California in Focus

America's Talking Network
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  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY
California in Focus

The podcast bringing you the most important stories out of California from TheCenterSquare.com. Join us as we dive into the top headlines and provide insightful commentary and analysis.

  1. 10 HR. AGO

    Three Major Wildfires Rage in Southern California

    (The Center Square) – Three major wildfires are tearing through Southern California while firefighters struggle to contain them with major Santa Ana winds getting up to 100 mph. As of Wednesday morning, two people have been killed and over 1,000 homes, businesses and other buildings have been destroyed in Los Angeles County. "Last night was one of the most devastating and terrifying nights that we've seen in any part of our city in any part of our history," Los Angeles City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson said during a Wednesday morning news conference. The City of Los Angeles has declared a state of emergency and the national guard has been deployed to assist the hundreds of firefighters tackling the fires.

    9 min

  2. 6 DAYS AGO

    California Quietly Ended Single Family Zoning, Allowing Four Homes per Lot

    (The Center Square) - California quietly doubled down on its termination of single family zoning, ending loopholes that allowed municipalities to block an earlier state law designed to let owners build four homes on existing single family lots. As reported earlier this year by the Wall Street Journal, fewer than 500 homes have been built since a 2021 law, SB 9, was passed allowing owners to split their single family home lots in two, and build two homes on each new lot. Cities quickly passed restrictions to SB 9 properties, such a Temple City’s requirement that 1,000 square foot courtyards be constructed to create distance between housing units, and Redondo Beach won a lawsuit against the law when a judge found it cannot apply to charter cities, and does not meet the purpose of providing affordable housing by not requiring that SB 9 homes be income-restricted “affordable” housing. With Kin’s ruling in effect, lawmakers moved ahead with SB 450, a bill signed into law by the governor in the fall that significantly reduces the power of local authorities to reject SB 9 projects, and redefines state housing goals with regard to charter cities’ power over municipal affairs.

    5 min

  3. JAN 3

    Storm Collapses Santa Cruz Wharf After Activists Resist Upgrades for Nearly a Decade

    (The Center Square) - A winter storm carried off the end of the Santa Cruz wharf two days before Christmas, indefinitely shutting down the tourist attraction that houses 17 stores and restaurants. City records show a successful environmental lawsuit from local residents to block repairs and upgrades to the over 100-year-old, half-mile long pier may have been the deciding factor in the wharf’s collapse. The pier, dating back to 1914, sits on over 4,000 aging wood pilings that need to be frequently replaced or repaired. By the start of 2024, the city estimated the pier had accumulated an over $14 million backlog of necessary repairs.

    6 min

  4. 12/21/2024

    EPA Approves Waiver for California and 12 States to Ban New Gas Cars by 2035

    (The Center Square) - The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a waiver to allow California and the twelve other states that have adopted its emissions standards to ban gas-powered cars in 2035. Starting in model year 2026, which for most car manufacturers begins halfway through 2025, 35% of passenger vehicles sold in California and the states that have adopted California air regulation standards for passenger vehicles. These twelve states, including Washington, D.C., cover nearly half of America’s new light-duty vehicle and over a quarter of its heavy-duty vehicle market.

    7 min

  5. 12/20/2024

    Newsom Claims Job Growth, Feds Say State Lost 156,300 Jobs in First Half of 2024

    (The Center Square) - California lost 156,300 jobs in the first six months of 2024, according to new federal quarterly payroll data, contradicting California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s claims about job growth in the state. Politicians nationwide often cite optimistic preliminary jobs survey data, which is often significantly revised downward once more accurate payroll information is finalized. Adjusted California payroll data for June counted 17,881,600 jobs, while January counted 18,037,900 jobs, meaning the state lost 156,300 jobs in the first six months of 2024, the most recent time for which quarterly payroll data covering 95% of jobs is available.

    5 min

  6. 12/14/2024

    San Francisco Supermarket Closing Due to ‘Safety’ and ‘Theft’ as City Explores ‘Free’ Stores

    (The Center Square) - Safeway is shutting down its grocery store in San Francisco’s Fillmore District, in part citing “ongoing concerns about associate and customer safety." One year ago, Safeway announced it would be shutting down the location as part of a deal with a developer to turn the store into a mixed-use development with housing and commercial spaces — which could mean space for another grocery store in the future. San Francisco Mayor London Breed agreed to send more police to the store to keep it open longer, saying, “Longtime Fillmore customers and residents have also expressed concerns with public safety in the area. As part of the site’s extension of services, Mayor Breed has directed the San Francisco Police Department to commit additional resources at this location.”

    7 min

  7. 12/13/2024

    Los Angeles Audit Finds Quarter of Shelter Beds Empty Each Night: $218M Loss

    (The Center Square) — A quarter of the homeless shelter beds in the City of Los Angeles are empty each night, causing a loss of $218 million from 2019 to 2023, according to a new report from the city controller. The report also notes the city has tripled its homeless shelter capacity since 2019, which led to a reduction in the city’s unsheltered homeless population at the start of 2024. The report also said the number of individuals placed into “permanent” housing, including permanently “free” supportive housing paid for by taxpayers that the report supports, has only increased by 21% since 2019.

    9 min

  8. 12/06/2024

    Challenging Trump, California to Pay for Migrant Deportation Defense

    (The Center Square) – U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., reiterated the state’s commitment to continued funding for the deportation defense of migrants and undocumented immigrants. President-elect Donald Trump’s promised mass deportations could have a major impact on California, which hosts approximately 2.7 million undocumented immigrants. “If it’s legal assistance, legal advice, legal support, that’s just the California way,” Padilla said when asked if the state would fund legal defenses of undocumented immigrants facing deportation. “We embrace our diversity. Our diversity has made our communities thrive and our economy thrive.”

    6 min
See All (128)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

The podcast bringing you the most important stories out of California from TheCenterSquare.com. Join us as we dive into the top headlines and provide insightful commentary and analysis.

Information

  • Creator
    America's Talking Network
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    128
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © America's Talking Network
  • Show Website
    California in Focus

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