Morgan Hill
Politics
California lawmakers advance bill that aims to keep gas prices from spiking
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The California state Assembly approved a bill Tuesday backed by Gov. Gavin Newsom aimed at preventing gas prices from spiking, particularly in late summer months when demand for gas goes up. The legislation would authorize state energy regulators to set requirements for companies to maintain a certain level of fuel on hand — using existing storage to avoid gas prices from increasing suddenly when refineries go offline for maintenance. The state would have to determine first that the benefits of any minimum inventory rules outweigh the potential cost to consumers under the bill. “This bill incentivizes fuel refineries to plan proactively, saving Californians — consumers — billions at the pump while maintaining profits,” said Assemblymember Gregg Hart, a Democrat representing Santa Barbara who authored the bill. “Let’s take action now to provide relief to Californians who need gasoline in their cars to get to work, drive their children to school, vote and visit loved ones.” The Assembly also advanced a bill requiring state energy officials to release a report to lawmakers by July 1, 2025, on proposals to increase gas supply. The bills still need the state Senate’s approval before reaching the governor’s desk.
Vomiting, cramps and lethargy: As heat rises, California kids are sweltering in schools with no air conditioning
An estimated 1 in 5 schools has no air conditioning and another 10% need repair. Underfunded schools struggle to keep classrooms cool as heat waves intensify. "It's a hot mess," one teacher says.
California Bans Froot Loops, M&Ms and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos From School Cafeterias
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law Saturday that will ban six popular synthetic food dyes from the state’s public schools, meaning potentially no more Fruit Loops, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, M&Ms, Doritos, and Cap’n Crunch. The blue, green, yellow, and red additives banned—known as blue 1, blue 2, green 3, red 40, yellow 5, and yellow 6—were previously linked to developmental and behavioral issues in children by the California Environmental Protection Agency. Food manufacturers have a grace period to potentially figure out a new way to make Flamin’ Hot Cheetos stay neon red or Fruit Loops maintain their bright melange of breakfast colors—the law is effective from December 31, 2027. The manufacturer of Peeps marshmallow candies has already changed their formula in advance of the law. Food industry lobbyists managed to get titanium dioxide taken out of the bill—while banned in the EU, it can be found in everything from candy to frozen pizza to soups to jello mix, where it's used for pigmentation.Read it at Los Angeles TimesRead more at The Daily Beast.
Despite High Cost of Living Californians Don’t Want to Work Hard
Living in California is expensive and to afford to live there, while also doing fun things like Disneyland, SeaWorld, or going out at night, you need to have a good job, or perhaps have a couple of jobs. It isn't cheap living on the West Coast, but with the perfect weather, the beach, the mountains, and everything the Golden State offers, people stay. It would seem like residents in California would be hard workers since they have to make enough to afford to do all these things, but compared to other states are they hard workers, or are they a bit lazier than others?
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