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Stockton Record

‘Get the Flock out’: Residents urge Stockton City Council to end Flock contract

‘Get the Flock out’: Residents urge Stockton City Council to end Flock contract

Residents are calling on the Stockton City Council to terminate its contract with Flock Safety, citing concerns over surveillance, data sharing and privacy.

California Bill Mandates Release of 911 Calls from ICE Detention Centers to Expose Dangerous Conditions

California Bill Mandates Release of 911 Calls from ICE Detention Centers to Expose Dangerous Conditions

The California Legislature has passed Senate Bill 423, which mandates the release of audio and records from 911 calls and other emergency service calls originating from privately operated Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facilities. This legislation, introduced by State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, a Democrat from Long Beach, aims to improve public access to information regarding violence, medical emergencies, and other serious incidents within these facilities. The bill was prompted by reports of alleged sexual assaults at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in 2025, where journalists faced significant resistance in obtaining records. According to Gonzalez, the bill will make disclosure mandatory for calls from private detention facilities unless it substantially interferes with an active investigation, with provisions for redacting names of affected individuals. The number of individuals held in federal immigration facilities in California has nearly doubled since early 2025, and between September 2...

Senator Dave Cortese's SB 1246 on Autonomous Vehicle Accountability Advances to Governor

Senator Dave Cortese's SB 1246 on Autonomous Vehicle Accountability Advances to Governor

California State Senator Dave Cortese's Senate Bill 1246, legislation aimed at strengthening accountability, oversight, and emergency-response standards for Autonomous Vehicles (AVs), has successfully passed the California Legislature and is now awaiting the Governor's signature. The bill seeks to ensure that public safety and emergency response protocols evolve alongside the increasing deployment of AVs across California. Key provisions of SB 1246 include requiring remote AV drivers to be U.S.-based and hold a U.S. driver’s license, mandating AV companies to notify local jurisdictions about vehicle locations during system failures, and guaranteeing first responders an on-site contact for AV accidents. The bill also proposes penalties for AVs that obstruct emergency operations for extended periods and calls for increased transparency in company response times to AV incidents.

Alameda County Considers Legal Challenge to New State Law on Nonprofit Grant Rules

Alameda County Considers Legal Challenge to New State Law on Nonprofit Grant Rules

Alameda County is contemplating a legal challenge against Senate Bill 1193, a new state law authored by State Senator Aisha Wahab and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on August 27. This legislation, set to take effect in January, mandates stricter rules for how the county allocates millions of dollars in grants to nonprofit organizations. Specifically, the bill requires the county to specify a public purpose for all awarded funds, prohibits awards without such a purpose, and demands public disclosure of the amount and intent of future grants. County supervisors, including Board President David Haubert, have expressed strong opposition, viewing the law as an overreach by Sacramento legislators. Haubert stated that county supervisors are better equipped to understand their community's needs and should be allowed to use funds accordingly. Senator Wahab, a former foster child, developed the bill to prevent county leaders from using nonprofit funding for political favors and to ensure transparency, especially in...

California Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Proposes Delaying Smartphone Access for Children Until 8th Grade

California Gubernatorial Candidate Steve Hilton Proposes Delaying Smartphone Access for Children Until 8th Grade

California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton has unveiled a policy proposal aimed at delaying smartphone ownership for children until they reach 8th grade. Hilton intends to mandate that schools, early childcare providers, and state-funded organizations, including youth groups, sports programs, and after-school clubs, actively promote this initiative. The core of the plan involves encouraging parents and children to sign a 'Wait Until 8th' contract, a national campaign advocating for children to not receive smartphones until high school. Hilton, a Republican and former Fox News host, argues that this approach is necessary to establish a new social norm, counteracting the societal pressure parents often face to provide their children with smartphones. He believes that by shifting this norm, children without smartphones will no longer be the exception among their peers. Hilton also expressed concerns about the safety of Jewish Californians, vowing to enforce laws equally to ensure community safety.

Ventura County Star, Camarillo

SpaceX's next rocket launch from Vandenberg. Track liftoff, scrub updates

SpaceX's next rocket launch from Vandenberg. Track liftoff, scrub updates

Here's how you can track SpaceX's next rocket launch, another Starlink internet satellite mission, at the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.

California Lawmakers Fast-Track San Diego Stadium and Housing Project with Environmental Exemption

California Lawmakers Fast-Track San Diego Stadium and Housing Project with Environmental Exemption

California state lawmakers have voted to expedite a major San Diego stadium and housing development, known as Midway Rising, by granting it an exemption from certain environmental lawsuits. State Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-La Mesa) spearheaded the legislative effort, introducing two bills to support the project. The proposed development aims to replace the existing Pechanga Arena with a new 16,000-seat facility, alongside 4,254 homes, including up to 2,000 affordable units, and commercial and outdoor spaces. This legislative maneuver, which involved a 'gut and amend' process to rewrite a bill in the final weeks of the session, allows the project to bypass standard legislative committee reviews and deems it in full compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA, established in 1970, is designed to protect California's natural resources and minimize pollution but has also faced criticism for being used to obstruct development, including housing projects. A second bill, Senate Bill 95...

Newsom Cites Insurers, Hedge Funds and Trial Lawyers After Wildfire Liability Plan Is Narrowed

Newsom Cites Insurers, Hedge Funds and Trial Lawyers After Wildfire Liability Plan Is Narrowed

Governor Gavin Newsom has attributed the defeat of a major wildfire liability overhaul in California to "Big Insurance," hedge funds, and trial attorneys. He stated that these "outside groups" spent millions of dollars against his proposal, which aimed to limit the costs utilities face after wildfires. Newsom acknowledged the unpopularity of assisting investor-owned utilities but emphasized the economic reality, noting that news of a narrowed deal caused Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison stocks to plummet by 20% and 23% respectively. The final compromise legislation, reached after Democratic lawmakers gutted the most ambitious parts of Newsom's initial plan, includes measures to prevent hedge funds from profiting from wildfires, deny bonuses to utility CEOs after company-ignited blazes, and expedite payments to fire survivors. However, it did not include provisions to bar insurers from suing utilities or prevent cities and counties from recovering infrastructure replacement costs from p...

Ventura County Star, Camarillo

Unnatural death of hospital, pushed out of workforce | Letters

Unnatural death of hospital, pushed out of workforce | Letters

Letters include how Santa Paula Hospital will die from a political decision, professionals in their 50s are being pushed out of the workforce, and being opposed to fairgrounds project.

Ventura County Star, Camarillo

More birds infected with West Nile virus found in Ventura, Camarillo

More birds infected with West Nile virus found in Ventura, Camarillo

California's big West Nile virus season continues as more infected birds are found in Ventura County.

Rep. Scott Peters Advocates for Permitting Process Modernization at U.S. Chamber of Commerce Roundtable

Rep. Scott Peters Advocates for Permitting Process Modernization at U.S. Chamber of Commerce Roundtable

Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA), who is running for re-election in California’s 50th Congressional District, recently participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. The primary focus of this discussion was the urgent need for Congress to modernize America's permitting process. The goal of this modernization is to reduce delays, lower costs for businesses and consumers, and unlock investment in critical infrastructure. This initiative aligns with broader efforts to advance free enterprise, strengthen pro-growth policies, and ensure that decision-makers at all levels understand the needs of businesses to create jobs, drive investment, and foster economic growth. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce regularly brings together business and government leaders to address such policy issues.

Governor Newsom Announces Compromise on Wildfire Risk and Utility Accountability in California

Governor Newsom Announces Compromise on Wildfire Risk and Utility Accountability in California

Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a statement regarding a three-party compromise reached on Senate Bill 492 (Becker and Petrie-Norris), aimed at addressing wildfire risk, supporting fire survivors, and strengthening utility accountability in California. The compromise includes provisions to prevent hedge funds from profiting from wildfire survivors and to bar utility executives from receiving bonuses if their company is responsible for igniting a fire. Additionally, the agreement seeks to expedite financial assistance to fire survivors. A key component of the compromise is the establishment of a Statewide Community Wildfire Strategy, designed to enhance coordination in prevention and preparedness efforts across California. Governor Newsom acknowledged this as significant progress for future fire survivors, while also emphasizing the need for more comprehensive structural reform in the future.