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CalPERS staff nudges board to consider lower return rates

SACRAMENTO – There’s bad news coming down the pike for California municipalities following several days of board meetings for the nation’s largest state-based pension fund. Although no action has been taken, it’s clear the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, or

SoCal Senate race narrows, Democrats edge closer to supermajority

Matt Fleming November 21, 2016

Republicans’ chances of fending off a Democratic supermajority in the Legislature dwindle by the day. The linchpin is one Southern California Senate district, where Republican Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang has a narrow lead over Democrat Josh Newman in the race to

California-style dominance eludes Democrats nationwide

James Poulos November 18, 2016

At a moment of unprecedented dominance in California, Democrats woke up on Election Day to a painfully changed national landscape, raising sharp questions about how poorly their approach to outsized success on the west coast is translating in vast

Democratic supermajority rests on one Senate seat

Matt Fleming November 17, 2016

The only thing standing in the way of a Democratic supermajority in the Legislature is one Southern California Senate seat. Democrats are halfway there as the last barrier between them and a two-thirds majority in the Assembly officially crumbled on Tuesday,

CA officials poised to blunt Trump on deportation

James Poulos November 17, 2016

If Donald Trump aims to significantly reduce the presence of undocumented and unlawful immigrants in California, he will face staunch opposition. From the municipal to statewide level, officials have come out strongly against the prospect of stronger enforcement and

Poll: Republican gubernatorial candidates would perform well behind Democrat Newsom

Matt Fleming November 16, 2016

Good news for California Republicans: In a field of nine candidates for the 2018 gubernatorial race, they have two of the top three names, according to a poll released Tuesday. San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Ashley Swearengin, the termed-out

Gov. Brown vows climate firewall against President-elect Trump

James Poulos November 16, 2016

With just a few years left in his marathon return tour as California governor, Jerry Brown has promised not to back down on his climate policy in the face of what could be a powerful change in priorities from above in

CA GOP weathers hard-fought challenges to incumbents

James Poulos November 15, 2016

After weeks of fearing the worst, relief washed over vulnerable Republicans hoping to remain part of California’s congressional delegation. Despite a dogged effort by Democrats hoping to capitalize on Donald Trump’s unpopularity in the Golden State, their challengers fell short,

Bail reform tops criminal-justice efforts in next legislative session

Steven Greenhut November 15, 2016

California has long been known as a law-and-order state, particularly following the crime spikes of the 1980s. The state passed the toughest “three strikes” law in the nation and state officials from both parties often have argued over who would

New era of marijuana dawns in California, nationwide

James Poulos November 12, 2016

Californians have gone down in history as leading a nationwide charge to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. “Voters on Tuesday approved Proposition 64, making California the most populous state in the nation to legalize the recreational use of marijuana,”