Rudy Salas, photo by APAccording to recent USC polling, and the election buzz among national prognosticators, voters could be on the verge of electing the first Latino in the House of Representatives from the state’s Central Valley. Yes, you read that right.
Image by Oleksandr FilonOPINION – With each passing year, the impacts of climate change become more severe, and the need for reliable, affordable energy becomes more urgent. The “Unlock the Grid” package of bills offers a practical and forward-thinking solution that addresses both the immediate needs of our communities and the long-term sustainability of our energy system.
Photo by APIn spite of some gains, if the expectation from the Democratic Convention was that it was going to swing any Trump voters toward the Harris campaign, or give her a dramatically widening lead in the race, this has not been met, at least according to the California data.
Image by uphaksorn ThongwongbootOPINION – There is a brewing crisis in Orange County, one where the most vulnerable — seniors with disabilities, single mothers, families living below the poverty line — have lost access to vital health care services. The focus for all involved right now must be on patients — those who are facing upheaval, worse health outcomes, farther distances to travel for care, and a much greater burden on their families. For these vulnerable Californians, their worst fears have come true.
Water quality, image by Pixel-ShotOPINION – Through creative thinking and partnerships between state leaders and local dairy farmers, LandFlex is helping us improve water quality and increase supplies to meet our region’s needs while sustaining our local agricultural economic engines at the same time.
Image by udra11 via shutterstockCalifornia governments up and down the state spend millions in taxpayer dollars to lobby government officials in Sacramento.
According to a statewide survey from the Public Policy Institute of California, 69 percent of those polled – 71 percent of likely voters – say bad times lie ahead. That represents a pessimism jump of 17 points from November of 2021.
The California Capitol in Sacramento, surrounded by Capitol Park. (Photo: Merge Digital Media LLC, via Shutterstock)In the final weeks before Election Day on Nov. 8, support for Proposition 30, the state ballot measure on funding to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, has slid to less than a majority. On the congressional front, Democrats hold an overall edge across the 10 competitive districts that could determine which party controls the US House of Representatives.
The cap of a well used to monitor groundwater samples in Gilroy. (Photo: Matthew Corley, via Shutterstock)More than 60% of California’s groundwater wells are operating at below-normal levels, endangering much of the Golden State’s population that relies on the precious resource. Although relatively unknown to many Californians, who see water supply in terms of rivers, streams and reservoirs, groundwater is a hugely vital source that is largely invisible.
Students studying in a California classroom. (Photo: GagliardiPhotography, via Shutterstock)OPINION: One of the charges I hold seriously is to ensure every child in California has the resources they need to succeed. As a product of California’s K-12 public schools in the Central Valley, I can still recall the deficiency in resources as well as the knowledge of those that were appointed to secure that my future endeavors were aligned for excellence.