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Column: UC regents urged to divest in fossil fuels

The scene brought to mind Tom Wolfe’s essay “Mau Mauing the Flak Catchers,” which was published all the way back in 1970, when young Jerry Brown was a member of the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees. Wolfe’s

More parolees hit CA streets

James Poulos May 30, 2014

Whether young or old, increased numbers of paroled convicts are rejoining California society. A new high court ruling likely will decrease life-without-parole prison sentencing for juvenile offenders. State parole boards are substantially increasing recommendations for release. And Gov. Jerry Brown is facilitating the new

Tesla latest CA company to diss Golden State

Joseph Perkins May 29, 2014

Tesla Motors, the Palo Alto maker of luxury electric cars, is holding its annual stockholder meeting next Tuesday. It will be interesting to see whether CEO Elon Musk announces the two states that will compete in a “bakeoff” to

CA sex offender laws suddenly shaken up

James Poulos May 28, 2014

Life is about to get a little easier for Californians on the state’s sex offender registry. Substantial changes to the law are underway at both the legislative and judicial levels. In Sacramento, lawmakers are seriously considering a plan that would pare

LAUSD sends ‘rubber room’ teachers home

James Poulos May 27, 2014

The Los Angeles Unified School District has decided to end one of its most controversial practices. Instead of putting a damper on criticism, however, the move could intensify it. Starting today, teachers under investigation will not be sent to detention

Feinstein drought bill heads for House merger

Wayne Lusvardi May 27, 2014

In the novel “A River Runs Through It,” later made into a movie, Norman Maclean wrote, “Eventually all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. … I am haunted by waters.” Driven by the haunting reality of lack

Three vie to replace Controller Chiang

John May 23, 2014

Three established California politicians — each from a different region of the state — are asking voters to give them control of the state’s checkbook. Two Democrats, Board of Equalization member Betty Yee and Assembly Speaker John A. Perez, and

High-speed rail crashes into high costs

Kathy Hamilton May 22, 2014

Funding for the high-speed rail project keeps chugging along in Gov. Jerry Brown’s May Revision to his budget proposal for fiscal 2014-15, which begins on July 1. He maintained the same funding request from his January budget, $279,316. That’s

CA bullying controversies go national

James Poulos May 22, 2014

America is shocked — and fascinated — by bullying in California. In recent days, several local stories relating to the issue have been picked up by the national news media. Together, they illustrate three important developments. First, policymakers are struggling to determine how

LA pot politics spreads statewide

James Poulos May 21, 2014

Thanks to Los Angeles, the politics of marijuana is lighting up in California this election season. Not only are L.A. laws, attitudes and consumption habits influencing neighboring counties, they’re impacting the statewide debate. The situation is that Proposition 215, which voters approved in