More than 2,700 recently paroled sex offenders in California have been told they have to move because they are violating a new law that bars them from living near schools and parks. On Friday, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation finished notifying 2,741 sex offenders that they have 45 days to find legal housing, or they will be sent back to prison for violating their parole, said spokesman Bill Sessa.

As some homeowners face crisis in terms of making their mortgage payments from rapidly skyrocketing adjustable loan payments- at least one major bank, Wells Fargo, has decided to become part of the solution instead of part of the problem. Wells Fargo & Co., the nation's second-largest mortgage lender, announced Friday that the bank will help borrowers struggling to make payments and, in some cases, will change loan terms rather than foreclose on properties. "We try very hard to keep those customers in those homes," CEO John Stumpf said in an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle reporters and editors. "We are taking proactive steps. ... If you have a mortgage, and you believe you're going to have a problem ... call your mortgage banker. ...We can work with (borrowers) in many, many cases."Modifying loan terms - for example, by permanently reducing interest rates - is one of several steps San Francisco's Wells would consider if a borrower can't make payments.

Since the early 1980s, family income has increased 170%, inflation has risen 95%, the cost of healthcare climbed 225%, and the price of a college education has soared above it all- increasing 375%. Congress is now offering some relief to students and families with the passage of a bill on Friday that is considered the largest overhaul of education funding in more than 60 years. The bill creates a $20.9-billion program that will boost financial aid to students and reduce interest payments on their loans.

Senator Dave Cox has some strong feelings about the end of the California state legislative session. Here is Senator Cox.Hello, this is Senator Dave Cox, with another Capitol Report. Next week is the final deadline for all proposed measures to be reviewed by the Legislature.  This is the busiest time in the Legislature and I want to share some of the bills that will likely move to the Governor’s desk for his consideration:  AB 881 requires children under the age of 9 to use a car seat.  Currently, only children under the age of 7 are required to use a car seat. AB 1334 allows for the distribution of condoms to prisoners.  The fact that this irresponsible bill has made it this far is outrageous. AB 508 requires the State to give taxpayer-funded food stamps to convicted drug felons. These unnecessary bills should not be signed into law.  It is my hope that the Governor vetoes these measures. It is no wonder that it is difficult to have serious public debates about healthcare reform, water storage and other critical issues for Californians. Again, this is Senator Dave Cox.  Thank you for listening.

District Three Supervisor Ted Novelli has been elected to the Board of Directors of the California Association of LAFCOS -or Local Agency Formation Commissions.

Will Amador County be a “cool county” or not? That will be a question before the County’s Administrative Committee next Monday morning. The committee, made up of Supervisors Richard Forster and Louis Boitano, will look at making a recommendation to the full board of Supervisors regarding the acceptance of an invitation by Alameda County- to sign a declaration declaring Amador County a US Cool County for Climate Stabilization.

Weather patterns have changed slightly, giving our air quality a small boost. Air quality has been poor due to smoke from the PlumasCounty “Moonlight Fire”. The fire has now reached over 30-thousand acres and is just 8-percent contained. 16-hundred firefighters are on scene with 101 fire engines, 7 Helicopters, 11 dozers, and 15 Water tenders. The costs jumped nearly a million dollars yesterday alone, with the cost of the suppression effort currently at  $1.25 million.  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Alliance for Rabies Control and other agencies around the world are celebrating the first annual World Rabies Day September 8, 2007. “The purpose of World Rabies Day is to raise awareness about the impact of human and animal rabies, how easy it is to prevent it and to honor those who work daily to prevent rabies” says Dr. Bob Hartmann, Amador County Health Officer. Rabies is a viral illness that humans and animals can get from exposure to saliva or nervous tissue from a rabid animal.  It is nearly always fatal if left untreated but is also very preventable. Worldwide 50-to –60-thousand people die from rabies each year.  Most of these deaths occur in Asia and Africa and are caused by rabid dog bites. In the United States the number of human deaths has plummeted over the last 100 years. 

Gov. Schwarzenegger says voters may end up deciding the future of health care reform in California. Schwarzenegger  says that the funding mechanisms needed to pay for his health care reform plan should be put on a statewide ballot.