Free Republic

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation enabling future oil exploration and drilling in Wilmington oil field in Long Beach. Under Bill 2165, California's State Lands Commission can negotiate a contract with the city and Occidental Petroleum Corp. to explore and develop the western end of Wilmington field, which includes tidelands mineral deposits. In the past, California shouldered most costs for previous oil efforts in the tidelands deposits, but Occidental offered to take on that role in exchange for a larger share of the potential revenues—an offer that required the new legislation. Occidental spokesman Richard Kline said the Los Angeles-based...

Capping a five-week trial that grew out of a sweeping investigation into City Hall corruption, a federal jury on Tuesday found two former Fleishman-Hillard executives guilty of padding bills to the DWP by more than $300,000. Doug Dowie, a power broker who headed the Los Angeles office of the prestigious public relations firm, and John Stodder, his right-hand man, showed little emotion as the verdicts were read by U.S. District Judge Gary Allen Feess. The jury deliberated 51/2 days before finding Dowie, 58, and Stodder, 50, guilty of conspiracy and wire fraud charges. Dowie faces up to 240 years in...