Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Trump Says No Summit Deal With Putin Over Ukraine War, Talks Were ‘Very Productive’

16 hours ago

Madera County Man Arrested in Fatal Crash Case

18 hours ago

Man Fleeing an Immigration Raid Dies After Running Onto LA Freeway

20 hours ago

Kevin McCarthy, Redistricting Commission’s Popularity Stand in Newsom’s Way

21 hours ago

California Man Safe After High-Tech Rescue From Behind Sequoia Waterfall

21 hours ago

California Legislature’s Final Weeks Could Decide Delta Water Tunnel’s Fate

23 hours ago

US Consumer Sentiment Weakens in August, Inflation Expectations Rise

1 day ago

Trump Names Rosner as Chair of Energy Regulator

2 days ago
California Legislature Returns Amid Homeless, Climate Crisis
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
January 7, 2020

Share

SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers returned to work on Monday to tackle a daunting list of challenges that include climate concerns and a growing homeless population — problems magnified by election-year politics.

California is already one of the most aggressive states when it comes to addressing climate change, including a state law that requires all of the state’s energy to come from renewable and zero-carbon sources by 2045.
Members of the state Assembly’s Democratic majority kicked off the second year of the two-year legislative session by announcing California’s version of the “Green New Deal” — an ambitious climate proposal that could impose new rules to reduce emissions from cars and trucks.
California is already one of the most aggressive states when it comes to addressing climate change, including a state law that requires all of the state’s energy to come from renewable and zero-carbon sources by 2045.
“We think that’s not fast enough,” said Assemblyman Rob Bonta, a Democrat from Alameda and the primary author of the legislation.
It’s unclear what changes the bill would make. An early version of the legislation sets goals for doubling the availability of affordable housing and public transportation by 2030 while also reducing “disparate standard of living indices for historically impacted communities of color.”
But Bonta said the proposal could also address emission standards for cars and trucks.
“This is not something we just decided to do. This is something science is telling us we have to do,” Bonta said.

About 3 Million Californians Were Left in the Dark Last October

Complicating any big legislative proposal this year: A compressed election calendar. Lawmakers now will face primary elections in March instead of June, potentially making it more difficult to vote on politically sensitive issues.

“About 3 million Californians were left in the dark last October with little to no support from the very same companies they pay monthly. [The utilities’ poor communication, sloppy rollout, lack of support and proper compensation] were unacceptable. I want to hold these companies accountable and ensure that these power shutoffs are not the norm.” — Assemblyman Kansen Chu of San Jose
Aside from the environmental proposal, state lawmakers announced Monday that they were introducing bills addressing hot-button topics including the planned power outages that blacked out much of the state last fall.
Democratic Assemblyman Kansen Chu of San Jose said two of his bills will deal with the power outages that utilities used to try to prevent their equipment from sparking wildfires.
The first would require power utility companies to provide information about the shutoffs in languages earmarked for individual ratepayers and provide help for those who rely on electricity for their medical needs. The second would give the California Public Utility Commission authority the power to decide if the shutoffs are necessary and reasonable and if the utility company should have to compensate those affected.
“About 3 million Californians were left in the dark last October with little to no support from the very same companies they pay monthly,” Chu said in a statement. He added that the utilities’ poor communication, sloppy rollout, lack of support and proper compensation “were unacceptable. I want to hold these companies accountable and ensure that these power shutoffs are not the norm.”
Separately, Chu said he would introduce bills making it easier for people to take time off from work or school to seek mental health treatment.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Micky MaKenzie, Bold Pup With a Big Heart, Ready for a New Home

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Xi Told Him China Will Not Invade Taiwan While He Is US President

DON'T MISS

Melania Trump Sends Letter to Putin About Abducted Children

DON'T MISS

Category 4 Hurricane Erin Continues to Intensify, NHC Says

DON'T MISS

US Stops Visitor Visas for People From Gaza

DON'T MISS

Trump Says No Summit Deal With Putin Over Ukraine War, Talks Were ‘Very Productive’

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Man Guilty of Multiple Lewd Acts on Child

DON'T MISS

Sanger Police Arrest Second Suspect Charged in Juvenile Shooting

DON'T MISS

Pismo’s Manager Stuck in ICE Detention for Long Ago Teen Crime

DON'T MISS

Complaint Filed Against Judge in NW Fresno Luxury Apartment Case

UP NEXT

Kevin McCarthy, Redistricting Commission’s Popularity Stand in Newsom’s Way

UP NEXT

California Coastal Commission Opposes SpaceX Launch Expansion on West Coast, Again

UP NEXT

DOJ Sues California to End Enforcement of Emissions Standards for Trucks

UP NEXT

Barry Bonds Beats the Babe! Statistical Model Crowns a New ‘Greatest’ in Baseball

UP NEXT

Californians to Vote on Mid-Decade Redistricting in November, Newsom Says

UP NEXT

California’s Newest Invaders Are Beautiful Swans. Should Hunters Kill Them? 

UP NEXT

Why Young Americans Dread Turning 26: Health Insurance Chaos

UP NEXT

Federal Judge Orders Trump Admin to Restore Hundreds of UCLA Research Grants

UP NEXT

California Says Trump Sent Military to ‘Silence’ LA Protests

UP NEXT

Hidden in Trump’s Spending Package Is a Boost to CA’s Affordable Housing

Category 4 Hurricane Erin Continues to Intensify, NHC Says

24 minutes ago

US Stops Visitor Visas for People From Gaza

27 minutes ago

Trump Says No Summit Deal With Putin Over Ukraine War, Talks Were ‘Very Productive’

16 hours ago

Tulare County Man Guilty of Multiple Lewd Acts on Child

17 hours ago

Sanger Police Arrest Second Suspect Charged in Juvenile Shooting

17 hours ago

Pismo’s Manager Stuck in ICE Detention for Long Ago Teen Crime

17 hours ago

Complaint Filed Against Judge in NW Fresno Luxury Apartment Case

17 hours ago

Madera County Man Arrested in Fatal Crash Case

18 hours ago

Fresno Two-Vehicle Crash Near Highway 168 Entrance Causes Traffic Delays

19 hours ago

Tulare County Authorities Close Kings River to Motorized Watercraft for Season

19 hours ago

Micky MaKenzie, Bold Pup With a Big Heart, Ready for a New Home

Micky MaKenzie may be small, but he’s not one to back down from the big dogs. The spunky pup, described as “super sweet with a mind of his o...

2 minutes ago

Micky MaKenzie, a bold yet sweet pup who loves belly rubs, car rides and playing with dogs of all sizes, is now recovered from surgery and ready for a forever home with his best buddy Sunny. (Mell's Mutts)
2 minutes ago

Micky MaKenzie, Bold Pup With a Big Heart, Ready for a New Home

President Donald Trump holds a press conference following his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
14 minutes ago

Trump Says Xi Told Him China Will Not Invade Taiwan While He Is US President

U.S. first lady Melania Trump speaks at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 8, 2025. (Reuters File)
18 minutes ago

Melania Trump Sends Letter to Putin About Abducted Children

Hurricane Erin, which is the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season and has developed into a dangerous Category 4 hurricane, moves westward near Puerto Rico in a composite satellite image August 16, 2025. CIRA/NOAA/Handout via REUTERS
24 minutes ago

Category 4 Hurricane Erin Continues to Intensify, NHC Says

United States Department of State logo and U.S. flag are seen in this illustration taken April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
27 minutes ago

US Stops Visitor Visas for People From Gaza

U.S. President Donald Trump goes to shake hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as they meet to negotiate for an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., August 15, 2025. (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)
16 hours ago

Trump Says No Summit Deal With Putin Over Ukraine War, Talks Were ‘Very Productive’

A Farmersville man, Jose Martinez-Delgadillo, was found guilty on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, of multiple lewd acts on a child, possession of child pornography, and other crimes, and faces over 22 years in prison with lifetime sex offender registration. (Tulare County DA)
17 hours ago

Tulare County Man Guilty of Multiple Lewd Acts on Child

sanger police department
17 hours ago

Sanger Police Arrest Second Suspect Charged in Juvenile Shooting

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend