Breaking News

Lawmakers seek soda warning labels

A group of state lawmakers wants to single out “The Coke Side of Life” for a mandatory warning label that could send the Pepsi Generation to unhealthy beverages. State Senator Bill Monning, D-Carmel, and seven of his Democratic colleagues have proposed the Sugar-Sweetened

CA jobs improve, consumer sentiment dips

John Seiler March 7, 2015

California’s jobs situation continues to improve — although there’s a dip in consumer sentiment. The California Employment Development Department today announced unemployment dropped to 6.9 percent in February, down from 7.1 percent in Dec. 2014; and down more than a point

Homeless ‘bill of rights’ up for Sacramento debate

James Poulos March 6, 2015

It could soon get easier to live on the streets in the Golden State. As controversy swirled around the police shooting of a homeless and mentally ill man on Skid Row in Los Angeles, legislators in California considered a new set of

Hermosa Beach oil drilling sunk by voters

James Poulos March 5, 2015

Drill, baby, drill? In Hermosa Beach on Tuesday, voters instead replied: No, baby, no. On the wave of a big turnout, 79 percent of city voters rejected Measure O for “oil.” According to Ballotpedia, the measure would have authorized 34 new wells through

CA Supreme Court curbs Jessica’s Law

James Poulos March 5, 2015

In a closely-watched San Diego case, the California Supreme Court dealt a blow to Jessica’s Law. Officially called Proposition 83, it was passed in 2006 by 71 percent of state voters ready for strict limits on where registered sex offenders could live. It was

State officials report expensive gifts and luxury trips

John March 4, 2015

State lawmakers and constitutional officers accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in international travel, fine wines, rounds of golf and expensive meals in 2014, according to annual financial disclosure reports filed this week with state ethics officials. Among the top

State lawmakers’ financial interests now posted online

Steve Miller March 4, 2015

Mike McGuire made over $100,000 in 2014 as a Sonoma County supervisor and another $525 in parting gift certificates as the young Democrat left to take a $95,291-a-year job as a state senator. Richard Pan, a physician, took in just

Love for CA rooted in climate, not politics

James Poulos March 4, 2015

Californians like it hot. In polling conducted by USC Dornsife and the Los Angeles Times, respondents confirmed some eye-opening facts about California’s appeal to its own residents — such as the primary importance of its largely snow-free climate. Although good weather

Skid Row shooting appears to be complicated, unclear case

James Poulos March 4, 2015

The police shooting of a homeless Skid Row resident put the LAPD back on the defensive — a posture it has found hard to change for months on end. Struggling to maintain good civic relations after a string of scandals and incidents, the

Worst-case scenarios for CalSTRS and CalPERS

Wayne Lusvardi March 4, 2015

Sometimes it’s good to consider worst-case scenarios. Maybe they won’t even happen, but it can help to look at every possibility. Two analysts have done that for California’s two biggest pension systems. As of the most current figures, the California Public