Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personally identifying information, like your name, Social Security number, or credit card number, without your permission, to commit fraud or other crimes. Any person who obtains, or attempts to obtain, credit, goods, services, real property, or medical information without the consent of the individual is guilty of a crime according to California law. Identity theft is a very serious crime and can have disastrous effects on the person who is victimized. Potential victims need to act quickly in order to minimize the damage. “Know Your Rights: California Identity Theft Victims’ Rights” discusses victims’ rights and can assist consumers in clearin

The Harlem Globetrotters made a stop in Sacramento Monday as part of its "2010 'Magical Memories' World Tour." They wowed the thousands of fans at ARCO Arena and faced its long-time rival Washington Generals, but the game was only part of the show. The team's dancing, antics, and fan participation showed that the Globetrotters are more than high-flying dunks and spectacular passes. It's also about entertainment. "That's the best part of it all," Firefly Fisher said about making fans smile. "It's entertainment, plus basketball and you put those two together, it's fun." The Cordero family experienced the fun first-hand when Laurie and Tim were invited onto the court, while their son, Tyl

Assembly Bill 656, authored by Assemblyman Alberto Torrico, was suspended after a second hearing at the Assembly Committee of Revenue and Taxation on Monday.  AB 656, proposing an oil and gas severance tax with revenue going to California's higher education system, was introduced last February and went through the first hearing in May, but the hearing was canceled by Torrico.  During the second hearing, Chairman Charles Calderon and the Revenue and Taxation Committee said they believed the bill needed further discussion and a possible decrease of the 12.5 percent tax rate originally proposed to a more reasonable 6 to 7 percent.  "The real truth here is the bill is going nowhere--it's no

Before the NBA season started, many experts predicted the Sacramento Kings would be near the bottom of the league after finishing with a 17-65 record last season. This prediction came before star guard Kevin Martin and last season's top bench scorer Francisco García went down with wrist injuries. Many also criticized the pick of rookie guard Tyreke Evans, citing that he was not the point guard that the Kings needed in a point guard-heavy draft. The Kings were bashed for hiring Paul Westphal as head coach, many critics saying that he hasn't coached an NBA game since 2000, when he coached the Seattle SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder). It was supposed to be the perfect recipe for

As of Jan. 1, California takes precautions to ensure restaurants and other food facilities follow the dictate's of Assembly Bill 97, which prohibits the use of oil, shortening and margarine with more than 0.5 grams of trans fat.  The law was authored by Assemblyman Tony Mendoza and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in 2008.  California became the first state to pass such a law, although cities such as New York and Boston have similar laws. According to Mendoza's Trans Fat Ban Fact Sheet, trans fat increases the risk of coronary heart disease, the leading cause of deaths in the country.  "This is more than just legislation. This is a call to action that takes into consideration the health

By The Celebrities Psychic NANCY BRADLEY The spirit sprinted in front of me, seemingly without a care in the world. She looked back at me several times, smiling, inviting me to follow. But on this day she did not want to go inside. As I went to open the door she disappeared, back into the yard, poof and gone. I guess the active young one was suddenly bored with me and had other interests to pursue. I hoped our time together was not over for this trip. She is a lovely child of about three years old and full of energy. She is gone in life but still hanging around. She lived here once, enjoys the garden. But then, who wouldn’t? The Glen Morey Country House was built in 1859, and today as a b

By Nancy Bradley My office in northern California has been dubbed the “Enchanted Cottage.” Although it is in a small town about 30 miles outside of Sacramento, I am reluctant to move my Friday Night Psychic Classes to a larger location closer to a big city because of the extreme psychic energy that is represented here. Those who come to the classes agree that it is worth the drive not only to hear the lectures, but to enjoy the spirits that reside here with me. The cottage area, by all accounts (and confirmed by former Historian of the area Dennis Witcher), was the site of the miner’s mortuary in the 1800s. It was also the location of a doctor’s office and the toll house where you would p

Photos: 1) Ian Shive at work; 2) Sequoia National Park; 3) Yellowstone National Park Interview by Tony Sheppard Originally published in Capitol Weekly Ian Shive, the photographer behind the new pictorial book "The National Parks: Our American Landscape" recently spent a day in Sacramento, visiting a management class in the Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration program at Sac State. I asked him a few questions about his work and the value of parks in our lives: Photography as a living is new to you – before it was more like a cell phone plan: Unlimited nights and weekends. Very true [laughs]. What were you doing before and how did you get into this? I was working as a publicis

Medical cannabis in California wouldn't be what it is today if it wasn't for Ryan Landers. The Sacramento activist helped to develop the laws, policies and realities of medical marijuana in a career of activism that spans more than a decade. He was there to help roll Proposition 215 into motion in 1996 and had a significant hand in crafting SB 420 in 2003. "I live the cause," he said. "When I'm not out testifying or counseling or negotiating for the cause, I'm just home and sick." He's a 15-year survivor of HIV/AIDS, a personal fact that he doesn't usually publicize partly due to prior experience. Landers, now 37, became a member of Californians for Compassionate Use in 1995. CCU is the

The California Office of Traffic Safety [OTS] releases a yearly ranking of 13 cities of similar size (population over 250,000) for collisions by daily vehicle miles traveled and average population. The 13 cities are Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Long Beach, Fresno, Oakland, Santa Ana, Anaheim, Bakersfield, Riverside and Stockton. The numbers for 2008 are not yet available, but for 2007, Sacramento ranked No. 1 in many categories. For collisions with alcohol involved, Sacramento ranked first with 478 victims killed and injured. For collisions where the driver had been drinking (HBD) both under age 21 and ages 21 to 34, Sacramento came in first with a combi

Times are tough for college students in California. State grants are being cut drastically due to budget cuts and Furloughs are closing down entire campuses on non-holidays. It is looking grim for the future of higher education. Assembly Bill 656, introduced by Majority Leader Alberto Torrico, proposes a gas and oil severance tax in California that could make for a brighter future.  AB 656 was introduced on Feb. 25 and had minor alterations since, the last being on July 7.  Currently states with oil supplies, such as Alaska and Texas, have oil severance taxes that help fund higher education and proponents of AB 656 are looking to do the same. "Fees have increased in eight out of the la

Are you ready to experience true fear? The Downtown Plaza will be hosting Fear Overload, a haunted house that has replaced Gyros and will now be terrorizing the mall for the first time. "We have had people come out who have wet their pants and run into walls," said David Polanco, owner of the haunted house. "It's crazy what people will do when they are scared." The haunt features dozens of rooms that brave attendees can wander through unguided, for maximum scare, in groups of one to four. "A tour guide in a haunted house is not very scary," Polanco said. Polanco promises that no one is safe, even if you're in the middle of the group, in the haunt, with inmates, psychotic serial killer

Energy Parametrics & Communications, Inc., the global leader in environmental-friendly power generation solutions featuring true smart grid and power management technologies, this week held a construction groundbreaking ceremony at its new Sacramento, California power management data center. The new west coast 51,400 sq. ft. power data management center is located in the North Sacramento/Del Paso Heights area, 2040 Railroad Drive, Sacramento, California. “Our new Sacramento data managment center will showcase our company’s proven products and services to create safe and reliable green energy generation and power systems management. The site will also serve to train industry professionals

TEAM MARIA set out early Saturday, September 12 on the fundraising bike ride from Carmel through Big Sur to Hearst Castle Beach in support of Best Buddies International, a community for helping people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. TEAM MARIA exceeded their goal to raise $30,000 for Best Buddies by earning $80,000 in only six weeks. TEAM MARIA had riders on each of the four distance legs of the race – all riders completed the Challenge. TEAM MARIA includes Capitol insiders: Former Speaker Fabian Nunez; Staff from Dewey Square Group and Lucas Public Affairs and First Lady Maria Shriver's friends, family and staff.  For more insight on The Audi Best Buddies Challenge an

The California State Fair has been a main attraction for family fun in Sacramento for decades. This year did not disappoint. Smiling kids ran around in packs in awe of the lights and rides at their fingertips. Sitting on the children's midway among the funhouses and superslides sat rides from Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch as well as the Neverland sign itself. Fairgoers can enjoy the rides for only three tickets as parents and fans of Jackson take pictures with life-size cutouts of the King of Pop next to the Neverland sign. The joy on faces of the children as they were seated on Michael Jackson's Neverland rides was just what he would have wanted to see while celebrating his 51st bi

Disabled Veterans Win Battle in “Good Faith” Fight to Save Taxpayers Money Disabled veteran companies and taxpayers are both winners in recent changes promoted by California’s wounded warriors. The non-profit California Disabled Veterans Business Alliance has fought the Good Faith Effort (GFE) provision in State contracting as a useless diversion actually keeping business away from Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE). Now, the State has acted on the recommendations of the Alliance in coordination with DGS and other state agencies and has passed legislation to eliminate the GFE effective 28 July 2009. By promoting equality with the State of California’s Small Business preference

It seems everyone is talking about it. Sacramento still has no budget, and the cost of inaction alone is steadily approaching half a billion dollars. It's big news, with blame being cast on both sides. In a prime example of the definition of partisanship, our elected leaders can't seem to make up their minds. Granted, the decisions to be made are tough - stemming from a stagnant economy. But this in of itself isn't the big picture. It doesn't even address the crux of the issue. The entire argument and subsequent cost seems to entirely overlook the Elephant in the Room. When I think about what goes on behind closed doors in the Capitol, I picture a frenzy of men and women in suits, fighti

Author Dan Hinkley will give two lectures at High Hand Nursery LOOMIS, CA June 5, 2009 - A plant expert who has gained nationwide acclaim through his books, articles and television appearances is visiting a local nursery this month. Horticulturist Dan Hinkley, who has won many awards, written numerous articles for national magazines and appeared on Martha Stewart, Nova and other shows, will be at High Hand Nursery in Loomis June 13 and 14. Hinkley has gained fame for his worldwide travels in search of exotic plants. He specializes in introducing rare and unusual plants to North American gardeners and, in search of these plants, travels to China, South and Central America, Mexico, New Ze

Live snakes, bats and a desert tortoise named Shelly - these animals will slither, fly and crawl their way around the California Museum on Saturday, April 25. Inspired by Earth Month and Earth Day, Family Fun Day will have the theme "California's Critters and Crawlers." From 10 a.m.-3 p.m., families and individuals will be able to enter the museum for free and view any of the regular exhibits as well as build crafts, learn about animals and view some endangered and threatened species. The goal is "to learn more about California's natural diversity," said Ashley Robinson, the museum's communications manager. Emceeing the event will be Francie Dillon, a children's entertainer who will be

When you go to purchase something on April 1, 2009 and see that the sales tax has gone up by one percent, don't expect to hear "April Fools!" come out of the cashier's mouth. Beginning on the first day of April, as part of the state's budget, sales tax will increase by one percent throughout California. Sacramento County will now have a sales tax of 8.75 percent; Placer County and El Dorado County 8.25 percent; with the city of Placerville at 8.5 percent. San Francisco will have a 9.5 percent sales tax; Stockton will be at 9 percent. Davis, West Sacramento and Woodland will be at 8.75 percent as well, despite Yolo County being at 8.25 percent due to voter approved increases. According t