When I stepped into a Sierra Nevada meadow over 25 years ago, I was struck by the diversity of life, the hub of biological activity — full of birds, frogs, fish and plants. As a wildlife ecologist, I was in love. That infatuation has endured, growing into one of the...
Registered Lobbyists Reach a Record High in California
California saw its biggest increase in registered lobbyists last session since at least 2011, with a roughly 10% increase for a record of 3,245 people. The increase in lobbyists means there's now at least one lobbyist for every legislative staff member. Longtime lobbyist Chris Micheli attributes the jump to high...
Gavin Newsom Faces National Spotlight: 2024 Year in Review
As President Joe Biden's re-election campaign imploded this summer, Gov. Gavin Newsom was at the center of the furor. He became arguably the most prominent and forceful surrogate for Biden through the chaos that followed the president's debate debacle in June, championing Biden in interviews and on the campaign trail...
Most Medical Debt Can’t Hurt Your Credit Score Under New CA Law
Everyday people across the country skip medical care because of cost. Those who do seek medical help may end up with a balance they can't pay off. That debt can hurt people's credit scores, resulting in long-term financial burdens. Starting Jan. 1, a new state law will prohibit health providers...
California Bans Schools From Forcing Teachers to ‘Out’ LGBTQ Students
Amid a flurry of recent school board policies aimed at the rights of transgender students, California passed a new law in July that prevents schools from requiring staff to notify parents if a student identifies as LGBTQ. The new law, AB 1955, came in response to a handful of school...
California Limits Junk Fees: New Law Blocks Fines for Declined ATM Withdrawals
Californians who try to withdraw money but don't have enough in their bank accounts won't fall deeper into a financial hole from having to pay a fine, thanks to a new state law. The law covers instances in which banks charge customers when their withdrawals are declined instantaneously, such as...
Amazon and Starbucks Workers Are Striking. What Does It Mean for Labor Under Trump?
Striking Amazon and Starbucks workers are on picket lines instead of delivering last-minute presents or handing customers Christmas-themed drinks, as their unions pressure the companies during the holidays — and before a less union-friendly president is sworn into office. The workers accuse their employers of refusing to recognize their unions...
‘It’s Living Hell’: Nurses Say CA Addiction Recovery Program Ended Their Careers
Bobbie Sage thought nursing would be her salvation. She was trapped in an abusive relationship with four kids and looking for a steady income. The day she graduated vocational nursing school, she took the kids and left their father. Five years later, a DUI ruined her carefully crafted stability. Sage...
New California Voter ID Ban Puts Conservative Cities at Odds With State
California has become the latest battleground over voter identification requirements, a longtime conservative priority newly propelled in recent years by election fraud complaints from President-elect Donald Trump. Under a state law that takes effect on Jan. 1, local governments across California will be prohibited from compelling voters to present identification...
CA Lemon Law Will Provide Car Buyers Fewer Protections in 2025
The year 2025 is shaping up to be a confusing one for Californians unlucky enough to buy a new or used car that turns out to be a clunker. Starting Jan. 1, car buyers who purchase a faulty vehicle will have to navigate a new version of California's "lemon law"...