California
Berkeley, California Will 'Degenderize' Its Municipal Code, Getting Rid of Words Like 'Manhole' and 'Ombudsman'
The progressive bastion is trying to make its laws more inclusive, semantically at least.
San Francisco's Top Economist Confirms Vape Ban Means More Smoking
The city is banning e-cigarettes while actual cigarettes remain legal.
California Lawmakers Pass Bill Limiting Police Use of Deadly Force
Officers will now have to argue that killing was necessary and not just say they had a fear they were in danger.
How Libertarian Politician Jeff Hewitt Won in California
Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Hewitt is now the highest elected Libertarian Party member in the U.S.
California's Politically Powerful Unions Aim To Crush Sharing Economy
A state Supreme Court ruling sets a new, higher bar for determining when workers can count as independent contractors rather than employees. It might ruin some online firms' business models.
California Politicians Want More Federal Money to Keep Doing a Terrible Job With Homelessness
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti doesn't like President Donald Trump's insults, but does want more money from his administration.
California Police Agencies Were Supposed To Make Misconduct Records Public. Why Isn't It Happening?
Media outlets are seeing foot-dragging, destroyed records, and demands for big money for compliance.
Facial Recognition Tech Straight Out of 'Robocop' Could Be a Real Threat to Civil Liberties
As governments and law enforcement agencies rush to incorporate facial recognition tech, California lawmakers have a chance to slam on the brakes.
NCAA Doesn't Want California To Allow Student-Athletes To Be Paid
NCAA has warned the state that if the "Fair Pay To Play Act" passes, all California schools would be ineligible to participate in postseason play.
Attempts to Build a Safe Injection Site for San Francisco Drug Users Pushed to 2020
Lawmakers struggle to pass a bill protecting operators from arrest and prosecution.
Can California Ban Gun Shows From Public Fairgrounds?
A district judge says no, but don't expect the state’s gun-grabbing politicians to give up.
Can $1 Billion From Google Really Solve the Housing Crisis in the Bay Area?
The tech giant's plan to add 20,000 homes will require lots of government permission slips and other investors' money.
To Hold but Not to Have: California's Marijuana Laws Get Weird When You're in Jail
It's not illegal for inmates to have marijuana, but it's still a felony if they try to smoke it.
The City of Vallejo, California, Has a Police Problem—and It's All Being Caught on Camera
A small city in California has been plagued by police shootings, costly civil rights lawsuits, and incidents of excessive force.
How Oakland Cops Gamed the System To Earn $30 Million in Overtime Pay
A new audit reveals how poor oversight and structural problems allowed one Oakland cop to earn $2.5 million in overtime pay in five years.
After L.A. Teachers' Strike, California Task Force Recommends Strict Restrictions on Charter Schools
Union leaders made charters a major point of contention during the January protests.
Union Sues Over Approval of 1,000-Unit Silicon Valley Housing Project, Arguing Building's Shiny Windows Will Kill Too Many Birds
An environmental lawsuit holds up yet another residential development in housing-starved California.
Californians Are Now Paying Higher Gas Taxes. Cities Are Responding by Reducing Lanes for Cars.
After state lawmakers boosted the gas tax with a promise to improve California streets, some cities are upsetting drivers by spending millions on so-called 'road diet' projects that reduce the number of lanes for motor vehicles.
Second U.S. City Decriminalizes Magic Mushrooms, Other Psychedelics
The Oakland City Council unanimously approved a city ordinance decriminalizing "entheogenic plants."
New Employment Regulations Could Destroy California's Gig Economy
What happens when you reclassify independent contractors as employees?
Is California's Watered-Down Rent Control Bill Still Problematic?
A compromise version of the bill would cap rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation for three years.
Backers of California's Paper Receipt Crackdown Overhype 'Skip the Slip'
A California bill to crack down on paper receipts relies on scare tactics and misinformation.
Bill Would Limit California Cops' Use of Deadly Force
The legislation moves forward following a compromise with law enforcement groups.
The State Can't Keep Drugs Out of Prisons. How Was It Ever Going to Keep Them Out of America?
This is the nature of government. It can't stop the flow of illicit substances in a sealed and militarized building that's under its total control.
Offenders in California Get Saddled with Thousands of Dollars in Court Fees. This Bill Would Stop That.
A study shows that when these fees hit low-income offenders, they wreck their lives—and also don't even get paid.
California Sues to Protect Its Federal Bullet Train Pork
The Trump Administration has cut off funding for the budget-busting boondoggle.
Federal Funding for California Bullet Train Boondoggle Formally Canceled
State leaders cannot seem to let a bad project die.
Landmark California Housing Bill Stalls in State Legislature
SB 50's upzoning provisions were repeatedly watered down to make the bill more politically palatable. It turns out that wasn't enough.
California's Marijuana Tax Revenue Still Sucks Stale Bong Water
High taxes and harsh regulations lead to a $223 million cut in budget projections.
76 Shots, 2 Cops, and a Deadly Chase Through a Residential Neighborhood
The officers won't be charged, but the DA thinks their actions were "alarming and irresponsible."
Psychonautical Journalist Michael Pollan Says the FDA, Not Voters, Should Decide Who Gets to Use Psilocybin
The approach Pollan prefers will not get us to the destination he says he wants to reach.
California's Rent Control Advocates Are About To Get What They Want, Good and Hard
Everywhere rent control is tried, the same things happen. Landlords exit the market. Developers stop building apartments. Supply drops significantly.
Cory Booker's Microstamping Mandate Would Amount to a Ban on New Handgun Models
The Democratic presidential candidate promises to fight for a design requirement that is not currently feasible.
Oakland's 'Pothole Vigilantes' Are the Batman and Robin of Road Repair
"We love the city, we hope they fill the potholes faster. And if they’re not going to do it, we’ll do it ourselves.”
Democrats Want To Fight Poverty, but Don't Value Letting People Work
All the welfare programs California Democrats can dream up won't do as much as some commonsense reforms to let people who want to work, work.
Affordable Housing Debate Pits California Cities Against Suburbs. Both Need Freer Markets.
A flaw in a proposal that would let developers build more high-density apartments and condos is that it doesn't go nearly far enough
California Housing Reform Bill Survives a Crucial Vote, but at What Cost?
SB 50 is starting to look less like a bold reform, and more like a marginal improvement on a dreadful status quo.
California Politicians Hiked Gas Tax, Now Demand Investigation Into State's $4 Per Gallon Gas Prices
What could possibly be increasing California's gas prices?
California's 6-Figure Pension Club Has Doubled in Size Since 2012
Last year, CalPERS issued 30,969 pensions checks worth $100,000 or more on an annualized basis—up from about 14,600 six-figure payouts in 2012.
California Law Would Outlaw Small Shampoo, Conditioner Bottles in Hotels
A supporter says the move is "symbolic."
Activists Launch Fresh Effort To Get Rent Control on California's State Ballot
Fresh from their 2018 defeat, California's rent control advocates are back with another statewide ballot initiative.
