SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – A former mayor in California who gained international attention for running a guaranteed income program is joining Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration. Newsom named former Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs a special advisor for economic mobility and opportunity on Thursday. The unpaid position will also make Tubbs a member of Newsom’s Council of…… MORE
Groups Sue Over Kern County’s Plan to Drill Oil Wells
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) – Environmental and community groups have sued a California county after the prime oil-drilling region approved a plan to fast-track thousands of new wells. The Kern County Board of Supervisors on Monday approved a revised ordinance that could lead to approval of more than 40,000 new oil and gas wells over roughly…… MORE
Calif. Looks to Reopening, Pushing 1-Shot Vaccine
OS ANGELES (AP) – California officials are looking ahead to being able to phase out restrictions on activities because of the coronavirus as infection rates slow and more people are vaccinated. Gov. Gavin Newsom says the state is developing a “green tier” in its reopening plan that would allow fewer restrictions, something officials said this…… MORE
Farm Groups Welcome Death Tax Repeal
Legislation introduced in both the House and Senate would eliminate the estate tax. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act temporarily doubles the estate tax exemption to $11 million per person indexed for inflation through 2025. However, without congressional action, the estate tax exemption will revert to $5.5 million per person in 2026, putting…… MORE
Biden’s Speech Goals: Mourn Loss, Urge caution & Offer Hope
WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden will use his first prime-time address since taking office to steer the nation toward hope in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Biden’s aim is to usher the nation into the “next phase” of the fight against a virus that has killed more than 529,000 Americans. Biden will honor…… MORE
Jobless Claims Fall To 712K As Pace Of Layoffs Eases
WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to 712,000, the lowest total since early November, evidence that fewer employers are cutting jobs amid a decline in confirmed coronavirus cases and signs of an improving economy. The Labor Department said Thursday that applications for unemployment aid dropped by 42,000 from…… MORE
Judge OKs 3rd-Degree Murder Charge for Ex-Cop in Floyd Death
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A judge has granted prosecutors’ request to add a third-degree murder charge against the former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death. Judge Peter Cahill on Thursday added the charge after the former officer, Derek Chauvin, failed to get appellate courts to block it. Cahill had earlier rejected the charge as…… MORE
House Renews Push to Expand Gun Background Checks
WASHINGTON (AP) – Emboldened by their majorities in the House and Senate, Democrats are making a new push to enact the first major new gun control laws in more than two decades and they’re starting with stricter background checks. T he House is poised to pass two bills on Thursday that would require background checks…… MORE
CA Murder Suspect Mistakenly Released From Custody
LOS ANGELES (AP) – A murder suspect was mistakenly released from custody in Southern California and remained at large Wednesday as prosecutors and two law enforcement agencies tried to deflect blame for the error. Steven Manzo was charged with fatally shooting a man in Long Beach in 2018. Manzo was arrested a year ago and…… MORE
Texas AG: Probe to Continue Despite Twitter Lawsuit
DALLAS (AP) – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says a lawsuit by Twitter won’t deter his office from investigating the content moderation practices of the social media giant and four other major technology companies. Twitter sued the Republican official this week in an effort to halt his probe, which. Twitter says Paxton launched in retaliation…… MORE
