Feds arrest, charge California man with threatening WA Congressman McDermott

PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA -- A 32-year-old Palm Springs, California man was arrested on Wednesday morning after being charged with making death threats against Washington Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott, prosecutors said.

Charles Turner Habermann is accused of making two expletive-laden, threatening phone calls to the Seattle office of McDermott on December 9 over his views on tax cuts and unemployment insurance. In one of the calls, Habermann allegedly threatened to kill McDermott and his friends and family.

Jerry Brown sworn in as 29th Governor of California

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA -- Jerry Brown on Monday was sworn in as the 39th Governor of the State of California, 36 years after being sworn in to become the 34th in 1975.

Brown, 72, whose father, Pat Brown, also served as California governor, recalled his "footsteps," although he will follow "his own" as he had previously been elected as California governor following the Vietnam War from 1975 to 1983.

During his 17-minute speech at Sacramento's Memorial Auditorium, Brown, who is now the U.S.' oldest serving governor, noted voters' worries regarding nationwide financial crisis, including unemployment.

However, the new governor's spending plan is scheduled to be announced next week, which he described has having "painful" cuts.

"The budget I present next week will be painful, but it will be an honest budget," he said in anticipation. "The plan represents my best understanding of our real dilemmas and possibilities. It is a tough budget for tough times."

"Choices have to be made and difficult decisions taken," he later added. "At this stage of my life, I have not come here to embrace delay or denial."

Brown, however, vowed as he did before being elected, to be guided by three principles throughout his term.

"First, speak the truth. No more smoke and mirrors on the budget. No empty promises. Second, no new taxes unless the people vote for them. Third, return—as much as possible—decisions and authority to cities, counties and schools, closer to the people."

Brown is succeeding Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The 'Governator' to leave California's political scene on Monday

LOS ANGELES (BNO NEWS) -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, also known as the state's 'Governator', will leave the political scene on Monday when California Attorney General Jerry Brown takes over.

Schwarzenegger, 63, will be leaving office on Monday as term limits prevented him from running for a governor for a third time in November. But re-election, even if he had been allowed to, would have been uncertain due to his falling popularity.

It will be an end of an era when the Austria-born movie star leaves office as Governor next week. But, as he as always said, he'll be back. How exactly is not yet clear, although an immediate return to movies appears unlikely.

In October, Schwarzenegger was asked if he would return to the big screen after leaving office. "It depends," he said. "If someone comes with a great script, with a great idea. Will I still have the patience to sit on the set and do a movie for three months? I don't know," he said, while also expressing interest in writing a book.