California has enacted a new law, ABX2-1, aimed at stabilizing the state's oil market and protecting consumers from abrupt gas price hikes. The legislation was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and co-sponsored by Attorney General Rob Bonta. It was authored by Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara), Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), and Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley).
The state of California is investing $206 million in new funding to enhance clean bus and rail transportation in disadvantaged communities. This initiative aims to mitigate the disproportionate impacts of pollution on these areas, bringing the total funding for such projects to over $1 billion.
The ongoing collaboration between the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and local law enforcement in Bakersfield has led to significant results, with over 1,600 arrests since April. This initiative is part of Governor Gavin Newsom's strategy to enhance public safety in the Central Valley. The operation has resulted in 1,623 arrests, the recovery of 677 stolen vehicles, and the seizure of 47 firearms linked to criminal activities.
The California Senate has approved Governor Gavin Newsom's proposal aimed at preventing gasoline price spikes. This development follows the Assembly's approval of the measure last week.
A court has upheld California's emergency regulations that prohibit the sale of THC-containing hemp products, a move aimed at protecting public health, particularly that of children. Governor Gavin Newsom announced the decision, emphasizing that the regulations are necessary to safeguard Californians from potentially harmful intoxicating hemp products.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued two consumer alerts to inform residents about legal limits on rent increases. The first alert, titled "Know Your Rights as a California Tenant," details the maximum annual rent increase allowed under state law, specifically the Tenant Protection Act (TPA). According to the TPA, landlords are restricted from raising rent by more than 10% total or 5% plus the percentage change in the cost of living—whichever is lower—over a year. The second alert outlines local rent control or stabilization laws across California, noting that if...
Sally Pipes, the director of the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) in California, said the current system of the 340B drug program, meant to decrease prices for patients, is not sufficiently monitored and, as a result, is not benefitting patients as intended.
The California Department of Education (CDE) has published the 2023-24 statewide assessment results, indicating progress among K-12 students. The data shows improvements in closing equity gaps for socioeconomically disadvantaged, Black/African American, and Hispanic/Latino students.
California has introduced new dashboards designed to track the state's efforts in wildfire prevention. These tools aim to provide a comprehensive view of fuels management work, which is crucial for protecting communities from wildfires and improving forest health.
Governor Gavin Newsom has announced several new appointments across various state departments and committees. Kristen Erickson-Donadee, from Folsom, has been appointed as the Director of the California Department of Child Support Services. She has been with the department since 2009, holding roles such as Chief Counsel and Assistant Chief Counsel. Erickson-Donadee's appointment requires Senate confirmation, and she will receive a compensation of $226,334.
Governor Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom have expressed their condolences following the death of Ethel Kennedy. In a statement, they acknowledged her significant contributions to social justice and civil rights globally.
The University of California, Davis has been recognized as one of the top public universities in the United States, securing the 10th position in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings for 2025. The rankings were published on October 9 and evaluated nearly 2,900 institutions globally.
California has increased its support for hurricane response efforts by deploying additional Urban Search and Rescue personnel. Governor Gavin Newsom announced the deployment of 70 more firefighters from California to Florida as Hurricane Milton makes landfall. This follows an earlier deployment of 144 California-based personnel prepositioned in Florida this week.
The California Department of Justice has released a report on the officer-involved shooting of Ruben Ramos in Burbank, California. The incident occurred on May 27, 2023, and involved officers from the Burbank Police Department. This report is part of ongoing efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in law enforcement practices across the state.
UC Berkeley has been recognized as the top public university in the United States and the eighth-best globally, according to the Times Higher Education's 2025 World University Rankings released on October 8. This marks the ninth time in ten years that Berkeley has achieved this distinction.
Governor Gavin Newsom has announced the appointment of 18 new Superior Court Judges across several counties in California. These appointments include one judge each for Colusa, Contra Costa, San Bernardino, and Sutter Counties; two judges for Orange County; three judges for Sacramento County; four judges for San Diego County; and five judges for Los Angeles County.
Yesterday, 71,008 students from 235 schools and community organizations participated in the 2024 California Student Mock Election. This event was organized in partnership with the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Secretary of State's office on October 8, 2024. The initiative aimed to encourage voting and civic engagement among students across California.
Governor Gavin Newsom has announced several appointments to various positions within California's state government. Jennifer Troia of Sacramento has been named Director at the California Department of Social Services. Troia, who has served as Chief Deputy Director at the department since 2020, will take on this new role pending Senate confirmation. Her extensive experience includes roles such as Principal Consultant for the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and Policy Advisor in the Office of California State Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de Leon.