ARCADIA, Calif. — A horse broke down in the last race at Santa Anita on Wednesday, the track’s first racing death of the winter-spring meet after a spate of deaths last year. Golden Birthday took a bad step in the stretch and jockey Victor Espinoza fell off while trying to pull up the 4-year-old gelding […]

The distinguished Spanish composer and pianist Sira Hernández is known especially for her involvement with multi-discipline arts projects at major international festivals and cultural events. Many of her works are inspired by Italian artists as can be heard on this album. Minimalist techniques and the significance of tonality and timbre in communicating darkness and light are heard in Iniciación a la sombra and the sewing-machine ostinatos of Fantasía para piano. The presence of God amidst the bleak spaces of madness are expressed in Terra Santa, and the intensity of Don’t Forget About That invites us to resist oblivion.

(California Court of Appeal) - Affirmed. Plaintiffs are the parents of three girls who were killed by a speeding motorist while they crossed the street in a marked crosswalk. Plaintiff brought an action against the City of Santa Ana claiming that the crosswalk qualified as a dangerous condition on public property. The appeals court did not find a dangerous condition or any peculiar condition that would trigger an obligation by the City.

(California Court of Appeal) - Held that a homeowner was not entitled to a refund of property taxes. County officials correctly determined that there was a change in ownership of a house she co-owned with her sister, which triggered a reassessment of its value. Affirmed a judgment after trial.

(California Court of Appeal) - Issuing a peremptory writ of mandate and vacating the superior court's refusal to apply the Braddock rule, requiring that the court assess demand futility as to the board in place when an amended complaint is filed in a corporate action, because the rule is consistent with relevant aspects of California law.

(California Court of Appeal) - In a water law action, arising from a dispute between landowners and public water producers over rights to groundwater contained in the Santa Maria Valley Groundwater Basin, the trial court's amended judgment is affirmed where: 1) the trial court properly quieted title even though it did not quantify the proportionate prescriptive loss attributed to specified parcels; 2) the trial court did not err in its prevailing party determination for the purposes of determining costs.

(California Court of Appeal) - In a lawsuit to unwind a public water agency's acquisition of all of the stock of a retail water purveyor within its territory, the trial court's order refusing to unwind the transaction is affirmed where: 1) the streamlined procedures available for validating certain acts of public agencies, Code Civ. Proc.section 860 et seq., are inapplicable; 2) substantial evidence supports the trial court's factual finding that the purveyor did not become the agency's alter ego in this case; and 3) the agency did not violate article XVI, section 17.

(Supreme Court of California) - In a case relating to a surcharge added to energy bills that the city claimed was a fee for the use of public services which taxpayers characterized as a tax imposed without voter approval the court affirmed the appellate decision reversing the trial court's grant of motion for judgment on the pleadings, but reversed the appellate court's order granting summary adjudication to the plaintiffs.

(United States Seventh Circuit) - In plaintiff's suit against its insurer, arising from an underlying suit against the plaintiff over its marketing of Christmas lights for copying packaging design and for using false and deceptive language, district court's judgment is affirmed where: 1) the insurer had, but did not breach, a duty to defend; 2) the district court properly declined to require the insurer to reimburse plaintiff's contract indemnitee's expenses; but 3) the case is remanded to resolve whether the insurer owes prejudgment interest on litigation expenses and reimbursement for the settlement expenses in the underlying suit.

(California Court of Appeal) - Upheld an administrative decision by the Santa Monica Community College District to allow a contractor to replace one subcontractor with another subcontractor on a construction project. Affirmed the denial of the plaintiff subcontractor's writ petition.

(California Court of Appeal) - Reversed. Plaintiff, a rental property owner, filed suit against Defendant, a rent control board, to prevent certain properties from being subject to rent control. The trial court agreed with Plaintiff, but the appeals court held that the rent board did not have the authority to exempt rental units from rent control under the Santa Monica City Charter.

(California Court of Appeal) - Affirmed. Plaintiffs are the parents of three girls who were killed by a speeding motorist while they crossed the street in a marked crosswalk. Plaintiff brought an action against the City of Santa Ana claiming that the crosswalk qualified as a dangerous condition on public property. The appeals court did not find a dangerous condition or any peculiar condition that would trigger an obligation by the City.

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Affirmed that a federally recognized Indian tribe was prohibited from operating an internet bingo casino. The State of California and the United States brought this lawsuit contending that the tribe's online bingo game violated the federal Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Agreeing with the governmental plaintiffs, the Ninth Circuit affirmed summary judgment against the tribe, holding that while the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act protects gaming activity conducted on Indian lands, it did not permit the tribe's internet bingo game that reached patrons located off Indian lands.

(United States Ninth Circuit) - Upheld a beach town's ordinance imposing restrictions on companies, such as Airbnb Inc., that host online platforms for short-term vacation rentals. The internet companies claimed that the ordinance impermissibly infringed their First Amendment rights or was preempted by federal law. Disagreeing, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the dismissal of their lawsuit seeking to enjoin the ordinance.

Today’s CapChat looks at three current issues. 

First, with horse death investigations underway at Santa Anita Park, three more deaths have occurred in recent days. Since December 2018, there have been a total of 42 deaths at the park. California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law in June of 2019 allowing the state to suspend horse racing at tracks with dangerous conditions. That has, as yet, not happened at Santa Anita.

Next, in a new pilot program, Uber is giving some of its driving contractors more control by letting them set their own rates. Drivers at the Sacramento, Palm Springs and Santa Barbara airports can increase rates in ten percent increments, with a cap. Depending on results, Uber could expand this to other airports. This is an effort to clarify that Uber drivers are independent, not employees, since the implementation of AB 5 on Jan. 1, 2020.

Third, with the impeachment trial underway in the U.S. Senate, the date of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union somewhat uncertain, Newsom has yet to set a date for his own annual State of the State address. 

Guests

• CapRadio State Government Reporter Scott Rodd

"I never thought it would happen to me," he said.

The eight episode, half-hour series will be written by showrunner Alexandra Rushfield and will be produced by Rogen's Point Grey Pictures as part of their multiplatform partnership with Lionsgate.

Rowing Blazers' pop-up is sandwiched between Christian Louboutin and beauty brand Space NK — inside a mini-post office called Substation No. 1 at the Brentwood Country Mart.

A decade in the making, Tyra Banks' modeling utopia, ModelLand, 'will emulate a fantasy version of the modeling world.' The park opens in Santa Monica in May.

The schools are closing Friday and Monday for deep cleaning and staff meetings after "a community member with children in our schools" was exposed to the virus, the district said.

Lou Ferrigno, who starred as the title character on the CBS show 'The Incredible Hulk,' has sold his longtime home in Santa Monica for $3.25 million.

Jessica Capshaw of 'Grey's Anatomy' and her husband, Honest Co. co-founder Christopher Gavigan, have sold their Santa Monica home for $5.75 million.

Need some space? Here's a look at what roughly $1 million buys on an acre or more in Lompoc, Santa Ynez and Solvang in Santa Barbara County.

A newly built home in Santa Monica showcases what's new in East Coast and contemporary design styles. Asking price: $8.899 million.

Former Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason, has listed his longtime home in San Diego for sale at $4.199 million.

Brush up on your Russian with Opera Santa Barbara's 2019 production of Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin."

In the celebrated art colony of Santa Fe, New Mexico, you can of course get paintings of the scenery of the southwestern United States, but did you know you can also get original paintings of Daffy Duck and Wile E. Coyote?

velocityconf: @tsantero @garethr No, there's just a lot that goes into producing #velocityconf. Plus the chairs are getting ready for Santa Clara + NY! :)

Hear about travel to Santa Fe, New Mexico as the Amateur Traveler talks to Billie Frank from SantaFeTravelers.com about her city, the second oldest in the United States and the oldest capital city in the U.S.

Hear about travel to Santa Barbara, California as the Amateur Traveler talks to Heather Simon from wellplannedtravel.net about the "American Riviera".

Montreal, 26 September 2008 - The province of Santa Elena, the newest province in Ecuador, emerged as the first jurisdiction in the world to proclaim a provincial day for protected areas, the Prefecta of the province, Ms. Ana Triviño Cisneros, has announced. To be celebrated annually on 23 September, the Day celebrates the designation of a new marine protected area off Ecuador's coast aimed at conserving about 47,000 hectares of some of the world's most spectacular biodiversity.

An OMer in Hungary shares how God intervened in the lives of women in the sex industry through the Bus4Life ministry

"Are all my elves ready? OK, off we go!" A group of Santa and his elves head out into Karuizawa, Japan, to share God’s love.

Leung Wai, from Hong Kong, is burned to pray for Japan after dressing as Santa Claus and being warmly greeted by passers-by last December.

This afternoon President Trump ordered American flags at all U.S. government buildings and facilities be flown at half-staff beginning immediately until sunset on May 22, as a mark of solemn respect for the victims of the shootings at Santa Fe High School in Texas. In concurrence with the President’s order and as an expression of […]

Today’s companies see the importance of design as more consumers demand elegance alongside flawless functionality and exceptional user experience. As a company that has created countless ingenious product designs in different markets all over the ...

Title: Worst U.S. Air: Bakersfield Calif.; Best: Honolulu, Santa Fe
Category: Health News
Created: 4/28/2011 11:01:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 4/28/2011 12:00:00 AM

The department announced an agreement with Santa Rosa, Calif., to improve access to all aspects of civic life for persons with disabilities.

The United States, the California Department of Fish and Game and the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Coast Region, filed a civil complaint today in federal court against Greka Oil & Gas Inc. alleging that the company violated federal and state water laws.

One hundred and seventy five young men and women from nearly 50 tribal communities across the country have convened at the week-long 2011 National Intertribal Youth Summit in Santa Fe, N.M., which runs from July 24-28, 2011.

The Justice Department today announced an agreement with a California municipality and a homeowners’ association to resolve allegations of discrimination on the basis of familial status in violation of the Fair Housing Act. The settlement, in the form of a consent order, must be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

    WARNING LETTER

VIA UNITED PARCEL SERVICE
SIGNATURE REQUIRED

December 1, 2018

Mr. Kris Kringle, Owner
Santa’s Workshop, LLC
1225 Santa Clause Way
North Pole, Arctic Circle
 
Dear Mr. Kringle:

The U.S. FDA inspected your manufacturing facility, Santa’s Workshop, LLC at
1225 Santa Claus Way, North Pole Arctic Circle, from April 2 to April 20, 2018.

This warning letter summarizes significant violations of CGMP regulations for finished product. See 21 CFR, parts 210 and 211. During our inspection, our investigators observed specific violations including, but not limited to, the following.

CGMP Violations

1.    Your firm failed to ensure that each person engaged in the manufacture, processing, packing, or holding of product has the education, training, and experience, or any combination thereof, to enable that person to perform his or her assigned functions (21 CFR 211.25(a) and 211.28).

Many members of your Enterprise Labor Force (ELF) unit lacked sufficient prior experience for designing and assembling (b)(4). At the time of our inspection, no ELF members had received training on CGMPs, and most were unaware of their responsibilities in the areas of cleanliness and proper attire. Hands and faces were often coated with chocolate, and bells on hats and shoes prevented protective apparel from attaining a proper fit. More generally, factory staff demonstrated an undisciplined, almost gleeful disregard for quality procedures. On three separate occasions, at critical stages of the manufacturing process, floor workers erupted into spontaneous song and dance.



Your written response of May 18, 2018 is inadequate because it does not address these training and experience deficiencies. While endearing, the ability to “sit on a shelf” or “live in a hollow tree” does not constitute acceptable manufacturing experience. Candy coating does not qualify as protective covering. And sticking one’s hands in a nearby snowdrift is not a recognized sanitation procedure. “Pure as the driven snow” is not a thing. Especially with all those reindeer knocking about.

2.    Your firm failed to maintain a system by which the distribution of each lot of product can be readily determined to facilitate its recall if necessary (21 CFR 211.150(b)).

Product distribution records were incomplete and, in the event of a recall, would be insufficient to identify all product recipients.

Your written response of May 18, 2018 is inadequate. Santa’s Own Procedures (SOPs) are insufficient to capture the information required to conduct a thorough recall.  Mr. Kringle may well know which customers are naughty and which are nice -- who’s good, who’s bad, who’s sleeping, and who’s awake, but this information is not written down and, in the opinion of our investigators, would be of limited value if it were.

3.    Your firm failed to store product at an appropriate temperature to ensure the identity, strength, quality, and purity of the products are not affected (21 CFR 211.142(b)).

Entire sections of the facility lacked effective air conditioning, resulting in destruction of all (b)(4) warehoused in two large storage rooms. A third inadequately cooled room was not in use, and except for some miscellaneous items – a couple hunks of coal, a corncob pipe, and a large, oddly sad puddle of water – the room was all but empty.

Your written response of May 18, 2108 was inadequate. FDA isn’t really sure what to do with “that old silk hat we found” in your response package.

4.    Products failing to meet established standards or specifications and any other relevant quality control criteria shall be rejected. Reprocessing may be performed (21 CFR 211.165(f)).

While not strictly a violation of 21 CFR 211.165(f), the rejection and quarantining procedures your firm follows for products that fail to meet established criteria is concerning. While it’s appropriate to reject a (b)(4) that swims, a (b)(4) with square wheels, a (b)(4) that shoots jelly, and a (b)(4) that rides an ostrich, exile to a remote island ruled by a flying lion is, in a word, extreme. Your firm also rejected and exiled a (b)(4)-in-a-box for what was almost certainly an easily remediated labeling problem; reprocessing would have been a more appropriate course of action. Also, we just have to know. Seriously. WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE DOLLY???

5.    Your firm failed to establish adequate acceptance criteria for sampling and testing necessary to assure that batches of product meet appropriate specifications as a condition of their approval and release (21 CFR 211.165(d)).

Sampling procedures consisted of pulling each finished batch of (b)(4) out of a hot oven, taking a few nibbles, and declaring it “Jingle-icious.” Testers would frequently adulterate samples by submersing and saturating them with milk. These procedures are totally without scientific rigor. Furthermore, sampling was not restricted to members of the Quality Control Unit, but was extended to the entire plant floor. At times, sampling frequency was so high that there was very little, if any, of (b)(4) left to distribute. (On a personal note, our investigators would like to express their appreciation for the opportunity to participate in the testing activity. All the batches they sampled exceeded the strictest statistical quality control criteria, excepting the fruitcake, which could have benefited from additional stability testing and an earlier expiry date.)

Conclusion

Violations in this letter are not intended as an all-inclusive list. Typically the manufacturer is responsible for investigating violations, determining their root causes, and preventing their recurrence. However, in this case we’re going to make an exception. Though your methods and procedures are unconventional and frequently out of compliance with regulations, they are not wholly without merit. Our investigators have never experienced such a high level of workplace morale -- some calling it “downright merry” – and believe it warrants further observation. Investigators have suggested a series of mutually consultative visits to your workshop. Music, dance, batch samples, reindeer games, and the occasional adulterated eggnog are highly encouraged.

Sincerely,
/S/
Holly Bush
Division Director/OPQO Division I
North Pole District Office

The coronavirus outbreak has forced the cancellation of myriad life events. Santa Clara County won't even let you celebrate in your car now.

This wine is brimming with bright fruit, dark undertones and those farmyard aromas common to most Pinots. With notes of pepper, strawberry and dried mint on the palette, this wine is as food-friendly as it is drinkable.

The play bombed in Oxbow for promoting a green agenda.

The rupture spilled thousands of gallons of oil, contaminated at least four miles of beach and spread into the ocean.

Gift givers around the world can benefit from this advice

Santa Claus and Extended Stay America, “Santa’s Official Hotel,” Partner to ease holiday travel woes. In time for the holiday season, the ultimate holiday travel guru shares holiday travel tips.

I’m back with my third and final DIY for Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft’s Celebrate The Season. This time the theme was “fabulously festive”. These santa favor cups can not only be used to hold small treats, but you could also add tiny flags with names to use them as place … Continue reading →