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Scott Rodd
State Government Reporter
Scott Rodd previously covered government and legal affairs for the Sacramento Business Journal. Prior to the Business Journal, Scott worked as a freelance reporter in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., contributing to the Washington Post, New York Times, Stateline, the New York Observer and Next City. Scott grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut, and studied English literature at Susquehanna University.
As Power Shut Offs Increase, California Counties Are Making Plans For Elections Without Electricity
November 13, 2019
After California utilities cut power to millions of customers in October, counties are using pre-election surveys to make sure polling places and vote-counting centers have equipment needed to mitigate the impact of power shutoffs.
From Tikka Masala to Mexican BBQ, Home Kitchens Set To Expand Across State
November 12, 2019
Riverside County is the first in California to allow amateur chefs to welcome diners into their homes or offer take-out foods.
Anger And Loss After Last Week's Power Blackout
October 17, 2019
Last week, more than 700,000 PG&E customers lost power during planned shutoffs, which the utility claimed were due to heightened risk of wildfires. But the company — by its own admission — fumbled the outage from the start.
Sacramento Wipes Out ‘Enormous’ Penalties For Illegal Pot Grows After Judge Determines City Violated Property Owner’s Rights
October 9, 2019
The city has issued about $94 million in fines against homeowners for illegal cannabis cultivation. Many are rental property owners who claim their tenants operated the grow without their knowledge. Now, dozens are taking their case to court.
When Tenants Grow Pot, Sacramento Homeowners Face Six-Figure Fines And An Appeals Process Attorneys Call 'A Kangaroo Court'
September 26, 2019
When homeowners appeal the fines, which are often hundreds of thousands of dollars, the city says the hearings are designed to be “informal.” But defense attorneys say appealing the penalties rob owners of their right to due process.
California Says Nearly All Cannabis Businesses Will Be In Statewide Tracking System By End Of October
September 18, 2019
In May, less than 10 percent of licensed cannabis businesses were enrolled in the system known as track-and-trace.
Sacramento Fined Homeowners $94 Million For Illegal Cannabis Grows — But Many Claim They’re Innocent
September 16, 2019
Hundreds of property owners have challenged the penalties. Their attorneys allege the city’s enforcement has turned into a money-making scheme.
California Lawmakers Have Piled A Giant Stack Of Bills On Gov. Gavin Newsom's Desk. Here Are Some Of Them
September 14, 2019
California lawmakers adjourned for the year in the wee hours of Saturday morning, but not before sending hundreds of bills to Governor Gavin Newsom.
Roundup: California Lawmakers Pass ‘Fair Pay Act’ For College Athletes
September 11, 2019
The bill faced staunch opposition from the NCAA, which prohibits students from earning money while playing a college sport.
.jpg&width=480 "In this Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016, file photo, a driver displaying Lyft and Uber stickers on his front windshield drops off a customer in downtown Los Angeles.")
California Senate Moves 'Dynamex' Worker Classification Bill Forward Without Deal For Gig Companies
September 10, 2019
Companies such as Uber and Lyft have been seeking a way to keep their workers classified as contractors instead of employees. But legislation to address worker misclassification moved forward Tuesday night without exemptions covering them.