Gavin Newsom was asked to comment about Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction being overturned on Thursday, and the California governor didn't mince words ..read more

Washington —The Supreme Court convenes Thursday to consider whether former President Donald Trump is entitled to broad immunity from federal prosecution, jumping into a blockbuster dispute that will be critical to the fate of his 2020 election case in Washington, D.C. At issue in the case known as Trump v. United States is whether the former president can face criminal charges for allegedly official acts while he was in the White House. The dispute, which arose from the federal prosecution by special counsel Jack Smith, is the second to come before the justices in their current term with signi ..read more

Doctors, hospitals and health insurance companies in California will be limited to annual price increases of 3% starting in 2029 under a new rule state regulators approved Wednesday in the latest attempt to corral the ever-increasing costs of medical care in the United States. The money Californians spent on health care went up about 5.4% each year for the past two decades. Democrats who control California's government say that's too much, especially since most people's income increased just 3% each year over that same time period. The 3% cap, approved Wednesday by the Health Care Affordabilit ..read more

Governor Gavin Newsom is seeking a bold new step to open California medical facilities to Arizona doctors for abortions on their patients after the state's Supreme Court upheld an 1864 abortion ban ..read more

Arizona doctors could give their patients abortions in California under a proposal announced Wednesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom to circumvent a ban on nearly all abortions in that state. It would apply only to doctors licensed in good standing in Arizona and their patients, and last only through the end of November. Arizona's 1864 law banning nearly all abortions except if the mother's life is in jeopardy takes effect June 8. "Arizona Republicans continue to put women in danger—embracing a draconian law passed when Arizona was a territory, not even a state," Newsom said in a statement. "California ..read more

Washington — President Biden on Wednesday granted clemency to 16 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, pardoning 11 of them and commuting the sentences of the other five.  The pardon recipients include a woman who has since earned her doctorate, a business owner and community members involved in their churches, while one of the commutation recipients will no longer have to serve a life prison sentence.  In December, the president granted categorical pardons to thousands convicted of use and simple possession of marijuana in Washington, D.C., and on federal lands.  C ..read more

Elementary school cafeterias will be allowed to continue serving flavored milk such as chocolate and strawberry, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday. The Biden administration had initially floated a ban aimed at cutting consumption of added sugars by younger children. The decision is one of several changes now locked in by the department's Food and Nutrition Service to its sweeping update to requirements that govern school meal programs. First proposed in February 2023, the updates are now set to take effect for the 2025 school year.  "School meals matter. In some cases ..read more

Students protesting the violence in Gaza have brought the Mideast conflict home with an encampment occupying the steps of Sproul Plaza on the Cal campus in Berkeley, and they say they're not leaving until their demands are met. Overnight, the UC Berkeley campus once again became a place of occupation. Cal students protesting the bloodshed in Gaza created the encampment in solidarity with the large occupation happening at Columbia University and other demonstrations at campuses across the country. "We are standing inspired by our students over at Columbia, who we consider to be the heart of the ..read more

SACRAMENTO — California lawmakers are considering a law to stop a line-skipping service at airport screenings.  A company called CLEAR offers a paid service that costs about $200 a year and allows airline travelers to skip ahead of long security lines, saving precious time. For frequent flyer Connie Harris, the expedited security service is a must-have. "I love it," Harris said. "I really love it. It's important to me." State Senator Josh Newman wonders if travelers who use CLEAR have a clear conscious, calling the service state-sanctioned line-cutting at public airports. "And the questio ..read more

California lawmakers are considering a law to stop a line-skipping service at airport screenings ..read more