The Irvine City Council voted 4–1 June 13 on a plan to incentivize all new homes and commercial buildings to be electric-powered in the city, after an earlier effort to mandate them was stymied when a federal court ruled another city in California could not ban natural gas in new construction. City staff is now…

A city in California should be able to enforce the nation’s first ban on natural gas piping, President Joe Biden’s administration told a federal court this week. Berkeley’s ban on the pipes in new construction is allowed because the city was addressing a “health and safety concerns” and is therefore allowed under the Energy Policy and Conservation…

A city in California should be able to enforce the nation’s first ban on natural gas piping, President Joe Biden’s administration told a federal court this week. Berkeley’s ban on the pipes in new construction is allowed because the city was addressing “health and safety concerns” and is therefore allowed under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act,…

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals snuffed out a California city’s ban on new natural gas hookups on April 17, handing restaurant owners and cooks their first victory over the national climate-action movement. Judge Patrick Bumatay reversed a district court’s dismissal of a California Restaurant Association’s lawsuit alleging federal law overruled the City of Berkeley’s…

A Ninth Circuit court on Monday went against a Berkeley ordinance that banned natural gas piping in new buildings inside the city. A district court had dismissed an action from the California Restaurant Association, a dismissal that is now reversed by the Ninth Circuit court, according to its published opinion on the case (pdf). The…

New student applications to University of California (UC) schools are down slightly this year, according to data released by UC last week. Nearly 246,000 students applied to its 10 campuses for fall 2023—a 2 percent decrease from fall 2022, according to the data. Despite the slight drop, UC President Michael Drake said interest in UC…

BERKELEY, Calif.—To the Western audience, Shen Yun Performing Arts is an opportunity to learn about Chinese culture. Yet to Chinese audience members, it’s a reminder of their roots and a way to reconnect with their cultural history. Mr. Liu, who came from mainland China, watched Shen Yun for the first time on Jan. 16 at…

BERKELEY, Calif.—Tax attorney Patrick Roach and fashion stylist Nicole Guarascio had high hopes when they arrived for their first date at Zellerbach Hall to watch Shen Yun’s matinee on Jan. 16. The performance was everything they thought it would be and much more. “It was captivating. There was so much color and dance and choreography….

BERKELEY, Calif.—Fashion entrepreneur Angela Guevara, who attended Shen Yun’s matinee performance at Zellerbach Hall on Jan. 15, said the performance brought on “a cocktail of emotions.” “It’s not just art, it’s spiritual, it’s historical. It just gives you a whole range of knowledge,” she said. Based in New York, Shen Yun Performing Arts was founded…

BERKELEY, Calif.—Philosophy professor Stephan Johnson exited the Zellerbach Hall on the evening of Jan 14, “surprisingly pleased” with Shen Yun Performing Arts. “I liked it a lot! I liked the aesthetics, the orchestra, and the narration. The dancing was impeccable. It was a great time.” New York-based Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by leading…