In Brief - January 6th, 2008

It wasn't too long ago that California's wildfires and dry conditions were top news. Now the state is experiencing flooding and winter storms:

A third storm in as many days took aim at California on Saturday—this one packing lightning and frigid temperatures that threatened to send utility crews running for cover and slow efforts to restore power to nearly a half-million people.

At least two deaths were blamed on the storms. One woman died early Saturday when a vehicle was swept off a flooded road in Southern California. A transportation worker in Northern California also died after he was struck by a falling branch on Friday.

Rain and wind from the new storm arrived in the state capital even before the last one finished dumping more than 5 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada. Combined the back-to-back storms were still on pace to dump as much as 9 feet of snow on mountaintops and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared emergencies in three hard-hit counties.

Brings back memories of the 2006 Hanukkah Eve Windstorm here, doesn't it? On to the rest of today's quick news digest:

In the Pacific Northwest

• In advance of the January 14th start of the legislative session, some Washington lawmakers are doubting the need for a University of Washington branch campus in Everett.
• Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has declared a state of emergency for Umatilla County area in the aftermath of recent and severe coastal storms.
  
• State Representative Dennis Flannigan, a Democrat from Tacoma, may be subject to sanctions from Washington's Public Disclosure Commission for failing to disclose his ownership of 4000 shares in a company, Hythiam, Inc., that licenses a drug treatment program. According to the Tacoma News Tribune, Flannigan "helped secure state funding for [the program] last year."

Across the Nation

• After his win in Iowa, Barack Obama has caught up with Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire polling: a a new survey conducted by the University of New Hampshire now shows a dead heat between the two at 33%. John Edwards garnered 20% for third place among Democrats. The only meaningful poll, though, will be this Tuesday on Election Night.
• Despite the passage of legislation in Congress demanding further study, the Food & Drug Administration "is set to announce as early as this week that meat and milk from cloned farm animals and their offspring can start appearing on supermarket shelves." Yikes. Doesn't that make your mouth water just thinking about it?
• Has-been tough guy Bill O'Reilly caused a scene at an Obama event in New Hampshire. Why is he hanging out with godless devil worshippers, anyway?

Around the World

• Given the recent track record in this area of the world, this is surely a great idea: the CIA and U.S. military are considering an expanded covert push into tribal areas of Pakistan.
• Kenya's President, Mwai Kibaki, says he wants to form a unity government to try to stem the wave of ethnic and tribal violence overtaking the country since recent disputed elections. Raila Odinga, the main opposition leader, is still demanding Kibaki's resignation.
• "Kill fewer. Kill carefully." That's China's new motto as it tries to clean up its image in anticipation of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. It's estimated that China executes more prisoners than the rest of the world combined.
• France is trying to adjust to a newly widespread ban on smoking in public places. Congratulations to the French for taking a big step towards cleaner air and healthier people.
  

If you have something to add, please leave a comment.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON UPDATE: See why individual polls are inconclusive? A new CNN/WMUR poll out this afternoon shows that New Hampshire voters' feelings are changing. Barack Obama is gaining support at Hillary Clinton's expense:

With two days to go until the New Hampshire primary, a new CNN/WMUR poll out Sunday afternoon suggests that Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois has opened up a double digit advantage over New York Sen. Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

In the survey, conducted by the University of New Hampshire on Saturday and early Sunday, 39 percent of likely Granite State Democratic primary voters back Obama as the party’s nominee — that’s ten points ahead of Clinton’s 29 percent. Obama is up six points and Clinton down four points from our survey conducted on Friday and early Saturday.

While polling trends can be interesting and even sightful, again, the only meaningful poll is on Election Day - when the actual votes are cast.