Connecting the dots for Thursday, March 10, 2011

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Republican Peter King of New York is presiding over hearings in the U.S. House of Representatives today about Muslim extremism in America. Opponents liken the hearings to McCarthyism, but King insists “there are people within the community who are not cooperating with law enforcement to curb terrorism”…

While King and his cohorts try to enlighten the American public in out nation’s capital, back in San Francisco a new survey shows a majority of city residents are in the dark about ranked choice voting. Fifty-five percent of respondents were unsure whether their vote counted after their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choice candidates were eliminated…

Governor Jerry Brown has missed his self-imposed deadline for finishing the state budget. He’s still negotiating with key Republicans in Sacramento...

While California lawmakers hammer out that new budget, our cash-strapped state is also cracking down on marijuana dispensaries for back taxes. The Berkeley Patients Group allegedly owes more than $6.4 million in back taxes and interest, and a state audit of 32 other dispensaries shows that they owe a combined $4.5 million…

In a move that will no doubt mean millions of dollars for California’s fishing industry, biologists have concluded that the native chinook salmon populations have bounced back enough to allow the best fishing season since 2006. The Pacific Fishery Management Council says anglers will be able to fish without quotas for four months this year…

San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi has called a meeting to discuss statewide pension reform. Adachi tried and failed to reform San Francisco’s pension and benefit system last fall, and says he’ll try again with a revised measure this November…

Union members will most likely fight attempts to take away their negotiating power. Meanwhile, people living in the Russian Hill neighborhood are fighting their own battle against plans to convert their neighborhood parking garage into a seven-unit condo…

Parking is one of many concerns Castro-area business owners have about Britney Spears’ upcoming free concert on March 27th. Some are excited about the possibility of increased sales, while others fear the crowds will drive away business.

Connecting the dots brings the day's news together.