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Critics say CARB botching key part of cap-and-trade program

Bloomberg New Energy Finance (Bloomberg NEF) has accused the California Air Resources Board of a serious problem: double-counting industrial pollution emissions under its cap-and-trade program. Bloomberg NEF, a media enterprise focusing on the energy sector, isn’t the only credible entity

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‘Paycheck protection’: CA shouldn’t give up hope on checking unions yet

After the failure of three ballot attempts in the past 15 years to require unions to give their members veto power over the use of their dues for political purposes, Californians hoping for a better balance of power in local

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Grim LAT: Bullet train $25B short. Dim Sac Bee: What $25B? All soon to be well!

On Monday, a Sacramento judge dealt a devastating setback to the California bullet train. The most serious of several obstacles in two decisions released by Judge Michael Kenny was his ruling that the $68 billion project didn’t have a legal

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Rialto police: Inspiration for the nation. Really.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! The city of Rialto is an odd mix of nice new subdivisions, industrial grayness and rundown neighborhoods. When I covered the city as an Inland Empire news columnist in the late 1990s, it had a distinct inferiority

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CA still worst run state in the nation; Sacramento’s stadium obesssion

For the third year in a row, California has been named the worst-run state in America, by 24/7 Wall Street. Is it any wonder? With at least 10 California cities on the verge of municipal bankruptcy, a $24 billion budget shortfall

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Steinberg’s side job raises ethics questions

Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, has tried in vain to distance himself from the FBI’s ongoing investigation into corruption at the State Capitol. Earlier this month, as a part of that effort, Steinberg resigned his position with a

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Would-be San Diego mayor plans to nullify reform approved by city voters

In 2006, San Diego voters took a bold and unprecedented step: They lopsidedly approved a “managed competition” process under which groups of city employees would bid against private companies for the right to provide certain city services. This modified form

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Covered CA throws a party – only 10 sign up

This week California’s Obamacare health insurance exchange, Covered California, rented the Sacramento Convention Center, and opened its doors to the public for a sign-up party, complete with balloons and press. CBS 13 reported 1,500 people showed up to apply and enroll in

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LAO’s cheerfully nutty budget report: Pension crisis? What pension crisis?

The Legislative Analyst’s Office has among the best reputations of any state agency. But after the release of Wednesday’s bizarre LAO budget analysis and accompanying press conference by Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, I don’t know why. I groused about it

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What is the CA Agricultural Labor Relations Board?

Editor’s note: This is Part 1 in a series on the ALRB. California government includes many boards and commissions with members appointed by the governor. Most people never get to see who these decision makers are, despite the far-reaching effects

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