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Rep. Lou Correa Engages Southern California Family Businesses on Key Policies

Rep. Lou Correa Engages Southern California Family Businesses on Key Policies

Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Family Business Caucus, recently met with leaders of family-owned businesses in his Southern California district. The discussions focused on critical policy issues, including potential legislation concerning wealth taxes, healthcare, and the long-term sustainability of Social Security. The event, organized by Family Enterprise USA Action, brought together representatives from companies like Hydraflow, WARCO, and Currency Counters, which collectively employ hundreds in the region. Rep. Correa underscored the vital role these businesses play in economic growth, job creation, and community responsibility. He also provided insights into legislative developments anticipated on Capitol Hill through 2027. This engagement highlights ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between lawmakers and the business community to foster a supportive policy environment.
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Santa Clara County Supervisors Advance Plan to Protect Voting Rights Amid Supreme Court Ruling Concerns

Santa Clara County Supervisors Advance Plan to Protect Voting Rights Amid Supreme Court Ruling Concerns

Santa Clara County's Board of Supervisors is taking steps to protect voting rights and encourage local election participation, particularly among Black community leaders. This initiative follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s April 29 ruling in *Louisiana v. Callais*, which has been interpreted as weakening the Voting Rights Act and making it more challenging to establish majority-minority districts. District 1 Supervisor Sylvia Arenas introduced the proposal, emphasizing the need for immediate action against what she described as a threat to civil rights. The Board has approved a plan to draft a resolution to safeguard voting rights, which is scheduled to be presented to supervisors on September 15. Additionally, the supervisors formally endorsed the California Voting Rights Act of 2026, specifically Senate Bills 1164 and 1360, which aim to prevent voter suppression and are currently awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature. NAACP of San Jose/Silicon Valley President Sean Allen expressed concerns that the Sup...
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California lawmakers oppose Trump's Yosemite land swap with developer

California lawmakers oppose Trump's Yosemite land swap with developer

A Coachella Valley Republican and other state lawmakers are urging the Trump administration to halt a plan to give away Yosemite National Park land.
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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.
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Rep. Sam Liccardo Advocates for Restrictions on Immigration Detention Facilities in Napa County

Rep. Sam Liccardo Advocates for Restrictions on Immigration Detention Facilities in Napa County

Napa County is considering implementing restrictions on new or expanded immigration detention or correctional facilities within its unincorporated areas. This initiative follows a proposal from a coalition of Bay Area and congressional leaders, spearheaded by Rep. Sam Liccardo, the former mayor of San Jose. The proposed framework suggests a temporary moratorium on the development of detention facilities used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The goal of this pause is to allow local governments to revise zoning and other regulations to impose stricter controls on the establishment and operation of such facilities. Supervisor Joelle Gallagher referred the matter to Napa County staff during an August 26 supervisors meeting, acting on behalf of the county’s ad hoc inclusion committee. Gallagher emphasized the urgency of drafting an ordinance to establish a temporary moratorium, citing the need for a comprehensive approach to regulate and mitigate the land use and community impacts of these faciliti...
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Rob Bonta’s Dogged Pursuit of Paramount Case Reflects Broader Mission: ‘I Believe in Fairness’

Rob Bonta’s Dogged Pursuit of Paramount Case Reflects Broader Mission: ‘I Believe in Fairness’

Rob Bonta was less than a year into the job of California attorney general when he found himself at odds with one of the state’s most affluent communities. To get around a requirement to build more housing, Woodside had declared that the entire town was a mountain lion habitat. Bonta fired off a letter accusing […]
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Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove to Host Virtual Town Hall Addressing Economic and Social Issues

Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove to Host Virtual Town Hall Addressing Economic and Social Issues

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA) is scheduled to host a virtual town hall on September 2, 2026, to engage with constituents on a range of pressing national issues. The discussion will cover the persistent challenge of high gas prices in California, which are currently near $6 per gallon. She also plans to address the potential impact of President Trump’s tariff policies, which she states threaten to increase the cost of everyday goods. Furthermore, the town hall will delve into the consequences of cuts to essential safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid, which are reportedly forcing families to make difficult choices. The congresswoman will also highlight the ongoing concerns regarding ICE raids, which she describes as terrorizing and destabilizing communities, and the broader issue of corruption that is eroding public faith in institutions. Kamlager-Dove has previously criticized the Trump administration for economic impacts, including job losses and actions against the Federal Reserve.
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Trump 'happy' Harry and Meghan left the United States: 'I was not a fan'

Trump 'happy' Harry and Meghan left the United States: 'I was not a fan'

By Bo Erickson WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he is "happy" Prince Harry and his family left the United States and relocated back to Britain.  "I am happy about it.
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Congresswoman Lofgren Criticizes Administration's Nuclear Energy Cuts and Staff Reductions

Congresswoman Lofgren Criticizes Administration's Nuclear Energy Cuts and Staff Reductions

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, has voiced strong concerns regarding recent actions by the current administration that she believes undermine U.S. leadership in advanced nuclear reactors. During an Energy Subcommittee hearing titled 'Powering the Nuclear Renaissance: Accelerating U.S. Leadership in Advanced Nuclear Reactors,' Lofgren highlighted the vital role nuclear energy plays in providing clean, reliable power and the potential of advanced nuclear technologies, including fusion. She specifically criticized the firing of Chris Hanson, the Senate-confirmed Commissioner and former Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the loss of hundreds of expert staff across various agencies, including the NRC and the Department of Energy's Nuclear Energy, Clean Energy Demonstrations, and Loan Programs Offices. Lofgren also pointed to executive orders aimed at undermining the NRC's independence and proposed major budget cuts ...
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Ladera Ranch Childhood Cancer Mystery Deepens with Emergence of 20-Year-Old Warning Notes on Abandoned Oil Well

Ladera Ranch Childhood Cancer Mystery Deepens with Emergence of 20-Year-Old Warning Notes on Abandoned Oil Well

A mystery surrounding a cluster of rare childhood cancers in Ladera Ranch, Orange County, California, has deepened with the discovery of 20-year-old handwritten warning notes on documents related to an abandoned oil well. The notes, found on Department of Conservation permits for sealing a historical oil well beneath what is now Ladera Ranch, explicitly state, "This well is not to be built over without further considerations." These memos, appearing twice in pencil markings on the 2002 documents, were signed off by state oil and gas supervisors. The emergence of these notes has renewed fears among residents about potential environmental causes for at least six cases of Ewing sarcoma diagnosed in the community between 2013 and 2024. While health officials are investigating various possibilities, including pesticides and a landfill, the abandoned oil well now adds a significant new dimension to the inquiry. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed outreach from U.S. Attorney Easali, Congressma...
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Ladera Ranch Residents Raise Alarm Over Cancer Cluster and Pesticide Use

Ladera Ranch Residents Raise Alarm Over Cancer Cluster and Pesticide Use

Residents of Ladera Ranch, California, are expressing significant concern over a perceived cancer cluster within their community, particularly focusing on rare pediatric cancers like Ewing sarcoma. This concern has led to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigation. The community's homeowners association has implemented a 60-day ban on the routine use of herbicides in response to these concerns. Residents, including Kara Bell and Jackie French, have been actively investigating the potential link between the high incidence of cancer and the extensive use of pesticides, specifically glyphosate and glufosinate, in the heavily landscaped master-planned community. They allege that landscaping companies, such as O’Connell, have continued to use these chemicals despite claims of discontinuing them and that homeowners associations have been uncooperative in providing pesticide usage records. The California Department of Public Health's Cancer Registry is currently reviewing incidence data for the area t...
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US to announce sharply lower vehicle fuel economy requirements

US to announce sharply lower vehicle fuel economy requirements

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - The Trump administration will soon announce sharply lower vehicle fuel-economy standards, reversing a push by the prior administration to force automakers to build more fuel-efficient vehicles, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday.