U.S. EPA approves California rule banning the sale of new gas cars by 2035
LAT's TONY BRISCOE: "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday signed off on two major California clean air rules designed to reduce pollution from cars and trucks, including a ban on selling new gasoline-powered cars statewide by 2035.
Under the Clean Air Act, California has the ability to adopt more stringent vehicle emission requirements than the federal government. But the state must seek a waiver from the EPA."
California’s cannabis supply chain: Hidden pesticides and no public monitoring ($$)
LAT's PAIGE ST. JOHN: "For Santa Cruz County cannabis farmers battling infestations of aphids, one chemical in particular worked wonders. Those in the know were effusive in their praise of pymetrozine to save their high-dollar weed crops from the destructive, sap-sucking bugs.
A strong formulation of the pesticide worked “very, very well on aphids and root aphids, which were massive issues,” said Scott Eaton, cultivation manager for a farm that reported applying the pesticide 76 times from 2021 to 2022 after learning about it from other growers in the farming valley."
Why Sacramento mayoral candidate Flojaune Cofer waited months to reveal an alleged bribe
Sac Bee's MATHEW MIRANDA: "Former Sacramento mayoral candidate Flojaune Cofer caused a stir at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting when she claimed someone attempted to offer her money to secure a commitment to extend City Manager Howard Chan’s contract.
But questions about the allegation remain, including who offered it. Cofer has declined to publicly share the person’s name, citing concerns from her family."
London Breed on her six years as S.F. mayor: ‘My mark is on everything in this city’
The Chronicle's JD MORRIS: "No place in San Francisco better embodies both the highs and lows of Mayor London Breed’s tenure than United Nations Plaza, the public square in the heart of the city that has long been a symbol of its ills.
On any given afternoon these days, the plaza above the Civic Center BART station features a tranquil scene of skateboarders, fitness enthusiasts and people playing ping pong or partaking in a dance class. It’s a dramatic change from just last year, when the area was a notorious magnet for stolen-goods sales and open-air drug use."
‘Unite us’: Top Oakland leaders urge Barbara Lee to run for mayor in new letter
The Chronicle's JOE GAROFOLI: "Some of Oakland’s top elected officials and community leaders are urging Rep. Barbara Lee, who is ending her House career, to run for mayor.
The self-described group of “business, labor, community, government, and faith leaders who rarely agree on things” is coming together because of the “extraordinary times” and because Oakland “is facing a crisis of leadership,” in the wake of the recall of former Mayor Sheng Thao last month and the city’s $130 million budget deficit that may portend cuts to basic city services — including public safety, they say in an open letter to Lee being released Thursday."
Transgender people working in U.S. government see peril under Trump
LAT's TRACY WILKINSON: "The Air Force lieutenant colonel left the Pentagon one day and returned the next — with a new name and a new gender identity.
Bree Fram remembers the atmosphere in 2020 as welcoming and supportive. Her colleagues brought cookies. When the Pentagon officially changed her gender in employment records, she felt her journey was complete."
Gov. Newsom declares state of emergency over bird flu to boost California’s response
The Chronicle's CATHERINE HO: "California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday declared a state of emergency to boost the state’s response to the avian flu, which has infected more than 600 dairy herds and 34 people in the state amid a national outbreak that began in the spring.
The proclamation gives state and local agencies additional flexibility on staffing, contracting and other rules to support the H5N1 response, according to a statement from the governor’s office."
‘It’s living hell’: Nurses say a California addiction recovery program ended their careers
CALMatters's KRISTEN HWANG: "Bobbie Sage thought nursing would be her salvation. She was trapped in an abusive relationship with four kids and looking for a steady income. The day she graduated vocational nursing school, she took the kids and left their father.
Five years later, a DUI ruined her carefully crafted stability. Sage was waiting for a taxi outside a bar with another partner when he began hitting her, she said. She fled in her own car. A mistake with enduring consequences."
A California recovery program keeps watch on addicted health workers — but not doctors
CALMatters's KRISTEN HWANG: "California doctors struggling with addiction often don’t want anyone to find out, especially the state board that has the power to revoke their medical license.
“Doctors are afraid of the medical board,” said Dr. Greg Skipper, a Southern California addiction specialist. “The board is a blunt instrument. It’s basically lawyers and cops.”"
California man linked to Madison school shooter may have plotted own attack
LAT's CLARA HARTER: "A Southern California man who was in contact with the Madison, Wis., school shooter allegedly was plotting to attack a government building, according to records and media reports.
On Tuesday evening, a San Diego County Superior Court judge granted a gun violence emergency protective order that the Carlsbad Police Department filed against local resident Alexander Paffendorf, according to online records reviewed by The Times. This is a civil action that allows law enforcement to seize weapons from individuals deemed to be a threat to themselves or others."
Top California conservatives target transgender high school student for playing sports
Sac Bee's ANDREW SHEELER: "A transgender girl wanted to join her high school cross-country team. Now, her school district is embroiled in a lawsuit being promoted by Fox News and two Republican California lawmakers are demanding that her district superintendent resign.
The conservative firestorm — the latest front in a GOP-led culture war in which transgender people are the target — started in November, when two girls who attend school in the Riverside Unified School District sued the district over a trans girl being allowed to join the varsity cross-country team."
College protests swept across California last year. Why have they stopped?
CALMatters's JUNE HSU, LIZZY RAGER: "In stark contrast to the spring when hundreds of students were arrested and suspended for violating campus policies, far fewer participated in protests this fall. Campuses had warned students they would be enforcing these policies much more strictly than they had in the spring when rallies and pro-Palestinian encampments protesting the Israel-Hamas war grew unchecked.
As protests emerged this semester, campus police departments quashed any that broke the rules. In all, at least six students have been arrested and 12 have been suspended at universities around the state."
Why income and tense politics are limiting access to civics classes in California
CALMatters's CAROLYN JONES: "At some high schools in California, civics is everywhere. It’s part of science and history classes. It’s after school at student council and newspaper meetings. It even happens outside of school, on field trips to the capitol and volunteer projects in the community. And after four years, it’s recognized with a gold seal on students’ diplomas.
But most California high school students don’t have those opportunities. Lower-income students and those in politically mixed – or “purple” – areas where parent pushback is more common often miss out on a comprehensive education on how government works and why it matters. Voter turnout among adults nationwide might reflect that disparity in civic engagement, although there are many factors that influence people’s decision to vote and be civically engaged."
LAUSD principals say demands are too high, hours too long. They are joining the Teamsters
LAT's HOWARD BLUME: "Los Angeles Unified school principals — saying their workload is too heavy and the pressure to raise student achievement, manage complex budgets and keep campuses safe is too intense — have voted to join the Teamsters union in a rebuke to the leadership of Supt. Alberto Carvalho and the Board of Education.
In an election that concluded last week, 85% of voting members, who include principals and other mid-level administrators, chose to unionize. In essence, the leaders of 1,300 public schools in the nation’s second-largest school system — known for strict adherence to policies and for echoing the district’s messaging — have said their burden is unfair and their voices go unheard."
‘Family’ of atmospheric rivers to unleash wet and stormy conditions across Northern California
The Chronicle's GREG PORTER: "The flood gates are about to open, just in time for the holidays. A series of storms, driven by a rejuvenated atmospheric river, will begin to impact the Bay Area this weekend and persist through the holiday next week.
Models are advertising nearly a half dozen atmospheric river storm systems with eyes on California from now until the end of the year."
California’s fourth-largest home insurer to drop all condo, rental policies
The Chronicle's MEGAN FAN MUNCE: "Liberty Mutual, California’s fourth-largest home insurer, is planning to exit the state’s condo and rental insurance markets in 2026.
On the eve of a slate of reforms meant to incentivize insurance companies to write more policies in California, Liberty Mutual has told state regulators it will stop offering new condo and renter policies in 2025. Existing customers will begin losing coverage in 2026, according to filings with the California Department of Insurance."
These California counties have the worst home insurance nonrenewal rates in the U.S.
The Chronicle's MEGAN FAN MUNCE, SRIHARSHA DEVULAPALLI: "A cluster of northern California counties has seen a greater share of residents lose their home insurance than in any other part of the country, according to new data.
The revelations came from a report released Wednesday by the U.S. Senate Budget Committee following a series of hearings held on how climate change has made insurance more expensive and harder to find."
California’s lemon law is changing and car buyers have fewer protections in the new year
CALMatters's RYAN SABALOW: "The year 2025 is shaping up to be a confusing one for Californians unlucky enough to buy a new or used car that turns out to be a clunker.
Starting Jan. 1, car buyers who purchase a faulty vehicle will have to navigate a new version of California’s “lemon law” that for five decades has given consumers the right to demand car companies fix or replace defective vehicles they sell."
Record holiday travel likely to be complicated by bad California weather
The Chronicle's MICHAEL CABANATUAN: "What’s expected to be a record-setting December holiday travel season is about to begin, inevitably bringing crowds and frustration to travelers flocking to airports and freeways.
And the weather could make travels even more of a travail, potentially causing flight delays and making road trips a sloppy slog."
