News

Do California Power Shutoffs Work? Hard To Know, Experts Say

October 14, 2019

Experts say it's hard to know what might have happened if PG&E didn't preemptively cut off power.

State Government

California Regulator Blasts PG&E Over Power Outages

October 14, 2019

The California Public Utilities Commission ordered a series of corrective actions, including a goal of restoring power within 12 hours, not PG&E's current 48-hour goal.

Environment

For Most California Homes, Solar Panels Won’t Help During Power Outages. Here’s Why.

October 14, 2019 | Chris Nichols

Most residential solar systems are designed only to work when the customer is connected to the grid. Solar battery storage changes that.

State Government

Newsom’s First Rodeo: In Year One, The Governor Bucks Both Trump And Brown

October 14, 2019

Gov. Gavin Newsom's choices this year reflect his vision for California, and resist his predecessor and the president.

Health Care

How Newsom’s Bill-Signing Marathon Affects Your Health Care

October 14, 2019

Some of the most high-profile — and contentious — measures of the year in California were health care-related.

California Dream

Santa Cruz, The Least Affordable Place For Teachers, Is Trying To Make It More Livable

October 14, 2019

At least three of 10 school districts in Santa Cruz County are exploring the option of building below-market homes for teachers and staff on school district property.

State Government

The Desk Is Clear: Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs Bills His Predecessor Didn’t, Vetoes Pricey Effort To Fund Affordable Housing

October 13, 2019 | Ben Adler

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has cleared his desk for the year after acting on hundreds of bills over the weekend, signing several measures that failed in previous years while issuing more than 100 veto messages.

CA’s Tough Gun Laws Aren’t Tough Enough, It Turns Out — And Guess Who’s Stepping In

October 13, 2019

California has some of the nation’s strongest gun control laws. But local police in CA increasingly are turning to federal authorities for help prosecuting gun crimes.

PG&E: All Power Has Been Restored To Northern California

October 13, 2019

PG&E has restored power to the nearly 2 million Northern California residents who lost electricity.

Photos: Aftershock Rock Festival Reverberates Through Sacramento

October 12, 2019 | Andrew Nixon

More than 90,000 people are gathering in Discovery Park for the West Coast's largest hard rock music festival.

California Power Shutdowns Raise Air Pollution Worries

October 12, 2019

Air pollution is a concern after utilities halted service to more than 2 million people this week.

Pole By Pole: What It Takes For PG&E To Turn The Power Back On

October 11, 2019 | Bob Moffitt

In case you think that someone at PG&E flips a switch somewhere and turns on the power for large populations of people, think again. Crews go from pole to pole, one section at a time.

State Government

California To Wind Down Its Use Of Private, For-Profit Prisons

October 11, 2019

California will ban the use of for-profit, private detention facilities, including those under contract to the federal government to hold immigrants awaiting deportation hearings, under a bill that Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Friday.

State Government

California Adopts Broadest US Rules For Seizing Guns

October 11, 2019

California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday signed a law that will make the state the first to allow employers, co-workers and teachers to seek gun violence restraining orders against other people.

LA Declares Emergency As Saddleridge Fire Forces 100,000 People From Their Homes

October 11, 2019

A fast-moving fire that began near Sylmar grew by thousands of acres overnight, forcing mandatory evacuations for Porter Ranch and Granada Hills residents and shutting down LAUSD schools and college campuses in the San Fernando Valley.

Business Journal: Broderick Roadhouse Closes Roseville Site; Shake Shack Planning Roseville Galleria Location; Eatery Plans At Winn Park Scrapped

October 11, 2019 | Steve Milne

The Sacramento restaurant chain Broderick Roadhouse has closed its Roseville location. Sonya Sorich from the Sacramento Business Journal has that story and more business news.

'Unacceptable': PG&E Faces Backlash Over Power Shutoff As Newsom Increases Criticism

October 10, 2019

Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized PG&E and ordinary customers complained about the inconveniences caused by the unprecedented blackouts that began Wednesday, with many wondering: Did PG&E go too far in its attempt to ward off more deadly fires?

Photos: Nevada City Residents Turn To Community For Supplies During PG&E Power Shutoff

October 10, 2019 | Andrew Nixon | Emily Zentner

Many rural Northern Californians didn't have any access to water, electricity or food because of Pacific Gas and Electric's decision to shut off power. But some were prepared.

California Bans Popular Pesticide Linked To Brain Damage In Children

October 10, 2019

State environmental regulators call chlorpyrifos "a toxic air contaminant" that is a health threat when inhaled or exposed to skin.

PolitiFact California

Is Stockton Really Home To ‘Second Highest Rent Increases’ In The Nation? There’s No Simple Answer.

October 10, 2019 | Chris Nichols

Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs claimed his city "has seen the second highest rent increases in the nation." PolitiFact California examined what’s driving these soaring rents and the challenge researchers have in finding reliable rental data.