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State leaders, labor groups announce deal on $15 minimum wage

Democratic lawmakers and labor groups announced on Monday a deal to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour. Gov. Jerry Brown and Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de León of Los Angeles, joined by representatives of the Service Employees

What effect with Trump have on CA GOP?

James Poulos March 29, 2016

With Republican party leaders casting about for a way to stop Donald Trump, California has emerged as a possible firewall. Although a new poll of likely Republican primary voters, issued by the Public Policy Institute of California, showed Trump besting

24 years of Caltrans well-drilling ignored laws; risked groundwater contamination

Matt Fleming March 28, 2016

Sacramento County is threatening to fine Caltrans millions in taxpayer dollars for drilling hundreds of wells over a period of decades in violation of laws aimed at protecting groundwater, records show. The county set the possible fine at as much as

Measure diverting bullet train funds for water storage hits money shortage, eyes 2018

Matt Fleming March 27, 2016

Proponents of a ballot initiative that would divert high-speed rail funds to water storage projects announced on Friday that the cost of signature gathering was too great for the November ballot and set its sights on 2018 instead. The measure would

CA politicians and businesses push for restored Cuba connections

James Poulos March 26, 2016

Although they didn’t make the same headlines as President Obama, several members of California’s congressional delegation accompanied him on his historic visit to Cuba — underscoring the importance California officials and business put on the prospect of restored relations with

Average Joe seat on state commission filled by the well-connected

Matt Fleming March 26, 2016

Stockton’s Anthony and Rima Barkett were hosting a fabulous party in Rome in 2007 to discuss what the world could do to stop the Darfur killings. The party’s guest list included actors Don Cheadle and George Clooney, two Nobel Laureates

State food stamp enrollment increases, eligible population decreases

Matt Fleming March 24, 2016

Not only is the number of Californians participating in the state’s federally funded food stamp program increasing, but the number of eligible recipients is decreasing, according to state and federal data. California for years has lagged behind the rest of

Civil liberty groups fighting license suspensions for those guilty of “being poor”

Matt Fleming March 22, 2016

A band of civil liberties groups are demanding that California courts stop suspending drivers licenses for failure to pay traffic fines, a practice they argue overwhelmingly affects low-income drivers. A 2013 provision in the state budget offered major relief of fines due before Jan. 2013

Assisted suicide gets CA start date

James Poulos March 18, 2016

Beginning June 9, at least some terminally ill Californians seeking to end their own lives will be able to do just that. Because the law took effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourned, its special session pushed the start date into

CA to roll out pay-per-mile pilot program for drivers

James Poulos March 16, 2016

As state drivers’ changing habits undermined roughly a hundred years of gasoline taxes, California officials debuted a controversial new pilot program designed to make up the difference. “The state of California is looking for 5,000 volunteers this summer for