• The Alliance for Justice has some more information about the 501c3 status of the Mormon Church, vis a vis Proposition 8. I don’t think there is a lot to go on here, or that pushing on this is the best idea, but it is worth keeping an eye on.

• It is truly sad that the swelled ranks of the California jobless can’t get through to the unemployment office to file their claims.  I remember this being a problem the one time I used the state unemployment system several years ago, I can only imagine how impossible it is today.

• This CMR analysis touts “Obama’s hidden coattails” for Congressional candidates in California.  I believe they were hidden because there weren’t any.  Obama is the first Democrat to win the state without flipping a seat Dem since 1940.  

• The California Supreme Court made a big decision on health insurance today.  Basically the case says that ERs cannot go after patients in disputes with the insurance company. It is a big win for consumer advocates, who had argued that consumers were getting caught in the crossfire of the hospitals and the insurance companies.

• The trial of former OC Sheriff Mike “America’s Sheriff” Carona went to the jury today. We’ll let you know about the verdict just as soon as we hear.

• Expect even more stringent restrictions on smoking outside restaurant patios and doorways in Los Angeles.  It should be noted that the biggest public health benefit of the last 50 years has been cigarette taxes.  Anything that helps encourage people to quit using a substance that can kill them makes at least some sense to me, nanny-state considerations be damned.

• Newly Elected SF Supervisor David Chiu was elected Board President. He succeeds his predecessor, Aaron Peskin, in District 3 as well. Chiu was considered something of a consensus candidate. He’s a bit easier to get along with than Peskin, but will likely still take issue with the Mayor.