Schwarzenegger orders more furloughs for state workers

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• Editorial: State needs to improve overtime pay situation

  Editorial: State needs to improve overtime pay situation

  A nurse at the California Men’s Colony earned $269,810 — triple her regular salary — in 2010 by racking up more overtime than any other state employee, according to a recent report from Bloomberg Businessweek.

  It wasn’t a fluke: The Sacramento Bee’s state salary database shows that the same employee earned in excess of $250,000 the two previous years: $267,060 in 2009 and $282,943 in 2008.

  That an employee is allowed to regularly work that much overtime — last year alone, she put in 2,450 additional hours — is outrageous. But don’t pillory the employee when it’s the state of California that’s ultimately responsible.

• Ohio panel approves labor agreement with SEIU

  Ohio panel approves labor agreement with SEIU

  A state panel has approved a deal to extend Ohio's current contract with a union representing roughly 3,600 registered nurses, parole officers and other state workers.

• Solar panels sprouting on the Carrizo

  Solar panels sprouting on the Carrizo

  Construction activity is ramping up on two large commercial solar projects on the Carrizo Plain.

  More than 400 workers are employed building the two projects which, when complete, will produce 800 megawatts of power. Work on both projects began late last year, and construction is expected to take three years to complete.

  Furthest along is the 250-megawatt California Valley Solar Ranch by SunPower Corp., near the Kern County line. More than 360 workers are on site, said Ingrid Ekstrom, a SunPower spokeswoman. Work has progressed to the point that photovoltaic panels are being installed on tens of thousands of metal posts. As of the end of January, 30,390 panels had been installed, which is enough to generate nearly 13 megawatts of power, Ekstrom said.

• Money may force county SLO County court delays

  Money may force county SLO County court delays

  Budget cuts at the county’s courts could gum up the local justice system and slow down trials and civil lawsuits. San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Executive Officer Susan Matherly said the court has avoided layoffs and will help fill a $1 million revenue budget gap by putting its 145 employees on furloughs once a month on Fridays beginning Oct. 7.

  The furlough program is among several cost-cutting measures court officials are implementing to cover the gap, which was caused by a state budget shortfall.

  The court’s operating budget is estimated to be about $19 million this year.

• Paso teachers upset by pay turn out for board meeting

  Paso teachers upset by pay turn out for board meeting

  Teachers in a packed room implored the Paso Robles School District on Tuesday night to resume salary negotiations that are certain to result in pay cuts.

  But while the teachers argued against a proposed 6 percent pay cut, board members and Superintendent Kathy McNamara said teachers haven’t been realistic about the district’s budget crisis, which threatens to result in a state takeover.

  “You can hate me — that’s OK,” McNamara said. “But at least deal with me honestly.”