Chris Nichols, Author at CalWatchdog.com

Posts From Chris Nichols

Chris Nichols

Bullet train agency still slow to acquire land

Buying land for California’s bullet train remains a slow and contentious process for the state’s high-speed rail agency — but the state’s top rail official said this week he doesn’t expect any “significant” project delays as a result. The California

Californians slash water use by 27.3 percent in June

Chris Nichols July 30, 2015

Motivated by a fourth year of drought — and mandatory water cuts — Californians reduced urban water use by 27.3 percent in June, compared with the same month two years ago, the state reported on Thursday. The results are the first since state-ordered

Poll: 64% of Californians link drought to global warming

Chris Nichols July 30, 2015

A strong majority of Californians say they support tougher limits on greenhouse gas emissions and more ambitious renewable energy goals to combat climate change, according to a statewide poll released late Wednesday. Meanwhile, nearly two-thirds of those surveyed said global

Electric car sharing program rolls out in L.A.

Chris Nichols July 29, 2015

As many as 7,000 low-income Los Angeles residents could eventually take part in a state-funded electric car sharing program that rolled out last week. State and city officials celebrated the soft launch of the endeavor — which aims to improve

New bill takes aim at drones near wildfires

Chris Nichols July 27, 2015

Fed up with private drones interfering with firefighting, a state senator has announced another bill to keep unmanned aerial vehicles away from hot spots. Sen. Ted Gaines, R-El Dorado, said SB168 would indemnify emergency responders who damage a drone during

CA’s road funding plans ‘stuck in traffic’

Chris Nichols July 26, 2015

More than a month after Gov. Jerry Brown called for lawmakers to hold a “special session” on transportation funding, California still doesn’t have a plan for how to close its annual $5.7 billion shortfall for road, bridge and highway repairs.

DMV issues 400,000 licenses to unauthorized immigrants

Chris Nichols July 23, 2015

The California Department of Motor Vehicles issued nearly 400,000 driver licenses to unauthorized immigrants from January through June, following the start of a contested new law that green-lighted such action. The Safe and Responsible Drivers Act was passed by the