As of Jan. 1, laws affecting child booster seats, LGBT rights, handgun open-carry and liquor sales will be among many going into effect in California. Here are some of the highlights of what Californians – and Sacramentans – have in store for them in 2012. BOOSTER SEATS: Previously, children had to ride in approved child restraint devices – booster seats – until they turned 6 years old or weighed 60 pounds. As of Jan. 1, children must ride in booster seats until they are 8 years old or at least 4 feet 9 inches tall. Kids under 8 years who are taller than 4 feet 9 inches are allowed to use a safety belt instead of a booster seat. HANDGUN OPEN CARRY: Bans citizens from openly carrying hand

Everyone has thoughts and opinions about the laws we abide by. The Sacramento Press hit the streets recently and asked random people what law they thought should exist in Sacramento. Edward Nelson, 22, who is a musician and writer, said he thought there should be a law for stricter education standards. “There ought to be a law for standards in education that states that teachers who aren’t turning out students at a specific level at the end of each year have to go retest for their teacher’s license again,” Nelson said. “I hear so many stories about teachers trying to go on strike and form new unions to get them more money. My initial response to that is after seeing so many students tha

Sacramento’s elected leaders agreed to boycott Arizona companies in protest of the state’s new immigration laws. The City Council passed the boycott Tuesday with a 6-1 vote. Mayor Kevin Johnson and council members Rob Fong, Bonnie Pannell, Ray Tretheway, Sandy Sheedy and Kevin McCarty voted to approve the boycott. Councilman Robbie Waters opposed the move. Council members Steve Cohn and Lauren Hammond were absent. Hammond was absent from the entire City Council meeting, but Cohn appeared at City Hall to discuss a separate issue after the hearing on the Arizona law. Arizona’s new law says that an individual’s immigration status should be addressed by police officers in certain circumst

Posted by bended knees i have written to you in the past of my ex husband and his wife drinking/driving /but most of all involving under age kids with their parties . even though cps checked them out my oldest kids are telling me he is still providing alcohol to under 21 . my 19 year old called me last week to let me know she found my 14 yr old son was drinking at a party at his dads house . along with others under age . Dear bended knees, There are several things you can do. It sounds as though there needs to be some long-term solutions to this matter. You can call Child Protective Services again about this problem. If this is still happening, it needs to be revisited. You may also cal