Political Stories Top stories Tobacco industry’s threats: Provocative, but legal — If the anti-tobacco bills become law, the tobacco industry has reportedly warned it will use California’s referendum process to overturn at least some of them: most likely, the measure that would raise the tobacco purchase age from 18 to 21; and the bill that would allow counties […]

Political Stories Top stories California sheriffs oppose Gavin Newsom’s gun control initiative — California sheriffs announced Monday that they are opposing Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s gun-control measure aimed for the fall ballot, arguing it would not prevent criminals from obtaining guns and ammunition via the black market or theft. Sacramento Bee article Dan Walters: California lawmakers finally […]

Political Stories Top stories California’s next governor: Who’s running, who’s on the fence? – Welcome to your guide to the 2018 California governor’s race. The election may be far away, but listening tours are already underway, political consultants are doling out advice and pundits are handicapping favorites and wildcards. Here are the players to keep an […]

Political Stories Top stories  Dan Walters: California prisoner count drops, spending increases – Americans of a certain age may remember the term “peace dividend.” It was uttered after the Vietnam War ended in the 1970s and the Cold War ended in the early 1990s – referring to an anticipated decrease in military spending. Something of a […]

Political Stories Top stories  Mettler to challenge McCarthy for Congress; 18-year-old set for Assembly run — The re-election campaign of Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, went from sleepy to intriguing this week when local conservative Republican and businessman Ken Mettler leapt back into the political world to challenge the House majority leader for his 23rd Congressional District […]

Political Stories Top stories  California smoking age increase, vaping bills move to Jerry Brown — California is one step away from enacting some of its most significant tobacco legislation in decades. The state Senate on Thursday approved a far-reaching package of bills that will raise the legal purchase age to 21 from 18 and regulate e-cigarettes […]

Political Stories Top stories George Skelton: Pouring bullet train money into water development could backfire — The time seems ripe for a ballot initiative to shift what’s left of the bullet bonds — $8 billion remaining from the original $10 billion — to needed water projects. In fact, a recent poll by the Hoover Institution found […]

Political Stories Top stories CD 23: Mettler may enter ring against McCarthy – Conservative Republican Ken Mettler, a former Kern High School District trustee and Proposition 8 organizer, is considering challenging House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, for his congressional seat. Bakersfield Californian article More expensive soda: Lawmakers want to tax sugary drinks – Alarmed by an obesity […]

Political Stories Top stories Should California parties decide who votes in presidential elections? — Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen of Riverbank and Sen. Anthony Cannella of Ceres have joined San Diego-based Independent Voter Project in calling on Secretary of State Alex Padilla to print and issue a nonpartisan presidential ballot. Sacramento Bee article It’s official: Bakersfield has busiest mayoral […]