California

SANTA MONICA, CA, Sept. 26, 2016 – The Fair Political Practices Commission has launched an investigation into the California Democratic Party and alleged violations of the Political Reform Act in response to Consumer Watchdog’s investigative report, Brown’s Dirty Hands, the public interest group was told. “We are pleased that the FPPC has launched an investigation […]

SACRAMENTO, CA, Sept. 25, 2016 – Ready to make your way through a thicket of 17 California propositions on the November ballot? CALmatters is here to help you sort through the many thorny questions: Should we end the death penalty? Legalize marijuana? Extend taxes on the wealthy? Ban plastic bags? Raise taxes on cigarettes? Require actors […]

Sacramento September 23, 2016 – CAL FIRE has increased firefighter staffing in preparation for several days of Santa Ana winds and extreme fire conditions in Southern California. The National Weather Service has issued several “Red Flag Warnings” and “Fire Weather Watches” due to low humidity and gusty winds that could reach up to 55mph. The […]

WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 23, 2016 – Today, PacifiCorp and the newly formed non-profit Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC), filed motions with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that seek to transfer the lower four Klamath dams to the KRRC for the purpose of decommissioning and removal. FERC is the congressionally authorized agency that licenses and […]

Sept. 22, 2016 – This post first appeared at DeSmog. In the city of Richmond, California, Chevron Corp. not only processes up to 250,000 barrels of crude oil a day from the largest refinery on the West Coast — it also writes the news. The Richmond Standard, an online paper focused on local news for the roughly […]

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 22, 2016 – Following last year’s launch of an unprecedented criminal justice open data initiative, OpenJustice, and the passage of Assembly Bill 71, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris today launched a web-based tool that allows California law enforcement agencies to digitally report law enforcement or civilian uses of force. As part of […]

RANCHO CORDOVA, Sept. 22, 2016 – The California Heritage Protection Act (AB 2249) was signed into law by Governor Brown, Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) has announced. AB 2249 ensures park concessionaires in California’s state parks cannot trademark historic place names simply due to their status as a concessionaire. The bill was introduced by Assemblyman […]

CALIFORNIA September 21, 2016 – A Federal court today, declared Nestlé’s reliance on a long-expired permit valid, ruling in favor of the US Forest Service for allowing the Swiss conglomerate to continue its use of a four-mile pipeline that siphons water from the San Bernardino National Forest despite the Forest Service’s lack of action on […]

September 20, 2016 – Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s lead over businessman Donald Trump has slipped in California. While Clinton continues to hold a sizable seventeen-point statewide advantage (50% to 33%) over Trump in this year’s presidential election, that margin is down from twenty-four points in July, prior to the Democratic and Republican national […]

Monterey, Calif. September 20, 2016 – Protect Monterey County today released a review by Jannette M. Barth, Ph.D. of the Pepacton Institute, which finds that a June oil Industry report exaggerates the economic benefits from oil and gas production, while underestimating or ignoring the costs associated with its operations. “This review by a noted economist shows that […]

RED BLUFF, Calif., September 19, 2016 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has extended the deadline for California landowners in 10 Central Valley counties to apply for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) – Rice Stewardship Partnership, sponsored by Ducks Unlimited, Inc. in partnership with USA Rice Federation. Other local partners include the California Rice […]

Auburn, Calif September 18, 2016 – Yesterday, over one thousand volunteers worked together to remove more than 12 tons of trash from the rivers, lakes, and streams of the Sierra Nevada region as part of the 8th annual Great Sierra River Cleanup. This event, coordinated by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy and held in partnership with California […]

SACRAMENTO, CA, Sept. 16, 2016 – Today, Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) and Assemblymember Ken Cooley (D-Rancho Cordova) announced the Governor signed Assembly Bill (AB) 1716, which establishes the Lower American River Conservancy Program with the goal of enhancing and protecting the natural habitat and water conveyance of the American river. “The Lower American River and […]

September 16, 2016 – Elections officials across California continue to receive complaints from voters that received letters from an organization called Voter Participation Center (VPC) which inaccurately claim the addressee is not registered to vote. VPC also included a pre-filled voter registration form that contained incorrect or outdated information or information for persons who don’t […]

September 16, 2016 – Caltrans and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) remind motorists to remain alert for wildlife on roadways during Watch Out for Wildlife Week, which runs September 18-24. “We urge motorists to remain alert and be cautious when traveling through wildlife areas, so our roadways will remain as safe as […]

Sept. 15, 2016 – Clues from prehistoric droughts and arid periods in California show that today’s increasing greenhouse gas levels could lock the state into drought for centuries, according to a study led by UCLA professor Glen MacDonald. The study, published today in the Nature.com journal Scientific Reports, looked at how natural climatic forces contributed […]

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. Sept. 15, 2016 – Three conservation groups filed a request with the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board today to amend the permit of the Rapid Infiltration and Extraction (RIX) facility to require adequate water flows in the Santa Ana River for the federally protected Santa Ana sucker fish. Since 2014 […]

WASHINGTON, DC, Sept. 14, 2016 – The California Congressional Delegation released a letter today calling on the Obama Administration to approve a waiver that would allow undocumented immigrants to purchase unsubsidized health insurance through Covered California, the state’s health benefits exchange. If approved, California would become the first state in the nation to allow individuals […]