Jerry Brown scored another coup (not that it will matter) when the state's prison guards' union endorsed him for governor. Sacto Bee reports, "California Correctional Peace Officers Association President Mike Jimenez said in a news release that the union's decision was guided by at 'tremendous need for reform and a pragmatic approach and understanding of the crisis that we see within the correctional system.'" more ›

As election season approaches, SFist will review ads aimed at culling votes for Board of Supervisor candidates. (And, contrary to what some candidates falsely assume, SFist does not endorse any specific candidate. But, with a fraction of San Francisco's attention briefly turned toward the election, we understand things get a bit jittery with local politicos during election season.) We'll feature three ads a day. Or so. If you want your video pressed through the SFist sieve, please send us a link to editor[at]sfist[dot]com. more ›

Since many of you who smoke cigarettes -- dirty, filthy, rapey cigarettes that makes The Baby Jesus cry -- we know it's hard for you to always find a makeshift ashtray in which to trash them. Which is why most of you toss them on the street or out your car window. Now, however, Gavin Newsom, who hates smokie treats, wants the cleanup cost of picking up said butts to fall on smokers' shoulders via a new a new citywide fee. The proposal, which will go before the Board of Supervisors next month, "would add 33 cents to the cost of a pack of cigarettes, to offset the estimated $10.7 million the city spends annually removing discarded butts from gutters, drainpipes and sidewalks," reports the New York Times. What's more, according to Newsom, this added fee might (but probably not since addicts will find a way to get their fix) help smokers kick the habit. "In general, fees help reduce the consumption and use of tobacco ... and we think that will have a very beneficial public health component.” [via Curbed] more ›