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U.S. Senate 2016: Duf Sundheim hopes to emerge as alternative to all-Democrat general election

It’s been 27 years since a California Republican has won a campaign for U.S. Senate. The deck may be stacked against Republicans in California, but Duf Sundheim isn’t discouraged. The former California Republican Party chairman and small business attorney says that

Electric skateboard startups set to flourish in CA

James Poulos October 21, 2015

With a unique new law on its side, the nascent electric skateboard industry has made California its home. Two new startups — a third leader is based out of New York — have set up shop in San Francisco. The cofounders of

Cal State union considers striking; seeks 5 percent raise

Steve Miller October 19, 2015

The 25,000 members of the California State University faculty union will cast ballots in a strike-authorization vote beginning Monday. It is the fourth time the union and university have battled over wages in eight years. The union seeks a 5

Newsom unveils gun initiative

James Poulos October 17, 2015

Thrusting himself to the forefront of America’s campaign-season controversy around access to firearms, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom seized the opportunity to define the 2018 gubernatorial race early, proposing a ballot initiative that would usher in sweeping new gun laws. Although Newsom’s

CA confronts a Prop. 47 crime wave

James Poulos October 16, 2015

Nearly a year after California voters overwhelmingly agreed to lessen sentences and release inmates convicted of minor crimes, statistical and anecdotal evidence has cast doubt on the wisdom of Proposition 47. A souring trend Change has been swift, but results

When is too much enough? A look at schools, money and taxpayers

Steve Miller October 15, 2015

A proposed $9 billion state bond for school construction projects includes multimillion-dollar project requests from districts where student enrollment has declined, a CalWatchdog investigation has found. The measure, on the 2016 ballot, is supported in large part by a cadre

CA bans campus concealed carry

James Poulos October 14, 2015

Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a bill criminalizing the concealed carry of firearms on campus. “Proposed by state Democrats, SB707 passed the Senate in a 23-12 vote in June sending it to the Assembly where it cleared in a largely partisan 54-24 roll call

CA forges ahead with new animal laws

James Poulos October 14, 2015

Not only humans were affected by the spate of new bills signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown. From pigs to whales, lawmakers succeeded in changing the way animals are treated in California. Strengthening antibiotics Just seven lawmakers voted against a bill

Brown signs automatic voter registration

James Poulos October 13, 2015

Secretary of State Alex Padilla has succeeded in his quest to automatically register Californians to vote. Partisan privileges The bill he sponsored, passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown, touched off a fresh round of controversy over

Brown warns climate fight will cost trillions, disrupt lifestyle

Dave Roberts October 12, 2015

Gov. Jerry Brown warned at a recent climate change workshop that trillions of dollars, the transformation of our way of life and a worldwide mobilization on the scale of war will be required to stave off climate change’s “existential threat”