SACRAMENTO — The first data from an experiment in a California city where needy people get $500 a month from the government shows they spend most of it on things such as food, clothing and utility bills. The 18-month, privately funded program started in February and involves 125 people in...
Newsom Signs Law Overhauling Charter Schools
SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law overhauling California's charter schools Thursday in a move seen as a compromise between teachers’ unions and charter school supporters, who have long argued over how charter schools impact public education. Charter schools are privately-run or nonprofit public schools that operate by different...
Chevron Fined $2.7M for Kern County Oil Leaks
BAKERSFIELD — California regulators have fined Chevron $2.7 million for violations at a facility in Kern County where there have been multiple oil leaks. The Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources said Wednesday that Chevron illegally allowed uncontrolled oil releases at Cymric Oil Field. The seepage...
Mother Allegedly Tried to Smuggle Meth With Son, 6, in Car
SAN DIEGO — Border patrol agents have arrested a woman they say tried to smuggle nearly 70 pounds of methamphetamine through a Southern California checkpoint with her 6-year-old son in the car. Authorities say the woman, a 25-year-old Mexican citizen, was stopped at the Pine Valley checkpoint in San Diego...
Walters: Unions Win Big, to What Avail?
California’s labor unions scored big wins in the just-concluded legislative session — to the surprise of precisely no one. Democrats’ huge gains in last year’s legislative elections, coupled with the election of Gavin Newsom, who had strong union support, as governor, foretold what would happen. The biggest of union victories, Assembly...
Mercury Insurance Agrees to Pay California a Record $41M
SACRAMENTO — Mercury Insurance Co. is ending its two-decade battle with California regulators over extra fees charged to customers by agreeing to pay the state more than $41 million, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said Wednesday. He said it’s the largest property and casualty penalty and interest payment in the...
Judge Temporarily Blocks Law Aimed at Trump's Tax Returns
SACRAMENTO — A U.S. judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a California law aimed at forcing President Donald Trump to release his personal income tax returns in order to appear on the 2020 primary ballot. U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England Jr. issued a written opinion saying the law likely violates...
California to Let Child Care Workers Unionize
SACRAMENTO — California will allow roughly 40,000 child care workers to unionize. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the law on Monday and it takes effect next year. It applies to workers who offer child care to families who get government subsidies. The law says those workers can collectively bargain like...
Five Convicted of Aiding Accused Killer of Police Cpl. Ronil Singh
A federal jury in Fresno convicted two illegal immigrants Monday of attempting to help the accused killer of Newman Police Cpl. Ronil Singh flee to Mexico, according to U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott. Paulo Virgen Mendoza, a Mexican national living illegally in Newman, allegedly killed Singh during a traffic stop on...
US Citizen Accused of Spying on Behalf of Chinese Government
SAN FRANCISCO — A California man who operates tours for Chinese students and visitors was charged with being an illegal foreign agent and delivering classified U.S. national security information to officials in China, U.S. government officials announced Monday. U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson accused Xuehua Edward Peng, 56, of a...