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24 years of Caltrans well-drilling ignored laws; risked groundwater contamination
Sacramento County is threatening to fine Caltrans millions in taxpayer dollars for drilling hundreds of wells over a period of decades in violation of laws aimed at protecting groundwater, records show. The county set the possible fine at as much as
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Measure diverting bullet train funds for water storage hits money shortage, eyes 2018
Proponents of a ballot initiative that would divert high-speed rail funds to water storage projects announced on Friday that the cost of signature gathering was too great for the November ballot and set its sights on 2018 instead. The measure would
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CA politicians and businesses push for restored Cuba connections
Although they didn’t make the same headlines as President Obama, several members of California’s congressional delegation accompanied him on his historic visit to Cuba — underscoring the importance California officials and business put on the prospect of restored relations with
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Average Joe seat on state commission filled by the well-connected
Stockton’s Anthony and Rima Barkett were hosting a fabulous party in Rome in 2007 to discuss what the world could do to stop the Darfur killings. The party’s guest list included actors Don Cheadle and George Clooney, two Nobel Laureates
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Fight flares over ‘realignment,’ Prop. 47 effects on crime
The battle over state policies that some call soft on crime and some see as humane and thoughtful appears to be flaring anew, with prominent law-enforcement officials on both sides. The first of the policies was Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2011 decision
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State food stamp enrollment increases, eligible population decreases
Not only is the number of Californians participating in the state’s federally funded food stamp program increasing, but the number of eligible recipients is decreasing, according to state and federal data. California for years has lagged behind the rest of
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Civil liberty groups fighting license suspensions for those guilty of “being poor”
A band of civil liberties groups are demanding that California courts stop suspending drivers licenses for failure to pay traffic fines, a practice they argue overwhelmingly affects low-income drivers. A 2013 provision in the state budget offered major relief of fines due before Jan. 2013
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Bullet-train route change doesn’t win over many
Trying to build fresh momentum in Southern California, the California High-Speed Rail Authority last week unveiled major changes in the proposed bullet-train route meant to limit disruption to poor communities in the San Fernando Valley. But the reaction wasn’t as
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Anti-Israel movement faces pushback from University of California
The BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanctions) movement has been gaining momentum at American colleges in recent years with its message that Israel’s policies toward Palestinians amount to apartheid. According to the last annual report issued by the Israel on Campus Coalition, in
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Assisted suicide gets CA start date
Beginning June 9, at least some terminally ill Californians seeking to end their own lives will be able to do just that. Because the law took effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourned, its special session pushed the start date into
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