JULY 15, 2024
In the wake of the Paris Agreement, international focus on climate change increased, as did pressure on businesses to be more accountable for their climate and environmental policies. In September 2023, California passed legislation—known as SB 253—requiring large companies to file sustainability disclosures beginning in 2026. However, Governor Gavin Newsom questioned the feasibility of the implementation timeline at the time of bill signing.
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Read MoreJULY 14, 2024
The terms “sustainable travel” and “regenerative travel” have become popular in recent years, as experts emphasize going beyond reducing the negative effects of tourism, to positively impacting local communities. Taking a responsible approach to travel entails minimizing carbon footprints, water use, waste, or any impact on local species and ecosystems.
Read MoreJULY 11, 2024
In a promising economic development, the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ June Consumer Price Index report shows a notable reduction in inflation overall, with travel-related costs leading the way. For the second consecutive month, the travel sector has experienced a more significant price drop than the overall economy.
Read MoreJULY 9, 2024
Los Angeles County and the Bay Area will be home to the FIFA World Cup in 2026. According to recent reports, the tournament is set to bring hundreds of thousands of visitors to California and generate an estimated $1.2 billion for communities across the state—$594 million in Los Angeles and $630 million in the Bay Area.
Read MoreJULY 9, 2024
The state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) says private-sector jobs in California have declined since their post-pandemic peak, while public-sector employment has shown gains. California is heavily dependent on revenue from personal income taxes, so the type of jobs that it loses or gains is important.
Read MoreJULY 8, 2024
Exactly 3,013,413 flight passengers stepped through TSA checkpoints on Sunday, surpassing the previous record of 2.99 million set on June 23. Sunday was a one-day record, but TSA officials said 2024 has been a historic year all around, as nine of the 10 busiest days in TSA history have occurred this year.
Read MoreJULY 8, 2024
Yesterday, firefighters continued to battle several wildfires across the state, including the Lake fire which erupted in Santa Barbara County on Friday afternoon and grew to over 20,000 acres by Monday. An evacuation order was also put in place for the Mt. Baldy ski resort due to the Vista fire, which has burned over 115 acres near the San Bernardino National Forest.
Read MoreJULY 8, 2024
Last Fourth of July, volunteers collected 6,318 pounds of trash from Zephyr Shoals—making up almost three-quarters of the 8,598 pounds found lake-wide. Although the amount of trash collected was still slightly above the average collected during July 5 cleanups, the 1,866 pounds of trash found lake-wide paled compared to 2023.
Read MoreJULY 8, 2024
Do restaurants fall under the FTC’s proposed rule to ban hidden mandatory fees? California recently said no, but restaurants across the country are bracing for more confusion.
Read MoreJULY 8, 2024
A West Coast heat wave that began last week led to a scorching Independence Day and, for many, an even hotter weekend. The heat wave began last Tuesday and is expected to persist through this week, with temperatures 15 to 30 degrees above normal for this time of year.
Read MoreJULY 3, 2024
Last Wednesday, The Los Angeles City Council moved forward on a $54 million proposal for the initial work to modernize and expand the downtown Convention Center in preparation for the 2028 Olympics. New construction would connect some of the facility’s buildings, adding 190,000 square feet to exhibit hall space; 55,000 square feet of meeting room space; and 95,000 square feet of multipurpose space.
Read MoreJUNE 28, 2024
California voters will decide whether to increase punishments for drug possession and theft after Democratic lawmakers failed to reach a compromise with district attorneys to withdraw an initiative that would roll back parts of Proposition 47. Supporters of the law say it has saved the state money by keeping low-level criminals out of jail, but opponents say it has emboldened thieves.
JUNE 28, 2024
Governor Newsom announced last week that business and labor groups in California had reached a deal to preserve and reform the Labor Code Private Attorneys’ General Act of 2004 (PAGA). The bills preserve key labor protections for workers while mitigating abuse of the statute, which can provide a vehicle to extract inflated settlements and attorneys’ fees at the expense of businesses and employees.
Read MoreJUNE 28, 2024
Today, the U.S. Supreme Court granted cities more flexibility to address the homelessness crisis. In Grants Pass v. Johnson, the court sided with Grants Pass in a 6-3 decision, ruling that an ordinance passed by the Oregon city that made it illegal for homeless residents to camp on all public property was not unconstitutional.
Read MoreJUNE 27, 2024
SB 1524 (Dodd), an urgency measure exempting restaurants and other food service providers from new regulations on the display of fees and menu prices that go into effect July 1, passed the legislature and is now waiting on Governor Newsom's signature.
Read MoreJUNE 25, 2024
A coalition of California prosecutors, lawyers, and retailers previously teamed up to qualify a ballot initiative that would reform Prop 47 by enhancing penalties for repeat thieves and drug traffickers. But negotiations around the conflicting solutions have now effectively broken down.
Read MoreJUNE 22, 2024
California’s summer kicked off with a fiery start last week, with several blazes stretching firefighting resources thin, forcing evacuations, and scorching homes, businesses, and dry hillsides. Through the last full day of spring last Wednesday, wildfires had burned almost 90,000 acres in California, compared to only 5,863 acres last year and a five-year average of about 17,000.
Read MoreJUNE 22, 2024
After weeks of disagreement over spending priorities, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers have finally reached a budget deal to close a roughly $47 billion shortfall. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire, and Gov. Newsom have been far apart on a handful of major issues—and both sides had to compromise in order to reach a deal.
Read MoreJUNE 21, 2024
Last week, the Supreme Court of California removed an anti-tax measure from the November ballot. Opponents argued that the measure attempted to illegally revise the state constitution and would drastically change how California government works.
Read MoreJUNE 18, 2024
Last week, California Chamber of Commerce and the California Labor Federation announced a deal to amend the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), which allows workers to sue their bosses over alleged workplace violations and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in employer penalties for the state. The deal would reduce monetary penalties for employers who are notified of such suits if they agree to fix the problems, with a specific path provided for smaller employers to address violations.
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