California

Health

More California Counties See COVID-19 Case Improvements

John Antczak / Associated Press

Five more California counties will move to less restrictive tiers because of improving COVID-19 conditions and no counties regressed. No counties are in the purple, or substantial, tier.
Environment

California Readies To Prevent Blackouts, But Threats Remain

The Associated Press

California's top energy regulators say the state is better prepared to avoid last summer's rotating blackouts. But they cautioned the power grid of the nation's most populous state is still vulnerable to extreme heat waves.
Politics

Analyst Criticizes Newsom's Spending Plan As 'Shortsighted'

Adam Beam / Associated Press

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to take more than $12 billion from the state's savings accounts and other sources to increase spending this year. That's despite the state having about $100 billion in new money to spend.
Quality of Life

California Places Tesla's 'Full Self-Driving' Under Review

Tom Kirsher and Stefanie Dazio / Associated Press

California’s Department of Motor Vehicles is reviewing whether Tesla is violating a state regulation by advertising its vehicles as being fully autonomous without meeting the legal definition of self-driving.
Public Safety

Report: California DMV Driver License Bribery Scheme Exposed

The Associated Press

Federal prosecutors say California Department of Motor Vehicle employees at two Los Angeles-area offices have taken thousands of dollars in bribes to approve driver licenses.
Politics

Newsom's Income Went Up In 1st Year As California Governor

Kathleen Ronayne / Associated Press

California Gov. Gavin Newsom's 2019 tax returns show his income went up by about half a million dollars in his first year as governor. Most of the income came from businesses Newsom placed in a blind trust when he became governor.
Environment

New Research Finds Climate Models Mostly Get It Right

Erik Anderson

Climate modeling is mostly right when it predicts a changing climate, but forecasts may be too conservative.
Health

California Won't Lift Its Mask Requirement For Another Month

The Associated Press

California won’t lift its mask requirement until June 15 to give the public and businesses time to prepare and ensure cases stay low, the state health director said Monday.
Politics

Cash Windfall Helps Newsom Shake California Recall Election

Michael R. Blood / AP Political Writer

California’s Gavin Newsom is showing why it’s tough to unseat an incumbent governor. The first-term Democrat unleashed a torrent of new spending after the state's budget was blessed with a $76 billion surplus and $27 billion in federal pandemic aid.
Environment

Water Crisis ‘Couldn’t Be Worse’ On Oregon-California Border

The Associated Press

A severe drought is creating a water crisis not seen in more than a century for farmers and federally protected fish along the Oregon-California border.