Take your pooch out to eat

Gov. Jerry Brown just signed a bill legalizing restaurants and bars allowing pets on patios, starting Jan. 1. Given all the animal-rights activists and dog-lovers in this state, it’s surprising this took so long. Although in my experience here, this long

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Video: Norquist: Uber can help GOP gain cities

Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, talks about how Uber and other high-tech companies give Republicans a chance to gain high-tech constituencies. He is interviewed by Brian Calle, editor-in-chief of CalWatchDog.com.

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Vergara appeal decision: Nixon goes to China for Jerry Brown?

To an astounding degree, prominent California Democrats have so far avoided substantive comment on Judge Rolf Treu’s landmark — but tentative — June 10 ruling in Los Angeles Superior Court that teacher tenure laws are so harmful to minority students in

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Trust in govt. drops to new low

A new Gallup Poll shows what we all know just from talking to people: Trust in government is at a new low. Just 19 percent say they trust government “Just about always/Most of the time.” Must be government workers and

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Appeals court backs property rights

Pasadena is known for its famous tree-lined streets. It now also may be known for the trees becoming the key in the first case in California to establish that a city’s urban forestry programs can be subject to “inverse condemnation”

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Fact-checking Tom Steyer on climate change

I continue to contend that “climate change” is a meaningless phrase because the climate obviously changes. But how? To what effect? It’s like saying “baby change” about an infant. How? Is he well and growing? Is he ill? “Climate change”

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Ridesharing foe takes ‘a few bucks’ from taxis

Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Koretz is one of the state’s biggest opponents of ridesharing, the relatively new service provided by such companies as Uber, SideCar and Lyft. He’s also a leading recipient of campaign contributions from the taxi industry. During a

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Landmark water bond now faces voters

As August draws to a close, the state has seen a striking instance of successful high-level bipartisan wrangling. Sacramento secured a massive water bond package, putting $7.5 billion in bonds on the ballot as Proposition 1. Although legislators, and Gov. Jerry Brown,

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A voting lottery?

Los Angeles is considering turning voting into a lottery. Last year’s mayoral election saw a turnout of just 25 percent. The idea is to hold out the potential of winning a cash prize for showing up to do one’s civic

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