SACRAMENTO — Hundreds of newly passed California bills could be in jeopardy after most of the Republicans in the state Senate were forced to vote remotely for several days because of the coronavirus — a legally untested procedure legislative leaders expect will prompt a lawsuit in the coming weeks. The...
Walters: Legislature Leaves Much Undone
When the Legislature reconvened in January, the stage was seemingly set for a year of sweeping action on California’s most vexing political issues, such as a chronic housing shortage, homelessness and an embarrassingly high poverty rate. Democrats enjoyed overwhelming majorities in both legislative houses, the Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, was...
Police: Teacher With Far-Right Ties Harassed Health Officer
SAN JOSE — Authorities say a California community college instructor with ties to the far-right, anti-government “boogaloo" movement is in custody following his arrest for allegedly sending more than two dozen threatening letters to a county health officer during the coronavirus pandemic. The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office arrested Alan...
Judge Upholds California Ban on Carrying Guns in Public
SACRAMENTO — A U.S. judge on Monday upheld California's near-total ban on carrying guns in public even as protests in other states have seen counter-demonstrators armed with weapons. U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller denied a review of a 2017 federal appeals court decision that upheld the law, which bans carrying...
California Lawmakers OK More Exemptions From Labor Law
SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers on Monday OK'd exemptions to about two-dozen more professions from a landmark labor law designed to treat more people like employees instead of contractors. Among other things, the legislation would end what critics had said were unworkable limits on services provided by freelance still photographers, photojournalists,...
Scorching Valley Labor Day Forecast Renews Wildfire Concerns
After an August that delivered record-breaking temperatures, September also will be a scorcher for Valley residents, forecasters say. Based on National Weather Service Hanford data, August had produced 18 days with triple-digit temperatures heading into Monday. Among them: 112 degrees on Aug. 16, which bettered the mark of 110 set...
California Acts To Increase Diversity on Corporate Boards
SACRAMENTO — California moved closer Saturday to a first-in-the-nation law requiring corporate boards to include racial or sexual minorities, expanding on a new law that sets a similar requirement for including women directors. Supporters evoked both the coronavirus pandemic that is disproportionately affecting minorities and weeks of unrest and calls...
California Senate OKs State Reviews for Police Shootings
SACRAMENTO — California is close to requiring independent investigations any time police kill an unarmed civilian, a move that would strip authority from local prosecutors at a time of heightened distrust between law enforcement and communities of color. But the proposal that easily passed the state Senate on Sunday with...
California Moves To Consider Reparations for Slavery
SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers are setting up a task force to study and make recommendations for reparations to African Americans, particularly the descendants of slaves, as the nation struggles again with civil rights and unrest following the latest shooting of a Black man by police. The state Senate supported creating...
California Needs Bigger, Stronger City Councils not Strong Mayors
Want a stronger California city? Don’t make your mayor more powerful. Make your city council bigger. Mayors Sam Liccardo of San Jose and Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento are seeking to become “strong mayors”—with broad executive authority over department heads, budgets and council legislation. “Strong mayors” are rare in California. More...