California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara rejected State Farm's request for "emergency" rate increases, setting up what could be a highly consequential showdown with the state's biggest insurer — and going against the recommendation of his staff experts. Lara, who has been urging insurance companies to write policies in the state...
Is the US in a Constitutional Crisis? California’s AG Says Not Yet
California Attorney General Rob Bonta sees a constitutional crisis looming as lawsuits play out over the Trump administration's boundary-testing executive orders, but the Democrat so far believes the country has not passed that threshold. A crisis would require "a blatant, egregious failure to comply with a clear court order" by...
Kern County Baker Can’t Refuse Wedding Cake for Lesbian Couple: Court
A Kern County baker violated California law when she refused to sell a cake to a lesbian couple for their wedding, a state appeals court ruled this week in a suit brought by the state's Civil Rights Division. If the scenario sounds familiar, that's because it's central to a series...
Californians Picked Up in Recent ICE Raids Include Kids and Volunteers
A church-going agricultural worker. An Echo Park man taking his son to school. A 16-year-old kid searching for work to support his family in Mexico. Three weeks into President Donald Trump’s second term, a clearer picture is beginning to emerge of some of the first Californians targeted in his high-profile...
Trump’s Immigration Executive Orders Stoke Fear. What You Need to Know.
President Donald Trump returned to office last month with a major show of force on immigration, issuing numerous orders and directives to dramatically increase enforcement. They’ve sparked glee from his supporters, condemnation from his opponents, fear from immigrant communities amid nationwide raids — and also plenty of false alarms. The flurry of...
California’s EV Sales Stall. So What Happens to Landmark Mandate?
California's push to electrify its cars is facing a potentially serious problem: People aren't buying electric cars fast enough. After three straight years of strong growth, sales have stabilized in California, raising questions about whether the state will fail to meet its groundbreaking mandate banning sales of gas-powered vehicles. About...
State Farm Asks for ‘Emergency’ Insurance Rate Increases After LA Fires
State Farm, the largest insurer for California homeowners, this week asked the state to approve "emergency" rate increases for insurance policy holders, saying the recent Los Angeles County fires have imperiled its finances. The company wants an average 22% increase for homeowners and 15% for renters on top of rate...
Lawmakers Propose $175 Million in New CalFire Funding
Roughly a month after deadly wildfires erupted in Los Angeles County, killing at least 29 people, lawmakers in the state Senate have introduced a proposal to bolster CalFire staffing, and Gov. Gavin Newsom is meeting with President Donald Trump over disaster aid. Joined by several other senators and firefighters in...
Newsom Counters Trump, Orders More Stormwater Stored in Valley Reservoirs
As downpours soak Northern California, Gov. Gavin Newsom has ordered state officials to capture and store more stormwater in San Joaquin Valley reservoirs for farmers and towns, and to “remove or minimize” any obstacles that stand in the way. If that sounds familiar, it is: The governor issued similar orders two years ago, when...
He Wants to Make California Republicans Relevant Again. So Why Does the GOP Dislike Him?
Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, a newcomer to the California Legislature, wants to retake power from Democrats with his unapologetically brash, Trump-inspired conservatism. So why do so many Republican insiders dislike him? The Republican Party tried hard last year to keep one of its members, Carl DeMaio, from taking a seat...