President Obama’s new carbon standards for the country uniquely impact California, which has been on track to reduce emissions for years.
Craig Miller reports for KQED: “California put specific limits on global warming emissions from power plants back in 2006, with a law that Derek Walker of the Environmental Defense Fund calls, “a forerunner” of the new federal standard.”
“But the two use different measuring sticks. California’s broader climate strategy, also passed in 2006, aims to cut emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020. The new federal Clean Power Plan would require a 30 percent cut from 2005 levels by 2030.”
“Hit hardest by the new rules will be the nation’s 600-or-so coal-fired power plants. States that depend heavily on coal power will have to find ways to reduce carbon emissions — but how they do it will likely be left largely to them.”
A wave of moderation in the Republican Party may give way in California’s gubernatorial election.
Josh Richman reports for The Mercury News: “Their battle has divided even the traditionally more moderate Republicans of the Bay Area, with each camp believing their candidate puts the party's best foot forward. And that could be a bad omen for a California Republican resurgence, said Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics.”
“"In some states the learning curve for Republicans is flat, and California may be one of them," he said, adding that even picking Kashkari over Donnelly "is barely a nudge in the direction of what they have to do" to become truly competitive again.”
Turnout for tomorrow’s primary is predicted to be excruciatingly low in California over all, but unusually high for one small town.
David Siders reports for the Sacramento Bee: “Heather Foster, the county clerk-recorder, expects about three-quarters of the county’s 2,200 registered voters to do the same. All voting in the rural county is done by mail, which tends to increase turnout. The people who live here – older, whiter, more conservative – are the kind of voters who participate more reliably in primary elections.”
“Statewide, the picture is bleaker. Early mail ballot counts suggest turnout could dip below 30 percent of registered voters, possibly surpassing California’s all-time low of 28.2 percent in the June 2008 primary election. That total does not include the millions of residents who are eligible to vote but are not registered.”
Prospective Jeffersonians are still going strong in their effort to remove themselves from California.
Sarah McBride reports for Reuters: “Opponents of the measure say it sounds an economic death knell for the area, given its poverty and high unemployment.”
“We will continue to face the same challenges,” wrote Del Norte County officials in their formal argument against the measure. “Except we will no longer be subsidized by the State.”
“Efforts to chop up California boast a long history. Disgruntled residents first proposed a state of Jefferson, also comprising counties in nearby southern Oregon, in the 1940s.”
The California State University system is planning to hire 700 new full-time faculty members next year.
Carla Rivera reports in the Los Angeles Times: “The push comes as the university is under pressure to move undergraduates more quickly through the system and reduce its reliance on temporary instructors, whose ranks have increased at colleges across the nation in a response to budget constraints.”
“Cal State also is facing record demand — with the number of undergraduate applications for this fall at its 23 campuses topping 760,000, the highest ever.”
Medical marijuana farms are draining the state dry, according to a new study.
Jason Dearen reports for the Associated Press: “Wildlife biologists noticed streams running dry more often over the 18 years since the state passed Proposition 215, but weren't sure why.”
“We knew people were diverting water for marijuana operations, but we wanted to know exactly how much," said Scott Bauer, the department biologist who studied the pot farms' effects on four watersheds. "We didn't know they could consume all the water in a stream."
The Stanley Cup is in reach of the LA Kings.
Camila Domonoske reports for NPR: “The L.A. Kings beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-4 on Sunday, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final in a dramatic Game 7 overtime win.”
“The Blackhawks, the defending Stanley Cup champions, scored the first two goals of the game and led through the first period. The Kings tied the score at 3-3 partway through the second period, but Chicago took the lead again a few minutes before the second intermission.”
