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California Lawmakers Debate Housing Strategy: High-Rises vs. Single-Family Homes Amidst Shortage

California Lawmakers Debate Housing Strategy: High-Rises vs. Single-Family Homes Amidst Shortage

California is grappling with a significant housing shortage, estimated at 4 million units nationally, leading to a debate among policymakers regarding the most effective development strategy. State Senator Scott Wiener championed SB 79, a bill that overrides local zoning regulations to permit the construction of high-rise apartment buildings near transit hubs. This approach reflects a belief among some policymakers that increasing urban density through high-rises is the solution. However, gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton and others advocate for an alternative strategy: encouraging the development of single-family homes. They argue that Californians, like most Americans, prefer single-family homes with yards, privacy, and a sense of ownership, viewing high-rises as less desirable long-term investments. This divergence highlights a fundamental disagreement on how to address the state's housing crisis, with one side favoring vertical growth in urban centers and the other advocating for outward expansion a...

Massachusetts Voters to Decide on Statewide Minimum Lot Size Cap in November Ballot

Massachusetts Voters to Decide on Statewide Minimum Lot Size Cap in November Ballot

Massachusetts voters will decide in November whether to cap minimum lot sizes statewide, a measure that would limit single-family home lots to 5,000 square feet under qualifying conditions. This marks the first time any U.S. state has put such a question directly to a ballot. The initiative, spearheaded by the 'Legalize Starter Homes' campaign, aims to address housing affordability by allowing for greater density in areas currently subject to much larger minimums, often 10,000 square feet to 2 acres. The measure applies to parcels connected to public water and sewer, excluding areas like Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and the Berkshires, and does not cover Boston due to its separate zoning laws. This ballot question emerged after a tenant coalition's effort to cap rent increases at 5% or inflation was struck down by the Supreme Judicial Court due to constitutional issues. Housing advocates view this lot size reform as a way to incrementally increase housing stock and demonstrate public support for...

Mountain View RV Residents Face Uncertainty as Legal Settlement Protecting Parking Rights Nears Expiration

Mountain View RV Residents Face Uncertainty as Legal Settlement Protecting Parking Rights Nears Expiration

A legal settlement that has protected recreational vehicle (RV) residents in Mountain View, California, by ensuring at least 3 miles of streets with oversized vehicle parking capacity, is set to expire on February 28, 2027. This expiration will remove the city's obligation to maintain these parking provisions, potentially allowing for stricter enforcement of existing bans on RV parking on 'narrow streets' and streets with bike lanes. The number of inhabited vehicles on Mountain View's streets has increased significantly, from 306 in August 2025 to 438 seven months later, with most being RVs and trailers. This surge is attributed to a regional housing shortage, homelessness crisis, and more restrictive policies in neighboring cities. Businesses and property owners have expressed concerns about the proliferation of RVs, citing issues such as biohazard waste, trespassing, and obstructed sight lines, with some linking RV presence to high commercial vacancy rates and threatening legal action against the city.

Newsom talks climate with world leaders in New York, accuses Trump of abdicating that responsibility

Newsom talks climate with world leaders in New York, accuses Trump of abdicating that responsibility

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has met with world and business leaders to advance climate action and clean energy in New York

Sam's Club is opening new warehouses. See where

Sam's Club is opening new warehouses. See where

Sam's Club newest location is set to open on Sept. 24.

They won the diversity visa lottery. Now their American dream is on hold

They won the diversity visa lottery. Now their American dream is on hold

Three families sold homes, crossed borders and put their lives on pause. Even after court victories, their chance to immigrate may vanish on Sept. 30.

California Skincare Store Bee Co. Faces New Allegations of Coercive Sales Tactics Against Customers with Disabilities

California Skincare Store Bee Co. Faces New Allegations of Coercive Sales Tactics Against Customers with Disabilities

California Skincare Store Bee Co. Faces New Allegations of Coercive Sales Tactics Against Customers with Disabilities

Where the US EV market stands a year after Trump ended tax credits

Where the US EV market stands a year after Trump ended tax credits

President Donald Trump and Republicans in killed U.S. EV credits one year ago. Here's a look at what's happened in the industry since then.

Suspected Migrants Disembark from Boat in Newport Harbor, California, Fleeing into Residential Area

Suspected Migrants Disembark from Boat in Newport Harbor, California, Fleeing into Residential Area

A boat carrying a large group of suspected migrants docked at Newport Harbor in California, with individuals quickly disembarking and scattering into the surrounding residential area. The 20-foot panga vessel was reportedly abandoned after striking and damaging a nearby yacht. Surveillance footage from Saturday afternoon near Cypress Street showed at least a dozen people climbing off the boat and dispersing. Federal and local authorities have not yet released specific details about the incident, including the exact number of people aboard or if any have been apprehended. The U.S. Coast Guard has since seized the vessel. This incident follows previous occurrences in the area, including one where over 20 suspected migrants disembarked from a panga boat and entered waiting vans, and another where the Coast Guard intercepted a vessel with 21 people, including individuals from Uzbekistan and Russia.

Record Wildfire Activity Devastates U.S. and Canada

Record Wildfire Activity Devastates U.S. and Canada

The 2026 wildfire season has been one of the most intense on record, with over 56,000 wildfires burning more than 8.5 million acres across the United States as of mid-September, according to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). This marks the highest number of fires in over a decade, far exceeding the 10-year average. Canada has also experienced unprecedented wildfire activity, with 11 million acres burned by mid-September, surpassing its 10-year average. The fires have impacted traditionally high-risk areas like California and the Southwest, as well as non-traditional regions such as the Southern Plains and Southeast. Globally, Europe has faced severe wildfires, with France, Spain, and Greece experiencing record-breaking fire activity. The season has been exacerbated by El Niño, which has brought higher temperatures and drier conditions, creating optimal conditions for wildfires.

Georgia Lawmakers Seek Bipartisan Solutions to Curb Corporate Ownership in Housing Market

Georgia Lawmakers Seek Bipartisan Solutions to Curb Corporate Ownership in Housing Market

In Georgia, both Democratic and Republican candidates are finding common ground in addressing the rising issue of corporate-owned housing as a factor in housing affordability. A 2024 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office indicated that institutional investors own a quarter of all single-family rental homes in Atlanta, a trend that experts like Taylor Shelton, an associate professor of geography at Georgia State University, suggest has contributed to increased rent and home prices. U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, launched an investigation into the matter and supported a bipartisan housing bill to cap institutional investor ownership of single-family homes at 350. Republican Congressman Mike Collins also voted in favor of this bill. In the gubernatorial race, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms advocates for limits on corporate-owned housing, while Republican Rick Jackson proposes freezing property taxes and reducing regulations on home construction, leaving corporate housing regulation to the...

Faith Communities and Local Governments Collaborate to Expand Affordable Housing Through 'Yes in God's Backyard' Initiatives

Faith Communities and Local Governments Collaborate to Expand Affordable Housing Through 'Yes in God's Backyard' Initiatives

The 'Yes in God's Backyard' (YIGBY) movement is gaining momentum across the U.S., with states and local communities implementing legislation to facilitate affordable housing development on land owned by faith-based organizations. This initiative aims to address the significant housing shortfall by repurposing underutilized church parking lots or reimagining facility spaces for residential use. Several states, including California, Florida, Minnesota, and Oregon, have passed or are considering YIGBY acts. For instance, California's Affordable Housing on Faith and Higher Education Lands Act of 2023 allows for by-right development and waives environmental review and local zoning requirements if 100% of the homes are affordable. Florida's Live Local Act in 2025 and 2026 mandates local governments to permit multifamily and mixed-use residential development on qualifying religious-owned properties, provided at least 40% of units are affordable rental housing. Montgomery County, Maryland, also passed a zoning tex...