SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers on Monday rejected a proposal aimed at cracking down on how some of the nation's largest utilities spend customers' money. California's investor-owned utilities can't use money from customers to pay for things like advertising their brand or lobbying for legislation. Instead, they’re supposed to use money...
What Do Supreme Court Justices Say About Homelessness?
The Supreme Court wrestled with major questions about the growing issue of homelessness on Monday as it considered whether cities can punish people for sleeping outside when shelter space is lacking. The nine justices are expected to decide the case by the end of June. Homelessness in the United States...
49ers GM Hopes to Get Brandon Aiyuk Contract Extension Done Sooner Rather Than Later
SANTA CLARA — Brandon Aiyuk is staying away from the San Francisco 49ers facility at the start of the offseason program as he seeks a lucrative long-term contract. That doesn't mean that the 49ers don't believe he will be part of the team when the season starts. General manager John...
Judge Rejects Changing the Name of California’s Trans Youth Ballot Measure
A group working on a fall ballot initiative that would limit the rights of transgender students lost a round in court Monday when a judge sided with the state in its description of the measure. Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Stephen Acquisto ruled that Attorney General Rob Bonta’s title, “Restricts...
Oprah Winfrey and Dwayne Johnson Pledged $10M for Maui Wildfire Survivors. They Gave Much More.
Lana Vierra misses the swing set at her Lahaina home, which was reduced to ashes in the wildfires that swept through her community last summer. “Multiple generations went through there playing in my front yard," she said. "Just with the animals and the turtles and the deer and goats that...
Did Fresno Unified’s Biggest Contractor Not Pay Its Workers? Company Still Gets Millions After Civil Penalty
After nearly six years, 22 construction workers still have not been paid for work they did at Slater Elementary School in 2018, according to a video documentary. Meanwhile, Davis Moreno Construction — the general contractor overseeing Gene Garcia Construction which allegedly did not pay the wages — continues to be...
Biden Marks Earth Day by Going After GOP, Announcing $7 Billion in Federal Solar Power Grants
TRIANGLE, Virginia — President Joe Biden marked Earth Day by announcing $7 billion in federal grants for residential solar projects serving 900,000-plus households in low- and middle-income communities — while criticizing Republicans who want to gut his policies to address climate change. Seeking reelection in November, Biden said, “Despite the...
Fresno Unified Says It Has No Superintendent Succession Plan Despite HR Leader’s Claim
Fresno Unified says it doesn't have a superintendent succession plan even though a human resources leader pointed to one in her public comments to trustees earlier this month. Assistant Superintendent of Labor Relations Annarita Howell said at the April 3 board meeting that trustees had previously approved a doctoral program...
Work Starts on Bullet Train Line From Las Vegas to LA
LAS VEGAS — A $12 billion high-speed passenger rail line between Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area has started construction, officials said Monday, amid predictions that millions of ticket-buyers will be boarding trains by 2028. “People have been dreaming of high-speed rail in America for decades," U.S. Transportation Secretary...
Trustees to Vote on New Fresno High Gym, Bullard Security Fence. Who Were the Low Bidders?
Fresno Unified School Board members are scheduled Wednesday to vote on awarding bids to build a new auxiliary gymnasium at Fresno High School and the long-awaited fence at Bullard High School. The proposed 15,000-foot auxiliary gym and site improvements at Fresno High are part of the district's ongoing efforts to...