State GovernmentCalifornia says restaurants must bake all of their add-on fees into menu pricesMay 10, 2024Service charges; resort fees; "surcharge" add-ons: A new state law requiring price transparency is set to take effect in July. Until now, no one knew how it would apply to restaurants.
State GovernmentCalifornia sets a new flat charge for customers of large investor-owned utilities like PG&EMay 9, 2024 | Manola SecairaThe decision means middle and high-income households will pay a fixed electricity rate of $24 each month, and low-income households will pay either $6 or $12. Usage rates will drop a few cents as a result of the change.
Sacramento RegionCould the Sacramento Children’s Fund cover proposed city budget cuts to youth programs?May 9, 2024 | Kristin LamThe oversight commission for the Sacramento Children’s Fund plans to send the first five-year spending plan to the City Council for approval in July.
Housing and HomelessnessRock the Block tackles 20 projects in underserved Oak Park neighborhoodMay 9, 2024Over a dozen homes in Oak Park were repaired by 400 community volunteers during Habitat For Humanity of Greater Sacramento's seventh annual Rock the Block event last week.
EducationSacramento City Unified to start next 2 school years early to avoid nearly $40M state fineMay 8, 2024 | Srishti Prabha | Chris HaganSCUSD was fined $39.8 million for missing eight school days during the 2022 teachers strike. The state Board of Education granted a waiver after the district agreed to add 16 days over the next two years.
State GovernmentCalifornia Supreme Court weighs removing a measure making it harder to raise taxes from the ballotMay 8, 2024The California Supreme Court is weighing whether to remove a measure from the November ballot that would make it harder for the state and local governments to raise taxes.
Sacramento RegionSacramento State changes investment policies, says pro-Palestinian demonstrators ‘will be ending’ encampmentMay 8, 2024 | Tony Rodriguez | Claire MorganA group of pro-Palestinian protesters have been camping in the Sac State quad since April 29 to protest the war in Gaza and to prevent the university from financially supporting organizations that do business with Israel.
State GovernmentNewsom wants California state employees back in the office. New ruling makes it harder to objectMay 8, 2024The Newsom administration wants state employees in the office at least twice a week. Many civil servants prefer working from home, and their unions are fighting to protect generous telework policies.
EnvironmentNew California bills hope to mitigate health impacts linked to living near oil, gas wellsMay 7, 2024 | Manola SecairaAfter a 2022 law that would have established a buffer between new oil and gas wells and community areas was put on hold, advocates have sought other ways of addressing the issue.
EnvironmentCalifornia reports the first increase in groundwater supplies in 4 yearsMay 7, 2024After massive downpours flooded California’s rivers and packed mountains with snow, the state has reported the first increase in groundwater supplies in four years.
