For the first time, the California Museum’s red carpet event – the California Hall of Fame – will be broadcast live. Barbra Streisand, Betty White, Serena Williams and Mark Zuckerburg are some of the new inductees who will be recognized Dec. 14 in Sacramento. The other 2010 inductees are Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown, director James Cameron, John Doerr, Silicon Valley visionary investor, A.P. Giannini who is considered the father of modern banking and Bank of America, country music legend Merle Haggard, author and activist Anne Lamott, former Secretary of State, George Shultz, Dr. Kevin Starr and artist Wayne Thiebaud. These are individuals who have made legendary achievements in the ar

Americans have embraced environmentalism as a trendy idea, but they must wage a revolution, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman said in Sacramento on Thursday. Friedman’s speech to about 1,000 people at the Crest Theatre was for “Greenwise,” Mayor Kevin Johnson’s environmental initiative. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author and columnist presented his views on the global environment and economy, and discussed his new book “Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution – and How It Can Renew America.” The event was free to the public and Friedman was not paid to speak, said Johnson spokesman Joaquin McPeek. Friedman’s talk was a star-studded political event: After the author

Mayor Kevin Johnson proposed his green initiative plans to the public during a press conference Tuesday afternoon at the California Museum. The long-term goal of the plan is to make Sacramento known as the national green leader in economic and environmentally friendly usages. His vision: to transform the region into "Emerald Valley." "(California is) a state where dreams are made," Johnson said. "I strongly believe Sacramento can be the national leader in the green movement." Around 300 attendees packed the conference room and were from all walks of life, varying from media to general public. The majority of those in attendance were supportive of the plan. "I am a very economically caut

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver kicked-off the holiday season at the 78th Annual State Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony, themed A Season of Giving. Due to an earlier forecast of bad weather, the outdoor event was been cancelled and the ceremony was held in the State Capitol Rotunda, standing room only. Wyatt Iles (pronounced Isles), of Pomona, California, was selected from the more than 245,000 children and adults served by the Department of Developmental Services to help the Governor light the tree. Wyatt is an eight year old boy who at the age of three was diagnosed with Autism and began receiving services from the San Gabriel Pomona Regional Center. This w

Sacramento's Jewish Federation will be holding Sacramento's first Jewish Heritage Festival on the west steps of the capitol this Sunday. The festival is open to the public, and admission is free. It commemorates National Jewish American Heritage Month, celebrating the 61st anniversary of Israel's independence this year, and the centennial anniversary of the first Hebrew city, Tel Aviv. For the past two years, the federation has celebrated Israel's independence at the capitol. Encouraged by the turnout of more than 3,000 people at the capitol last year celebrating Israel's 60th anniversary, the federation decided to present the festival to Sacramento this year. In April, Senate Pro-Tem D

In a ruling that will have immediate impact on the economy of Sacramento, Superior Court Judge Patrick Marlette ruled Thursday that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is within his legal rights to furlough state workers. The governor issued an executive order in December proposing to reduce state workers' hours by two days per month. Workers unions immediately sued in response, and today's hearing was meant to resolve the issue. "I cannot help but recognize the huge impact this will have on state workers," Judge Marlette said. Judge Marlette also noted that it was not his job to rule on whether the furloughs were the right solution to the problem, but only that the governor had the legal au