ELIZABETH, N.J. — A man who gained internet fame as "Kai the Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker" has been sentenced to 57 years in prison for the beating death of a New Jersey man. Caleb McGillvary will have to serve at least 85% of his sentence under terms imposed Thursday. The Alberta, Canada,...
Aliens, Droids and Starships: New Star Wars Land Ready to Open
ANAHEIM — From animatronic aliens to droidprints in the ground, Disneyland's latest addition immerses visitors in a brand new locale in the "Star Wars" universe. Every detail of the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge land is meant to look and feel like it was plucked from a "Star Wars" film, whether...
Advocates Promised These Laws Would ‘Protect’ Teens. They Don’t.
In 2016, fewer than 6% of California adolescents reported trying cigarettes, down from 10% in 2015, 13% in 2009, 15% in 2007, and 19% in 2003. Why on earth did legislators feel the need to intervene in such a hugely positive youth trend? For no apparent reason, they did. In 2016,...
Opinion: Don’t Dumb Down Our Smart Speakers
Editor’s note: This commentary is a response to “Legislation seeks to outsmart ‘smart’ speakers,” May 23, 2019. Voice recognition systems have streamlined our daily activities, from turning on the lights to important reminders about taking medications. We have only scratched the surface of what is possible with voice recognition systems. But...
Assembly Votes to Tighten Rules on Independent Contractors
SACRAMENTO — California residents working for companies like Lyft and Uber would get the rights of employees entitled to a minimum wage and workers compensation under a law the state Assembly passed on Wednesday. The sweeping bill, which now goes to the Senate, carries new standards defining whether workers are...
Fresno Grizzlies Lose Sponsor Due to Ocasio-Cortez Video
A company has cut ties with the Fresno Grizzlies after the baseball team played a Memorial Day video that included an image of Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with images of Kim Jong-un and Fidel Castro. The Fresno Bee reported the raisin company Sun-Maid terminated its sponsorship of the Fresno Grizzlies on Wednesday....
California Senate OKs Rule on Police Use-of-Force Training
SACRAMENTO — The California Senate approved legislation Tuesday requiring officers across the nation's most populous state to be trained in ways to avoid using deadly force, one of two measures intended to deter shootings by police. Senators unanimously passed the proposal requiring that policies on deadly force be standardized statewide,...
Event Where California Officials Brawled Known for Partying
SACRAMENTO — A late-night argument between Southern California city councilors ended with one unconscious on the floor of a resort during an annual gathering of local government officials that some past attendees say is more fraternity party than public policy retreat. The May 18 incident drew unwanted attention to the...
Why California’s Efforts to Limit Soda Keep Fizzling
Earlier this year, Democrats in the state Capitol introduced several measures intended to limit Californians’ consumption of soda, arguing that rotting teeth and rising diabetes presented a public health crisis demanding action akin to regulations on cigarettes. They proposed taxing soda, banning Big Gulps, prohibiting in-store discounts on soft drinks, banishing them...
Proposed Sales Tax on Business Services Has Horrible Timing
California’s elected leaders are enjoying the fruits of a go-go economy, with record surpluses and record spending on education. So, naturally, there’s talk of tax increases. Californians have enjoyed nearly 10 years of economic growth, and one of the biggest beneficiaries has been the state budget. Since the depths of...