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EAST BAY ROUNDUP
MAYOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF TO LEAVE CITY: Dave Grenell, chief of staff to Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, plans to leave the city at the end of the year to study government policy abroad. Grenell, 34, will spend about eight months in nine European countries through the Marshall Memorial Fellowship, a 26-year-old program that encourages participants to work together on international and domestic policy challenges. Some of the best ideas, particularly in environmental and social issues, have originated outside the United States, spurring Grenell's interest to apply for the fellowship, he said. Ireland, for example, banned plastic bags years before San Francisco became the first city to prohibit it in this country. "I think government needs to be about pursuing the best ideas available to solve problems," Grenell said.
Royals: Kauffman Stadium renovation is on time, budget
The Kansas City Royals said the $250 million renovation of Kauffman Stadium is on time and on budget. About 90 percent of the renovation project will be completed by the 2009 home opener, with the remainder completed by the 2009 All-Star break, the Royals said in a release late Friday. Bob Rice, Royals vice president of ball park operations and development, said in the release that the cost of the stadium overhaul will be very close to the $250 million budget. "We're extremely close and pleased the way things have been going," Rice said in the release. "I think the biggest thing this year is flexibility. Opening Day will possess a whole lot of challenges." Rice said five major projects are scheduled for completion before the 2008 home opener on April 8.
Global Warming, Polar Bears, Endangered Species
Listing the Polar Bear will be like the Spotted Owl on steroids; it will impact everyone! Under the ESA, any activity that is regulated by the Federal Government (because it affects air or water quality, for example) would be subject to further regulation on the grounds of greenhouse gases and potential effects on polar bears. That would mean facility emissions or modifications, expanded manufacturing capacity, increased shipping and a host of other activities that would come under renewed scrutiny for new reasons. Remember: Virtually everything we do involves fossil fuels and greenhouse gases (GHG). 85% of our energy comes from fossil fuels. That means almost every heating, cooling, transportation and electricity generation decision will be affected. Utility and manufacturing companies will be required to slash their CO2 emissions - and be forced to raise their prices to cover those huge new costs.
The Caucus Men
Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and Washington. Mrs. Clinton, by contrast, has won but a single caucus: in Nevada. She also has a slight lead in New Mexico's Feb. 5 caucus, in which provisional ballots are still being counted. Blogger Kevin Drum offers some explanations for Obama's caucus advantage: Caucuses require organization and Obama was better organized. They require enthusiasm and he has more enthusiastic supporters. They require time, and his demographic has more free time. They're mostly in small states, and Obama targeted small states. They're dominated by activists, and activists tend to support Obama. To put it another way, caucuses require that a candidate's support be deep, while primaries require that it be broad.
Andy Reid becomes instant Sunderland hero
They applauded when he warmed up, they cheered when he came on and they roared him to the echo when he created the goal that killed off Wigan. Andy Reid is the new star who dazzled at the Stadium of Light. Sunderland homepage | Wigan Athletic homepageIn pics: Premier League actionFootball fans' forumIt was his debut, a £4 million signing from Charlton Athletic as the January transfer window was closing. He looked a shade tubby in his No 20 shirt but within seconds of being sent on by manager Roy Keane he brought the touch of class that had been missing. .
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