State Farm wins first-ever emergency rate hike in California
State Farm can raise homeowner and other rates starting next month, becoming the first insurance company to win approval to do so on an emergency interim basis in California. The state’s largest insurer made the unprecedented request for emergency rate hikes earlier this year, after it said it was in financial distress and expected more than $7 billion in claims because of the Los Angeles County fires in January. The state Insurance Department staff recommended approval of the company’s request, but Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara asked the company for more...
What to know about California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s move to ban encampments
California’s governor called upon the state’s cities and counties to ban homeless encampments this week, even providing blueprint legislation for dismantling the tents lining streets, parks and waterways throughout much of the state.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, made homelessness a priority of his administration when he took office in 2019. It had previously been an issue primarily for mayors and other local officials, but Newsom pumped money into converting old motels into housing and launched other initiatives to tackle the issue.
Gavin Newsom Moves to Clear California's Homeless Encampments
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has drawn up a template local ordinance for the state's local governments to help them clear and ban the homeless encampments that have popped up in recent years.
Newsom cannot force the adoption of his ordinance, but he can use the carrot of billions of dollars in state funding for housing issues to encourage cities to take it on. He vowed to crack down on encampments last year.
Why it Matters
California Gov. Newsom tells cities to ban homeless encampments
Gov. Gavin Newsom asked cities Monday across California to ban homeless encampments, releasing a template policy he hopes they'd adopt but stopping short of conditioning funding on their doing so.
Why it matters: Newsom, who's widely expected to run for president in 2028, is continuing to embrace a tougher approach on homelessness — reflecting increased voter acceptance and a Supreme Court ruling a year ago that cleared the way for cities to crack down on encampments.
Newsom unveils aggressive plan to clear homeless encampments across California: 'No more excuses'
California Gov. Gavin Newsom released details about his multibillion-dollar plan to tackle the homeless crisis in the Golden State and is pushing cities and counties to take "immediate action."
On Monday, Newsom shared a model ordinance for cities and counties to "immediately address dangerous and unhealthy encampments and connect people experiencing homelessness with shelter and services."
"There’s nothing compassionate about letting people die on the streets," Newsom said in a news release.
This California dam could be enlarged under Trump
Near the southern flank of Mount Shasta, springs and snowmelt converge to form the McCloud River. This Sacramento River tributary, held sacred by the Winnemem Wintu tribe, teemed with Chinook salmon before Shasta Dam, built in the 1940s, blocked their annual migrations. “The winter run was the main sustenance source for the Winnemem Wintu throughout history,” said tribal member Gary Mulcahy.
How Big Tech is pitting Washington against California
A group of powerful tech companies are working to outmaneuver Sacramento and other state capitals on artificial intelligence laws — using Washington as their weapon.
As California and other states move to regulate AI, companies like OpenAI, Meta, Google and IBM are all urging Washington to pass national AI rules that would rein in state laws they don’t like. So is Andreessen Horowitz, a Silicon Valley-based venture capitalist firm closely tied to President Donald Trump.
Is the California Dream a Mirage?
California eclipsed Japan in 2024 to become the fourth-largest economy in the world. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced earlier this month that the state’s population increased for the second year in a row. Tourism has hit record levels, as Los Angeles prepares to step onto the world stage as the host of the 2028 Summer Olympics.
Trump announces he will reopen infamous Alcatraz prison to house most dangerous criminals
President Donald Trump declared Sunday his administration will reopen and expand the infamous Alcatraz island prison near San Francisco to house America's most violent criminals and illegal aliens.
Where is minimum wage increasing in 2025? These states and cities are due for hikes
While workers across many jurisdictions have already seen minimum wage increases this year, some Americans are still due for a bump in 2025.
Jan. 1, 2025 marked a popular day for pay increases across the U.S., as 21 states and 48 cities raised their minimum wage rates. Meanwhile, planned hikes are in place for at least four states and more than a dozen cities through the end of 2025, according to a report by the worker advocacy group National Employment Law Project...