Page 5 - California

California sees driest spring in decades as data says drought to deepen

California is experiencing one of the driest starts to spring in decades, data showed Friday, and absent a heavy dose of April and May showers the state's drought will deepen

Judge rules California landmark diversity law is unconstitutional

A Los Angeles judge has ruled that California's landmark law mandating that corporate boards have minority or LGBT members violates the state Constitution.

California sitting on $600 mn in unclaimed can, bottle deposits

California is sitting on a $600 million pile of unclaimed nickel and dime deposits on recyclable cans and bottles and now wants to give some of that back to consumers.

California's Black reparations panel could decide who gets compensation

California's first-in-the-nation task force on reparations is at a crossroads, with members divided on which Black Americans should be eligible for compensation as atonement for a slave system

Joe Biden restores California's power to set car emissions rules

The waiver reinstates California's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the federal Clean Air Act for model years 2017 through 2025, effective immediately

Tesla to pay $275,000 over Clean Air Act violations at Fremont plant

Elon Musk-run Tesla has agreed to pay a $275,000 penalty for violating the Clean Air Act at its electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant in Fremont, California.

California records more than 5 million cases amid Omicron surge

California became the first state to record more than 5 million known coronavirus infections, according to the state dashboard on Tuesday, which was delayed by the holiday weekend. The grim milestone, as reported by the California Department of Public Health, wasn't entirely unexpected in a state with 40 million residents poised for a surge in new infections amid holiday parties and family gatherings forced indoors by a series of winter storms. The first coronavirus case in California was confirmed Jan. 25, 2020. It took 292 days to get to 1 million infections on Nov. 11 of that year, and 44 days from then to top 2 million. California's caseload is also ahead of other large states. Texas had more than 4.4 million and Florida topped 3.9 million as of Sunday. California has recorded more than 75,500 deaths related to COVID-19. The state has fared far better than many other states that are dealing with a coronavirus surge, with areas in the Midwest and Northeast seeing the biggest ju

Major storm dumps snow, closes mountain routes in California, Nevada

A major Christmas weekend storm caused whiteout conditions and closed key highways amid blowing snow in mountains of Northern California and Nevada

California nears 5 million coronavirus cases as Omicron becomes dominant

California health officials say the omicron variant is evident in 50 per cent to 70 per cent of new coronavirus cases in parts of the most populous state heading into the holidays

Heavy overnight rains leave 2 dead in submerged car in California

Heavy overnight rains in Northern California left two people dead in a submerged car

Elon Musk says he sold 'enough stock'; Tesla being probed

The billionaire also slammed California for "overtaxation" and "overregulation."

California to require Covid vaccine booster shots for health care workers

California will require health care workers to get a booster shot of the coronavirus vaccine, Governor Gavin Newsom announced

Strong earthquake hits North California; no tsunami or major damage

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the Northern California coast on Monday, bringing significant shaking but likely minimal damage to the sparsely populated area. A tsunami was not expected to follow, the National Weather Service said. The earthquake occurred just after noon and was centred off the coast about 337 kilometres northwest of San Francisco, just off a tiny town called Petrolia that's home to fewer than 1,000 people. The nearest population centre, Eureka, is about 72 kilometers north. That left only about 25,000 people in the range of strong or very strong shaking, according to the US Geological Survey, though residents as far away as Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area reported feeling trembling. The Humboldt County Sheriff's office of emergency services did not issue any evacuation orders, though a few roads were closed due to rockslides. The US Geological Survey estimated economic losses of less than USD 10 million and no fatalities. The area last suffered an ..

Google facing probe for how it treats Black female workers: Report

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) is probing how Google treats its Black female employees, the media reported.

Fresh storm hits California as it mops up and shovels out

California emerged largely unscathed Wednesday from a massive storm that brought drenching rainfall and heavy mountain snow

California exempts San Francisco from indoor mask rule amid Covid surge

California is exempting San Francisco from a rule that takes effect Wednesday requiring all people to wear masks indoors in a bid to contain a troubling rise in new coronavirus cases. San Francisco will continue to allow fully vaccinated people to remove their masks in gyms and workplaces while its overall masking mandate remains in effect, the city Department of Public Health announced. It's a recognition of all of the thought and care that San Francisco residents have been putting into staying as safe as possible, said Dr. Susan Philip, San Francisco's health officer. About 86% of eligible San Francisco residents have received at least one vaccine dose, according to the public health department. San Francisco businesses were relieved that the city can continue permitting fully vaccinated people to go maskless in some indoor locations. To have any disruption at all in the progress we've made over the last year and a half in getting customers back would have been devastating, Dave

Storm drenches Southern California with heavy rain; rescue efforts on

A powerful storm charged south through California, drenching the drought-stricken state with desperately needed rain but also triggering rescue efforts on a swollen river

California brings back mask mandate amid holidays as Omicron cases rise

California is bringing back a rule requiring people to wear masks indoors, a move aimed at containing a new type of the coronavirus as people gather with family and friends during the holidays. Gov Gavin Newsom's administration announced the new mandate will start Wednesday and last until Jan 15. The order comes as the per capita rate of new coronavirus cases in California has jumped 47% in the past two weeks. We know people are tired and hungry for normalcy. Frankly, I am too, California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said Monday. That said, this is a critical time where we have a tool that we know has worked and can work." California lifted its statewide mask mandate on June 15 for people who were vaccinated, a date Newsom heralded as the state's grand reopening. But since then, county governments covering about half of the state's population have imposed their own indoor mask mandates as case rates surged with new variants. The new mask mandate will cover ...

California may cut rooftop solar incentives as panel market booms

California regulators may lower the incentives for people to go solar in a bid to reduce electricity bills for the rest of residents in the most populous US state

Light rain, snow fall in California as western US braces for major storm

The Western US is bracing for the brunt of a major winter storm expected to hit Monday, bringing the threat of localised flooding and some relief in an abnormally warm fall.