HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PROTESTS DRESS CODE IN YEARBOOK QUOTE: SAN MATEO (AP) — A California student’s yearbook quote protesting the dress code at her school is approaching 100,000 interactions online.
KGO-TV reports recent San Mateo High School graduate Chloe Cross posted her yearbook quote online apologizing to students who were so distracted by her midriff that they couldn’t pass their classes.
Hunger Games actress Amandla Steinberg posted it on Tumblr and it’s gotten about 93,000 likes or reblogs since.
Cross says she wanted her quote to show how ridiculous it is to blame how girls dress for their classmates’ shortcomings. She said the school’s enforcement of the policy varies widely by gender and body type.
San Mateo Union High School communications manager Sheri Costa-Batis released a statement saying all students are encouraged to express their views about policies that impact them.
ASSEMBLY OKS BILL LIMITING CASH PAYOUTS FOR SUPERINTENDENTS: SACRAMENTO (AP) — State lawmakers have overwhelmingly endorsed a proposal that would limit the compensation school districts can pay to California school superintendents who are terminated before their contract is completed.
The legislation by Assemblyman Luis Alejo would limit severance packages to 12 months’ salary, and offer nothing for superintendents who have committed fraud or another illegal fiscal act. Current law allows departing administrators to collect up to 18 months’ pay, or 6 months’ pay in cases of financial wrongdoing.
The Watsonville Democrat says it’s in response to outrageous payouts of up to $500,000 for superintendents who were terminated.
The Assembly approved his AB215 on a 66-1 vote, sending it to the Senate.
ASSEMBLY REJECTS HOLIDAY DOUBLE-PAY, DELAYS SCHEDULE RULES: SACRAMENTO (AP) — State lawmakers have rejected two proposals aimed at providing low-wage workers more consistent schedules and offering extra pay for working on Thanksgiving.
Assembly lawmakers defeated AB67 by Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez of San Diego. The bill would have forced retailers to pay employees double-time for working on the Thanksgiving holiday. It comes as stores have begun opening earlier and earlier to accommodate shoppers ahead of Black Friday.
The Assembly rejected it, 29-28 on Thursday.
Two other lawmakers also postponed a vote on a union-backed proposal that would require retailers and food service businesses to post employee schedules two weeks in advance.
Lacking support in the Legislature on Thursday, the lawmakers said they were converting AB357 to a two-year bill so it can be taken up next year.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA OFFICER DRAGGED BY CAR AFTER STOP: DALY CITY (AP) — A police officer south of San Francisco shot at a getaway car when the vehicle dragged another officer down the street for a bit.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports Thursday that the officer has minor injuries.
Daly City police Sgt. Harold Rolfes says officers with the San Mateo County Gang Task Force stopped a car for an unspecified traffic violation in Daly City Wednesday night.
As an officer contacted the motorist, the driver sped away, “dragging the officer a short distance,” Rolfes told the newspaper.
Rolfes says it was not known if anyone in the car was struck by the gunfire. Those in the car remain at large.
SEVERAL STUNG AS BEES SWARM DURING SCHOOL GRADUATION: PASADENA. (AP) — Authorities say four people were stung when bees swarmed during a school graduation ceremony in Pasadena.
The Pasadena Star-News says paramedics initially responded Wednesday to a report that more than 30 people were stung on the campus of Pasadena High School. But just four people — a child and three adults — needed treatment of minor injuries. Nobody was hospitalized.
Firefighters used foam to douse a hive discovered inside of a utility vault. Fire spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said the hive would be destroyed.
The graduation ceremony for students of Sierra Madre Middle School went on as scheduled.
OFFICIALS MULL PURCHASE CIVILIAN MODEL OF MILITARY VEHICLE: DAVIS (AP) — Officials are exploring whether to spend between $175,000 and half a million dollars on a smaller version of a military vehicle the Davis police force returned seven months ago.
The Sacramento Bee reports a free federal government surplus program initially provided Davis police with the military vehicle. Officials returned it over concerns that law enforcement is becoming militarized.
Davis Assistant Police Chief Darren Pytel says a smaller version of the military vehicle could be used in dangerous situations to deliver officers or rescue people.
The city council will discuss options in the fall, but Davis Mayor Dan Wolk says he’s deeply skeptical about spending $400,000 on an armored vehicle when the city has so many other needs.
BILL WOULD BAN CHEWING TOBACCO AT CALIFORNIA BALLPARKS: SACRAMENTO (AP) — The California Assembly has approved legislation that would ban the use of chewing tobacco at California ballparks.
Lawmakers approved AB768 by Assemblyman Tony Thurmond, a Richmond Democrat, on a 42-25 vote Thursday.
Thurmond says the bill would ensure that children would not see their professional baseball heroes using smokeless tobacco during ball games.
The legislation is part of an effort this year by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids based in Washington, D.C.
It also targeted the city of San Francisco, which became the first city in the nation to outlaw chewing tobacco on playing fields last month. It includes AT&T Park, home to the San Francisco Giants.
Thurmond’s bill originally called for a ban on e-cigarettes as well, but it was modified. The legislation advances to the state Senate.
