Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed an amicus brief in the case of Gulkarov v. Plum, PBC, which alleges that Plum failed to disclose trace amounts of heavy metals and perchlorate in its baby food products. The brief, submitted to the Ninth Circuit, supports consumers' rights to seek remedy under California’s consumer protection laws and advocates for bringing the issue before the California Supreme Court.

Mead Johnson settles nearly $2 million lawsuit over lead in baby formula

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a settlement with Mead Johnson Nutrition Co. and Mead Johnson & Co., LLC, resolving allegations that the company sold infant and toddler formulas without required warnings for lead exposure. This is a violation of Proposition 65 and the Unfair Competition Law. As part of the settlement, Mead Johnson will pay nearly $2 million, which includes payments for violations, reimbursement of legal costs, and funding for an environmental project aimed at reducing other sources of lead exposure.

California Office offers electronic version of 2024 roster online

The California Office of the Secretary of State has announced that an electronic version of the 2024 California Roster is now available on its website at https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/california-roster.

UC Davis football kicks off season with away game against UC Berkeley

The UC Davis football team has been preparing diligently at its fall training camp for the past month and will officially commence the regular season with an away game at UC Berkeley on Saturday, August 31.

Which California political committees received the most contributions during week ending Aug. 24?

Here are the 50 California political committees that received the largest financial contributions during the week ending Aug. 24.

Attorney General Bonta urges reporting pink tax violations on Women's Equality Day

California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer alert on Women’s Equality Day, reminding residents of their rights under AB 1287. This law prohibits businesses from charging different prices for substantially similar goods based on the gender of the product’s target audience, commonly referred to as the "Pink Tax." The legislation, authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), became effective on January 1, 2023.

Governor Newsom signs multiple legislative bills into law

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the signing of several new bills into law.

California deploys first retrofitted C-130 Hercules airtanker for wildfire fighting

Governor Newsom has led efforts to acquire and retrofit C-130 Hercules aircraft for CAL FIRE’s fleet. Today, the first plane will begin flying missions to enhance protection against wildfires in California.

Governor Newsom proclaims August 26 as "California Farmworker Day

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today issued a proclamation declaring August 26, 2024, as "California Farmworker Day."

California AG secures settlement with Comfort Keepers over worker mobility restrictions

Comfort Keepers to pay $500,000 and remove unlawful hiring restrictions from its client care agreements

Attorney General Bonta issues statement on first day of Kroger-Albertsons merger trial

California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a statement today on the first day of trial in the state’s lawsuit challenging Kroger's $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons. The merger between these two national supermarket chains poses significant risks, including reduced competition and higher food prices nationwide. In Southern California, specifically, the merger is expected to further consolidate an already concentrated retail grocery market, leading to fewer choices and higher prices for consumers. Additionally, it may weaken unions' ability to negotiate working...

California Highway Patrol recovers nearly $850K in stolen merchandise

The state's organized retail crime task force announced the results of two operations targeting organized retail crime rings, leading to numerous felony arrests and the recovery of more than $850,000 in stolen retail items.

Gov’t Spending Watchdog: Federal drug program serving CA hospitals benefits ‘special interests’ over patients

By Golden State Today reports | Aug 23, 2024

Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) said that hospitals and other “special interests,” rather than patients, are benefiting from a federal drug discount program in which up to 174 California hospitals participate.

UC Berkeley welcomes nearly 9,000 new students at fall convocation

Wisdom from Chancellor Rich Lyons, Taiko drumming, an inspiring video, and Oski's antics marked this year's annual event.

Lawsuit filed against RealPage for alleged rent inflation practices

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Justice and a bipartisan coalition of eight attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit against RealPage, a revenue management software company. The lawsuit alleges that RealPage enabled landlords to artificially raise rents through a pricing alignment scheme, facilitated by the illegal sharing of confidential pricing and supply information. This practice is said to have decreased competition, limited price negotiation, and increased rental prices across California, particularly in Southern...

Governor Newsom allocates $789 million for sustainable homes across California

Governor Newsom announced that 24 projects in 20 California communities will receive more than $789 million in cap-and-trade funds to build housing and sustainable projects, such as public transit, and bike and walking paths. The funding is provided through the state’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program.

California Secretary of State issues notice to candidates for November general election

California Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., has issued a notice to candidates running for partisan and voter-nominated offices in the upcoming November 5, 2024, General Election. The notification, mandated by state law, includes a comprehensive list of candidates that Weber is set to certify to county elections officials on August 29, 2024.

Californians can now add their mobile driver's license to Google Wallet

Californians participating in the mobile driver’s license pilot program now have a new option for storing digital licenses on their smartphones. Governor Gavin Newsom announced today that the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has added Google Wallet as an option to hold secure, convenient, and private digital driver’s licenses and identification cards.

Michael Pollan discusses influence of storytelling in Berkeley Talks episode