Community News
05/01/2026 · Berkeley
Newsom Signs $170M Wildfire Prevention Bill for NorCal, SoCal Amid Drought
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed legislation injecting $170 million into urgent forest thinning and vegetation management across California, targeting high-risk areas in the Sierra Nevada and Southern California. The move, paired with a state of emergency proclamation, aims to slash red tape and shield communities from infernos like the devastating January Los Angeles firestorms that claimed 29 lives. As drought grips multiple counties, this funding signals California's aggressive push against a volatile fire season.
California Greenlights Driverless Trucks on Key Highways
California's DMV has lifted a long-standing ban on heavy-duty autonomous trucks, allowing driverless freight haulers to test on public roads from the Bay Area to Southern California. The move promises round-the-clock deliveries but raises safety questions amid stricter enforcement rules. Industry leaders hail it as a freight revolution for the nation's busiest trucking corridors.
05/01/2026
California Advances Sidewalk Parking Ban to Boost Pedestrian Safety
Lawmakers in Sacramento have propelled a bill forward to outlaw parking on sidewalks in major cities, targeting a surge in pedestrian injuries. The measure responds to deadly collisions in urban hubs like Los Angeles and San Francisco. With enforcement looming, cities face new pressures to clear walkways.
05/01/2026