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Political Notes: Atkins Makes Historic Turn as Acting CA Governor

Bay Area Reporter

Lesbian state Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) has once again made political history in California. This time, by using her pen as the Golden State's acting governor to sign into law a trio of bills.

With both of her Democratic colleagues out of state July 6 — Governor Gavin Newsom was on vacation and Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis was visiting relatives in Greece — it fell to Atkins to oversee leadership of the state's government last Thursday.

$1.15 Million Allocated for Restoration of West Hollywood Log Cabin

Los Angeles Blade

WEST HOLLYWOOD – Recently published State Budget Bill SB 102/AB 102: Budget Act of 2023 (2023-24 "Budget Bill Jr.") shows $1.15 Million will be allocated to restore the West Hollywood Log Cabin once the bill is adopted by the State.

California State Assembly Member Rick Zbur and Senator Ben Allen put the allocation for the Log Cabin in their State Budget (Zbur for $650K and Allen for $500K). If passed the dedicated funds will help with badly needed renovations for the Log Cabin.

Push to Diversify Educational Textbooks in California

CBS News 8

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For the first time, the state's task force on inclusive education met in the Capitol. The topic of the meeting was how to diversify textbooks in California.

Thurmond called on publishing firms to pledge to diversify their textbooks and resources and to work with the task force. Thurmond said representatives from Benchmark Education, CPM Educational Programs, The College Board, and Studies Weekly provided examples of what their companies are doing to provide broader narratives and depictions that are inclusive of stories and histories of often-underrepresented groups.

Horvath, Zbur, Unveil Progress Pride Lifeguard Towers

Los Angeles Blade

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath was joined by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, Tony Valenzuela, Executive Director of the ONE Archives Foundation and Los Angeles County officials on Friday to celebrate and unveil Ginger Rogers Beach's newly painted Progress Flag lifeguard towers.