December 2015 | CalWatchdog.com

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CalWatchdog Staff December 31, 2015

CalWatchdog thanks you for your loyal readership. Because of your support we have become California’s top-ranked political blog and investigative news site. California has too few journalists covering what is really going on in Sacramento and throughout the state and

UC drops investments in response to activists’ gripes

For the second time in three months, University of California pension administrators have ended their investments in specific industries after receiving complaints from student activists, spurring criticism that investments should be focused on returns — not on making political or

Obama plans Asia summit in CA desert

James Poulos December 31, 2015

Allied nations have begun to RSVP to President Obama’s next big summit, hosted in California next year. “During an Asian tour last month, Obama invited leaders from the 10-country Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to the Sunnylands resort in Rancho

Drug prices latest CA ballot battle

James Poulos December 30, 2015

Responding to a growing sense of alarm among state officials and the general public, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation has secured approval for a ballot initiative that would coercively reduce the cost of prescription drugs. The California Drug Price Relief Act,

Uneasy balancing act for CA economy

James Poulos December 30, 2015

California headed into 2016 with a stabilizing economy that nonetheless left many residents uneasy. On the work front, the year finished out with weaker, but not alarming, numbers. “California employers added just 5,500 jobs in November, according to federal data —

CA high court rejects bid to expand CEQA’s scope

Chris Reed December 29, 2015

The California Supreme Court has rejected a bold bid by San Francisco regulators to sharply increase the scope of the California Environmental Quality Act, the landmark 1970 law that has helped shape the Golden State’s housing patterns and economy for

Two bills transform CA parole system

James Poulos December 29, 2015

California officials are preparing to implement the state’s latest steps toward a transformed parole system for incarcerated youths. The changes were spearheaded by state Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Oakland, who led two bills through closely fought battles in Sacramento. Senate Bill 261

CA fish-farming: Concept praised, but project opposed

Chris Reed December 28, 2015

Eating fish is very healthy. Risks of overfishing are growing. For both these reasons, government officials around the world have frequently offered broad, general praise for aquaculture — fish farming — and its potential to provide a large new supply of healthy

CA stares down tough water storage task

James Poulos December 28, 2015

California officials have found their drought difficulties are compounded by an ironic new challenge: too much rainwater to store. Despite decades spent puzzling over the tall order of improving the state’s massive network of waterways, “those who need water the

Covered California extends signup deadline after long waits, call surge

John December 27, 2015

A surge of last-minute callers inundated the state’s health insurance exchange for the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, forcing the agency to extend its hours of operation and the sign-up deadline for obtaining federally mandated health insurance. The