Citrus Heights sued its wholesale supplier, San Juan, alleging repeated one‑year transfers of conserved pre‑1914 surface water sidestepped CEQA. The dispute could reshape who gets scarce surface supplies.

Aubrey Bettencourt, a third‑generation Hanford grower and former NRCS chief, has been nominated to lead the Bureau of Reclamation. Her confirmation would shape water allocations across the West.

The state political watchdog reached a $31,500 settlement with Gov. Gavin Newsom after finding dozens of behested-payment reports tied to the January 2025 Los Angeles fires were filed late. The FPPC's enforcement filing lists major corporate donors and totals more than $5.5 million in late reports.

AB 2218, authored by Ash Kalra, passed the Assembly 57-0 and would require state agencies to recognize and address historic water harms against California tribes. The bill now goes to the Senate.

Nevada County has tapped Dr. Brian Evans as its next public health officer, pending a June 16 Board vote. Evans brings hospital leadership and emergency medicine experience.

City officials say parking receipts have rebounded enough to cover Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center bond payment this year, sparing the general fund for now.

A city audit found wide swings in shelter costs and little evidence higher spending delivers more housing exits, and it urged better data and clearer success metrics.

Elk Grove’s City Council adopted a $491M FY 2026‑27 budget that raises spending on police, homelessness services and traffic‑safety projects while keeping reserves intact.

The DOJ says UC Davis School of Medicine used a socioeconomic "Davis Scale" to reshape classes by race; UC Davis says it strongly disagrees and settlement talks are planned.

Supervisors are reviewing a draft zoning and animal‑care update that would limit where roosters are allowed, set rooster counts by lot size and create a registration path for exceptions.

Hundreds rallied at the State Capitol to protest proposed IHSS cuts, warning the changes would strip vital home care from vulnerable Californians.

Sen. Steve Padilla amended SB 420 to bar nonprofits tied to private ICE jails from claiming the Welfare Exemption after reporting showed a local foundation avoided millions in property taxes.

California’s attorney general announced a DOJ Affordability Response Team to investigate hidden fees and pricing schemes across groceries, housing and healthcare. The office says consumers can submit complaints that may trigger investigations.