City News

While the economic crisis has caused a shortage of many services,there is surely no shortage ofstudents looking for teaching experience. The TeachForAmerica program received more than35,000applications for2009,a42percent increase over2008‘s number.UC Davis in particular showed a nearly10percent increase in applications:75applications as compared to69applications in2008.

In business news this week,Forever21plans a move to Davis and Fuzio Universal Bistro opens in a new building on G Street. Out with the old As Gottschalks prepares to move out of the University Mall this summer,apparel retailer Forever21is looking to move in. Known among young women for its affordable and chic clothing,Forever21recently placed bids to take over16Gottschalks stores,including the one in Davis.A judge could approve the deal within a week,according to the Sacramento Business Journal. The U-Mall store is34,000square feet,much larger than the typical size of a Forever21location,according to reports.

The Davis City Council and Davis Joint Unified School District Board of Education metlast week to discussshared problems and goals for the future. Membersdiscussed goals for2008and2009,one of them being tofind safer means of getting to school for students living on Olive Drive. Olive Drive is separated fromdowntown and most of the city by the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.There is currently no safe and direct route for the citizens living here to get to school.

The probability of an earthquake of6.7or greater magnitude along the Hayward Fault is currently31percent,according to California Geological Survey geologist Chris Wills. The most recent earthquake of that magnitude to hit the Hayward Fault came onOct.21,1868and has been described as one of the most destructive earthquakes in California’s history,Wills said.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom was in Davis on May27for a fundraiser hosted by the Yolo County Young Democrats.Newsom,a Democratic candidate for governor in2010,spoke to a crowd that included Davis Mayor Ruth Asmundson,Davis Mayor Pro Tem Don Saylor,State Senator Lois Wolk,stateRepresentativeMariko Yamada,Woodland Vice-Mayor Art Pimentel,Davis City Councilmembers Sue Greenwald and Lamar Heystek,Yolo County Supervisors Helen Thomson and Jim Provenza,and Yolo County Public Defender Barry Melton.

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.