Regulations

Homeless ‘bill of rights’ up for Sacramento debate

It could soon get easier to live on the streets in the Golden State. As controversy swirled around the police shooting of a homeless and mentally ill man on Skid Row in Los Angeles, legislators in California considered a new set of

CA Supreme Court curbs Jessica’s Law

James Poulos March 5, 2015

In a closely-watched San Diego case, the California Supreme Court dealt a blow to Jessica’s Law. Officially called Proposition 83, it was passed in 2006 by 71 percent of state voters ready for strict limits on where registered sex offenders could live. It was

Anti-GMO group can’t get labeling bill introduced

Chris Reed March 4, 2015

The perception that California is a world leader in far-reaching environmental laws has never been true when it comes to GMOs — genetically modified organisms, usually crops that have been altered and the food products they end up in. The

State lawmakers’ financial interests now posted online

Steve Miller March 4, 2015

Mike McGuire made over $100,000 in 2014 as a Sonoma County supervisor and another $525 in parting gift certificates as the young Democrat left to take a $95,291-a-year job as a state senator. Richard Pan, a physician, took in just

Another harsh audit targets state Dept. of Public Health

Chris Reed March 4, 2015

State Auditor Elaine Howle on Tuesday issued another scathing audit of the California Department of Public Health, declaring that it is doing a worse job than ever in responding to specific concerns about its struggling programs. “Public Health remains a

Berkeley finds it’s not easy imposing soda tax

John Seiler March 3, 2015

The city of Berkeley, Calif., is finding it’s not so easy imposing a soda tax. Since the tax’s Jan. 1 imposition, retailers find it’s a burden changing prices for just one type of item in one city. Measure D, officially

Sen. Hernandez: Expand nurse practitioner duties

John March 2, 2015

An influential state lawmaker is once again seeking to expand the “scope of practice” for California’s nurse practitioners, despite strong objections from the state’s leading medical organization. State Senator Ed Hernandez, D-West Covina, has reintroduced legislation that would allow nurse

Bets placed on dueling online poker bills

James Poulos March 2, 2015

This year could bring gambling to Internet users in California. For years, online poker has been legal in the United States, but not in the Golden State. Now, amidst a host of competing interests, a spate of new bills has

Pols’ 2010 gas tax swap made road woes worse

Chris Reed March 2, 2015

It’s become an annual ritual: Stories about the State Board of Equalization announcing it is raising or cutting the state excise tax on gasoline come July 1 to honor the fine print of a 2010 budget deal that requires gas

Feinstein bill could end ethanol mandate

John Seiler February 27, 2015

A bipartisan bill co-written by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., could end the federal mandate to add ethanol to gasoline. She’s teaming with Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. The senator’s website reported yesterday they “are working to repeal a law that drives up the