California

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 9, 2016—A federal jury found Pacific Gas and Electric Company (“PG&E”) guilty today of multiple willful violations of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 (“PSA”) and obstructing an agency proceeding, announced U.S. Attorney Brian J. Stretch, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris, San Mateo County District Attorney Stephen M. Wagstaffe, […]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. Aug. 9 2016— Pushing a wheelbarrow filled with 350,000 petition signatures, concerned Californians gathered outside the capitol today to urge Gov. Jerry Brown and the California Water Resources Control Board to stop the potentially dangerous practice of using wastewater from oil drilling to irrigate California’s crops. The wastewater, sold by Chevron and California […]

MARINA, CA, Aug. 9, 2016 – Effective Aug. 9, the Bureau of Land Management is implementing fire restrictions on public lands managed by the Central Coast Field Office. The fire restrictions will remain in effect until further notice. All campfires and barbeques are limited to designated fire rings in designated campgrounds. Portable stoves with gas, […]

August 9, 2016 – On August 4, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit affirmed the ruling in Mony Preap et al. v. Johnson. The class action successfully challenged the federal government’s practice in California of detaining certain immigrants without bond, often for many months, while they face deportation proceedings. Today’s ruling […]

Yreka, Calif. August 6, 2016 – Yesterday afternoon and evening a thunderstorm moved across Siskiyou County with 165 lightning strikes recorded. As of this morning the lightning had resulted in fifteen small fires throughout the County. The Klamath National Forest reported five new fires. The 1/2 acre Crest fire and 1/4 acre Pointer fire are […]

SACRAMENTO August 5, 2016 – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today announced the first confirmed death in California due to West Nile virus (WNV). The deceased person was a senior citizen in Sacramento County. “West Nile virus can cause a deadly infection in humans, and the […]

SAN FRANCISCO August 2, 2016 – Melinda Van Horne was sentenced today to 12 months and a day in prison for damaging national conservation land through her marijuana cultivation operation, announced United States Attorney Brian J. Stretch. Van Horne, 43, of Whitethorn, pleaded guilty on March 23, 2016, to depredation against the property of the […]

SANTA MONICA, CA, Aug. 2, 2016 – Consumer Watchdog filed a petition challenging State Farm’s proposed rates for its dwelling insurance, charging that California’s largest homeowners insurer will be overcharging over 280,000 policyholders unless it cuts its rate by as much as 40%, or nearly $100 million. Consumer Watchdog’s analysis found that State Farm overestimated […]

August 2, 2016 – College students face significant barriers when it comes to accessing federal food assistance programs because of outdated state and federal requirements. Aligning the criteria can make it easier for students to get food assistance. These findings, along with recommendations to ease access to aid programs, are shared in SNAP and the […]

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 1, 2016 – Attorney General Kamala D. Harris, along Attorneys General from 16 states and the District of Columbia today submitted official comments to the United States Department of Education, urging the Department to do more to create and implement fair, streamlined, and efficient processes to enable students harmed by predatory for-profit […]

SACRAMENTO, CA, Aug. 1, 2016 – Yes on Prop 61/Californians for Lower Drug Prices today released the results of a statewide survey that demonstrates strong, across-the-board support for Proposition 61, The California Drug Price Relief Act, a measure to reduce drug prices paid by the State of California. “We’re pleased that California voters have expressed […]

August 1, 2016 – According to a new statewide Field Poll, 84% of California households now have access to highspeed Internet at home. This proportion is up nine points from 2014. Most of the increase in broadband Internet connectivity is due to the growing popularity of mobile, smart phone devices. There has been a near […]

July 30, 2016 – A Local Assistance Center (LAC) is scheduled to open at the William S. Hart Park Hart Hall on Friday, August 5, 2016. The LAC is available to all residents impacted by the recent Sand Fire that burned over 37,000 acres, resulting in the evacuations of 10,000 homes and 20,000 people. The center […]

SACRAMENTO July 29, 2016 – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued the following statement regarding the death of San Diego Police Department Officer Jonathan DeGuzman: “Anne and I were deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of Officer Jonathan DeGuzman, who was shot and killed in the line of duty. Each day officers […]