Category: Northern California

California Zero-Carbon Mandates Boost China’s Control of Cobalt

May 22, 2023
CaliforniaChinacobaltElectric VehiclesNorthern CaliforniaOpinionRegional & State NewsSouthern CaliforniaState NewsUSViewpoints
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Commentary Before California’s government imposed its zero-carbon by 2035 vehicle mandate, it first should have assured itself a secure market in cobalt. Otherwise, the main beneficiary will be the People’s Republic of China, which dominates the market in cobalt, a key mineral needed for batteries. That’s the conclusion I draw from a new book, “Cobalt…

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2 Killed When Plane Headed for Hawaii Crashes in Pacific Ocean Off Northern California

May 21, 2023
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HALF MOON BAY, Calif.—Two people were killed when a small plane headed for Hawaii crashed in the Pacific Ocean shortly after takeoff from Northern California, federal officials said Sunday. The Viking Air DHC-6-400 Twin Otter crashed around 2:15 p.m. Saturday in the water about 40 miles off the coast of Half Moon Bay, California, the…

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The Give-Up Track

May 21, 2023
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Many young people are on the Give-Up Track these days. What has gutted them? Before you blame the pandemic and social media, consider the role of unrealistic expectations. High expectations become unrealistic when a young person is told that they’re “awesome” after a weak performance. Low expectations are unrealistic when mental health disorders are blamed…

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The Exodus From the San Francisco Bay Area

May 20, 2023
AnalysisCaliforniacalifornia exodusNorthern CaliforniaOpinionPolicies & ImpactsRegional & State NewsSan FranciscoState NewsUSUS Features
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News Analysis SAN FRANCISCO—San Franciscans started to feel the impact of a massive exodus starting with the COVID-19 pandemic and continuing as crime skyrocketed more recently. Residents have found that there are not as many people walking the streets downtown now. Usually there are more tourists than office workers, even during lunch break. No more crowds…

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California Could Lose Most Populous Status in 20 Years, Caltrans Predicts Population Decline Through 2050

May 20, 2023
Californiacalifornia exodusNorthern CaliforniaPolicies & Impactspopulation declineRegional & State NewsRegional NewsSocial IssuesSouthern CaliforniaState NewsTexasUSUS News
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Estimates released by the California Department of Transportation show the exodus out of the state continuing, with the population expected to decline from about 39 million today to approximately 35.7 million by 2050. The transportation department began analyzing populations to guide road and highway planning and development in 2000. Orange County’s population is expected to…

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Newsom Proposes Raising Californians’ Electricity Consumption Tax to Investigate ‘Big Oil’

May 19, 2023
Big OilBusiness & MarketsCaliforniaCalifornia Energy Commissionelectrical energy surchargeenergygas priceGavin NewsomNorthern CaliforniaPolicies & ImpactsRegional & State NewsSouthern CaliforniaState NewsUSUS News
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s recently passed law to “hold Big Oil accountable” faces more pushback in the state Legislature this week as lawmakers decide how to pay for its implementation. The governor told Californians in a video posted in January they “won’t pay a cent” for his new law to punish oil companies for last…

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Where’s the Competition in California’s New Teacher Bill?

May 19, 2023
CaliforniaeducationNorthern CaliforniaOpinionRegional & State NewsSouthern CaliforniaState NewsUSViewpoints
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Commentary If you want to see what’s wrong with K-12 education in California, a good place to start is Assembly Bill 938, by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance). It sets “aspirational funding levels” to “raise wages by 50 percent” for teachers and other school workers by fiscal year 2030-31. Or seven years from the 2023-24 fiscal…

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Don’t Call It a Budget

May 19, 2023
budgetCaliforniaGavin NewsomNorthern CaliforniaOpinionRegional & State NewsSouthern CaliforniaState NewsUSViewpoints
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Commentary Call it a joke, call it smoke and mirrors, call it a sales job, call it stupidity, call it whatever you want but please don’t call it a “budget.” Anyone who thinks the latest version of California spending and income figures projected for 2023–2024 by our governor is a budget should really go back…

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Suspect in Fatal Stabbing of Cash App Founder Pleads Not Guilty

May 19, 2023
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SAN FRANCISCO—Tech consultant Nima Momeni pleaded not guilty Thursday to a murder charge in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee on the streets of San Francisco. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Victor Hwang ordered Momeni, 38, kept in jail without bail, saying he posed a public safety risk if released. Momeni, who…

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California’s Lingering Rains, Cold Weather Impacting Crops With Mixed Results

May 18, 2023
agricultureCaliforniaCalifornia StormsNorthern CaliforniaRegional & State NewsSouthern CaliforniaState NewsUSUS News
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Unseasonably cool California weather this spring—along with persistently saturated soil from so much rainfall—is delaying growth in some crops and increasing susceptibility to fungus, according to experts, which could mean less availability and potentially higher prices at the grocery store. Powdery mildew and fungal diseases thrive on excess moisture and farmers across the state are…

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