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☆ California Panera franchisee will raise minimum wage to $20 after political firestorm over minimum wage carveout
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Los Angeles CNN —A Panera Bread franchise owner in California said he will raise the minimum wage for his employees after accusations he benefited from ties to the state’s governor to avoid hiking pay. A new state minimum wage law exempts certain businesses that make and sell bread – a carveout that critics contended benefited Greg Flynn, a billionaire Panera franchise owner who attended high school with Democratic California Gov. On Tuesday, Flynn told CNN that he has decided to raise the minimum pre-tip wage at all of his Panera Bread locations to $20 per hour, regardless of whether his fast-casual bakeries are exempt from the new minimum wage law or not. “At Flynn Group, we are in the people business and believe our people are our most valuable assets,” Flynn said. However, Flynn said he never personally met with Newsom about the minimum wage bill, though he did meet with Newsom’s staff and a group of other restaurant owners to discuss it.

Persons: Greg Flynn, Gavin Newsom, Flynn, “, ” Flynn, Newsom, ”, Alex Stack Organizations: Los Angeles CNN, Democratic California Gov, CNN, Flynn Group Locations: California

☆ Why Panera is causing a stir in California politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Samantha Delouya | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

And Panera Bread has been caught in the middle. Newsom has also said that Panera may not be exempt from the new minimum wage law after all. Nevertheless, on Thursday, Republican lawmakers in California called on the state’s attorney general to investigate the minimum wage exemption. Flynn’s company operates more than just Panera Bread locations. Stack also said that Newsom’s legal team determined that the carve-out would likely not apply to most Panera Bread locations.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Greg Flynn, Newsom’s, Newsom, Flynn, Panera, ”, Brian Jones, owner’s Newsom, Myung J, Chun, “, ” Flynn, Taco, –, Alex Stack, Stack Organizations: Los Angeles CNN, Democratic California Gov, Republican, Los Angeles Times, CNN, Flynn Group, Taco Bell Locations: California, Los Angeles , CA

In 2004, voters approved legislation that imposed a tax on millionaires to finance mental health services, generating $2 billion to $3 billion in revenue each year that has mostly gone to counties to fund mental health programs as they see fit under broad guidelines. San Francisco Mayor London Breed said she supports the measure. The 14-year-old center with a mission of breaking the cycle of trauma in the Black community relies heavily on mental health funding from the county. The state needs some 8,000 more beds to treat mental health and addiction issues, according to researchers who testified before state lawmakers last year. “From a humanitarian and civil rights perspective, we vehemently oppose Proposition 1,” said Mark Salazar, executive director of Mental Health Association of San Francisco, which serves more than 15,000 people monthly.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Newsom, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Tiffany McCarter, —, McCarter, “, ” McCarter, haven't, ”, Mark Salazar, ” Mark Cloutier, Joe Wilson, Anthony Hardnett, “ You’ve, ” Hardnett, ” Kalkowski, “ I’ve Organizations: — Democratic, — Democratic California Gov, San Francisco Mayor London, Cultural Center, Democratic, University of San, Housing Initiative, Mental Health Association of San, House, Sixth, 6th Street Center, Youth Locations: OROVILLE, Calif, — Democratic California, Butte, San Francisco, Butte County, Oroville, California, United States, Mental Health Association of San Francisco, Tenderloin, Chico

Gavin Newsom last year vetoed legislation that would have decriminalized the possession and personal use of several plant-based hallucinogens, including psychedelic mushrooms. Colorado and Oregon have already decriminalized psychedelic mushrooms and establish regulated systems for therapeutic use of the substances. In California, San Francisco, Oakland and Santa Cruz have effectively decriminalized possession of psychedelic mushrooms, meaning a person cannot be arrested or prosecuted for possessing limited amounts of plant-based hallucinogens. California already has “a massive network" of underground therapists who provide psychedelic therapy, Wiener said. Touted as a mind-bending drug in the 1960s, psychedelic mushrooms have been used in religious or spiritual practices in some cultures for centuries and possibly thousands of years.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Democratic Sen, Scott Wiener, Newsom, Wiener, Republican Assemblymember Marie Waldron, ” Wiener, Waldron, Juliana Mercer, she's, we'll, ” Mercer, psychedelics, Susan Sagy Organizations: Democratic Gov, Democratic, Republican, Drug Administration, Heroic Hearts, Marine Corps, U.S ., California Coalition, Psychedelic Safety Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Colorado, Oregon, San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Cruz, criminalization

☆ Newsom’s California Tax Whopper
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Journal Editorial Report: Despite denials, the California governor is acting like a candidate. Images: AP/Composite: Mark KellyThursday night’s debate on Fox News between Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis was instructive on many levels. While the Florida Governor stressed his superior record on crime, schools and the economy, Mr. Newsom focused on progressive cultural themes. But one of Mr. Newsom’s economic howlers shouldn’t pass without contradiction. But he also asserted that Florida “taxes low-income workers more than we tax millionaires and billionaires in the state of California.”

Persons: Mark Kelly, Gavin Newsom, Ron DeSantis, Newsom, ” Organizations: Fox News, Florida Governor Locations: California, Florida, New York City

☆ Opinion | What a Petty Pair DeSantis and Newsom Made
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Frank Bruni | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It’s remarkable how fixated Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom have been on each other. These two opposite-party governors from opposite coasts of the country have been sparring — repeatedly, haughtily, naughtily — for more than two years. It was there at the start of the debate, when DeSantis, in the first minute of his remarks, managed to mention Newsom’s infamously hypocritical pandemic dinner at the French Laundry. It was there in the middle, when DeSantis brought up the French Laundry again. He noted that he and DeSantis had something “in common,” alluding to the fact that he himself is not making a White House bid.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Gavin Newsom, —, naughtily, Newsom, Newsom’s, DeSantis, DeSantis’s, ” Newsom, Trump, ”, Ron, You’re, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump Organizations: “, Trump Trump, ”

☆ Takeaways from the DeSantis-Newsom debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Eric Bradner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Ron DeSantis opened a debate Thursday night on Fox News, Newsom told DeSantis the two had one thing in common. By the way, you’re down 41 points in your own state,” Newsom said. Hannity the ‘hall monitor’Hannity, the long-time conservative Fox host, opened the debate pledging to play a neutral role Thursday night. “It should be up to the mother and the doctor and her conscience.”What’s the value of a debate like this? Mostly, the more than 90-minute debate was DeSantis and Newsom accusing each other of lying and mischaracterizing the other’s records.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Ron DeSantis, Newsom, DeSantis, ”, Sean Hannity, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Hannity, Biden, Biden won’t, ” DeSantis, ” Newsom, “, Trump, Ron, Newsom sneered, Kamala Harris ’, It’s Madame, Anthony Fauci, “ Donald Trump, ” “, “ Joe Biden, Sean, he’ll, ’ Hannity, didn’t, —, “ Ron DeSantis, Newsom’s, “ It’d, I’m, ” Hannity Organizations: CNN, California, Florida Gov, Fox News, Red State, Democrat, Fox, Trump Trump, mispronouncing, Trump, DeSantis, Biden, Republican Party Locations: Florida, Red, Iowa, Mexico, Texas, DeSantis, California, United States

Gavin Newsom and Florida Republican Gov. Newsom, 56, has talked about eventually running for president but is backing President Joe Biden 's reelection in 2024. DeSantis is betting big on Iowa's first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses on Jan. 15 and could still turn things around. Florida is a onetime battleground where fiercely conservative DeSantis easily won reelection last year, while California is the country's largest Democratic state. Last year, amid some unease among Democrats about Biden’s reelection prospects, Newsom’s name was floated as a potential replacement for 2024.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Ron DeSantis, Newsom, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Sean Hannity, it's, Hannity, DeSantis, he's, “, Biden, ”, Andrew Romeo, ” Newsom, Ronald Reagan Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, — California Democratic, Florida Republican Gov, GOP, South Carolina Gov, Trump, Fox News, Fox, Democratic, Republican, Democrat, Ronald Reagan Presidential Locations: — California, DeSantis, Alpharetta , Georgia, Atlanta, Florida, California, Texas, ’, America, Simi Valley , California

That includes a brief stint as mayor of San Diego, one of the nation’s largest cities. During her tenure as Senate leader, Democrats have grown their caucus to 32 out of 40 seats — their largest majority since 1883. She got her chance when her twin sister joined the Navy and was stationed in San Diego. In San Diego, Atkins was director of a women’s health clinic that performed abortions. She was also politically active, working to help elect Christine Kehoe to the San Diego City Council.

Persons: Toni Atkins, Tony Gwynn, Jimmy Kimmel’s, Atkins, Jerry Brown, “, Gavin Newsom, Gov, Eleni Kounalakis, Tony Thurmond, Betty Yee, Rob Bonta, ”, Shannon Grove, Newsom, Dolly Parton, ” Atkins, Christine Kehoe, Kehoe, “ Toni, ” Kehoe, Anthony Rendon, Rendon, “ Toni Atkins Organizations: San Diego Padres, Gov, Associated Press, Democratic, Senate, Republicans, Republican, Navy, San Diego City Council, Affordable Care Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, Oregon, Black, San Diego, Virginia, Appalachia, Los Angeles

Gavin Newsom is the latest to find out that plans for a confident jump shot can turn into a torrent of online potshots. On a trip to China, the two-term Democrat took a detour from his official meetings on climate change to join a group of Beijing schoolkids for a game of basketball. Video circulating online shows Newsom wearing slacks, an open-collared shirt and dress shoes while towering over schoolchildren on the court. The governor playfully twirls a basketball on a fingertip, then executes a spin move as he heads toward the basket. “Newsom destroys kid during basketball game in China,” celebrity website TMZ tweeted.

Persons: —, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, Boris Johnson, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, ” George W, “, ”, “ Newsom, TMZ, Xi Jinping Organizations: ANGELES, Gov, pats, ” Fox News, America, Santa Clara University, Los Angeles Fox News Locations: China, Beijing, British, London, Japan, Scotland

That is true both for the two countries at the national level, and for state-level engagement. California has a steady and long working relationship with China. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican governor, started the formal relationship with China over climate cooperation a decade ago, Jaros said. State regulators also have banned the sale of most new gas-powered cars in California by 2035. Meanwhile, the California family of a Christian pastor who has been detained in China since 2006 said Newsom should take any possible opportunity to argue for his release.

Persons: Gavin Newsom’s, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, China “, ”, Alex Wang, Trump, Kyle Jaros, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jaros, Democrat Jerry Brown, “, Wang, Newsom, he’s, Jinping, Alfred Wu, David Lin’s Organizations: —, China -, U.S, Economic Cooperation, UCLA, University of Notre Dame, Republican, Democrat, UCLA’s Emmett Institute, Democratic, National University of Singapore Locations: BANGKOK, — California, China, San Francisco, Asia, California, Hong Kong, U.S, Beijing, Taiwan

☆ Gavin Newsom says ‘divorce is not an option’ for US and China after Xi Jinping meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Michelle Toh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —“Divorce is not an option” when it comes to the world’s two largest economies, California Governor Gavin Newsom told CNN on Wednesday following his meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. In an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Newsom said his meeting with Xi in Beijing had revived hope that the United States and China were at a turning point in their relations. Newsom — the first US governor to meet with Xi in six years — is in China for a week-long visit to promote action on climate change. Xi also expressed the hope that the governor’s visit to China would help stabilize the broader relationship. If it were a country, California “would be the fifth largest economy in the world,” Newsom told CNN.

Persons: Hong Kong CNN —, Gavin Newsom, Xi Jinping, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Newsom, Xi, “ We’ve, We’ve, ”, Newsom —, ” Newsom, “, that’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Xinhua, Global Times, BYD Locations: Hong Kong, California, Beijing, United States, China, decouple, Shenzhen

☆ Gavin Newsom, on Climate Mission to China, Gets an Audience With Xi
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Tiffany May | More About Tiffany May | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, met with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, in Beijing on Wednesday, according to the Chinese state media, as part of an ambitious weeklong mission to negotiate climate partnerships. The two-term Democratic governor wants California to set an aggressive pace for the United States — and the world — to cut carbon emissions that are dangerously heating the planet. Mr. Newsom’s moves to tackle the climate crisis have elevated his national profile, just as he is widely believed to be preparing for a White House run in 2028. Mr. Xi met with Mr. Newsom in the Great Hall of the People, a grand building on the west side of Tiananmen Square where he often receives dignitaries. In an official summary of the meeting published by Chinese state media, Mr. Xi was quoted as saying he hoped Mr. Newsom’s visit would help promote ties between their countries.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Xi Jinping, Newsom’s, Chuck Schumer, Xi, Newsom Organizations: Democratic, United, United States —, Mr, of Locations: California, Beijing, United States

☆ California Slams San Francisco for ‘Egregious’ Barriers to Housing Construction
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Heather Knight | More About Heather Knight | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A scathing new report has found that it takes longer and costs more to build housing in San Francisco than anywhere else in California, exacerbating the state’s homelessness crisis and preventing many workers from being able to live in the city. But some local governments still give housing opponents generous leeway to slow or block projects. Governor Newsom’s housing division has determined that no city has put up more housing roadblocks than San Francisco, according to an investigation released on Wednesday. The report is the first of its kind, trying to compel San Francisco to do better, as well as show other municipalities what is necessary to create a thriving, equitable city. “It is egregious, the enormous amount of constraints and barriers they impose on new housing development,” said Gustavo Velasquez, director of the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Newsom’s, ”, Gustavo Velasquez Organizations: Gov, state’s Department of Housing, Community Locations: San Francisco, California, “

☆ Gavin Newsom Wants to Export California’s Climate Laws to the World
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Coral Davenport | More About Coral Davenport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Gavin Newsom, the California governor, packed his bags and his ambition Monday and flew to Chinese provinces on a weeklong mission to negotiate climate agreements. Last month, he was the only American invited to address the United Nations about climate change, where he excoriated the fossil fuel industry for what he called its decades of “deceit and denial.”He has signed a raft of laws and regulations to speed the nation’s most populous state away from fossil fuels, including a ban on the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035 and a mandate to stop adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere by 2045. He wants to end oil drilling in his state, a major oil producer, also by 2045. The two-term Democratic governor wants California to set an aggressive pace for the nation — and the world — as time is running out to deeply cut the carbon emissions that are dangerously heating the planet. Mr. Newsom’s bold moves on climate have elevated his national profile, just as he is widely believed to be preparing for a White House run in 2028.

Persons: Gavin Newsom Organizations: Democratic Locations: California, Nations

Governors of California, which has an economy larger than most countries, have a long history of climate collaboration with China. “It’s going to be very difficult to tackle the climate crisis just here in California,” Sanchez said. California Republicans said Newsom shouldn’t be visiting China at a time of tensions over international conflicts and the suppression of free speech. But climate experts said California has a significant role to play in advancing global climate policy. “There’s a natural role for California and the California governor.”___Megerian reported from Washington.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Jerry Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brown, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, John Kerry, Xie Zhenhua, Xie, David Victor, ” Victor, ”, Newsom, Kerry, Lauren Sanchez, ” Brown, Sanchez, “ It’s, ” Sanchez, Biden, Ron DeSantis, Newsom shouldn’t, James Gallagher, “ Newsom shouldn’t, It’s, Nathaniel Keohane, ” ___ Megerian, Ken Moritsugu Organizations: —, Governors, China Climate Institute, University of California, U.S, ., U.S ., White, Democrats, Republican, Florida Gov, California Republicans, Center, Climate, Energy Solutions, Associated Press Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, — California, China, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Jiangsu, He'll, Israel, California, Berkeley, United States, Taiwan, Dubai, Indonesia, U.S, San Diego, ” California, U.S . West Coast, Washington

☆ DeSantis vs. Newsom on Violent Crime
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Gavin Newsom isn’t running for president in 2024, at least not yet, but he has agreed to a televised Fox News debate next month with Florida Gov. One worthy topic will be their respective economic records, but they should also spend some time on public safety. The Federal Bureau of Investigation this week released national statistics on 2022, and the headline was that violent crime fell 1.7%, dipping back to the same level as before the pandemic. In California violent crime is still up 13% since 2019. The rate of violent crime in Mr. Newsom’s state last year, 499.5 per 100,000 people, was nearly double that in Mr. DeSantis’s domain, 258.9 per 100,000.

Persons: Mark Kelly California, Gavin Newsom isn’t, Ron DeSantis Organizations: Getty, Mark Kelly California Gov, Fox, Florida Gov, Federal Bureau of Locations: Iran, California, Florida, Newsom’s

☆ Opinion: Where the war goes from here
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Richard Galant | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

We’re looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets. The war plays out on everyone’s screens, forcing people to confront cruelty and killing and to fear what comes next. “Hamas’ mission is, by definition, to end Israel, not to seek to establish a self-governed Palestinian state that peacefully coexists alongside the Jewish state. “An Israeli normalization deal with Saudi Arabia — the location of the two holiest sites in Islam — would be hugely symbolic and have real security benefits for Israel,” wrote Peter Bergen. “After all, almost exactly half a century ago, during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, two Arab states, Egypt and Syria, attacked Israel.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Jonathan Glover, Frida Ghitis, “, Ghitis, Amy Klein, goer Gal Katz, Gal Katz, that’s, ’ ” Katz, ” “, Yulie Ben Ami, ” Ben Ami, Stephanie Griffith, ’, … ”, Israel, Janine Zacharia, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Ilan Troen's, Deborah, Shlomi Mathias, Ilan Troen S, Ilan Troen, Symon Petliura’s banditim, Troen, Deborah Mathias, Yahya Hassouna, Omar Ghraieb, Carrie Cordero, ” Cordero, Islam —, Peter Bergen, Jason Greenblatt, Trump, Fatah, Rachel Fish, ’ ” Fish, Kara Alaimo, McCarthy Drew Sheneman, Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, Julian Zelizer, Jordan, John Boehner, James Antle III, McCarthy’s gavel, John Avlon, Clay Jones, Sallie Krawcheck, Sado, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Joe Biden, “ Kennedy, ” Bergen, Kennedy, Jack Ohman, Jill Filipovic, Gavin Newsom’s, Sarah Gundle, Bob Saget’s, isn’t, Sara Stewart, Julia Ormond’s, Keldy Ortiz, Dr, Lara Freidenfelds, … Simone Biles Simone Biles, Yves Herman, Simone Biles, Amy Bass, ” Bass, “ Biles, Biles Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Ben, Gurion University, Brandeis University, Getty, “ Hamas, Foreign Intelligence, Israel, Twitter, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Harvard University, Higher, Republicans, House Republicans, GOP, Federal Reserve, RFK Jr, Democratic, White, Republican, Biden, Trump, Democrat, Agency Locations: British, Rwanda, Bosnia, Israel, Gaza, New York, America, “, Kippur, Kibbutz Holit, Derazhne, Rovno, Rivne, Poland, Ukraine, Europe, Gaza City, AFP, Palestinian, Saudi Arabia, Israeli, Islam, Egypt, Syria, Iran, Victoria Sado, Antwerp, Tokyo, Belgium

Butler, a Democratic insider and former labor leader, had never held public office before joining the Senate. Under California election rules, the two candidates who receive the most votes advance to the November general election, regardless of party. But to Democratic consultant Garry South, who has run six statewide campaigns in California, including for former Gov. Then, on the campaign side, Butler could talk about Democratic legislative wins and building on Feinstein’s legacy. National Democratic fundraising could pose a challenge in 2024, since the California Senate seat is expected to stay in Democratic hands when control of the chamber will be decided elsewhere.

Persons: Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Laphonza Butler, Gavin Newsom, Butler, Feinstein, Katie Porter, Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee —, Steve Garvey, coy, she’s, I’m, ”, “ It's, Schiff, Nancy Pelosi, Newsom, “, Rebecca Pearcey, Elizabeth Warren’s, “ It’s, Garry South, Gray Davis, ’, ” Newsom, Kamala Harris ’, Newsom’s, Lee, ” Schiff, Porter, Pearcey, ” Pearcey, Washington gridlock, Butler “, she'll Organizations: ANGELES, Democratic, Senate, Democratic House, Associated Press, ., Gov, Airbnb, Capitol, Democratic Party, National Democratic, California Senate Locations: U.S, California, Washington, Laguna Niguel, Los Angeles

He also signed several into law, notably a sweeping mandate requiring large businesses to disclose a wide range of planet-warming emissions. Here's a look at some of the other bills Newsom signed into law on Saturday:FOOD INGREDIENTS BANCalifornia on Saturday became the first state to ban four chemicals used in well-known candies and other foods and drinks because of their link to certain health problems. 3 chemical used as food coloring for products like Peeps, the marshmallow treat most associated with Easter. The law also bans brominated vegetable oil, which is used in some store brand sodas, and potassium bromate and propylparaben, two chemicals used in baked goods. Newsom said in a signing statement that the additives addressed in the bill are already banned in various other countries.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Newsom, Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel, ” Gabriel, Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, “, ” McKinnor Organizations: — Democratic, European Union, United, United States Food, Drug Administration, Inc Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, California, United States, Los Angeles, Inglewood

☆ Laphonza Butler sworn in as California’s newest senator
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Jack Forrest | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —Democratic Sen. Laphonza Butler made history Tuesday when she was sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris as the first out Black lesbian to enter Congress and the only Black woman presently serving in the Senate. Gavin Newsom to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, becomes only the third Black woman to serve as a US senator. Harris, formerly the sole Black woman in the Senate, vacated her seat in 2021 after her election as vice president. Newsom was under intense pressure within California to choose a Black woman to succeed her, but instead appointed Alex Padilla, then California’s secretary of state, who became the first Latino senator from the state. Newsom later pledged to appoint a Black woman to Feinstein’s seat should the senator resign before her term’s end.

Persons: Washington CNN — Democratic Sen, Laphonza Butler, Kamala Harris, Butler, Gavin Newsom, Democratic Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Jersey Sen, Bob Menendez’s, Sen, Harris ’, Harris, Newsom, Alex Padilla, Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi, Katie Porter, Barbara Lee, Lexi Reese, Eric Early Organizations: Washington CNN — Democratic, California Gov, Democratic, House Democrats, Intelligence, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, House Democratic Locations: Jersey, California

Once she is sworn in, Butler will be the only Black woman in the Senate and the first openly LGBTQ+ California senator. That, alongside her background in the labor and women's rights movements, helps harden Newsom’s ties to important national Democratic constituencies. She is expected to be sworn in Tuesday in Washington by Harris, the last Black woman to serve in the Senate. At the time, Newsom was under pressure to select a Black woman to fill the seat of Harris, who is Black. His choice of Padilla, the state’s first Latino senator, rankled Black leadership in the state who saw the seat as their own.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Dianne Feinstein, Laphonza Butler, Butler, Newsom, Butler's, “, Kamala Harris's, ”, Jack Pitney, Katie Porter, Adam Schiff, Barbara Lee, haven’t, Bill Essayli, Harris, Lee, Feinstein, snubbing Lee, Sen, Steven Bradford, ” Aimee Allison, “ Laphonza, Arnuflo De, Arnuflo De La Cruz, Jerry Brown, La Cruz, ” De La Cruz, Maria Elena Durazo, ” Durazo, ” Butler, Uber, Alex Padilla, Padilla, rankled, ___ Organizations: ANGELES, California Gov, Senate, Democratic, workaday Democratic, Claremont McKenna College, House Democrats, California Legislative Black Caucus, Gov, Los Angeles Federation of Labor Locations: U.S, California, San Francisco, Washington, Arnuflo De La, Sacramento

Gavin Newsom will name Laphonza Butler, a Democratic strategist and adviser to Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a spokesman in his office said Sunday. In choosing Butler, Newsom fulfilled his pledge to appoint a Black woman if Feinstein’s seat should become open. Butler will be the only Black woman serving in the U.S. Senate, and the first openly LGBTQ person to represent California in the chamber. Butler leads Emily’s List, a political organization that supports Democratic women candidates who favor abortion rights. Emily's List, the group Butler leads, focuses on electing Democratic women who support abortion rights.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Laphonza Butler, Kamala Harris ’, Sen, Dianne Feinstein, Butler, Newsom, Barbara Lee, Emily’s, Feinstein, Lee, Katie Porter, Adam Schiff, Anthony York, It’s, Kamala Harris, Alex Padilla Organizations: ANGELES, —, Democratic, U.S, Senate, U.S . Senate, SEIU, Associated Press, Democratic U.S, Reps, Airbnb Locations: — California, U.S, California, Maryland, U.S .

Gavin Newsom signed a bill Monday to ban school boards from rejecting textbooks based on their teachings about the contributions of people from different racial backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities. Many of the new restrictions enacted by conservative-dominated school boards have been over textbook representations of sexuality and LGBTQ+ history. A 2011 state law requires schools to teach students about the historical contributions of gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. After it was blocked, Newsom weighed in with his disapproval of the bill's failure to advance, and lawmakers revived it. Republican state Sen. Shannon Grove, who authored the bill, later amended the bill to protect victims from being criminalized.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Newsom, ” Newsom, —, Harvey Milk, Sen, Shannon Grove Organizations: —, Public, Republican Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, — California, Temecula, Tallahassee, U.S, California, Southern California, San Francisco

Lawmakers have sent him bills aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, help schools adapt to the changing climate and ease the cost to taxpayers for the cleanup of orphan oil and gas wells. Newsom said he would sign a bill requiring companies making more than $1 billion in annual revenue to disclose a wide range of greenhouse gas emissions. BUILDING EMISSIONSLawmakers sent a bill to Newsom’s desk requiring state regulators to find an approach to reduce planet-warming emissions from buildings. The sector makes up about a quarter of California's greenhouse gas emissions, the state estimates. Another bill requiring the California Energy Commission to create a plan to help schools adapt to climate change effects reached Newsom's desk this year.

Persons: Gavin Newsom, Newsom, ”, Ann Alexander, Alexander, Sen, Lena A, Gonzalez, didn't, ___ Sophie Austin, @sophieadanna Organizations: —, Lawmakers, United, Natural Resources Defense Council, California Department of Conservation, Western States Petroleum Association, U.S . Energy Information Administration, California Energy Commission, Assembly, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: SACRAMENTO, Calif, — California, United Nations, New York, In California, California, Los Angeles County

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