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State auditor warns government agencies in danger of hacking

State Auditor Elaine Howle, who issued a report last year warning of cybersecurity problems at dozens of state agencies, says the problems remain mostly unaddressed. Testifying at a recent hearing of the Assembly Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection and

Backlash to GOP’s AQMD takeover accelerates

Chris Reed March 11, 2016

Democratic politicians and environmental groups are scrambling to reverse decisions made by the South Coast Air Quality Management District board, which is now controlled by Republicans for the first time in memory. The agency oversees air pollution control reduction efforts for Orange

Fuller puts first responders front and center

Matt Fleming March 8, 2016

With an increasingly contentious campaign season in full swing, it’s easy to forget that occasionally there’s positive news in public office. Senate Minority Leader Jean Fuller, R-Bakersfield, took the time to honor first responders from her district on Monday —

Parental privacy panic pays off as judge changes mind

Chris Reed March 8, 2016

A lawsuit over how the disabled are treated in California schools triggered a parental panic attack after a federal judge ordered that a database with records on every public school student in the Golden State since 2008 be given to

Is San Francisco mayor now DA’s target?

Chris Reed March 7, 2016

Former San Francisco state Sen. Leland Yee was recently sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in a bizarre corruption scheme involving bribery, Chinese-American gangs, Filipino terror suspects and international gun-running. But related federal and local corruption

Carpooling and mass transit decline; number of solo commuters on the rise

Joel Fox March 5, 2016

If you drive to work alone then you are not, well — alone — in a manner of speaking. It seems that single use occupant vehicles have increased as a percentage of the commuter population while other more communal modes of

Homeless ‘human rights’ bill rankles Sacramento officials

Chris Reed March 1, 2016

In California, helping the homeless is a popular issue in some cities and some political circles. In San Diego, elected officials of both parties say they don’t just want to reduce downtown homelessness, they want to end it. In Santa

Did fear of political Waterloo spur bullet-train switch?

Chris Reed February 29, 2016

Earlier this month, in one of the biggest changes in the history of the state’s bullet-train project, California High-Speed Rail Authority officials announced they had changed their mind on where the first segment of the now-$64 billion project would be built. Instead

Protester booted from Biden speech

Matt Fleming February 27, 2016

SAN JOSE — Barely through his introduction, Vice President Joe Biden was interrupted by a protester who was screaming that Beau Biden died from cell phone complications. Beau Biden, the vice president’s late son, died last may of brain cancer.

Steyer, CA Democrats denounce money in politics

Matt Fleming February 27, 2016

SAN JOSE – California Democrats decried the influence of money in politics at their convention on Saturday as they introduced Tom Steyer to speak. Steyer is a wealthy hedge fund manager and top-Democratic donor who runs an environmental group called