WEATHER ALERT
California advances unique safety regulations for AI companies despite tech firm opposition
Read full article: California advances unique safety regulations for AI companies despite tech firm oppositionCalifornia lawmakers have advanced a bill that would regulate powerful artificial intelligence systems.
New cars in California could alert drivers for breaking the speed limit
Read full article: New cars in California could alert drivers for breaking the speed limitA bill before California lawmakers would require new cars sold in the state in coming years to beep a warning whenever drivers exceed the speed limit by at least 10 mph.
Oakland officials vote to include ‘San Francisco’ in airport's name
Read full article: Oakland officials vote to include ‘San Francisco’ in airport's nameOakland officials have voted in favor of changing the name of the city’s airport to San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport, despite San Francisco threatening a lawsuit over what it says is a trademark violation.
California could legalize psychedelic therapy after rejecting 'magic mushroom' decriminalization
Read full article: California could legalize psychedelic therapy after rejecting 'magic mushroom' decriminalizationCalifornia could soon legalize psychedelic therapy under a bipartisan bill being introduced Tuesday.
Newsom signs laws to fast-track housing on churches’ lands, streamline housing permitting process
Read full article: Newsom signs laws to fast-track housing on churches’ lands, streamline housing permitting processCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law to fast-track low-income housing on surplus land owned by nonprofit colleges and religious institutions.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoes bill that would have decriminalized psychedelic mushrooms
Read full article: California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoes bill that would have decriminalized psychedelic mushroomsCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill aimed at decriminalizing the possession and use of some hallucinogens, including psychedelic mushrooms.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he will sign climate-focused transparency laws for big business
Read full article: California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he will sign climate-focused transparency laws for big businessCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom says he plans to sign into law a pair of climate-focused bills intended to force major corporations to be more transparent about greenhouse gas emissions and the financial risks stemming from global warming.
California lawmakers approve the nation’s most sweeping emissions disclosure rules for big business
Read full article: California lawmakers approve the nation’s most sweeping emissions disclosure rules for big businessCalifornia lawmakers have approved legislation requiring major companies to disclose a sweeping range of greenhouse gas emissions.
LGBTQ+ activists call for new strategies to promote equality after Target backlash
Read full article: LGBTQ+ activists call for new strategies to promote equality after Target backlashActivists in the LGBTQ+ community are calling for new ways to mobilize against threats to their long fight for equality.
San Francisco to repeal boycott of anti-LGBTQ+ states
Read full article: San Francisco to repeal boycott of anti-LGBTQ+ statesSan Francisco is repealing a ban on city-funded travel to 30 states that it says restrict abortion, voting and LGBTQ+ rights after determining the boycott is doing more harm than good.
Legislative fix could let UC Berkeley admit more students
Read full article: Legislative fix could let UC Berkeley admit more studentsDemocratic lawmakers have agreed to legislation that could let the University of California, Berkeley accept thousands more students this fall after a judicial freeze on enrollment in a dispute with residents over growth.
California Legislature OKs plan aimed at in-person learning
Read full article: California Legislature OKs plan aimed at in-person learningThe school just reopened Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, for in-person learning. (AP Photo/Haven Daily)SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California lawmakers on Thursday approved a $6.6 billion plan aimed at pressuring school districts to return students to the classroom before the end of the school year. Districts that resume in-person learning after that date won’t get any of that money. Frustrated parents and politicians have been clamoring for schools to return students to the classroom for months. To get the money, districts governed by the first set of rules must offer in-person learning through at least second grade by the end of March.
Federal judge says California can enforce net neutrality law
Read full article: Federal judge says California can enforce net neutrality lawFILE - In this Jan. 21, 2020, file photo, state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, speaks at a news conference in Sacramento, Calif. On Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, a federal judge ruled California could enforce a 2018 net neutrality law. Jerry Brown signed the bill in 2018, making California the first state to pass a net neutrality law. But in a separate lawsuit, the telecom industry asked a federal judge to keep blocking the law. On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge John A. Mendez denied their request, allowing California to begin enforcing the law. The law seeks to ban internet providers from slowing down customers' data streams based on the content they are viewing.
California lawmakers propose ban on fracking by 2027
Read full article: California lawmakers propose ban on fracking by 2027FILE - In this Jan. 16, 2015, file photo, pumpjacks are seen operating in Bakersfield, Calif. Last year, California Gov. Gavin Newsom called on the state Legislature to ban fracking by 2024. The bill would also ban all fracking in California, along with other forms of oil extraction such as cyclic steaming, by Jan. 1, 2027. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistribuSACRAMENTO, Calif. – New legislation would ban all fracking in California by 2027, taking aim at the powerful oil and gas industry in the state already planning to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035. AdTwo state senators answered that call Wednesday, announcing a measure that would halt new fracking permits or renewals by Jan. 1 and ban the practice altogether by 2027.
California measure aims to pay off 80% of most unpaid rent
Read full article: California measure aims to pay off 80% of most unpaid rentBut housing advocates worry the plan gives landlords too much power to decide what happens to their tenants' debt. In October, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia estimated that California renters had compiled $1.7 billion in unpaid rent. California estimating as many as 1.1 million households were behind on their rent in December, facing an estimated $3.6 billion in debt. The state would pay for the program by using $2.6 billion in federal rent relief money from the most recent coronavirus rescue package. The federal money can only be spent on households whose income is 80% or less of the area median income.
California bill would ban intersex surgery for young kids
Read full article: California bill would ban intersex surgery for young kidsA similar bill failed to pass last year after facing opposition from the California Medical Association. It would ban specific types of surgeries on infants born with intersex characteristics. There are no state or federal laws regulating intersex surgeries in the U.S., according to InterACT, a national intersex advocacy group. The California Legislature passed a nonbinding resolution in 2018 that urged doctors to defer intersex surgeries on children “until the child is able to participate in decision making." But since then, two major children's hospitals — Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago and Boston Children's Hospital — announced they would stop performing some surgeries on intersex children who were too young to give meaningful consent.
California will house transgender inmates by gender identity
Read full article: California will house transgender inmates by gender identityGavin Newsom signed a law that requires the state to house transgender prisoners based on their gender identity. The law Newsom signed Saturday says officers must ask inmates privately during the intake process if they identify as transgender, nonbinary or intersex. Rhode Island, New York City and Massachusetts have also housed inmates based on their gender identity. The law also requires officers to address transgender inmates based on the pronouns of their choice. And it requires officers to search inmates based on the search policy of their gender identity.