All posts tagged: California

California Launches Probe Into State Farm’s Handling Of LA Wildfire Insurance Claims

California Launches Probe Into State Farm’s Handling Of LA Wildfire Insurance Claims

Published by skeptic

Authored by Kimberley Hayek via The Epoch Times, The California Department of Insurance (CDI) has launched an investigation into State Farm General’s handling of claims following the Eaton and Palisades Fires in January, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said on June 12. Lara said that Californians should receive what they are owed from insurance companies without facing delays that can cause consumers to give up on filing a claim. The California Department of Insurance urged those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires to file formal complaints as part of its investigation. The department said it has received general allegations from wildfire survivor groups regarding State Farm’s handling of claims, but “a formal complaint is needed for the department to take action and advocate for consumers.” “While there are national standards for insurance claims handling, they can be vague and inconsistently applied, especially during large-scale, climate-driven disasters,” Lara said in a June 12 statement. “This examination will assess whether State Farm has complied with California’s consumer protection and claims handling laws and will help determine if …

Wood Pellet Mills Are Prone to Catching Fire. Why Build Them in California?

Wood Pellet Mills Are Prone to Catching Fire. Why Build Them in California?

Published by skeptic

This story originally appeared on Grist and is part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Wood pellets, by design, are highly flammable. The small pieces of compressed woody leftovers, like sawdust, are used in everything from home heating to grilling. But their flammable nature has made for dangerous work conditions: Since 2010, at least 52 fires have broken out at the facilities that make wood pellets across the US, according to a database of incidents compiled by the Southern Environmental Law Center. Of the 15 largest wood pellet facilities, at least eight have had fires or explosions since 2014, according to the Environmental Integrity Project, a nonprofit founded by a former director of the US Environmental Protection Agency. At the same time, the world’s largest biomass company, Drax, is cutting down trees across North America with a promise to sell them as a replacement for fossil fuels. But even its track record is checkered with accidents. In South Shields, UK, wood pellets destined for a Drax plant spontaneously combusted while in storage at the Port of …

California pastor says apparent immigration agents waved a weapon at her in church parking lot

California pastor says apparent immigration agents waved a weapon at her in church parking lot

Published by skeptic

(RNS) — The Rev. Tanya Lopez was sitting in her office at Downey Memorial Christian Church near Los Angeles on Wednesday (June 11) when her husband, the church’s administrative pastor, rushed in to tell her “something” was happening outside. Alarmed, the pair ran out to the church’s parking lot, which sits tucked into the northeast section of the suburb. Outside the church in Downey, California, they found multiple unmarked vehicles and at least six men who were ambling around the parking lot as they detained an individual. All were masked and wearing what appeared to be plainclothes other than vests with patches, which, in most cases, simply read “POLICE.” Lopez, a Disciples of Christ minister and the church’s senior pastor, told Religion News Service she responded the same way as many other Los Angeles religious leaders amid the widespread immigration crackdown President Donald Trump has initiated in the area: She began advocating for the man she assumed was an immigrant. “Jesus literally showed me the way,” she said in a phone interview.  It was the …

Trump Wants to Kill California’s Emissions Standards. Here’s What That Means for EVs

Trump Wants to Kill California’s Emissions Standards. Here’s What That Means for EVs

Published by skeptic

This week the White House and President Donald Trump attempted to kill, once and for all, California’s plan to accelerate the sale of zero-emission cars and trucks in the state. In a ceremony in Washington, DC, on Thursday attended by trucking executives, Trump signed three resolutions passed by Congress aimed at revoking California’s nearly 60-year-old power to set its own motor vehicle emissions rules. In doing so, the federal government is taking aim at one of the most ambitious vehicle electrification schemes—and climate policies—in the world: California’s goal to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles in the state by 2035. The state, along with 10 others that have pledged to follow its more aggressive emissions rules, accounts for nearly a third of the US’ new car sales each year, giving it enormous power to dictate the country’s automotive market. Today, one in four vehicles sold in California are either battery-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles. The move won’t affect the sorts of cars available in showrooms and on lots today, or even next year, experts …

Trump vs. California – The Atlantic

Trump vs. California – The Atlantic

Published by skeptic

This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. Under Donald Trump, the federal government is like a bad parent: never there when you need him but eager to stick his nose in your business when you don’t want him to. The relationship between Trump and California has always been bad, but the past few days represent a new low. On Friday, CNN reported that the White House was seeking to cut off as much federal funding to the Golden State as possible, especially to state universities. That afternoon, protests broke out in Los Angeles as ICE agents sought to make arrests. By Saturday, Trump had announced that he was federalizing members of the National Guard and deploying them to L.A., over the objections of Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat. Americans have seen the National Guard called out to deal with the aftermath of riots in the past, …

Air Force Commander Prepares California Desert Community For Pearl Harbor-Like Strike By China

Air Force Commander Prepares California Desert Community For Pearl Harbor-Like Strike By China

Published by skeptic

Authored by John Mills via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Last month, the commander of Edwards Air Force Base, California, talked openly about the need for local leaders to prepare for a Pearl Harbor-like strike on his base and others inside the United States. A B-52H Stratofortress carrying an AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or ARRW, takes off from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on May 14, 2022. U.S. Air Force/Matt Williams via Reuters Brig. Gen. Doug Wickert delivered “a sobering assessment of China’s growing military capabilities” in a briefing to community leaders, according to an Air Force press release. Wickert, the 412th Test Wing commander, spoke at Antelope Valley College on May 7. Edwards Air Force Base is located in the Mojave desert about 100 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Wickert referenced the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack in his briefing, the press release said, drawing parallels to warnings about Pearl Harbor’s vulnerability prior to the attack. Such frank talk about the possible impact on a community around an American military base, in the event …

Duffy threatens to pull billion from California high-speed rail

Duffy threatens to pull $4 billion from California high-speed rail

Published by Sam

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy holds a news conference at Newark Liberty International Airport, where he announced the reopening of a major runway at the airport, nearly two weeks ahead of schedule on June 2, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. Spencer Platt | Getty Images The future of a high-speed rail project in California is under threat after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the project has violated some terms of its federal grant agreements. The California High-Speed Rail Authority “has no viable path to complete this project on time or on budget,” Duffy said in a Wednesday statement. “CHSRA is on notice — if they can’t deliver on their end of the deal, it could soon be time for these funds to flow to other projects that can achieve President Trump’s vision of building great, big, beautiful things again,” Duffy said. The Federal Railroad Administration’s Compliance Review Report, which includes a letter addressed to California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri, listed nine “broken promises” where the project allegedly breached terms outlined in its federal grants, …

California announces lawsuit to resist Congress’ illegal attacks on clean air

California announces lawsuit to resist Congress’ illegal attacks on clean air

Published by skeptic

California will go to court to protect its clean air in the face of illegal attacks by republicans in Congress, said California Governor Gavin Newsom today. Earlier today, the US Senate voted to revoke California’s waiver to set its own clean air rules using the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The House previously voted on a similar measure earlier this month. Both moves were outside of the scope of the CRA, and the bill is thus illegal. For more than half a century, California has asked for and been granted this waiver that allows it to set its own emissions rules. Other states can follow California’s rules (and around 11 states do so, though that amount differs for each rule), as long as they do so exactly, and as long as those rules are stronger than the national ones. It has this unique authority because California had its own Clean Air Act before the federal Clean Air Act was passed, and because the state had a unique problem with smog at the time and needed stricter …

Government Tries to Box in a California Church – OpentheWord.org

Government Tries to Box in a California Church – OpentheWord.org

Published by skeptic

Redondo Beach, CaliforniaCredit: DylanMoz49, Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0 For nearly 18 years, Church on the Beach has been holding weekly Sunday services on Los Angeles’ County’s Redondo beach. Typically they have between 100 to 120 people in attendance, with many choosing this venue because of bad experiences in traditional church settings. However, Los Angeles County has recently imposed regulations that some allege specifically discriminate against Christians. When the Church on the Beach approached the Department of Beaches and Harbors in October 2024 for another yearly permit for weekly services, it was told that new regulations were now in place. First churches were now only allowed to host six services a year on the beach. Secondly, they were now subject to a $250 permit fee. Previously there was no charge for the permit. While the first two of the six services would be free, Church on the Beach would have to pay $250 for each of the remaining four services under the new regulations.. According to a new release by the American Center for Law and …

California Bill To Restrict Self Defense Withdrawn By Sponsor

California Bill To Restrict Self Defense Withdrawn By Sponsor

Published by skeptic

A proposed law in California intended to limit the conditions under which lethal force could be used in self-defense has been withdrawn by its sponsor. Assemblymember Rich Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) announced on Wednesday that Assembly Bill 1333 was pulled due what he claims was “misleading information” causing widespread confusion and fear among the public. AB 1333 aimed to clarify scenarios where the use of lethal force in self-defense would be considered unjustified, particularly emphasizing situations where excessive force was employed beyond what was reasonably necessary. The bill quickly became controversial, attracting fierce opposition from conservative critics who portrayed it as another lenient, crime-friendly initiative by California Democrats. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is also running for governor, publicly opposed the bill, asserting that it would effectively criminalize self-defense actions against offenders. “Sacramento Democrats have spent the last 15 years tying the hands of law enforcement and coddling criminals, using and abusing ordinary Californians in their attempt to make criminals the real victims,” Bianco declared. “Now, they’re actively trying to tie the hands of our …