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☆ Clear lets people skip the line at the airport. California lawmakers want to change it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Clear is a service that lets people skip the security line at airports with nothing but a biometric scan and $189. Clear, a publicly-traded security company, lets members jump the line at airports, sports, concerts and other venues. About 10% of California travelers are Clear members, according to a legislative analysis of the bill. The bill, which appears to be the first in the United States, won’t block Clear at California airports, Newman said. But Clear, and major airlines like Delta, California airports, and business groups like the California Chamber of Commerce oppose the bill.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, ” Sen, Josh Newman, ” Newman, Newman Organizations: New, New York CNN, Transportation Committee, California, Assembly, Gov, Transportation Security Administration, TSA, CNN, Travelers, ” Clear, Association of Flight, American Federation of Government Employees, California Chamber, Commerce, Airports, Committee Locations: New York, California, haves, United States, Delta

☆ I'm a conservative who was born and raised in California. I moved to Arizona for political reasons but only lasted 3 months.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

She only stayed in Arizona for three months before realizing she wanted to return home to California. When you say you're from California, they think of LA, San Francisco, and San Diego. I'm a retired police dispatcher and believe crime needs to be punished, and I don't think it is here in California. But I don't live politics every day, and they did. When you're born and raised in California, you need to be in California.

Persons: —, Jayne Ashton, I'm, Benson, You've, Paul Harris, It's, I've, Ashton, Matt Blank, shouldn't Organizations: Service, Business, Walmart, Safeway, Foods, California Locations: Homeland , California, Benson , Arizona, Arizona, California, Bloomington, San Bernadino County, San Francisco, San Diego, But California, Tennessee, Tuscon, Tucson, Hemet, Riverside County, Tehachapi, Southern California, Clovis, LA, Los Angeles

☆ Sayre Gomez’s paintings show LA ‘as it is, rather than a projection’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Victoria Woodcock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —It was not until I looked at “Family Room” for the second time that I saw the two children. The scene of decay and demise is a painting by LA-based artist Sayre Gomez, called “Family Room,” that brings together disparate elements of his hometown in an unnervingly photorealist style. The work forms part of his solo show “Heaven N’ Earth,” at art dealer Xavier Hufkens’ flagship gallery in Brussels, Belgium, exploring the complex dichotomies of the urban landscape. The Broad Museum in Los Angeles has also recently added Gomez’s work to its collection. Gomez's photo-realistic work is currently appearing in a solo show at Xavier Hufkens in Brussels, Belgium (above) and a group show at The Broad in Los Angeles.

Persons: Sayre Gomez, Xavier Hufkens, ” Gomez, Xavier Hufkens It’s, “ Gomez, Gomez, ”, Ed Rusha, Jack Goldstein, ” Sayre Gomez, Sam Ramirez, it’s, fabricators, John Baldessari, Xavier Hufkens “, Ed Schad, David Zwirner Organizations: CNN, Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, California Institute of the Arts, Lucasfilm, Peabody Werden, Voorlinden, The Broad Museum Locations: LA, Brussels, Belgium, deindustrialization, ”, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Hollywood, Netherlands, Hope, Angeles, California

☆ Why does gas cost more in California?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

It adds about 10 cents of additional cost per gallon of gas, said Borenstein. Yet, in the fall of 2022, California gas prices shot up to a record high of nearly $6.50 per gallon after multiple refineries suffered outages. The shrinking number of oil refineries in California is another reason there’s a growing gap between California and the rest of the country’s gas prices. Those 11 refineries produce 90% of California’s gas and diesel fuel, according to California’s energy department. But Borenstein has another theory for why the price of gas is so much higher in California.

Persons: That’s, Severin Borenstein, Borenstein, Ronald Reagan, ” Reagan, David Paul Morris, ”, “, Patrick De Haan, ” Borenstein Organizations: Los Angeles CNN —, AAA, University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, California Air Resources Board, Gov, Carrell, Act, Bloomberg, Getty, American Lung Association, US Energy Information Administration, Drivers, Shell, Mobil Locations: United States, California, Golden, Angeles, Los Angeles, San Francisco , California, Hawaii, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, “ California, Chevron

If those population-growth patterns continue for the rest of the decade, it could seriously imperil the Democrats’ long-term chances of winning the White House. The Week in Cartoons Jan. 15-19 View All 5 ImagesFor Democrats, the picture is grim. An analysis by the Brookings Institution found that the main factor driving population growth in 2022-23 was immigration. The two states Democrats are eyeing most urgently to become the new Arizona and Georgia are North Carolina and Texas. In particular, predictions of “Blexas” – a blue Texas – have taken longer to materialize than most Democrats had hoped.

Persons: Donald Trump, University’s, Joe Biden, ”, Alan Abramowitz, Christopher Cooper, Brennan, Biden, Mark P, Jones, it’s, Michael McDonald, Trump, Michael Bitzer, ” Bitzer, “ Biden's, Thomas Schaller, ” Schaller, –, Barack Obama, Cooper Organizations: White, Center for Justice, Biden, Emory University, Democrats, Western Carolina University, “, ”, Republicans, Rice University, University of Florida, Brookings Institution, Brookings, North Carolina’s Catawba, Northern Blacks, Brennan, University of Maryland, American Democracy, Senate, Democratic, Texas, Democratic Party, Electoral College Locations: South Carolina , Florida , Texas , Idaho, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, New, Texas, Florida, Idaho, South Carolina , Tennessee, California, New York, Illinois, Minnesota , Oregon, Rhode, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, U.S, That’s, North, Northern, Baltimore, Arizona , Colorado , New Mexico, Nevada, “ Texas, United States

☆ Shohei Ohtani — deferring $680 million of his contract for 10 years — may face some financial risks, advisors say
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-14 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Shohei Ohtani, formerly of the Los Angeles Angels, pitches during a game in Anaheim, California, on July 6, 2021. Shohei Ohtani made history this week with a 10-year, $700 million contract to play for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers. The Japanese superstar will receive $2 million per year over the 10-year agreement, which defers $68 million annually. But Ohtani will receive the bulk of his contract, $680 million in payments, between 2034 and 2043, without interest. For 2024, California's top tax rate climbs to 14.4%, which includes a 1.1% payroll tax on all income.

Persons: Shohei Ohtani, Ohtani, Bobby Bonilla, Ken Griffey, Eric Bronnenkant, Bronnenkant Organizations: Los Angeles Angels, Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Finance Locations: Anaheim , California, California

Homeless people and their advocates say the sweeps are cruel and a waste of taxpayer money. The AP submitted data requests to 30 U.S. cities regarding encampment sweeps and received at least partial responses from about half. “Unfortunately, it’s becoming a way of life, and that is 100% incorrect.”For homeless people, sweeps can be traumatizing. But never an end solution.”There are many reasons why someone might reject shelter, say homeless people and their advocates. We’re walking around saying, ‘What do you need?’”In Portland, the encampment dismantled in July was cleared again, in September and November.

Persons: Will Taylor, ”, Taylor, he's, …, ” Angelique Risby, it’s, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, David Sjoberg, ” David Ehler Jr, Crews, Sara Angel, “, Masood Samereie, ” Samereie, Roxanne Simonson, Sam Dodge, Dodge, Michael Johnson, aren't, Charise Haley, “ There’s, pare, Francis Zamora, Zamora, Brad Lander, ” Lander, Eric Adams, Charles Lutvak, Lutvak, Danielle Werder, Kieran Hartnett, who's, ____ Har, Casey, Thomas Peipert, Angeliki Kastanis, Christopher Weber Organizations: Contractors, U.S, The Associated Press, American Civil Liberties Union, Democratic, Republican, Supreme, ACLU, Northern, Politico, AP, San, Police, Public Works, Department of Emergency Management, Democratic New York City Locations: PORTLAND, Portland, West Coast, Los Angeles, New York, U.S, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Miami, Albuquerque, Anchorage, Boulder , Colorado, California, San Francisco, Northern California, Denver, Connecticut, Colorado, “, New York City, Hennepin County, Boston

☆ A boomer moved from Silicon Valley to a small city in Texas' Hill Country. He said the people are friendlier and his community is much more peaceful.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Bill Ross moved from the mountains of Silicon Valley to a city half an hour north of San Antonio. Leaving Silicon Valley behindRoss was born in Philadelphia and was raised in northern New Jersey. He worked at large companies and startups in Silicon Valley, and he tried starting his own company. He got married, had kids, and raised them in a home 20 minutes from the heart of Silicon Valley in the Santa Clara Mountains. By comparison, a study by Joint Venture Silicon Valley released in October found Silicon Valley's median home price was $1.53 million in 2022.

Persons: Bill Ross, —, Ross, Boerne, — Ross, he's, couldn't, didn't, Dallas, Austin, Realtor.com Organizations: Service, Oaks, Boerne Independent, . Census, Texans, Northeastern University, Texas Hill Country, Joint Venture Locations: Silicon, San Antonio, Texas, Silicon Valley, California, Boerne , Texas, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Boston, Santa Clara, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Galveston, Texas Hill, Boerne, San Francisco, Bay, Antonio

☆ Biden impeachment inquiry end game comes into focus, but moderate Republicans still not sold
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Annie Grayer | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

In recent days, Comer has said in media appearances that subpoenas for Biden family members are “imminent.”The end of the inquiry is still likely months away. They did, however, secure an interview with the special counsel overseeing the Hunter Biden criminal probe, David Weiss, for Tuesday, which is unprecedented given that the case is ongoing. At every turn, House Democrats and the White House have dismissed the allegations against the president and poked holes in the Republican-led investigation. “The subpoenas to Hunter Biden and other members of the Biden family should have already happened,” Gaetz told CNN. “We’ll see what comes out.”Even members involved in the inquiry know that the evidence doesn’t clear the key hurdles needed to move forward.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, –, “, Jim Jordan, Jordan, James Comer, James, Hunter, Comer, David Weiss, Jamie Raskin, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Matt Gaetz, ” Johnson, ” What’s, they’ve, ’ ” Comer, I’ve, we’ve, ”, James Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Hunter Biden, ” Gaetz, Comer doesn’t, hadn’t, it’s, ” Comer, Jack Morgan, Mark Daly, Lesley Wolf, Morgan, Daly, “ There’s, ” Jordan, Don Bacon, Mike Lawler, we’ll, ” Lawler, , Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom McClintock, Doug LaMalfa, “ I’ve, Steve Womack, Mike Rogers of Organizations: Republicans, GOP, Ohio Republican, CNN, Hunter Biden, House Democrats, Republican, Maryland, Capitol, Judiciary, of Justice, DOJ, The Justice, Nebraska Republican, Committee, ”, California Republican, Arkansas Republican Locations: Ohio, Florida, Ukrainian, Nebraska, New York, California, Arkansas, Mike Rogers of Alabama

☆ How a California hedge fund bulldozed the state's labor laws to impose some of the harshest noncompetes on Wall Street
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Alex Morrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

That's partly why so few quantitative trading firms reside in California, whose labor-friendly laws have long favored employee mobility and competition. Exhibit A: The Voleon Group, a prominent quantitative-trading firm based in Berkeley, California, that manages about $5 billion in assets. The hedge fund has bulldozed past state prohibitions to not just impose noncompetes, but impose some of the harshest noncompetes in the entire industry, according to seven former employees, industry experts, and documents detailing the firm's restrictive covenants. Like so many other quant-trading firms, Voleon took care to protect its edge. Other employees Insider spoke with have a less generous view, with several describing the company as stingy — a third ex-employee bemoaned the company as "notoriously cheap" on compensation.

Persons: Kathy Hochul's, haven't, Michael Kharitonov, Jon McAuliffe, Shaw, — Kharitonov, McAuliffe, Voleon, —, Harry Lipman, Rottenberg Lipman Rich, Lipman, bemoaned, noncompetes, Martin Wainwright, Howard Aiken, Wainwright, hasn't, It's, Jessica Riggin, Rukin Hyland, Riggin, specter, James Hannaway, Sanford Heisler Sharp, Hochul, Rob Bonta, Sen, Anna Caballero, foisting, Caballero, Voleon's Organizations: New, Gov, University of California, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Wall Street, Google, Citadel, Sigma, That's, Big Tech, Darwin, MIT, Berkeley, California, Labor Locations: New York, California, Berkeley , California, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, Voleon, Delaware, Washington ,

In granting a preliminary injunction, U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman in San Jose, California, said she was "keenly aware of the myriad harms that may befall children on the internet," but California's law swept too broadly. The law, known as California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, was passed unanimously last September by the state legislature and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The law, modeled after a similar law in the United Kingdom, is scheduled to take effect next July 1. "We look forward to seeing the law permanently struck down and online speech and privacy fully protected," it said. The California case is NetChoice LLC v Bonta, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Beth Labson Freeman, Gavin Newsom, ByteDance's TikTok, NetChoice, Freeman, Rob Bonta, David Ezra, Jonathan Stempel, Peter Henderson, Leslie Adler Organizations: USA, REUTERS, Google, Facebook, District, Free Speech Coalition, Court, Northern District of, Thomson Locations: California, San Jose , California, United Kingdom, U.S, Austin , Texas, Texas, Northern District, Northern District of California, New York, San Francisco

☆ California sues Chevron, Exxon, Shell, others for public deception on climate change
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The state of California on Friday filed one of the most significant cases against major oil companies for their role in perpetuating climate change. The oil companies named as defendants are BP , Chevron , ConocoPhillips , Exxon Mobil , and Shell . The state is seeking an abatement fund paid for by the defendants that will finance recovery efforts for the future damage of human-caused climate change. It also asks that the oil companies and their trade group pay a share of the damages from extreme weather disasters worsened by climate change. Shell, based in the U.K., maintained that its position on climate change "has been a matter of public record for decades."

Persons: Rob Bonta, Korey Silverman, Columbia University's, Silverman, Newsom, API's, Ryan Meyers, Roati Organizations: Exxon, American Petroleum Institute, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil, Shell, Columbia, Climate Change, California Gov Locations: San Francisco , California, California, San Francisco, Chevron, Texas

The vote capped a legislative session in California that once again showed the strength of organized labor in the nation's most populous state. They could get unemployment benefits starting in January, which could benefit actors, writers and Southern California hotel workers who have been on strike for months. Organized labor's influence is easily explained by their prolific campaign donations, as they are some of the most reliable source of funds for the Democrats who control the state Legislature. In the spring, lawmakers agreed to Newsom's request to authorize state regulators to punish oil companies for price gouging. But California lawmakers passed bills this year to expand protections for young LGBTQ+ people.

Persons: Robert Rivas, ”, Pro Tempore Toni Atkins, “, Gavin Newsom’s, that's, He's, Newsom, Sen, Shannon, " Rivas, Newsom hasn't, ___ Sophie Austin, Austin @sophieadanna Organizations: California Hospital Association, Lawmakers, Democratic, Pro Tempore, Democrat, Democratic Gov, Republicans, Democrats, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Southern California, San Diego, Mexico, Shannon Grove, Hollister

☆ As prices fall, two thirds of global car sales could be EVs by 2030- study
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A parking bay reserved for electric car charging can be seen on display in London, Britain, October 19, 2018. Batteries are expensive and account for around 40% of an EV's price tag, a cost that has so far made them unaffordable for many consumers. But those prices are steadily coming down as carmakers invest in new battery chemistries, materials and software to make more efficient EVs, RMI senior principal Kingsmill Bond told Reuters. EV sales in the European Union jumped almost 61% in July versus the same month in 2022, accounting for 13.6% of all car sales. The European Union aims to ban the sale of new fossil-fuel models from 2035.

Persons: Simon Dawson, Kingsmill Bond, RMI's Bond, Nick Carey, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Rocky Mountain Institute, RMI, European Union, Union, United, Reuters, Research, Exeter University's, Energy Innovation, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Europe, U.S, China, United States, California, New York, Exeter, India

☆ California has spent billions to fight homelessness. The problem has gotten worse
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Nick Watt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Los Angeles CNN —California has spent a stunning $17.5 billion trying to combat homelessness over just four years. “The problem would be so much worse, absent these interventions,” Jason Elliott, senior adviser on homelessness to Gov. David Swanson/AFP/Getty ImagesThe admittedly reductive math would leave nearly $4 billion for services like mental health treatment. Still, tackling mental health issues among the unhoused is a major plank in the Newsom administration’s effort. “One of the surprising things was how optimistic people were that relatively small amounts of money would have prevented their homelessness,” Kushel said of the people surveyed.

Persons: Jason Elliott, Gavin Newsom, ”, Elliott, “, David Swanson, we’ve, “ It’s, CNN Cristina Smith, Dr, Margot Kushel, ” Kushel, Newsom, Karen Bass, Sam Liccardo, Dai Sugano, There’s, Kushel, Rather, “ We’ve, ” Elliott, molesters, gosh, Bass, “ They’re Organizations: Los Angeles CNN, Gov, CNN, Getty, Democrats, KCBS, “, UCSF Center, California Gov, San Jose, Area, AP Locations: Los Angeles CNN — California, California, AFP, Los Angeles, America, San Jose, Angeles, LA, “, Golden State

☆ 6 western states agreed on a plan to make major cuts to water usage from the shrinking Colorado River, but California — the largest user of them all — wouldn't get on board
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The federal government has called on western states to come to agreement on water cuts. California couldn't come to an agreement with six other states on the Colorado River. The proposed cuts come as decades of drought have dwindled water supplies relied on by millions. Well, six of the seven states that are part of the Colorado River basin did come to an agreement, but California — the largest user of water from the river — wouldn't get on board. "The challenge is that we need to get back to balance in relation to water usage and what the system is producing," she said.

☆ End to storms is near but California braces for two more atmospheric rivers
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Daniel Trotta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] A road sign is seen next to a country highway on agricultural land amid flooding from the Salinas River, in Salinas, California, U.S., January 13, 2023. The latest storm, the season's eighth, is expected to begin dumping heavy rain on California from early on Saturday, the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center said. The ninth and final atmospheric river of the series is due to make landfall on Monday and last a couple of days. Among the waterways of concern, the Salinas River in northern California flooded roads and farmland on Friday, when 24,000 people were urged to evacuate. In southern California, officials will release water on Saturday from Lake Cachuma, which provides drinking water near Santa Barbara, as the chronically low lake has filled to capacity.

☆ Monarch butterflies made a historic rebound this year, but my photos from 'Butterfly Town, USA' are disappointing and sad
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-24 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

California's monarch butterflies made a miraculous rebound from nearly disappearing in 2020. I visited Pacific Grove, AKA "Butterfly Town, USA," to see the monarch migration for the first time. Monarch butterflies fly at the Sierra Chincua butterfly sanctuary in Angangeo, Michoacan state, Mexico. Monarch butterflies fly at the Sierra Chincua butterfly sanctuary in Angangeo, Michoacan state, Mexico. When I was a child, I didn't see monarch butterflies, but they were already in decline.

☆ Why California’s 2022 Wildfire Season Was Unexpectedly Quiet
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( Elena Shao | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Maps of California show the perimeters of wildfire burns for every year between 2018 and 2022 (desktop version) or 2017 and 2022 (mobile version). The extent of acreage burned in 2022 is far less than what burned in 2021 and 2022, and looks more similar to what burned in 2019. 2018 2017 Camp fire 2022 2021 2020 McKinney fire 2020 was the state’s worst fire year on record. Wildfires have burned about 362,000 acres this year, compared to 2.5 million acres last year and a historic 4.3 million acres in 2020. Acres Burned by Wildfires in California A bar chart showing the total acres burned by California wildfires since 1987.

☆ $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot is now the largest prize in history—here are the top 5 so far
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-10 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot finally found a winner on Tuesday morning, after technical difficulties delayed the drawing that had been scheduled to take place on Monday. The massive prize marked the fifth time in the past five years that a lottery jackpot has crossed the billion-dollar threshold — and this one was a world record. That one was also a Powerball drawing that reached $1.586 billion and was split between three winning tickets. $1.59 billion (Powerball)This Powerball drawing from Jan. 13, 2016, for which three winning tickets were sold, held the record as history's biggest lottery prize for more than six years, until this week's Powerball drawing dropped it down a spot. $1.34 billion (Mega Millions)The first billion-dollar jackpot of 2022 topped $1.3 billion before it found a winner in July.

☆ 3 key takeaways for the future of online sports betting after California voted against it
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Colin Salao | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

California rejected on Tuesday two ballot propositions that would have legalized sports betting. California voters rejected on Tuesday two ballot measures that would have legalized sports betting in the state in 2023. Sports betting is legal in some capacity in 33 states, but California is unlike any other state in the country. "This outcome is a sign that there's going to need to be far more consensus among gambling stakeholders to get sports betting done in California," Grove said. The company had invested $17 million to try to legalize sports betting in California.

☆ Fights over political lines have fueled the aging of America's government. But that may be changing.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( Grace Panetta | Walt Hickey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

Redistricting and fights over political lines have fueled the aging of America's government. Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois outside a January 6 committee hearing on June 13, 2022. Partisan gerrymandering, the redrawing of political district lines to favor one political party over the other, has gotten increasingly tactical. In all, 14 House incumbents lost renomination in 2022, the highest number in a single cycle since 1992. If you're a Democrat in a Republican district, your days are probably numbered."

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