City News

Change could be coming for colleges and universities in the U.S. - and it's not chump change. The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote today on an economic stimulus package that calls for $550 billion in domestic spending and $275 billion in tax cuts.

A recent Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions study found that 44 percent of the 85 top American medical schools surveyed are thinking about increasing the number of open spots for incoming medical students.

Of those schools, roughly 33 percent plan to increase enrollment up to 15 percent and roughly 10 percent plan to increase student enrollment by more than 25 percent. Many of these schools expect to implement these enrollment changes as early as fall 2009.

Cal Grant students may be in for a big cut.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released his 2009-2010 budget proposal earlier this month. The proposal will change Cal Grant policy and cut all new competitive awards.

Davis police arrested the owner of a downtown massage business on suspicion of prostitution Thursday.

A sting operation revealed that 50-year-old Ping Li was using her business, Spring 380 Massage, for prostitution, said Lt. Thomas Waltz in a press release. An undercover officer went into the business and Li was arrested immediately after agreeing to perform sexual acts in exchange for money, he said.

Forget beer and pizza. College students are cracking their piggy banks to scrounge enough money for textbooks these days.

The average student will spend about $700 on textbooks this year alone, according to Student Monitor, an independent research firm that studies the college student market.

The Davis International House hosted a forum last Thursday to discuss the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

The forum, entitled "Peace in the Middle East, Options and Obstacles," was meant "to help somebody get one new piece of info that might help them think about this long conflict differently," said executive director of Davis International House Elisabeth Sherwin.

SATURDAY

Frogger, Live

An individual was jumping in front of traffic on Russell Boulevard.

They call this music?!

A male and a female were heard screaming and banging a drum on Anderson Road.

Remember when your mom told you that you couldn't have a MySpace because it was too dangerous?

Well, that reasoning is partially wrong, according to a new report that found that minors may not be as susceptible to sexual solicitation in the cyber world as many people think.

Solar energy tantalizes most green-friendly consumers as an easy way to cut energy costs and consumption of fossil fuels, but a new report suggests the industry isn't as clean as some thought. Released last week by green technology watchdog Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, the report details the toxic nature of photovoltaic cell production and proposes that solar vendors take back spent panels for clean recycling.

Let's talk about sex.

Sexually transmitted diseases, that is.

Recently released figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that in 2007, over 1.1 million chlamydia diagnoses were reported, up from around 1 million in 2006, making chlamydia the number one reported STD.

With a statewide budget crisis, a worldwide economic downturn and declining population figures, some pundits are beginning to wonder whether the "California Dream" is in trouble.

Several UC Davis professors, however, say that California is strong enough to weather the current crises.

Yolo County and the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians are likely headed for arbitration after negotiations concerning an expansion of Cache Creek Casino failed.

The expansion would triple the size of the casino and increase the number of available hotel rooms from 200 to 667, a development tribal representatives say could infuse a total of $90 million into Yolo County's economy.

There are now more Americans who qualify as obese than as overweight, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.

The study found that 34 percent of American adults are obese, while 32.7 percent are overweight. The CDC says there are increased risks for many diseases and health conditions with being overweight or obese.

The city of Davis has finally concluded an internal investigation into allegations that city firefighters were misusing fire department facilities.

The investigation clarified findings from a Yolo County grand jury report released last summer.

The original grand jury report found that some off-duty fire personnel were sleeping at the firehouse after drinking. It also found that some fire personnel were concerned about favoritism, promotional practices and a strong union influence on the department's operations.

Julie Partansky, former mayor of Davis, died Jan. 9 after a brief battle with lung cancer. Partansky was 61 years old.

Partansky was famous around Davis for heading up projects such as the toad tunnel and the dark sky ordinance, projects that ultimately allowed Davis residents to enjoy the beauty of the nature around them, said city councilmember Sue Greenwald, a friend and political ally of Partansky.