DIVIDED AMERICA: Minorities missing in many legislatures
By DAVID A. LIEB As Virginia’s only Latino state lawmaker, Alfonso Lopez made it his first order of business to push for a law granting in-state college tuition to immigrants…
California state government
Can redistricting reform close the minority gap in capitols?
By DAVID A. LIEB They have nicknames like “the dead lizard,” ”the praying mantis” and “the upside-down elephant.” The odd-shaped legislative districts that dot many states are no coincidence. The…
California, New York poised to raise minimum wage to $15
By ALISON NOON and JONATHAN J. COOPER California and New York are poised to become the highest-paid minimum-wage states in the nation after their governors each reached deals with lawmakers…
Former first lady Nancy Reagan dies at 94 in California
By CHRISTOPHER WEBER Nancy Reagan, the helpmate, backstage adviser and fierce protector of Ronald Reagan in his journey from actor to president — and finally during his 10-year battle with…
Ex-NFL running back Lawrence Phillips found dead in prison
By DON THOMPSON Lawrence Phillips, a star running back at Nebraska and first-round NFL draft pick whose pro career quickly unraveled amid disciplinary problems, was found dead in his California…
Mud covers highways, strands drivers in Southern California
By CHRISTINE ARMARIO and AMANDA LEE MYERS Emergency crews shoveled head-high mounds of mud from parts of two important highways in the mountains and desert north of Los Angeles on…
Argentine mayor: Pope Francis is game-changer for climate
The latest developments at the Vatican’s meeting of mayors on fighting climate change and human trafficking. All times local. ___ 4:25 p.m. Monica Fein came all the way from Pope…
California protesters march for 4th straight night
KRISTIN J. BENDER Hundreds of protesters angered at the killing of unarmed black men by white police officers marched through downtown Berkeley streets for a fourth straight night, briefly blocking…