May 2026
Disabled veterans may be getting a big property tax break in California
Severely disabled veterans in California could be getting an expanded tax break. Proposed legislation would exempt from taxation 50% of the residential property owned by a fully disabled veteran, or 100% if their household income does not exceed $40,000.
Becerra’s closest advisor pleaded guilty in a criminal case. His gubernatorial rivals are piling on
Xavier Becerra is under attack in California’s governor’s race after his trusted advisor Sean McCluskie pleaded guilty in December to stealing from Becerra’s campaign account.
How a fast food taco showed us who Steve Hilton really is
The social media blowback exploded like a digital Montezuma’s revenge. Some noted that “street tacos” are made with corn tortillas and bought from a food truck or street stall.
L.A. quietly fires its first chief heat officer
Marta Segura stepped into the new role in 2022 amid a dramatic increase in climate-fueled heat events.
As questions of temperament persist, Katie Porter tries to regain edge in governor’s race
Democrat Katie Porter’s campaign for governor is dogged by unflattering videos. Sacramento power players are turned off by her temperament, but some women in politics say it highlights a double standard.
Republicans feud, and fume, in the battle for a Southern California congressional district
It’s a showdown that — regardless of the outcome in the June 2 primary election — probably won’t have Republicans in a celebratory mood.
Missouri’s new U.S. House map goes to court while Louisiana and South Carolina consider redistricting
Rather than waning, a national redistricting battle that began 10 months ago has intensified — inflamed by a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened the federal Voting Rights Act.
After exile, California tribes could help oversee ancestral redwoods again
A fight over California’s redwood forests pits tribes and environmentalists against loggers as lawmakers consider a bill to reimagine the state’s 14 demonstration forests.
Eco-friendly toilet papers are trendy, but which you choose matters
Toilet paper, a product that is used for a few seconds before being disposed of forever, is made with energy-intensive manufacturing processes and chemicals like chlorine that pollute the environment
Mezcal’s popularity is booming in the U.S. That comes with a growing cost to Mexico
Production of mezcal in Mexico is booming, but producers struggle to balance economic survival with environmental protection.