Free Republic

UCLA epidemiologist calls out USC med school professors on big money research used to establish EPA regulations University of Southern California has been grabbing headlines lately over the “Varsity Blues” college admissions scam, billed as the biggest ever college entrance scandal, including several high-profile Hollywood parents. Additionally, the former USC medical school dean was linked to drugs and prostitutes, and was forced to resign in 2018. His successor was ousted less than a year after being appointed following revelations of a sexual harassment settlement from 15 years earlier,” Fox News reported, and USC gynecologist Dr. George Tyndall, 71, was accused...

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Democratic legislators and the media roasted Republican senators for holding up passage of the state budget on issues that had nothing to do with the budget, such as their demands to restrict lawsuits over greenhouse gas emissions. "A whole lot of stuff was brought up at the end that was never brought up before," Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata complained at one point. It's a valid point, even though Republicans countered that they had to use the budget on other issues because the Democrats otherwise ignored them. But Republicans weren't the only ones leveraging the budget...

DIAMOND BAR Southern California would have to cut smog emissions in half by 2020 to meet federal clean air standards, according to a proposed plan released Tuesday. Regulators with the South Coast Air Quality Management District unveiled the draft blueprint for cleaning up what it called the worst overall air quality in the nation. It called for tightening pollution standards on everything from cars to lawn mowers, providing incentives for businesses to replace aging diesel equipment, and reducing pollution from ships at the sprawling Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex. "We need a no-holds-barred campaign to meet the formidable challenge of...

Truck, ship and cargo-handling equipment pollutants would be reduced 50 percent in five years under a clear air proposal for the Long Beach and Los Angeles harbors. Cleaner vehicles and shore-side electrical outlets so vessels can shut down diesel engines while dockside are key elements of the plan unveiled Wednesday. "This is an action plan, this is not a study. The days of yakkin' are coming to a screeching halt," harbor commission president S. David Freeman said. Proposals also include retrofitting and replacing cargo-handling equipment and locomotives. The plan, which now enters a 30-day public review period before approval by...

DIAMOND BAR, Calif. (AP) - Southern California air quality regulators took the first steps Friday toward regulating pollution from refinery flares - plumes of flame seen at the top of tall stacks in refineries and other facilities. The South Coast Air Quality Management District's governing board ordered its staff to develop a proposed rule for reducing emissions from the flames used to relieve pressure and prevent fires or explosions. The governing board intends to vote on the proposal once it is complete. Refineries have voluntarily worked to reduce emissions from flares for several years, district executive officer Barry Wallerstein said...