Last year the California legislature approved a bill that allows "advanced manufacturing" projects to be exempt from environmental review. These projects could include manufacturing semiconductors, making lithium ion batteries and the production of rare earth materials, all of which involve poisonous chemicals and toxic waste.
https://horizonskyline.net/2026/03/27/if-you-think-gov-newsom-cares-about-californias-environment-think-again/ #environment #Newsom #SB131 #toxicwaste #CANewsAs flows from the Colorado River decline, negotiations between the seven states that use its water seem to be going nowhere. If the talks do fail, the Federal government may step in, and California's allocation of water from Hoover Dam could be cut by up to 33%.
https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2026-02-05/colorado-river-negotiations-failing #water #ColoradoRiver #environment #CANews
How failing talks could spark a legal fight over Colorado River water
Negotiators for seven states remain deeply divided over how to cut water use along the Colorado River. The chances of a court battle appear to be growing.
A total of 795 bills passed by the California legislature will become law, addressing a wide spectrum of issues including regulation of AI, the minimum wage, layoff notices and outdoor dining options.
https://www.kcra.com/article/new-california-laws-in-2026-january-1/69813485 #legislation #laws #California #AI #CANewsAs the AI boom continues, California is building more data centers, which use huge amounts of water and electricy. This year the state legislature tried and failed to minimize their impacts on our water and energy resources. Gov. Newsom is part of the problem.
https://calmatters.org/environment/2025/09/data-centers-california-electricity-rates/ #water #energy #environment #CANews
California lawmakers wanted to get tough on data centers. Here's what survived
Lawmakers were mostly thwarted this year in trying to crack down on data centers to protect water supplies and California electricity rates
The California Attorney General has filed a suit against the City of El Cajon because its police department has been sharing automated license plate reader (ALPR) data with law enforcement agencies in other states.
https://calmatters.org/justice/2025/10/el-cajon-police-license-plate-data/ #privacy #ALPR #CANews
California sues city over surveillance data, warns it can be shared with federal agencies
California limits how police store and share data they collect with automated license plate readers to protect residents' privacy. The state is suing El Cajon, alleging it's misusing that data.
Mixed news from the CA legislature on bills related to tech. A bill that prohibits the design of "companion bots" for kids will advance. But lawmakers killed a bill intended to protect utility customers from paying higher energy costs related to data centers.
https://calmatters.org/economy/technology/2025/08/california-gives-room-to-ai-manipulated-prices/ #tech #legislature #datacenters #CANews
The Horizon and the Skyline
