August 2026
State lawmakers pass bills to punish unethical lawyers, limit hedge funds that influence cases
Legislators advanced bills, backed by California’s powerful trial lawyer trade group, aimed at policing the state’s legal industry, which has been bruised by ‘a wave of inappropriate attorney conduct’ highlighted by The Times.
California legislature passes bill to track use of ‘forever chemicals’ by farms
Studies show that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to decreased fertility and developmental delays in children and increase the risk of cancer.
Bass tells LAPD to stop issuing criminal citations to street vendors
Street vendors are a new pressure point in the mayoral race, as Councilmember Nithya Raman unveiled a new pro-street-vendor plan Wednesday and Bass’ office announced that some erroneous criminal citations were being rescinded.
California’s new fire-safe landscaping rules are strongest in the country
After a long fight, officials in California adopted stronger fire-safe landscaping rules within five feet of a home.
Electric heavy-duty trucks will be able to run from Baja to Canada, West Coast leaders pledge
The West Coast is home to one of the busiest freight corridors in the United States, and it’s getting cleaner.
Tons of planet-warming gases are bubbling up from reservoirs. California is going to keep track
California’s Air Resources Board will start tracking estimates of the climate-warming methane that bubbles up from the state’s dams and reservoirs.
‘An endless amount of corruption.’ In a Democratic House, Trump would face a reckoning
Rep. Robert Garcia is poised to lead the investigative Oversight Committee. The Long Beach Democrat has a robust agenda and long list of people to hold to account.
California moves to outlaw child marriage with bill headed to Newsom’s desk
A bill that would make it illegal to issue marriage licenses to anyone under the age of 18 in California is now headed to Gov. Gavin Newsom for final approval, likely ending a decade-long fight to outlaw the practice.
California county’s election drama worsens as official locks up contested ballots
Shasta County has condemned its registrar of voters, who has sought to hire a convicted election denier who served prison time to be his assistant.
Big oil and gas companies are partly responsible for California’s water woes, study finds
Scientists have found that climate pollution from the fossil fuel industry is significantly worsening the water crisis in California and the western United States.