Morning news briefing 4.1.08

State drafts rules to regulate emergency room payments – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration has moved to ban physicians and hospitals from billing patients for the cost of services above what their HMOs are willing to pay. Such bills, which patient advocates call a consumer abuse, are the product of a protracted feud between insurers and healthcare providers, principally emergency room doctors, radiologists and anesthesiologists. LA Times article

Fresno Bee: Swamp in Congress continues unless lawmakers fix farm bill – At $286 billion, this five-year bill would perpetuate wasteful farm subsidies at a time when commodity interests such as Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland are earning record prices for corn and other crops. Fresno Bee editorial

$19m buys taxpayers a lot of land in San Joaquin County – California taxpayers have spent nearly $19 million to buy conservation easements in San Joaquin County since 2000, according to a new online database that tracks such payments. Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian, R-Stockton, sponsored legislation last year that would allow anyone to peruse state conservation easements, which give landowners tax breaks if they agree to limit development on their land. Stockton Record article

PG&E backs 3 solar plants in Mojave – Pacific Gas and Electric Co. will announce contracts today for three new large solar power plants in the Mojave Desert, whose open spaces and clear skies have placed it at the center of a renewable energy boom. The three installations, together, will generate enough electricity for more than 375,000 homes. San Francisco Chronicle article

Hydrogen highway hits roadblock – Four years ago this month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order to create a "hydrogen highway" - a network of hydrogen fueling stations where California motorists could fill up fuel cell cars that release no smog, only water vapor. But today, not a single hydrogen fueling station has been built under the program. In February, the state Legislative Analyst's Office, a non-partisan agency, recommended the Legislature not fund the program this year because "the administration has little visible progress to show." The reasons vary, depending on who is offering explanations. San Jose Mercury News article

Reduced corn crop forecast plants fears – The U.S. Agriculture Department sent shudders through much of the food industry Monday when it released estimates that showed farmers would plant 8% less corn this year. With corn prices already pushing up food prices, a spokesman for the Grocery Manufacturers Assn. called the projection "alarming" and warned that the estimate bodes ill for consumers at the supermarket. LA Times article

California organic acreage reaches milestone – The amount of farm and ranch acreage certified for organic production continues to rise, surpassing the 500,000-acre mark for the first time, the organic certification group California Certified Organic Farmers reports. The group says it has seen rapid growth in certified organic dairies and livestock operations. Central Valley Business Times article

Recycling debate generates drama, split vote in Bakersfield – A tense, two-hour meeting on recycling issues Monday ended with one council member upbraiding another before a split vote. It was more excitement than one would expect from a Bakersfield City Council committee meeting about hiring a consultant to study solid-waste management options. Bakersfield Californian article

Fresno Bee: Ongoing teacher training is good – One of the good things that is coming out of the increased testing in public schools is a commitment to better training of classroom teachers. Even the best teachers need to continually hone their skills to adapt to technology and the rapidly changing demographics of their students. Fresno Bee editorial

China looks to San Joaquin County for real estate advice – Five Chinese real estate officials on a three-week, coast-to-coast tour of the United States spent nearly a week visiting Stockton, which they know is the top foreclosure area in this country. But they weren't here because of a foreboding that bad loans pose a threat in China, which has a market-based real estate system and has been in transition to private homeownership, especially in the past decade. Stockton Record article

Value dip, tax relief in Stanislaus – Assessed home values -- and property taxes -- will be lowered this year on about 38,000 houses and condos, 4,000 mobile homes and 1,000 multifamily housing units in Stanislaus County. County Assessor Doug Harms said that's because property values have dropped drama tically in the past two years. He said some homes are worth less than half of what buyers paid for them during the 2005-06 housing boom. Modesto Bee article

Tracy buses free for April – Tracy’s bus system wants to take its residents for a ride. For free. The Tracer public transit fixed-route bus service will be free Monday through Saturday throughout April, according to the Parks and Community Services Department. Stockton Record article

Modesto city manager decision may come tonight – The Modesto City Council could hire a city manager this evening. It also is scheduled to discuss the creation of a committee to draw up a districting plan for city elections. Mayor Jim Ridenour said Monday that he hopes the council will vote on hiring a city manager during a closed session before the 5:30 p.m. open meeting. City leaders are considering two finalists, but Ridenour said he couldn't guarantee the council will make the decision. Modesto Bee article

Internet poses new challenge to libraries – The recent flap over alleged child pornography at the Lindsay branch of the Tulare County Library illustrates how dramatically the challenges for public libraries have changed, experts say. The Internet, now a basic service of any public library, provides a virtually limitless world of information. It also multiplies opportunities for abuse -- and trouble over the First Amendment. Fresno Bee article

Hospital growth comes to Clovis – With Community Medical Centers' recent downtown hospital merger complete, the Valley's largest hospital system is turning its attention to Clovis. Remodeling at Clovis Community Medical Center began this week to prepare for a $20 million expansion of the hospital's outpatient care center -- the first of several expansions planned that could bring up to 100 new hospital jobs. Fresno Bee article

Pacific Ethanol may be in for bumpy ride in ’08 – With Community Medical Centers' recent downtown hospital merger complete, the Valley's largest hospital system is turning its attention to Clovis. Remodeling at Clovis Community Medical Center began this week to prepare for a $20 million expansion of the hospital's outpatient care center -- the first of several expansions planned that could bring up to 100 new hospital jobs. Fresno Bee article

Airline just late, but still coming to Merced – Nearly four months after Great Lakes Aviation was expected to start providing Merced's passenger air service, the carrier has yet to announce a start date for its flights. But Merced passengers needn't worry -- there's still regular airline service from the city's current carrier, Mesa Air Group. Merced Sun-Star article

Visalia park projects detailed – An ambitious park-building program was rolled out during a Monday joint work session of the Visalia City Council and Visalia Parks and Recreation Commission. The plan covers a dozen new parks, including Visalia Riverway Sports Park, which is awaiting its second phase. Visalia Times-Delta article