Gerardo Zavala

A bill to shield information about California’s embattled bullet train is adding new political scrutiny to the rail project as the state grapples with a loss of federal funding.

Republican Assemblymember James Gallagher announced last week he's running to fill the remainder of longtime North State Congressman Doug LaMalfa's term. LaMalfa died earlier this month during an emergency surgery after serving seven terms in Congress.

California faces a $2.9 billion budget deficit for the next fiscal year, one that’s drastically smaller than an $18 billion shortfall forecast last fall, according to Governor Gavin Newsom’s January budget proposal released on Friday.

Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s sudden death this week has left questions about who will represent California’s 1st Congressional district — a conservative agricultural region north of Sacramento.

U.S. military strikes in Venezuela over the weekend have triggered sharp backlash from Democratic lawmakers and concern among immigrant communities, even as some Republicans praised the operation.

A proposed Trump administration rule would give immigration officers more discretion to deny permanent residency to immigrants lawfully in the country who rely on public benefits, like SNAP or Medicaid.

A California program created to help residents buy electric bikes has been canceled, leaving advocates questioning why it ended so suddenly.

A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from diverting $233 million in homeland security funds away from California and several other states.

REI estimates the average e-bike costs around $2,000, with high-end models exceeding $6,000. The lack of secure parking makes them vulnerable to theft or damage.

California has reached an agreement with the Federal Railroad Administration to protect $4 billion in federal funding for its high-speed rail project while a lawsuit over the money plays out in court. These funds are now held in a legal trust, ensuring they cannot be redirected until the lawsuit concludes.

Governor Gavin Newsom sent a letter to President Donald Trump Monday, saying he’ll back off California’s controversial redistricting plans if Trump first cancels similar efforts by the GOP in states like Texas.

This past year California lawmakers passed — and Governor Gavin Newsom signed — more than 100 bills, and many of those have become new laws in 2025. Plus there are bills from previous years that are also scheduled to take effect after Jan. 1.