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AEG employs terrorist threat study in L.A. stadium battle

AEG, the sports and entertainment firm trying to bring the NFL to downtown Los Angeles, has escalated the war over who wins the city’s increasingly contentious stadium race. In a surprise move, AEG published a study slamming St. Louis Rams

Berkeley finds it’s not easy imposing soda tax

John Seiler March 3, 2015

The city of Berkeley, Calif., is finding it’s not so easy imposing a soda tax. Since the tax’s Jan. 1 imposition, retailers find it’s a burden changing prices for just one type of item in one city. Measure D, officially

Treasurer Chiang talks taxes and the economy

Joel Fox March 2, 2015

With the rising conversation about extending Proposition 30‘s temporary taxes, I asked state Treasurer John Chiang if he would advise that the taxes be continued. Chiang said a promise was made that the taxes would be temporary and circumstances would

Sen. Hernandez: Expand nurse practitioner duties

John March 2, 2015

An influential state lawmaker is once again seeking to expand the “scope of practice” for California’s nurse practitioners, despite strong objections from the state’s leading medical organization. State Senator Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, has reintroduced legislation that would allow nurse

Bets placed on dueling online poker bills

James Poulos March 2, 2015

This year could bring gambling to Internet users in California. For years, online poker has been legal in the United States, but not in the Golden State. Now, amidst a host of competing interests, a spate of new bills has

Teachers want LAUSD to ignore state law, 2012 ruling

Chris Reed February 28, 2015

The United Teachers Los Angeles held a large rally Thursday showing strong rank-and-file support for the union’s demands that the giant Los Angeles Unified School District provide an 8.5 percent raise and cut down classroom sizes. LAUSD officials have offered

Feinstein bill could end ethanol mandate

John Seiler February 27, 2015

A bipartisan bill co-written by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., could end the federal mandate to add ethanol to gasoline. She’s teaming with Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. The senator’s website reported yesterday they “are working to repeal a law that drives up the

Gun safety legislation comes under fire from unusual suspects

James Poulos February 27, 2015

Whatever their enthusiasm or seriousness, California gun users have a new set of obstacles, thanks to fresh legislation intended to increase firearm safety. Both changes have raised pointed questions about naivety on technology. Senate Bill 199 was introduced by state Sen. Kevin de León,

Water workshop finds only ‘miracle’ can end drought

Wayne Lusvardi February 27, 2015

IRVINE — “Dismal, poor, horrible, abysmal” are the current snowpack and water runoff conditions in California, according to Jeanine Jones, the Interstate Resources Manager for the California Department of Water Resources. The “dismal” snowpack means that when it melts, water will only trickle

Silicon Valley sheriffs push cellphone surveillance

James Poulos February 26, 2015

It’s not just the immense amount of information collected by such tech giants as Apple, Google and Facebook that is riling privacy advocates. Now the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department is seeking new cellphone surveillance technology — paid for by federal funds from