Judy Lin

Capitol

Should California buy disaster insurance?

Hoping to save California taxpayers some money after spending nearly $1 billion to fight wildfires last year, Napa Democratic Sen. Bill Dodd, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Treasurer Fiona Ma say it’s time to look at purchasing disaster insurance for the state.

By Judy Lin • February 14, 2019

Politics

Here’s why PG&E is taking drastic measures to prevent the next big wildfire

Customers will likely pay more and victims will get less should PG&E be liable for another major wildfire while the company is in bankruptcy.

By Judy Lin • February 13, 2019

Politics

What happens when the next big wildfire hits?

As political pressure mounts with every disaster, California is scrambling to prepare for the coming fire season, from firefighting to utilities to the law.

By Judy Lin • February 11, 2019

California Wildfires

Sen. Bill Dodd proposes California wildfire warning center

Sen. Bill Dodd wants to establish a California wildfire warning center that would allow officials to turn off power and better position firefighting crews during extreme heat and high winds.

By Judy Lin • February 4, 2019

Economy

The big problem this bankruptcy won’t solve for PG&E

As a publicly traded corporation, Pacific Gas & Electric reported $17.1 billion a year in revenues from its electric and gas operations. After operating costs, expenses and taxes, it still made out with a profit of $1.7 billion last year. So why has California’s largest utility filed for bankruptcy? PG&E may be solvent, but it is facing […]

By Judy Lin • January 29, 2019

Capitol

PG&E just escaped blame for one huge disaster—but it’s still the utility California loves to hate

Mention Pacific Gas & Electric to Victor Porter, and the response is nothing like the bland non-opinion most Americans have of the companies that provide their electricity. “They have to pay,” said Porter, a 64-year-old artist who fled for his life with his partner and their dog when the towering Camp Fire swept down on […]

By Judy Lin • January 24, 2019

Capitol

Jerry Brown gets $120,000 in retirement

Former Gov. Jerry Brown, who pushed to rein in public employee pension costs, has started drawing on his $120,000-a-year pension after decades of public service. Brown officially retired Jan. 7 to his ranch in Colusa County and began drawing $9,994.29 a month after 33.5 years of service, according to Amy Morgan, a spokeswoman for the […]

By Judy Lin • January 23, 2019

Economy

Will PG&E customers pay more in bankruptcy? Not if state watchdog can stop it

PG&E customers shouldn't have to foot the bankruptcy bill if the utility is responsible for deadly California wildfires, says a state watchdog.

By Judy Lin • January 17, 2019

Capitol

About that giant, surplus-plus budget surplus

The governor put the surplus into three buckets: $3 billion for education and social services, $8.5 billion in one-time spending and $10 billion to build what he is calling “budget resiliency.”

By Judy Lin • January 15, 2019

Capitol

10 takeaways from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $209 billion budget

A huge surprise surplus, a big push on affordable housing, help for college students, working poor tax credits, credit cards at the DMV, kindergarten potties.

By Laurel Rosenhall and Judy Lin • January 10, 2019

Judy Lin

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