Political Stories Top stories  California drug price plan is criticized by patient advocates — A state ballot initiative meant to lower prescription drug prices for California faces an expected opponent: the pharmaceutical industry, which has spent almost $70 million to defeat it. But concerns are also coming from a more curious source: some patient advocacy groups. New York […]

Political Stories Top stories  Dan Walters: United States’ 240th birthday finds politics in a dismal state — The nation’s 240th birthday is an appropriate moment to ponder the state of its political system – and it’s a pretty dismal picture. Walters column in Sacramento Bee  A push – and pushback – for new diversity rules in California’s business […]

Political Stories Top stories  Report says Fresno Latinos among least likely to vote statewide – According to the report, Latino gaps in voting are most pronounced in counties of inland California, including Fresno, Kern, Riverside and San Bernardino. For Asian Americans, gaps in voting are greatest in the Bay Area counties of San Mateo, Alameda, Santa […]

Political Stories Top stories  Gov. Jerry Brown signs bulk of sweeping gun-control package into law, vetoes five bills — Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday signed six gun-control bills into law, including a requirement that ammunition purchasers undergo background checks. The governor vetoed five other measures, including an expansion of the use of restraining orders to take guns […]

Political Stories Top stories  California lawmakers send sweeping gun package to Gov. Brown – California’s Democrat-controlled Legislature on Thursday approved far-reaching bills to bolster the state’s strong gun restrictions, sending Gov. Jerry Brown a package of measures revived after the deadly attack last year in San Bernardino. Sacramento Bee article; LA Times article; San Jose Mercury News article; KQED report  National […]

Political Stories Top stories  Ballot measure threatens bullet train, Delta tunnels – Two of Gov. Jerry Brown’s favorite projects — building a high-speed rail system and a pair of massive tunnels under the Delta — face a serious threat if California voters pass a measure heading for the November ballot. The “No Blank Checks Initiative,” bankrolled with […]

Political Stories Top stories  California marijuana legalization measure on November ballot — Californians’ November ballot will include an initiative to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, with the coming campaign likely to reverberate nationwide given the state’s size and implications for similar efforts elsewhere. Sacramento Bee article; LA Times article  Police transparency reaches a stalemate […]

Political Stories Top stories  Jerry Brown signs $167 billion budget, makes no cuts – Gov. Jerry Brown signed the budget bill Monday for the coming fiscal year, fully embracing a package his office played a major role in shaping and making no blue-pencil reductions to individual spending items in the plan. Sacramento Bee article; LA […]

Political Stories Top stories  At least 10 hurt at chaotic, bloody neo-Nazi rally at Capitol — A rally by a small group of neo-Nazi demonstrators at the state Capitol on Sunday erupted into a violent clash with protesters that left at least 10 people injured – five of them stabbed – and closed down streets […]

Political Stories Top stories  CD 21: Valadao working to stave off what may be his toughest challenge yet: Huerta – This year could bring the toughest political fight Congressman David Valadao has ever seen. With Donald Trump at the top of the Republican ticket and turnout numbers the highest in years, Democracts might have a […]