SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Republicans in the California state Senate have picked a new legislative leader. They voted unanimously Wednesday to replace Sen. Shannon Grove of Bakersfield with Sen. Scott Wilk of Santa Clarita. The change came after two incumbent Republican senators lost their seats in the November election. Alex Vassar, an unofficial legislative historian…… MORE
LOS ANGELES (AP) – When then-Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham admitted in 2005 to accepting $2.4 million in illegal gifts from defense contractors in exchange for government contracts and other favors, it was considered the largest bribery scandal in congressional history. The disgraced former San Diego congressman received one of the pardons issued Wednesday by President…… MORE
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California says it’s OK to immediately begin using a batch of coronavirus vaccine doses after health officials held a safety review because several people fell ill. State epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said Wednesday that the review found “no scientific basis” to continue a halt to using a specific batch of the…… MORE
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – A former California correctional officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to submitting a false report in a federal civil rights investigation into the death of an inmate at a Sacramento-area prison. Ashley Marie Aurich lied about seeing another another former correctional officer, Arturo Pacheco, reach down and pull the legs out from under…… MORE
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom is ready for a more productive and friendlier relationship with the White House under Democratic President-elect Joe Biden. The Democratic governor sent a letter Tuesday to Biden outlining places where the state and federal government can find common ground, including on immigration and climate change. It comes…… MORE
LOS ANGELES (AP) – A Beverly Hills, California, doctor and coronavirus vaccine critic has been arrested in connection with her alleged role storming the U.S. Capitol earlier this month. Simone Gold was arrested Monday and is facing charges of entering a restricted building or grounds, violent entry and disorderly conduct. Attempts to reach her attorney…… MORE
LOS ANGELES (AP) – An agreement in California could open the way for more marijuana companies to access checking and other banking services. Broad legal pot sales got underway in California in 2018, but many banks remain reluctant to handle cannabis industry money. They fear it could expose them to legal trouble from the federal…… MORE
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California filed nine lawsuits against the Trump administration on the president’s final full day in office. The lawsuits target several environmental rule changes the administration approved in recent days. They include rules that state Attorney General Xavier Becerra says would weaken protections for migratory birds and loosen the regulation of greenhouse…… MORE
LOS ANGELES (AP) – California has become the first state to record more than 3 million known coronavirus infections. That’s according to a tally Monday by Johns Hopkins University. The grim milestone wasn’t entirely unexpected in a state with 40 million residents but its speed was stunning. The state only reached 2 million reported cases…… MORE
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – Authorities say a California sheriff’s deputy has died and another deputy was injured following a chase and shootout that also left a suspect dead. Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones says a sheriff’s K-9 dog also died in the gunfire late Monday near Cal Expo, a Sacramento event venue. He says the…… MORE
