Regional Roundup

A farm labor contractor that employed a pregnant Lodi teenager who died of heat stroke while pruning grapes has given up its license to operate for three years.

Officials with California's Department of Industrial Relations announced Wednesday that Merced Farm Labor had surrendered its license Monday, three days before proceedings to revoke its license were to begin.

The state suspects the Atwater-based contractor failed to provide 17-year-old Maria Isabel Vasquez Jimenez proper access to shade and water before she collapsed May 14 near Stockton.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a statement saying California would enforce heat illness regulations strictly.

The company's attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Bill would require calorie counts on menus

California may become the first state to require chain restaurants to list the calories in their standard menu items.

The state Assembly approved a bill Wednesday that would require chains with at least 20 restaurants to include the information on menus or menu boards by 2011.

The bill by Sen. Alex Padilla, a Los Angeles Democrat, is a modified version of legislation Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed last year. The governor's office says he hasn't taken a position on this year's proposal.

This year's bill initially would give restaurants a choice.

They could list calorie counts on menus or menu boards or they could provide customers with brochures disclosing the fat, calories, salt and carbohydrates in the dishes and beverages they sell at least half the year.

Reader Feedback

ccorrall wrote on Aug 29, 2008 2:40 AM:

" dogs4you, it doesn't matter if it was a pregnant young girl. EVERYBODY should have been giving more breaks and water.
To women and men. "

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dogs4you wrote on Aug 28, 2008 6:50 PM:

" tandc reguardless if a guy that operatate a roto rooter is a plumber or not, he has some plumbing skill. He has to have to keep the s*** that comes from you flowing down the drain. Sounds like you visit Burge King eveyday and have a triple triple with cheese, with a large order of fries and a diet coke. With that diet, you better keep the roto rooter guys phone number on speed dial. "

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tandc wrote on Aug 28, 2008 4:23 PM:

" dogs, and suing one of those roto rooter dewds that thinks he's a pumbler. There are a lot of those in Lodi, and you may be one of them. LOL "

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dogs4you wrote on Aug 28, 2008 2:46 PM:

" Right On boonablis: Seems stupid people need laws like this to sue the fast food joint if they pack on a few extra pounds, as if they can`t see that belt going to the next knoch. This would go over big on Lettermans Stupid Humans period. "

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boonablis wrote on Aug 28, 2008 2:24 PM:

" I am trying to sue Budwiser, because the B minus (bud light) because it gives me hangovers. I am also trying to a file against Harrahs of Tahoe, because black doesn't hit as often as I would like it to on the roulette table.
Stupid bills and laws, this is borderline corky from life goes on "

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dogs4you wrote on Aug 28, 2008 1:23 PM:

" The farm labor contractor that hired that young girl had no idea she was pregnant or how old she was in the first place. Now the contractor is out of business, and all the farm labor`ers are out of a job also. The contractor is out of business for three years, if I were the contractor I wouldn`t not pay the fine as I am out of business and cannot afford to. 75% of her death was of her own doing, her boyfriend and uncle were right along side of her and if they had taken her to a hospital right away she might be alive today. Here`s the deal to keep all the bleeding hearts happy, start work at 3-4 am when its cool or cold, quit at noon and drink beer the rest of the day. No heat stroke to worry about then. At 4 in the morning I hope it`s not to cold for them, wouldn`t want frostbite to worry about. Is there a Cal-OSHA or UFW`ers in Mexico. "

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LodiJoe wrote on Aug 28, 2008 9:55 AM:

" Oh brother, another stupid Bill. With all the information about nutrition, diet & foods available to everyone why do we need a Bill to make them aware they are ordering foods that may be detrimental to their health. Why do people always want to make everyone else responsible for actions they take that may have a negative impact on their life? Smokers are still suing tobacco companies. HELLO, even the pack of smokes tells them it is bad. Money, it's all about the money. Big companies have it, idiots want it. "

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