The California state budget has been a rollercoaster over the past few years. Big deficits generally mean cutting plans and programs.

The increase in lobbyists this year means there’s now at least one lobbyist for every legislative staff member.

In addition to money Google spent lobbying the Legislature and governor from July through September during a media bill fight, it also showered elected officials with $107,500 in campaign cash on one day in September.

Gov. Newsom reluctantly signed a bill to reform the state’s lemon-vehicle law – co-authored by San Jose Assemblymember Ash Kalra – despite saying it has problems lawmakers will need to fix.

After months of negotiations, university officials and the faculty union remain far apart on key contract terms. Cal State provided a 5% general raise; the union wants 12% this year.

Why did the homelessness crisis become more dire in 2023, even as the Legislature passed more affordable housing laws? Home prices and rents are still increasing.

More than half a million California health care workers are expected to see a pay increase in January thanks to a law raising the minimum wage for their industry.

San Jose was known as the lowrider capital of California until 1986, when the city banned those cars and created “no cruising zones.” The city overturned its ban on lowriders in 2022, and on Sept. 1 of this year San Jose city officials joined car enthusiasts in celebrating the first Annual Lowrider Day.

Unions won major victories in this year’s legislative session on pay for fast food and health care workers, benefits for strikers and bargaining rights. Business groups say labor has too much power at the Capitol. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas says unions are counting on lawmakers to deliver results.

Mildred García confronts a budget shortfall, declining enrollment and complaints about how Cal State officials have handled sexual misconduct allegations.

On Monday, the Assembly finished its votes on Newsom’s series of infrastructure streamlining bills, although not without reservations. Today, the Senate is expected to take its final vote on the infrastructure package, agreeing to some Assembly amendments before sending it to Gov. Newsom’s desk.

The California Nurses Association, which led the coalition behind the high-profile 2017 push for a single-payer system, has re-branded its campaign with the slogan “Fight to Win Medicare-for-All."

After a prolonged transition, the Hollister Democrat was sworn in as Assembly speaker today, taking over from Anthony Rendon of Southern California. It’s been a meteoric ascent for the 43-year-old who grew up in farmworker housing, and worked as a high school counselor and community college teacher while serving as a San Benito County supervisor.

While the President is at private fundraisers in Los Gatos and Atherton, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will be raising money for his presidential campaign in a private event in nearby Woodside.

As groups representing landlords and real estate pour millions of dollars into political coffers to influence housing policy, tenant groups are celebrating recent victories.

A California housing law grants generous benefits to builders who agree to only hire union workers. Trouble is, few if any builders found a way to do it.