Commentary

The oil industry is seeking to overturn a new California law that restricts where drilling can take place. Rather than wait for the 2024 election, oil industry opponents are calling on the governor to use his power to ensure the protections still go into effect.

Next year, California voters will have a chance to decide whether new oil drilling regulations should take effect. Oil industry officials warn that, if enacted, it could hinder production and force California to look elsewhere for its supply.

In “Palo Alto: A History of California, Capitalism, and the World,” author Malcolm Harris tells tales of the city's founding, highlighting how some grew rich through technology and science while others were left out of the growth and prosperity. His provocative premise explores California's earliest sins and the haunting toll they have taken centuries later.

As the emergency declaration for COVID-19 expired, local public health officials are criticizing Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed budget cuts to a workforce program attempting to rebuild a system weakened by years of disinvestment.

California's bullet train project is still lacking enough money to complete its initial segment in the San Joaquin Valley, much less financing for a statewide system.

The responsibility of keeping California's food system functioning falls heaviest on the backs of Latino workers, who are most frequently plagued by water contamination and scarcity. Given the trust local leaders have with their constituents, especially in Latino communities, education on water solutions is vital to ensure that vulnerable residents are protected.

The California Environmental Quality Act has been weaponized in conflicts over housing for years, and a new appellate court decision affecting UC Berkeley has once again revived talk about reforming the landmark law. But how far are Newsom and the Legislature willing to go?

A December report concluded that California can solve homelessness through investments of $8.1 billion in housing, shelter and supportive services every year for the next 12 years. The price tag is high, but advocates argue that the status quo will be more expensive.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom accuses the oil industry of price gouging on gasoline prices and wants to impose penalties on excess profits. But he didn't fare well in the first hearing for the proposal.

A political and legal war between California's state officials and cities unhappy with their housing quotas is heating up, but one very exclusive community won't be bothered.