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Bullet train agency still slow to acquire land

Buying land for California’s bullet train remains a slow and contentious process for the state’s high-speed rail agency — but the state’s top rail official said this week he doesn’t expect any “significant” project delays as a result. The California

CA water cops crack down

James Poulos August 6, 2015

With California residents and wildlife struggling to cope, officials have introduced a fresh round of crackdowns on water consumption, dealing a blow to farmers and municipalities thirsty for more. Hard targets Water suppliers braced for fines in areas where consumption didn’t hit aggressive

GOP mega-donors gather in SoCal; meet with candidates and discuss policy

James Poulos August 5, 2015

Hosted by the organization bearing the Koch brothers’ name, Some 450 business leaders came together in Southern California to think through their policy priorities for 2016. At stake was nearly $890 million in funds to be allocated through the end of next year,

Large counties could be required to increase number of Supervisors

Joel Fox August 5, 2015

The idea of increasing representation by having fewer constituents per elected representative is getting some attention. On the state level, an initiative filed by John Cox proposes to reorganize state governance by molding a Neighborhood Legislature whose goal is to reduce campaign

Brown declares fire emergency

James Poulos August 4, 2015

Faced with a string of large, dangerous fires, Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency. “Firefighters in steep terrain and rugged conditions in California are fighting nearly two dozen wildfires that have torched more than 134,000 acres,” CNN

CA considers state pot bank

James Poulos August 4, 2015

Grappling with the regulatory challenges faced by liberalizing marijuana laws, California officials floated the idea of a state-run bank for the cannabis industry. The plan, which would have struck many observers as outlandish just a few years ago, arose in

As CA conserves, Feinstein renews relief push

James Poulos August 3, 2015

With the latest numbers showing a drop in California water consumption, attention has turned to a new drought relief bill introduced by Golden State U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. The figures eclipsed earlier embarrassments faced by water districts where consumption

Bill increases CPUC transparency, restricts private meetings

Steve Miller August 2, 2015

A measure that will be heard this summer in committee at the statehouse aims to tighten the reins on private communications between utilities and the commissioners who regulate them at the California Public Utilities Commission. But even if SB 660 is passed,

CA intervenes in Planned Parenthood video sting

James Poulos August 1, 2015

Undercover videos that sent Planned Parenthood into crisis mode have drawn the concern of California Attorney General Kamala Harris, whose interest in reviewing their legality helped put the Golden State at the center of a dramatic national controversy. Harris, embarked

NFL schemes for L.A. nearing end zone

James Poulos August 1, 2015

Although the race to land an NFL deal in Los Angeles have long been anyone’s game, some clarity on the potential outcome began to emerge this summer. Dynamic duo The competition originally pitted three teams against one another: the St. Louis