Environment

Ranchers who defied a state water order were only fined about $50 each. Under new legislation headed to the governor, some daily fines for water scofflaws can increase 20-fold.

The author pulled the Assembly utility bill from consideration a day before the Legislature’s deadline.

Consumers would get a small credit on electric bills if the legislation passes. Solar companies say the energy measures might not be effective in streamlining projects.

Early warning systems save lives during disasters, but a recent FEMA survey found that only a third of people are signed up. Use this resource to find your county’s emergency alert sign-up page.

The governor backed off his controversial plan to extend deadlines for oil and gas operators to comply with a new law on wells. But he also wiped out the funding state agencies say they need to hire staff and carry out the regulations.

Fossil fuels are still a large source of electricity, but California has made progress with renewables while keeping the lights on.

Several efforts to minimize the power and influence of the California Coastal Commission have stalled.

The last-minute Newsom administration plan would delay by four years a law’s deadline for safety rules at oil wells near homes and schools.

The EPA must grant a waiver before the diesel truck measure can be implemented. It’s one of California’s most controversial measures to clean up air pollution and greenhouse gases.

The chemical, used for decades, can harm babies’ developing brains. Farmworkers and people living near fields are most at risk. The EPA issued a rare emergency order.