When California became the 31st state in 1850, the Legislature quickly created 27 counties to provide basic local services, such as roads, sheriffs and courts, to a sparse, mostly rural population. Over the next 57 years, as California’s population grew, the Legislature carved up the original 27, some of them...
Lawmakers OK Bill to Keep Kids From Adult Court
SACRAMENTO — A bill to keep 14- and 15-year-olds out of adult criminal courts is headed to Gov. Jerry Brown. State senators passed the measure 22-15 Thursday. If Brown signs it, prosecutors could no longer ask to try minors suspected of committing serious crimes like murder, arson and robbery at...
Jim Patterson Opposes De Leon's 100% Carbon-Free Energy Bill
SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers on Tuesday revived a long-stalled proposal to set a goal of generating 100 percent of the state's energy from carbon-free sources. With other controversial and high-stakes energy legislation also moving forward, California lawmakers face an array of decisions with vast implications for the Western energy grid,...
Take 5: Borgeas Has Capitol in His Sights
After five years as a Fresno County Supervisor, Andreas Borgeas is setting his sights on higher political office. He is campaigning for the state Senate seat being vacated by termed-out Sen. Tom Berryhill. If successful, this will be Borgeas' third political office since winning a seat on the Fresno City Council...
Take 5: Borgeas Has Capitol in His Sights
After five years as a Fresno County Supervisor, Andreas Borgeas is setting his sights on higher political office. He is campaigning for the state Senate seat being vacated by termed-out Sen. Tom Berryhill. If successful, this will be Borgeas' third political office since winning a seat on the Fresno City Council...
Dan Walters Tells It Like It Is About Sexual Harassment & Hypocritical Cal Legislature
California lawmakers finally relented last week and released records of investigations into sexual harassment involving Capitol members and employees. But CALmatters columnist Dan Walters opines in his Feb. 7 column that the state Legislature's action fell short of what is needed. "It was not a complete capitulation," Walters writes. "Records of...
Dan Walters Tells It Like It Is About Sexual Harassment & Hypocritical Cal Legislature
California lawmakers finally relented last week and released records of investigations into sexual harassment involving Capitol members and employees. But CALmatters columnist Dan Walters opines in his Feb. 7 column that the state Legislature's action fell short of what is needed. "It was not a complete capitulation," Walters writes. "Records of...
Dan Walters Calls for More Rigorous High-Speed Rail Audit
In his Feb. 1 column, CALmatters columnist Dan Walters points out that the audit of California's over-budget, behind-schedule high-speed rail project commissioned by state lawmakers this week is limited in its scope. Walters opines that a top-to-bottom examination by state Auditor Elaine Howle of the estimated $70 billion project would...
Dan Walters Calls for More Rigorous High-Speed Rail Audit
In his Feb. 1 column, CALmatters columnist Dan Walters points out that the audit of California's over-budget, behind-schedule high-speed rail project commissioned by state lawmakers this week is limited in its scope. Walters opines that a top-to-bottom examination by state Auditor Elaine Howle of the estimated $70 billion project would...
Patterson's High-Speed Rail Audit Request Approved
At long last, Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) is getting his High-Speed Rail audit. The Joint Committee on Legislative Audit voted unanimously to move ahead with an examination on the estimated $67 billion project. That estimation for the first 119-mile segment, from Fresno to San Jose, increased earlier this month by...