City News

Those hoping to find a fast and efficient way to get downtown during their lunch hour may soon be in luck. Unitrans,in partnership with the Davis Downtown Business Association and other local organizations,is planning to launch a shuttle that would transport people from campus to downtown throughout the day.

In business news this week, Outdoor Davis moves to a bigger downtown location, Black Bear Diner takes over the old location of Baker’s Square, and Verizon Wireless opensnew retail locations. Black Bear Diner 255 2nd St. Davis welcomes Black Bear Diner and its lodge-themed atmosphere as it replaces Baker’s Square on Second Street. Baker’s Square recently shut down all of its restaurants. As soon as Baker’s Square announced on Mar.26 that its Davis building would have a vacancy, the owners of Black Bear Diner submitted their offer. After a little more than a month’s preparation, the diner opened its doors last Friday. “We have been really busy over Memorial Day weekend,” said Valerie Coffey, store manager.

President Barack Obama announced an energy efficiency plan on May 19 that would require cars and trucks to average 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. The plan would increase the standard and accelerate the requirement from 35 mpg in 2020 set by the 2007 Energy Act. Concern over fuel efficiency standards in America has taken the spotlight in the media in recent years. With the U.S.consuming a quarter of the world’s oil and only 5 percent of the world’s population, the Obama administration felt it was time to take action.

al Day weekend began,President Obama signed into law a bill thatsupporters saywillprotectdebt-riddenstudents and other consumers from credit card companies that useunfair lending and billing practices. The aptly named Credit Card Accountability,Responsibilityand Disclosure (CARD) Act will go into effect in nine months and represents a sweeping change to the way credit card companies do business.

When the economy gets tough,students apply to graduate school. In the midst of this year’s recession,Educational Testing Services (ETS) has reported an8percent increase in students taking the Graduate Record Examination,or GRE,compared to2008figures. Historically,students opt for graduate school after graduation in recession years,said ETS spokesperson Mark McNutt.

A second Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) has been found in Yolo County after one was discovered in April,causing the California Department of Food and Agriculture toestablish a quarantine in the area. The LBAM is an invasive species native to Australia that likely “hitched” its way to the United States via “plane,train or automobile,” said Steve Lyle of the Department of Food and Agriculture.

After months of waiting,citizens of California have their answer. The California Supreme Court upheld Proposition8in a six to one decision yesterday. Although Prop8was not overturned,the approximately18,000same sex marriages that were performed in the state of California prior to the November vote will be upheld.

Amidst the scramble for federal grant dollars,the city of Davis is looking to upgrade its traffic light system. The Davis Natural Resources Commission recommended the approval of a proposal last Wednesday by city engineers to replace existing city traffic lights with LED lighting,or light-emitting diode lighting.The proposal will be voted on at the Davis City Council meeting on June2before being sent to the federal government for review.

UC Davis student Joshua Rottman and roughly15,000other students nationwide have recently filed a class-action lawsuit after paying for a special presidential inauguration travel package and allegedly not receiving what they were promised.The Virginia-based company,Envision EMI,organized a Congressional Youth Leadership Council program that promised opportunities for students to “bear witness as thepresidentof the United States is sworn into office,” “meet White House officials,congressional staff,political experts,and more,” and “experience the sights and sounds of a jubilant nation during the Inaugural Parade and a Black Tie Gala Inaugural Ball,” according to advertising materials from Envision.

14sex offenders arrested Law enforcement personnel arrested14sex offenders in a task force operation in Solano County on Wednesday. The Region II SAFE Task Force dispersed throughout the county to seek out sex offenders who were violating the terms of their probation or parole,according to a press release.

In Tuesday’s special election, Californians decided against rainy day funds, borrowing money from the lottery, and education funding. With over 60 percent of voters shutting down the first five propositions, the only proposition that will go into effect is Prop 1F, which freezes elected officials’ salaries in deficit years. It passed with support from over 70 percent of voters statewide. Only about 23 percent of registered voters in California voted – about 4 million of the 17 million California registered voters. Similar numbers were found in Yolo County, said Freddie Oakley, Yolo County clerk recorder.

The budget axe has fallen in Yolo County, and health care programs for the indigent are on the chopping block. The Yolo County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to approve cuts to the Yolo County Healthcare for Indigents Program (YCHIP) in order to address the health department’s $1,600,000 deficit. After much debate, the board voted to approve the recommended health services cuts by a 3-2 vote, an action that is expected to save YCHIP $1,500,000 in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.