Infrastructure

Bill signings sum up Newsom's first year in office. Microgrids not a simple answer to state's power problems. Authorities turn to feds for gun prosecutions.

Gov. Gavin Newsom needs legislators to begin the uncomfortable work of making changes to our infrastructure, our policies, and yes, our liability laws, so that we can build a state meets the current challenges of climate change while reducing its impact in the future.

California income taxes, gas taxes, campaign spending, climate change, automobile emissions, Mary Nichols, Xavier Becerra, Grump's EPA, Fresno, Paul Ryan, renewable energy

The prison officers union backs Tony Thurmond, Xavier Becerra questions net neutrality legislation, food laws, plastic straws, Tom Campbell's third party, a gas tax commentary and the CALQuiz.

The criminal justice pendulum continued its swing away from tough-on-crime attitudes as the Legislature sought to end cash bail, increase transparency on policing, and pass a major revision to the “felony murder” rule.

The Assembly approved the nation's toughest clean energy legislation, committing California to 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2045, and Gov. Jerry Brown signed landmark bail reform into law.

The Air Resources Board announced greenhouse gas emissions fell in 2016, even as fuel consumption increased. The main reasons: Greater use of solar, wind and hydropower.

Gov. Jerry Brown is heavily invested in two massive public works projects, twin water tunnels beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and a north-south bullet train. But as he prepares to leave the governorship for a second time, both are far from certain to be completed.

As state funding has decreased and enrollment has soared, University of California campuses are struggling to deal with many instances of overcrowded lectures, deteriorating buildings and delayed construction. Now the governor's offering $100 million for upgrades. UC says it's not nearly enough.