Latest California state government News

FILE - In this Aug. 16, 2016, file photo, general population inmates walk in a line at San Quentin State Prison in San Quentin, Calif. A California appeals court has ordered state corrections officials to cut the population of one of the world's most famous prisons to less than half of its designed capacity, citing officials'

Court orders California to cut San Quentin inmates by half

Oct. 21, 2020 9:09 PM EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California appeals court has ordered state corrections officials to cut the population of one of the world's most famous prisons to less than half of its designed capacity, citing officials' “deliberate indifference” to the plight of inmates during the coronavirus...

FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2020 file photo California Republican Party spokesman Hector Barajas demonstrates how to use one of the party's unofficial ballot drop boxes, in Sacramento, Calif. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has asked a judge to make the party disclose the location of each box and turn over the names, addresses and dates of birth for everyone who has used them. Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020. Sacramento Superior Court Judge David Brown rejected Becerra's request to expedite the case. The ruling means the case can still go forward, but it's unlikely it will be resolved before Election Day. (AP Photo/Adam Beam, File)

Judge denies AG request to expedite lawsuit against GOP

Oct. 21, 2020 6:20 PM EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California judge has denied Attorney General Xavier Becerra's request to expedite his lawsuit against the state Republican Party. California Republicans have been collecting ballots from voters in unofficial ballot drop boxes placed in some counties with closely contested U.S....

Military personnel enter the Sudima Hotel in Christchurch, New Zealand, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. A number of fishing crew who flew into New Zealand on chartered planes have the coronavirus. The crew members have been in quarantine at the Christchurch hotel since they arrived, and tested positive during routine testing, officials said. The news could deal a blow to New Zealand’s efforts to restart its fishing industry, which has struggled to find local workers to crew fishing vessels. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)

The Latest: Imported workers test positive in New Zealand

Oct. 20, 2020 10:27 PM EDT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Eighteen fishing crewmen who last week flew to New Zealand from Moscow have tested positive for the coronavirus, underscoring the difficulty New Zealand faces in trying to import needed workers while remaining virtually virus free. A total of 235 crew from Russia and Ukraine were...

This undated photo provided by the California Highway Patrol shows Deputy Commissioner Amanda L. Ray a 30-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Tuesday that Ray, will be the first woman and second Black to head the agency after the announcement of Commissioner Warren Stanley's retirement. Newsom said in a statement that Ray will help the state

1st Black CHP chief retires, first woman named replacement

Oct. 20, 2020 10:04 PM EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The first Black commissioner in the 91-year history of the California Highway Patrol is retiring, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday, and he will be replaced with the first woman to hold the post — a veteran officer who also is Black. Commissioner Warren Stanley will retire...

California Republican Party spokesman Hector Barajas demonstrates how to use one of the party's unofficial ballot drop boxes on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, in Sacramento, Calif. The party had used this box to collect ballots at one if its field offices in Fresno, Calif. State Attorney General Xavier Becerra has asked a judge Tuesday to order the party to disclose the location of each drop box and provide contact information of every voter who used them. Becerra is investigating the party's use of the boxes. (AP Photo/Adam Beam)

Becerra wants judge to make GOP give details on ballot boxes

Oct. 20, 2020 7:11 PM EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California's Democratic attorney general sued the state Republican Party on Tuesday, asking a judge to make them hand over the names and contact information of every voter who used one of the GOP's unofficial ballot drop boxes. Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Secretary of...

In this image taken from a live-streamed video from the California Governor's Office, California Gov. Gavin Newsom talks during a news conference on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020, in Sacramento, Calif. Newsom said California won't allow any distribution of new coronavirus vaccines in the nation's most populous state until it is reviewed by the state's own panel of experts. (California Governor's Office via AP)

California won't allow virus vaccines without state approval

Oct. 19, 2020 9:16 PM EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California won't allow any distribution of coronavirus vaccines in the nation’s most populous state until it is reviewed by the state’s own panel of experts, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. Vaccinations for the pandemic “will move at the speed of trust,”...

FILE - In this Oct. 7, 2020, file photo, California Gov. Gavin talks about the importance of wearing a face mask during a news conference at Sierra Orchards walnut farm in Winters, Calif. California won't allow any distribution of new coronavirus vaccines in the nation’s most populous state until it is reviewed by the state’s own panel of experts, Gov. Newsom said, Monday, Oct. 19, 2020. (Renée C. Byer/The Sacramento Bee via AP, Pool, File)

California's feared surge of virus cases hasn't happened

Oct. 19, 2020 9:05 PM EDT

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Near the end of September, with coronavirus cases falling and more schools and businesses reopening, Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration urged restraint, citing a statistical model that predicted a startling 89% increase in virus hospitalizations in the next month. That hasn't...

Toby Gregory's yard that is adorned with 1,006 white crosses to represent Oklahoma deaths due to COVID-19, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, in Tulsa, Okla. Gregory was able to keep up with the state death toll until last week, and then it became too many. He says he doesn't have the room or supplies to keep up with the current death toll, but will do about 50 more crosses. (Mike Simons/Tulsa World via AP)

The Latest: Ireland sets new virus restrictions for 6 weeks

Oct. 19, 2020 8:12 PM EDT

LONDON — Ireland’s government is putting the country at its highest level of coronavirus restrictions for six weeks in a bid to combat a rise in infections. Premier Micheal Martin said Monday the measures take effect at midnight Wednesday and run until Dec. 1. People are being asked to stay at home,...

Authorities probe death of state prison inmate as a homicide

Oct. 18, 2020 12:45 AM EDT

CRESCENT CITY, Calif. (AP) — Authorities are investigating as a homicide the death of a 42-year-old inmate at a state prison in Northern California. About 12:30 p,m. Saturday, prison staff found Joshua E. Kirtley unresponsive in his cell at the Pelican Bay State Prison, the California Department of...

AP Exchange: Nevada home to world's 3rd largest Joshua tree

Oct. 17, 2020 3:10 AM EDT

RENO, Nev. (AP) — In a land of twisted limbs and giant Dr. Seuss-like branches reaching toward the sky, it stood out among the others. A group of conservationists were driving through a remote section of the proposed Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in southern Nevada when someone in the car called out...

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