Here are 15 new laws that Californians must start following in 2026

CHRONICLE, SOPHIA BOLLAG: "California lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom approved more than 900 new laws this year, including measures aimed at countering the influence of President Donald Trump, lowering drug costs and requiring landlords to maintain refrigerators and stoves in apartments.

Here’s a rundown of 15 notable state laws that California residents, businesses and visitors will need to follow starting next year."

California has sued Trump 52 times this year. Here’s what those suits have accomplished

CHRONICLE, BOB EGELKO: "With little prospect of fending off President Donald Trump’s agenda in Congress or at the ballot box, California has turned, once again, to the courts. With considerable success so far.

In lawsuits filed or joined by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, federal judges have blocked the Trump administration’s freeze on virtually all domestic federal funding and mass layoffs in agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education and the AmeriCorps volunteer............................. program."

PG&E transformer fire triggers another unplanned power outage in S.F.

CHRONICLE, DAVID HERNANDEZ: "An unplanned Pacific Gas & Electric Co. outage left more than 11,000 customers without power after a transformer caught fire in San Francisco’s Richmond District on Sunday night.

The fire was called in around 7:45 p.m. in the area of 12th Avenue and Balboa Street, fire officials said, adding that firefighters secured the scene until PG&E crews showed up."