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Bill to stop ICE arrests at state courts on Brown’s desk

A bill with the potential to worsen California’s already-frosty relationship with the Trump administration passed the Legislature on a near-party-line vote in late August and was presented to Gov. Jerry Brown for his signature last week. Senate Bill 349, by

9 Assembly Democrats opposed 100% renewable energy bill

Chris Reed September 4, 2018

The California Legislature’s adoption of Senate Bill 100 – committing the state to have an electricity grid powered by 100 percent renewable energy in 2045 – was billed by Sen. Kevin De León, D-Los Angeles, (pictured) as another landmark triumph for the

Interior secretary sets Sept. 1 deadline for new Central Valley water policies

Chris Reed August 27, 2018

The long-expected showdown between the Trump administration and the state of California over water, farmers and the Central Valley appears to be imminent. On. Aug. 17, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke issued a memorandum declaring his staff had 15 days to

State Supreme Court ruling could make local ballot initiatives more difficult

Chris Reed August 21, 2018

A recent unanimous ruling by the California Supreme Court (pictured) that may force the city of San Diego to retroactively create pensions for non-police employees hired since the start of 2013 isn’t just bad news for pension reformers. It also

$Trump administration exploring possibility of opening up California land to fracking$

Trump administration exploring possibility of opening up California land to fracking

Drew Gregory Lynch August 10, 2018

The Trump administration this week took the preliminary steps toward opening around 1.6 million acres of public land in California to hydraulic fracturing and oil drilling. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on Wednesday explained in a notice to the Federal

Is state’s biggest new reservoir project already in trouble?

Chris Reed July 29, 2018

The California Water Commission’s recent approval of nearly $2.7 billion in funding for new water conservation projects was the most dramatic move to promote storage of rainfall and melting snow in the state in decades. Such projects have been opposed

Gov. Brown again surprises with veto on campus sex misconduct bill

Chris Reed July 26, 2018

Responding to deep concerns about sexual violence at California’s college campuses, the state Legislature unanimously passed two bills in recent weeks. But Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed one of the measures, the second straight year he has surprised advocates of a

University of California finances shakier than cut in tuition implies

Chris Reed July 23, 2018

Last week, University of California President Janet Napolitano (pictured) and UC regents generated positive headlines with their decision to reduce tuition for in-state students – the first cut since 1999-2000 – as well as their success in getting a 4 percent funding hike from

‘Three California’ plan won’t appear on November ballot, California Supreme Court rules

Drew Gregory Lynch July 19, 2018

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday blocked the controversial initiative aimed at dividing California into three states from going to voters in November. Earlier this summer, the Tim Draper-backed plan announced that it had obtained enough signatures to get on

Stockton to become first U.S. city to test universal basic income plan

Drew Gregory Lynch July 11, 2018

Stockton, California, will soon become the first U.S. city to experiment with a universal basic income program, granting 100 residents $500 a month with no strings attached. The project is being backed by Silicon Valley titan Chris Hughes, whose Economic Security