This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateSACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom gave a broad defense Monday of the accelerated reopening strategy in much of California, despite concerns from some public health experts that the state could see new coronavirus outbreaks.Newsom said that even as California’s economy has begun reopening since May 8 and people have ventured outside their homes more, including over the Memorial Day weekend, the number of patients hospitalized and in intensive care units with coronavirus-related illness has remained stable.“There’s a certain point...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateSACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom gave a broad defense Monday of the accelerated reopening strategy in much of California, despite concerns from some public health experts that the state could see new coronavirus outbreaks.Newsom said that even as California’s economy has begun reopening since May 8 and people have ventured outside their homes more, including over the Memorial Day weekend, the number of patients hospitalized and in intensive care units with coronavirus-related illness has remained stable.“There’s a certain point...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThe state’s draft guidelines for reopening schools detail a costly and logistically challenging checklist that educators say will be nearly impossible to complete, given projected budget cuts.The Chronicle obtained a summary of the draft, with the governor expected to release a final version Friday, that will guide a return to school for California’s 6 million K-12 students. It is possible that students across the state would continue with 100% distance learning simply because their schools cannot afford to reopen safely,...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThe state’s draft guidelines for reopening schools detail a costly and logistically challenging checklist that educators say will be nearly impossible to complete, given projected budget cuts.The Chronicle obtained a summary of the draft, with the governor expected to release a final version Friday, that will guide a return to school for California’s 6 million K-12 students. It is possible that students across the state would continue with 100% distance learning simply because their schools cannot afford to reopen safely,...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThe coronavirus pandemic has blown a multibillion-dollar hole in California’s budget, one that is likely to force Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers to make difficult decisions in the years to come.The shortfall is likely to total roughly $35 billion in 2020-21 alone, the nonpartisan state legislative analyst told senators who convened a special budget hearing on the coronavirus Thursday in Sacramento. The shortfall could snowball by an additional $85 billion in the years that follow, Legislative Analyst Gabriel Petek said.“If budget...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateThe coronavirus pandemic has blown a multibillion-dollar hole in California’s budget, one that is likely to force Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers to make difficult decisions in the years to come.The shortfall is likely to total roughly $35 billion in 2020-21 alone, the nonpartisan state legislative analyst told senators who convened a special budget hearing on the coronavirus Thursday in Sacramento. The shortfall could snowball by an additional $85 billion in the years that follow, Legislative Analyst Gabriel Petek said.“If budget...WW…

SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to spend $1.5 billion to speed up California’s move to electric vehicles would amount to a sharp change in the state’s strategy on who should receive subsidies for zero-emission cars.Newsom wants to erase most state funding for a popular rebate program for new-car buyers, money that has overwhelmingly gone to drivers with annual incomes above $100,000.Instead, he’s asking lawmakers to spend big in two other areas: building a large network of vehicle charging and refueling stations, and increasing subsidies to help lower-income buyers afford the higher...…SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to spend $1.5 billion to speed up California’s move to electric vehicles would amount to a sharp change in the state’s strategy on who should receive subsidies for zero-emission cars.Newsom wants to erase most state funding for a popular rebate program for new-car buyers, money that has overwhelmingly gone to drivers with annual incomes above $100,000.Instead, he’s asking lawmakers to spend big in two other areas: building a large network of vehicle charging and refueling stations, and increasing subsidies to help lower-income buyers afford the higher...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateSACRAMENTO — California will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars to combat climate change starting in 2035, a move that could help reshape the nation’s automobile market and its output of greenhouse gases.Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Wednesday mandating that all new passenger vehicles sold in California in 15 years be zero-emission — a category that includes battery-powered electric cars and those that run on hydrogen fuel cells. The order directs the California Air Resources Board to develop a plan for...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateSACRAMENTO — California will ban the sale of new gasoline-powered cars to combat climate change starting in 2035, a move that could help reshape the nation’s automobile market and its output of greenhouse gases.Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Wednesday mandating that all new passenger vehicles sold in California in 15 years be zero-emission — a category that includes battery-powered electric cars and those that run on hydrogen fuel cells. The order directs the California Air Resources Board to develop a plan for...WW…

SACRAMENTO — Nearly every Republican in the California Senate was forced to stay away from the Capitol on Thursday as they quarantined after coming into close contact with a fellow senator who later tested positive for the coronavirus.The unprecedented move, during legislators’ pivotal final week in session, came a day after Sen. Brian Jones, R-Santee (San Diego County), tweeted that he had been infected with the virus. The Senate canceled its session Wednesday while it conducted contact tracing and informed anyone who may have been exposed.Republican senators gathered with Jones on Tuesday...…SACRAMENTO — Nearly every Republican in the California Senate was forced to stay away from the Capitol on Thursday as they quarantined after coming into close contact with a fellow senator who later tested positive for the coronavirus.The unprecedented move, during legislators’ pivotal final week in session, came a day after Sen. Brian Jones, R-Santee (San Diego County), tweeted that he had been infected with the virus. The Senate canceled its session Wednesday while it conducted contact tracing and informed anyone who may have been exposed.Republican senators gathered with Jones on Tuesday...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateSACRAMENTO — After the California Legislature killed bills designed to combat plastic pollution for the second year in a row, environmentalists say they’ve concluded the fight might be unwinnable at the heavily lobbied state Capitol.Instead, they’ve resolved to take the battle to voters, with an initiative aimed at the 2022 ballot.A pair of identical bills, and died with hours left before they adjourned for the year. The bills were designed to phase out some of the most commonly nonrecyclable plastics: flimsy single-use packaging...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateSACRAMENTO — After the California Legislature killed bills designed to combat plastic pollution for the second year in a row, environmentalists say they’ve concluded the fight might be unwinnable at the heavily lobbied state Capitol.Instead, they’ve resolved to take the battle to voters, with an initiative aimed at the 2022 ballot.A pair of identical bills, and died with hours left before they adjourned for the year. The bills were designed to phase out some of the most commonly nonrecyclable plastics: flimsy single-use packaging...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateFlames swallowed dozens of homes and other structures Wednesday as the fast-moving LNU Lightning Complex fire exploded into Vacaville, jumped Interstate 80 toward Fairfield, and prompted frantic evacuations and rescues from predawn hours into night.By day’s end Wednesday, the fire destroyed 105 homes and damaged 70 other buildings, nearly tripling in size to 124,000 acres across Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Yolo and Solano counties. Four people were injured, 25,000 structures remained threatened and dozens of areas were evacuated,...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateFlames swallowed dozens of homes and other structures Wednesday as the fast-moving LNU Lightning Complex fire exploded into Vacaville, jumped Interstate 80 toward Fairfield, and prompted frantic evacuations and rescues from predawn hours into night.By day’s end Wednesday, the fire destroyed 105 homes and damaged 70 other buildings, nearly tripling in size to 124,000 acres across Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Yolo and Solano counties. Four people were injured, 25,000 structures remained threatened and dozens of areas were evacuated,...WW…

SACRAMENTO — More than five decades after the movement for ethnic studies was sparked by protests on Bay Area college campuses, the state will require every undergraduate in the California State University system to take an ethnic studies course.Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Monday mandating that every CSU campus adopt the graduation requirement by the 2024-25 academic year and offer courses about people of color starting next year.The governor signed by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, D-San Diego, despite objections from CSU’s Board of Trustees, which to create a separate ethnic studies and...…SACRAMENTO — More than five decades after the movement for ethnic studies was sparked by protests on Bay Area college campuses, the state will require every undergraduate in the California State University system to take an ethnic studies course.Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Monday mandating that every CSU campus adopt the graduation requirement by the 2024-25 academic year and offer courses about people of color starting next year.The governor signed by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, D-San Diego, despite objections from CSU’s Board of Trustees, which to create a separate ethnic studies and...WW…

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateUPDATE on Monday, July 13:  Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered every county in California to close indoor restaurants, movie theaters and wineries as the state combats a surge in coronavirus cases.  SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered 19 counties with surging coronavirus outbreaks to close indoor restaurants, wineries, movie theaters and other venues Wednesday, saying California must act to keep the pandemic from spiraling out of control.Newsom said the state has directed counties on its “watch list” — those with spiking...…This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigateUPDATE on Monday, July 13:  Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered every county in California to close indoor restaurants, movie theaters and wineries as the state combats a surge in coronavirus cases.  SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered 19 counties with surging coronavirus outbreaks to close indoor restaurants, wineries, movie theaters and other venues Wednesday, saying California must act to keep the pandemic from spiraling out of control.Newsom said the state has directed counties on its “watch list” — those with spiking...WW…