Posts From James Poulos
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California Air Resources Board ratchets up emissions regulations
Continuing a years-long push, the California Air Resources Board cracked down further on emissions, sharpening the debate over the scope of its plans. “The new rules, green-lighted [March 23] … seek to curb methane emissions at oil and gas production
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California seeks fourth federal disaster declaration
Still reeling from a wild weather season, California chalked up a fourth request for federal disaster aid, as Gov. Jerry Brown lodged the request en route to Washington earlier this month. “Putting the price tag of California’s brutal winter storms at $569
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California budget may hit tax rebate threshold
The saga of Gov. Jerry Brown’s budgetary labors has taken an unexpected twist, potentially triggering an all-but-forgotten provision designed to funnel money back to taxpayers. In 1979, taxpayer advocate Paul Gann spearheaded a ballot measure designed to place a curb
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California lawmakers propose relief for criminal juveniles
In a fresh bid to reform California’s criminal justice system, Sacramento lawmakers have begun to advance several bills, many aimed at softening juvenile punishment. “Democratic state senators Holly Mitchell of Los Angeles and Ricardo Lara of Bell Gardens are proposing four bills
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SpaceX returns stem cells from orbit
Amid ongoing controversy over the economic impact of California’s thick regulatory environment, its leading space pioneers continued to notch new successes, underscoring the potential value of orbital and interplanetary technology to more earthbound challenges and opportunities. Off the Pacific coast,
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New DMV rules would allow testing of driverless vehicles without human in car
Responding to industry criticism and public uncertainty, California has rejiggered its rules to accommodate fully driverless vehicles. “California’s new proposals follow a Michigan law passed in December, which allowed testing with no human driver. It also created a framework for
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Rematch coming of high-profile 2014 race for state superintendent of public instruction
The most expensive contest on the 2014 California ballot is set to return next year. “Marshall Tuck, who unsuccessfully challenged incumbent schools chief Tom Torlakson in a contentious 2014 race that became a proxy fight over a lawsuit on teacher
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Proposed bill would mandate 100 percent renewable energy in California
Joining a would-be trend that includes lawmakers in deep blue Massachusetts, Senate majority leader Kevin de León, D-Los Angeles, has unveiled a new proposal that could become California Democrats’ answer to the limits of cap-and-trade. “The California Senate leader has introduced legislation that
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CA GOP cheers federal support for new water bills
Central California residents, long hoping for federal water reform, have begun to see some movement from Washington. Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., has rolled out language designed to “build on last year’s legislation that was loved by farmers and loathed by
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Traffic deaths spike in California, U.S.
Following a nationwide trend, traffic deaths in California have spiked, alarming analysts and prompting fresh questions about technological distractions like smartphones, and fueling debate over how policymakers can or should respond. The news was relayed in a report by the National
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