An oil pumpjack stands idle near homes as people walk with dogs on Feb. 9, 2023 in Signal Hill, California. California law S.B. 1137, which required a safety buffer zone of 3,200 feet around homes and schools for new oil and gas drilling, was suspended after the petroleum industry collected enough signatures in a petition campaign to place a referendum on the 2024 general election ballot. The bill was originally signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom and also banned new drilling near parks, health care facilities, prisons and businesses open to the public.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Two former senior officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including one fired by the Trump administration, will join California as public health consultants, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday. Susan Monarez was fired as the CDC's director and Dr. Debra Houry resigned as the agency's chief medical officer and deputy director over disputes about changes at the agency. The two will work with California's public health department to help build trust in "science-driven decision-making," Newsom's office said.
President Donald Trump made the stunning claim that he can send any military branch he wants including The Navy to U.S. cities as part of a crackdown he has tried out using the National Guard. Trump has already sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles, Memphis, and Washington, D.C., and is trying to send them Portland and Chicago amid pushback from state and local officials and widespread criticism.
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation on Saturday that would prevent federal immigration agents from wearing masks in the state, a direct response to President Trump's deportation crackdown in the Los Angeles region. The new law is believed to be the first such ban in the nation, though it is likely to be challenged in court before it can go into effect in January because it is unclear whether California can enforce such restrictions on federal law enforcement.
