Gov. Jerry Brown has outlawed openly carrying unloaded handguns despite heavy resistance from gun enthusiasts. Though it was already illegal to openly carry loaded handguns, AB 144 expands California’s firearm regulations by nixing people from openly carrying an unloaded handgun outside of a person’s home or vehicle. AB 144 was approved on October 13, 2011 and became law Jan. 1. Violators could face up to one year in prison and/or a fine of $1,000. The bill does exempt hunting and… Read more

Correction: A.S. did not propose increased fees to support CSSA, but proposed an increase in the amount A.S. gives CSSA per student at CSUN. If passed, the AS would increase funding from 48 cents to $2 per student. The choice to donate to the organization is made independently by each A.S. government, but CSSA is trying to implement more permanent, secure means of funding. CSSA may request the California legislature to make the fee mandatory, despite the organization’s lobbying efforts… Read more

Gov. Jerry Brown’s California Jobs First bill, SB116, failed in the Senate last Friday after gaining no republican votes, despite Brown’s announcement of a bipartisan agreement the day before. The bill revolved around setting California’s corporation-tax apportionment to mandate the use of the Single Sales Factor formula, which measures the ratio of California sales to overall sales. California companies with jobs in- and out-of-state could choose between the single sales factor formula or the four factor formula since 2009, allowing… Read more

Since California is surrounded by beautiful cities, mountains and beaches, any one of these locations can be a prime destination for spring break. Depending on your interest, here are five destinations that range from soaking up the sun, floating down the river to hiking through a desert. Kern River Valley For those who are looking for a relaxed getaway with some activity, head over to Kern River Valley, the options are endless and there is something for everyone to do…. Read more

Dr. Robert K. Ross spoke to CSUN faculty, students, and community members this Wednesday evening about the importance of non-profit organizations in the community. Ross’ speech, which took place in the USU Theater, was a part of the “2010 Envisioning California Lecture” and centered on the social change that can happen when non-profits use the right strategies to grow. “The America that got us to where we are now took boldness, action and risk and we just don’t see that… Read more

The Golden State has lost its luster with its improvising ways and a fundamental reason why California remains a disorganized and disheveled state. Journalist Joe Mathews and award-winning writer Mark Paul spoke to an audience about their new book, “California Crackup: How Reform Broke the Golden State and How We Can Fix It.” They discussed California’s problems Tuesday in a lecture presented by the Southern California Studies in the Whitsett Room. “Unless you have been living under a rock, you… Read more

Aaron Helmbrecht Contributing reporter California had already long since been in a state of economic turmoil when the country was hit by the 2008 recession. In 2003, we recalled our governor for the first time over economic mismanagement and a majority of us thought it was a good idea to elect the Terminator. But apparently Arnold isn’t from the future or he would have seen what was coming. Unemployment in California is 2.4 percent above the national average and our… Read more

Marijuana legalization is an issue that has been present in California politics for years. Just now, however, it is coming to a head, as the possibility of its full legalization looms before us in 2010. Until recently, those politicians who outwardly supported marijuana legalization have been ignored or even discounted as “potheads” who then faded into obscurity. Three hundred thousand signatures have been gathered in the last month alone, however, which means that the legislation could easily be on the… Read more