien servants head back south.
Pajamas Media
November 3, 2010
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Defendant's condition causes delay of hearing
by Samantha Yale Scroggin
The poor health of a former Orcutt foster mother charged with abusing children in her care resulted in the postponement of a court hearing set for Wednesday.
Bertha Savoy, 72, did not appear in Santa Maria court Wednesday, but her attorney, Michael Scott, did on her behalf, as well as her co-defendant and nephew, Duane James, 38, of Orcutt, and his attorney, Tom Allen.
Santa Maria Times
October 28, 2010
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Los Angeles Times receives death records of children in child and family services
by Jessica Flores and Stephanie Guzman
More than 60 children have died while in the county's child and family services system in the last two and a half years. That is what confidential records released to the Los Angeles Times show.
The county previously argued that the number of deaths declined in the past couple of years. But records show that deaths from abuse or neglect are up from 18 in 2008 to 26 in 2009. This year's figures may be even worse. Just in the first eight months of this year, there have been 21 child deaths from maltreatment.
The South Los Angeles Report
October 20, 2010
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Deaths from abuse and neglect increase among children under L.A. County oversight
by Garrett Therolf
Confidential documents show the numbers climbing in recent years, contradicting previous reports by the Children and Family Services agency.
More children have died in each of the last two years from abuse or neglect after being under the eye of Los Angeles County's Department of Children and Family Services despite assurances by county officials that the problem was getting better, according to confidential county documents reviewed by The Times.
Los Angeles Times
October 19, 2010
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Children's Minister Accused of Molestation
Madera County investigators are asking victims of a children's minister to come forward. 48-year-old Alberto Rodriguez is accused of molesting children in his care.
Rodriguez was a foster parent and worked as a children's minister at Valley West Christian Church in Madera for several years, before he was let go when the accusations came to light. Five victims have come forward so far, but investigators believe the molestations could go as far back as 20 years ago, and there could be more victims out there.
KMPH Fox News 26
October 18, 2010
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Investigators Seek Clues in Winton Double-Homicide
Merced County Sheriff's deputies are investigating a double-homicide. Two bodies were found at a home in the 7000-block of Anne Circle in Winton.
Two children were in the house at the time; a 15-year-old, who discovered the bodies, and his 13-year-old brother. Both teens are with child protective services.
KSEE 24 News
October 13, 2010
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Marijuana Eradication Doubles In Tuolumne County
by B.J. Hansen
Sonora, CA -- The 2010 marijuana eradication season is coming to a close in Tuolumne County.
"It was a very good summer in that we were able to eradicate over 430,000 marijuana plants," says Sheriff Jim Mele. "We doubled what we did the previous year, so everybody did a great job."
My Motherlode
October 12, 2010
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Humboldt County DHHS nabs federal foster care grant
Humboldt County has been selected as one of four California counties to participate in a five-year pilot program designed to improve foster care outcomes.
According to a press release from the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services, the program is particularly aimed at increasing outcomes for subgroups of children and youth who face significant barriers to adoption. These include Native American youth, who are disproportionately represented statewide within the foster care system and also face unique placement challenges, according to the release. The pilot program, called the California Partnership to Reduce Long-Term Foster Care, will be funded by a $14.5 million grant from the federal Administration for Children and Families. Approximately $1.65 million of the grant is designated for the Humboldt County DHHS.
Contra Costa Times
October 10, 2010
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Schwarzenegger vetoes nearly $1 billion in spending for health, welfare programs
by Amanda Getchel
Hours after California state lawmakers passed a budget, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed nearly $1 billion in spending. The cuts came to welfare, child care, special education and other programs.
Some Democrats called the governor a hypocrite for holding a news conference announcing his support for extending foster care to young adults from age 18 to 21, but then cutting $80 million in child welfare services including money for foster care.
San Bernardino Democrat Examiner
October 8, 2010
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