Tag: Northern California

Driverless Cars Are Causing Havoc in San Francisco, Residents Say

Driverless cars have been causing havoc in the streets of San Francisco over the past year, much to the annoyance of local residents. The self-driving vehicles have become common in the Bay Area, after two tech firms, Cruise and Waymo, were given permission by local authorities several months ago to test their new vehicles on the…


Hollywood Actors Threaten to Walk out as Writers’ Strike Continues

Major movie studios, streaming services, and production companies face the threat of another strike this month after Hollywood actors—represented by the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)—authorized a strike on June 5. As the writers’ union strike entered its sixth week, the actors’ union promised to walk out if negotiations…


California Bill to Stop Employees From Confronting Shoplifters Goes to Assembly

San Francisco—The California Senate passed a controversial bill on May 31 that would prohibit employers from requiring staff to intervene in active shoplifting. The bill is pending further review by state Assembly committees. SB 553, authored by state Senator Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), requires employers, who could potentially be victims of shoplifting and robberies, do…


Illegal Immigrants Flown to Sacramento by Florida Governor Nowhere to Be Seen, Agencies Secretive About Location

SACRAMENTO—Nearly three dozen South Americans picked up in El Paso, Texas, and flown by private jet on two charter flights over the last week to California—at the request of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis—are being shielded from reporters by local religious and charity groups, with no sign of their whereabouts since they were dropped off at…


A New Attack on California’s Prop. 13 Tax Cuts

Commentary The Proposition 13 tax limitation from 1978 is the foundation of California’s private-sector economy. It’s always under attack by those who want to raise taxes even higher. It makes owning property the only activity in the state that’s not taxed at a high rate. Specifically, its main part limits property taxes to 1 percent…


New California Bill Would Prohibit Employees From Stopping Shoplifters

A California bill to prohibit employees from confronting shoplifters or active shooters has passed the state Senate, in spite of opposition from retailers who say it would add to the state’s escalating retail theft problem. “With growing awareness of workplace violence, California needs smarter guidelines to keep workers safe in the office or on the…


California Gov. Newsom Proposes 28th Amendment to Limit Gun Rights, Impose ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed a 28th amendment to the U.S. Constitution to curtail specific aspects of gun rights. “Our ability to make a more perfect union is literally written into the Constitution,” Newsom said in a Thursday press statement announcing the proposed amendment. “So today, I’m proposing the 28th Amendment to the…


California Bill to Expand Rent Control Voted Down in Senate

Legislation to expand rent control and allow local jurisdictions to limit the amount that residential landlords can raise rent each year was rejected by the California Senate on May 30. Senate Bill (SB) 466, sponsored by Sen. Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), failed on the Senate floor when 16 senators voted against it. Wahab decided to table…


California Laws Don’t Make Common Sense as Lawmakers Are Cornered by Ideologies: Former State Senator

“If [lawmakers] change how they are dealing with these issues, they’ll have to admit that they were wrong,” said former Republican California State Sen. Melissa Melendez regarding why she thinks the state Legislature keeps passing laws that don’t seem to work. Bills are passed not because they can solve the state’s issues, but because they…


Woman Found Ice-Age Mastodon Tooth on California Beach

Over the Memorial Day weekend, a woman was taking a stroll at Rio Del Mar State Beach in Northern California when she found a mysterious object in the sand that turned out to be a tooth from an ancient mastodon.  The foot-long tooth belonged to an adult member of the extinct Ice Age species. This…