By Casey Tolan | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: May 7, 2018 at 6:00 am | UPDATED: May 7, 2018 at 9:30 am Californians who’ve been trying their best to avoid thinking about politics over the last year and a half might wake up to a rude surprise in their mailbox this week. Mail-in elections ballots started going out Monday — signaling the start of the home stretch before this year’s June 5 primary election. Many voters, distracted by the constant chaos of the Trump administration, are just now tuning in to the big races in California as the state’s airwaves start to fill with campaign ads. “I haven’t been paying attention,” admitted Frances Gonzalez, 54, a political independent and an educator who lives in El Sobrante. “All we hear is Trump’s drama, every day,” she sighed. “It gets kind of tiring after a while.” Ultimately, the ongoing battles between California and the Trump … [Read more...] about Final sprint to June primary election begins as mail-in ballots go out to California voters
California
University of California workers start 3-day strike
By The Associated Press | PUBLISHED: May 7, 2018 at 7:55 am | UPDATED: May 7, 2018 at 7:56 am LOS ANGELES — Thousands of custodians, security guards, gardeners and other service workers at University of California campuses have started a three-day walkout to address gender pay inequalities and demand higher wages. Strikers gathered at sunrise Monday on the 10 campuses throughout the state, wearing green t-shirts and carrying signs that call for “equality, fairness, respect.” The strike was called by AFSCME Local 3299, which represents 25,000 service workers, after the union and the university couldn’t agree on a new contract and mediation efforts failed. The service workers called for a sympathy strike by professional and technical employees that could potentially include medical assistants, nurses, radiology and other technicians. Medical center officials said they would continue to deliver essential patient care services but last week rescheduled a variety … [Read more...] about University of California workers start 3-day strike
California to become first U.S. state mandating solar on new homes
By Jeff Collins | [email protected] | Orange County Register PUBLISHED: May 4, 2018 at 8:53 am | UPDATED: May 7, 2018 at 9:13 am For seven years, a handful of homebuilders offered solar as an optional item to buyers willing to pay extra to go green. Now, California is on the verge of making solar standard on virtually every new home built in the Golden State. The California Energy Commission is scheduled to vote Wednesday, May 9, on new energy standards mandating most new homes have solar panels starting in 2020. Workers for SunPower Corp. install solar panels on the roofs new houses at KB Home’s Terramore development in Riverside County. Solar systems like these will become standard by 2020 on virtually all new California homes under a proposed new energy code up for review in Sacramento on May 9. (Photo by Will Lester- The Press-Enterprise/SCNG) A hawk surveys the installation of solar panels at KB Home’s Terramore development south of Corona. Panels like these … [Read more...] about California to become first U.S. state mandating solar on new homes
California GOP divided over governor in tough election year
Michael R. Blood, Associated Press Updated 1:10 pm, Sunday, May 6, 2018 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); Photo: Gregory Bull, AP Image 1of/5 CaptionClose Image 1 of 5 In this Saturday, May 5, 2018 photo, California gubernatorial candidate Travis Allen, a Republican Assemblyman from Huntington Beach, Calif., speaks during the California Republican Party convention in San Diego. California Republicans hoping to break a long losing streak are betting that anger over higher gas taxes and illegal immigration will give them an edge in races for governor and other marquee offices. less In this Saturday, May 5, 2018 photo, California gubernatorial candidate Travis Allen, a Republican Assemblyman … [Read more...] about California GOP divided over governor in tough election year
Controversial mural at California school shows Trump’s head on a spear
By Alix Martichoux, SFGATE Published 11:30 am, Sunday, May 6, 2018 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-15', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 15', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-20', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 20', … [Read more...] about Controversial mural at California school shows Trump’s head on a spear