The latest bid to break up California is the brainchild of a real estate developer in San Bernardino County. It taps into growing resistance to the state’s liberal governance by more conservative residents.
StateWatch
Planned Parenthood sought a building permit. Then a California city changed zoning rules.
In the Inland Empire, Fontana is the latest California city to block a Planned Parenthood clinic, saying it’s studying putting an entertainment hub there.
The cost to inform California voters? $118,000 a page for official guide
The official state voter guide comes with printing, postage and other costs. The March primary guide cost $13.2 million, with only one ballot measure. What will be the price tag for November, with many more propositions?
California cracked down after a crash killed 13 farmworkers. Why are workers still dying on the road?
After a tragedy 25 years ago, state lawmakers and the California Highway Patrol acted to make farmworkers’ commutes safer. But workers still die in crashes — in vans the law doesn’t cover.
Big cuts, no new taxes: Newsom lays out plan to fix California’s budget deficit
In a news conference Friday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a mix of spending cuts and using reserves to balance the state budget. He said core services will be largely untouched, but some existing programs would be affected.
Californians will see lower electricity rates and a new fee that won’t vary with power use
California utilities will shift billing to a fixed fee starting in 2025. Most Californians won’t see much change, or will have a lower bill.
California passed a law to stop ‘pay to play’ in local politics. After two years, legislators want to gut it
A 2022 law limits campaign contributions to $250 to local elected officials from a donor with a license, building permit or other proceeding before the officials. Now there’s a bill to raise the limit to $1,000 and loosen other restrictions.
California sets nation’s first water standard for cancer-causing contaminant
Water suppliers say the costs of the State Water Resources Control Board approving a standard for hexavalent chromium will be massive, with rates increasing for many consumers. Known as the “Erin Brockovich” chemical, hexavalent chromium is found statewide.
California requires new homes to have solar panels. Should wildfire victims get a break?
A California Republican’s bill would exempt low- and middle-income wildfire victims from solar panel requirements on rebuilt homes that didn’t have them when they burned down.
California fails to track its homelessness spending or results, a new audit says
There’s so little data available, it’s impossible to even tell if several of California’s largest homelessness programs are working, according to a statewide audit released Tuesday.

