Over the next few weeks, we will learn a lot about the power of political televisions ads. Thus far, the race to pick Gov. Jerry Brown's successor is a snoozer. Going forward, all of the serious candidates must focus their resources on stirring voter passion. So expect to see a...
SoCal Agency Agrees to Pay $11 Billion for Tunnels Water Project
Gov. Jerry Brown’s controversial “twin tunnels” Delta water project will receive crucial funding from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The MWD board voted today (April 10) to support the project with $10.8 billion in financing. Member agencies voted by a margin of 61% to 39% to fund the...
Californians Pay $10 Million a Day More Than They Should for Gas
Everyone knows that gas is expensive in California. The reasons, we are told, include high state taxes, costly special blends and fees aimed at helping the environment. But San Diego Union-Tribune reporter Rob Nikolewski writes that Californians also pay far more than they should for reasons that no one has publicly identified....
Take 5: Congressman Lieu on Valley Ag, Trump Impeachment
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles) is an outspoken critic of the Trump administration. Take 5 met Lieu during his "Adopt-a-District" town hall Thursday night (April 5) at Clovis West High School in Fresno. Topics Covered in Take 5 Video We asked Lieu his thoughts on: — Valley agriculture, and how President...
Why California Gets to Write Its Own Auto Emissions Rules
Editor’s note: On April 2, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt announced that the Trump administration plans to revise tailpipe emissions standards negotiated by the Obama administration for motor vehicles built between 2022 and 2025, saying the standards were set “too high.” Pruitt also said the EPA was re-examining California’s...
Who’s Running for State Office? Read the Official List.
The California secretary of state released the official list of eligible candidates for state and federal offices. For governor, 27 hopefuls are running to succeed Gov. Jerry Brown. That list includes 12 Democrats and five Republicans. Others are registered Green, Libertarian, Peace and Freedom or no party preference. Of the...
Grownups Have Messed Up School Budgets. Turn It Over to the Kids.
California education finances are an unholy mess — with incomprehensible budget formulas, equity funding that doesn’t produce equity, and cuts to schools even during the current economic expansion. And our state’s so-called education leaders refuse to fix the system. We should let the kids fix it instead. This isn’t a...
Tornadoes Possible As Storm Saturates Valley, Weather Service Warns
True to predictions, the strong storm moving across California is bringing significant amounts of rain to the Valley. Forecasters say it could also bring a tornado or two. "It's very unusual for us in the Valley here, but this is one of those days where that definitely is a possibility," said meteorologist...
Atmospheric River Heads to the Valley. What Is It?
A big weather system is heading to Fresno, Clovis and other parts of California. The heaviest rain will hit us Wednesday and Thursday, according to the National Weather Service forecast office in Hanford. There is a possibility of flooding, especially in Southern California, which still is recovering from last year's...
Bullet Train Leader is 'OK' With a Do-Over Vote
Dan Richard, the longtime chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, told a Bay Area newspaper columnist Thursday that he is "OK" with allowing voters a second say on the controversial, budget-busting bullet-train project. "I actually would be OK with that," Richard told Richard Borenstein, a columnist and editorial page editor...