Tag "Central Valley"
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Water bond facing unexpectedly strong opposition
At a time when many Democrats and Republicans alike believe often-drought-stricken California needs more water storage projects and infrastructure, an $8.9 billion bond measure that earlier this year seemed to be a sure thing now faces a somewhat less certain
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Interior secretary sets Sept. 1 deadline for new Central Valley water policies
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
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Brown’s ‘WaterFix’ has new momentum – but daunting obstacles remain
Just six weeks ago, Gov. Jerry Brown’s hopes for a huge, difficult legacy project to solidify California’s statewide water distribution system – one funded by water districts, not directly by taxpayers – appeared in bad shape. Years of lobbying for what the
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Court OKs constitutional challenge to new state law affecting farm industry
SACRAMENTO – A federal appeals court last week has taken the highly unusual step of finding a U.S. constitutional cause of action in a challenge to a California state law – the latest wrinkle in a long-running and bitter dispute
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CalWatchdog Morning Read – August 30
Farm worker OT bill awaits verdict from Gov. Brown Court ruling paves way for pension overhaul Mandatory minimums for certain sex crimes Liberal groups fight over legislative response to secret recordings High-speed rail under fire in Congress MADD v. DMV
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El Nino provides little relief outside of Northern California
Once-high hopes that a winter 2015-16 El Nino would lift California out of its 5-year-old drought have given way to a complex picture. Heavy winter snow and rains in the northern Sierras and the Sacramento Valley are providing widespread relief in
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High costs plague embattled high-speed rail
Despite a major shift in its construction strategy, newly anticipated budget overruns hit California’s beleaguered high-speed rail project, as citizens and lawmakers mounted fresh challenges to the scheme. “California High-Speed Rail Authority employees are warning of possible cost overruns on the
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Democratic Party faces restive CA activists
Disgruntled Democratic activists in California have begun to buck the national party in key races this election year. After a string of failures in several central valley campaigns, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has come in for scorn by increasingly independent party members
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Water woes bring uneven fines and regulations
California’s ongoing water crisis promised to extend the controversy over fines and regulations well into the next year — if not beyond. While some areas suffer, others flourish, and fines — in some instances aggressively applied — have been meted
Read MoreBrown gets bipartisan rebuke on drought policies
The reporters who cover state government have paid plenty of attention to Gov. Jerry Brown’s failures on big initiatives in the Legislature this month, in which the governor got nowhere with his agenda in special sessions on health funding and
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