Big labor urges court to invalidate Prop. 8

A coalition of more than 50 labor organizations representing more than two million Californians filed a friend-of-the-court brief Tuesday urging the state Supreme Court to overturn the voter-approved constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

The labor groups' brief argues that "any change to the California Constitution that takes away fundamental rights or that divides citizens into suspect classes must be accomplished by a 'revision' of the Constitution, and not the simple 'amendment' employed in Proposition 8."

John Muir hospital expansions on schedule

The economy is foundering and construction projects everywhere have come to a halt until things get better. Yet major expansions at John Muir Medical Center's Walnut Creek and Concord campuses continue — they're even on schedule.

Massive efforts to rebuild emergency departments, add private patient rooms and build a renowned heart center are under way, evident to anyone driving by either the Ygnacio Valley Road campus in Walnut Creek or the East Street complex in Concord. On Friday afternoon, workers moved the last steel beam into place at the Concord facility, while those tracking the massive project looked on.

John Muir hospital expansions on schedule

The economy is foundering and construction projects everywhere have come to a halt until things get better. Yet major expansions at John Muir Medical Center's Walnut Creek and Concord campuses continue — they're even on schedule.

Massive efforts to rebuild emergency departments, add private patient rooms and build a renowned heart center are under way, evident to anyone driving by either the Ygnacio Valley Road campus in Walnut Creek or the East Street complex in Concord. On Friday afternoon, workers moved the last steel beam into place at the Concord facility, while those tracking the massive project looked on.