California

California January 12, 2023

Is California drought over? Rain, snow, and reservoirs.

The year 2023 began with a historic bang — record precipitation and disastrous flooding throughout much of California. Parched watersheds soaked up the first rains, but soon became waterlogged. Runoff accelerated. Sodden hillsides collapsed. Rural levees burst and rivers spilled their banks. Towns went underwater. People died. Meanwhile, the Pacific Ocean continued to whip up more atmospheric rivers and “bomb cyclones,” and one after another,…

California January 3, 2023

Key issues shaping California in 2023

Welcome to 2023 — a year that will likely prove decisive in California’s attempts to address some of its most pervasive challenges, ranging from housing and homelessness to climate change. CalMatters, open source state journalism project, sets forth some of the noteworthy issues in the year ahead. Wednesday, state lawmakers are set to return to Sacramento (though some may be driving instead of flying Southwest…

California, News December 29, 2022

Lots of new California laws ringing in 2023

New California laws taking effect on January 1, 2023 include: Abortion (AB-2223) — It protects a woman or pregnant person who chooses to end a pregnancy from prosecution, even if the abortion is self-induced or happens outside the medical system. It also abolishes the requirement that coroners investigate stillbirths and protects someone who helps a pregnant person end their pregnancy voluntarily from criminal or civil…

Breaking News, Escondido, Police, Police/Fire, Riverside County November 29, 2022

Meet new Escondido police boss, same as the old boss

The more things change the more they stay they same eerily reflects the appointment of a new Escondido police chief. That would be Ed Varso, announced Tuesday as new police chief come Dec. 27. Varso was Escondido police chief from January 2020 before leaving in June of this year to become Menifee’s second police chief. Varso served in the Escondido Police Department from 2002 until…

Blogs, California, Columns/Blogs, Opinion, Public Policy November 9, 2022

Desalination will be key to California’s water future. It needs to improve first

Once improved, desalination could be a better drought solution for California than water reuse or more sustainable groundwater management. If the climate crisis is coming, the water crisis is already here. As rice fields were fallowed in California, Lake Mead water levels almost sunk so lowthat Hoover Dam could no longer generate power, and life-threatening toxic dust blew off the dried-up Salton Sea. Thirty percent…

California November 8, 2022

California inflation relief payments headed to taxpayers

Get that up to $1,050 California direct tax refund today? Fret not, direct payments or money cards for about 23 million Californians are going in the direct deposit account or mailbox through next year, state officials said. Part of the $308 billion state budget signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on June 30, one-time payments known as the Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR) will be sent…

California, Media November 8, 2022

California green-lights first-in-nation social media transparency law

California now features a first-in-the-nation law requiring social media companies to publicly post their policies regarding hate speech, disinformation, harassment and extremism on their platforms, and report data on their enforcement of the policies. Social media companies through their Internet Coalition and other trade associations vigorously opposed the law authorized through AB 587. Court challenges are being considered, trade groups said. Gov, Gavin Newsom signed…

California, Homelessness, Riverside County October 12, 2022

California grants add senior and at-risk adult housing

California Gov. Gavin Newsom this week announced $53 million in new housing grants intended to create more residential care options for older adults and adults with disabilities, including people at risk of experiencing homelessness. “California is making significant housing investments to support some of our most vulnerable residents – low-income older adults and adults with disabilities – to live with safety and dignity in their communities,” Newsom said…

California October 11, 2022

California inflation relief refunds go out to taxpayers

Get that up to $1,050 California direct tax refund today? Fret not, the first direct payments for about 23 million Californians are going in the direct deposit account Friday, state officials said. Part of the $308 billion state budget signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on June 30, one-time payments known as the Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR) will be sent to taxpayers starting Friday, Oct.7…

Blogs, California, Columns/Blogs, Del Mar/Solana Beach/Encinitas/Carlsbad, Opinion January 20, 2022