California residents now pay the highest price for electricity in the continental U.S., state analysts reported last month. Costs have been driven in part by levies to prevent and insure against wildfires, but the analysts anticipate a less conspicuous source of pressure on power bills going forward: growing electricity demand...
Small Businesses Drive the Economy. Yet Their Funding Is at Risk Under Trump.
California's small businesses — employers to more than half the state's workforce — are staring down what some owners, experts, and advocates say could be immense negative consequences from President Donald Trump's slew of executive orders. Trump's embattled federal funding freeze and anti-diversity push have seeded uncertainty about the economy,...
Should Builders Permit Their Own Projects? Post-fire LA Considers a Radical Idea
The speedy processing of building permit applications is not typically considered a popular political cause. The recent Los Angeles firestorm may have changed that. Thousands of Angelenos are now desperate to rebuild their homes as quickly as possible. They have the sympathy and focus of elected leaders at every level...
A Former Firefighter in the Legislature Has Ideas. Will Democrats Listen?
It's safe to say there's no legislator more familiar with battling fires against the Santa Ana winds than state Sen. Kelly Seyarto. He's one of just a few former firefighters in the Legislature's history, and the only former career firefighter currently in office, according to the California State Library (Current...
Big Homeowner Rate Hike From State Farm Shot Down by California Regulator
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...