Court Tosses Berkeley Gas Ban, But Wider Impact Is Unclear

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The politically liberal enclave of Berkeley, California became the first U.S. city to adopt a ban on natural gas in new homes and buildings in 2019, which started a climate change-driven effort in dozens of other cities and counties that’s morphed into a heated debate about the future of gas stoves.…MORE

Late-Season Storm Brings More Snow to the Sierra Nevada

TRUCKEE, Calif. (AP) — The winter that wouldn’t quit showed up again in the Sierra Nevada region of California and Nevada on Tuesday. The fast-moving, blustery storm wasn’t expected to last long, but it was enough to require chain controls on some trans-Sierra highways and add to staggering snowfall totals left by an exceptional series…MORE

Republicans Object to Replacing Feinstein on Judiciary Panel

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans blocked a Democratic request to temporarily replace California Sen. Dianne Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, leaving Democrats with few options for moving some of President Joe Biden’s stalled judicial nominees. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, objected to a resolution offered by…MORE

Fox, Dominion Reach $787M Settlement Over Election Claims

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Fox and Dominion Voting Systems reached a $787 million settlement Tuesday in the voting machine company’s defamation lawsuit, averting a trial in a case that exposed how the top-rated network chased viewers by promoting lies about the 2020 presidential election. “The truth matters. Lies have consequences,” Dominion lawyer Justin Nelson said…MORE

Families Displaced From California Neighborhood Seek $2B

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) — As a child, Lawrance W. McFarland lived on a small piece of land on a Native American reservation in Palm Springs he described as a “little world of its own,” surrounded by the parts of the city that were tourist magnets and depicted in movies. The retiree, who now lives…MORE

Help For Farmers Impacted by Natural Disaster

USDA and California Department of Food Agriculture are holding a virtual question and answer session to help producers and farming communities impacted by current disasters. The virtual session will help everyone to learn more about programs and resources available. According to CDFA, farmers and others can submit questions to USDA’s Farm Production and Conservation Deputy…MORE

McConnell: GOP Will Not Support Replacing Feinstein On Panel

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell vowed Tuesday that Republicans will not allow Democrats to temporarily replace California Sen. Dianne Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee, arguing that they only want a replacement to push through the most partisan judges. McConnell called the effort to place a substitute on the panel as Feinstein…MORE

USDA Urged To Deny Petitions In Milk Hearing

The American Dairy Coalition sent a letter to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack asking him to deny two recent petitions for hearings on the Federal Milk Marketing Order. The petitions from processor groups ask USDA to increase payments from farmers to processors to offset higher input costs. The coalition says holding a federal milk pricing hearing…MORE

DA: Suspect in Killing of Cash App Founder Planned Attack

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The 38-year-old tech consultant charged with the killing of Cash App founder Bob Lee planned the attack, drove the victim to a secluded spot and stabbed him over an apparent dispute related to the man’s sister, prosecutors said in a court document released Friday. The motion to detain Nima Momeni without bail is…MORE

WOTUS Rule Legal Update

A court ruling out of North Dakota halted implementation of the 2023 Waters of the United States Rule in 24 states, and ag groups responded positively. California is not included under this latest court decision. American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall says his group proudly stood with the 24 states involved and more than a…MORE