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As the state of California grapples with record-breaking heat, wildfire, pandemic, and a $54 billion budget deficit, TPR spoke with California Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Jared Blumenfeld to discuss how his agency’s priorities have been impacted by the overlapping crises and continued federal antagonism to climate action. Secretary Blumenfeld reiterates Governor Newsom's commitment to ensuring safe and affordable rural drinking water supplies and opportunities to propel the state’s

When it comes to the race for San Diego mayor, the local GOP has made its decision: “LEAVE IT BLANK – BOTH are terrible.” In a contest pitting two Democrats – Barbara Bry and Todd Gloria – against each other, the Republican Party of San Diego County isn’t taking sides. In other races where the only candidates are Democrats, it is telling party members, “No Endorsement.” Whether non-Democrats and third-party voters will follow that advice come Nov. 3, or instead become the deciding factor is the

An associate warden of the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility resigned last Friday — days after seven officers were attacked by inmates, an incident the leader described as a "lack of responsiveness" by his superiors. In a scathing email to all California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation staff, Francisco Armenta, a 25-year veteran of the department, urged his colleagues to speak out to restore “high morale” at the Otay Mesa prison. The email, which was obtained by IVN San Dieg

Editor's Note: This op-ed originally appeared in the South Florida Sun Sentinel and has been republished in its entirety with permission from the author. ‍ This November, Florida voters have the chance to expand the voting rights of all registered voters by supporting “All Voters Vote” — Amendment 3. As a Black woman and a physician who grew up in the social isolation of poverty in the Black community of South Philadelphia, I support Joe Biden’s decision to choose Kamala Harris as his running

This is an independent opinion. Want to respond? Write your own commentary! Email hoa@ivn.us. The primary path to the middle class for American families is through property ownership. However, for many African Americans, Latinos and other minorities, the opportunity has been out of reach because of discriminatory housing laws and economic inequality. It’s alarming that a measure on the November ballot would make this lack of access worse and simultaneously threaten relatively recent gains made

Al Porche has been driving the streets of San Diego for seven years as a rideshare driver, a job he says gives him the income and flexibility he needs. “I do this full-time because I love it,” Porche said. “It allowed me to have more freedom with the people. It’s my passion.” But now the U.S. Army veteran said he is in limbo. Assembly Bill 5, authored by San Diego Assemblywoman Lorena Gonazalez, went into effect earlier this year, forcing rideshare companies Uber and Lyft to classify their dri

This is an independent opinion. Want to respond? Write your own commentary! Email hoa@ivn.us. The Common Sense Party, a new political party being formed in California, stands for fiscal responsibility, social inclusivity and pragmatic decision-making. The party has no checklist of positions to which adherence is demanded.  Instead, a candidate must show that she or he makes decisions on the facts, not prejudice. People of good faith who disagree on any point can receive support of the Common S

Come November, California voters will determine the fate of affirmative action… again. What they decide will have a huge impact on higher education. In 1996, voters passed Proposition 209, banning public agencies from considering race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in hiring, admissions and contracting. This year, if Proposition 16 passes, it will undo the ban on affirmative action. Proponents say doing so could greatly affect the ethnic diversity of faculty at public colleges and

This is an independent opinion. Want to respond? Write your own commentary! Email hoa@ivn.us. The ban on evictions is causing homelessness, not preventing it. The Judicial Council, which sets rules for California’s court system, has banned evictions since the pandemic started in March. That was a mistake. The eviction ban is unconstitutional, but it’s also a bad idea. It was a bad idea when it took effect, and it’s still a bad idea today. It’s the reason some San Diegans are homeless. For e

California’s clean air enforcers have finalized a deal with five automakers to cut greenhouse gases from cars despite the Trump administration’s rollbacks. The deal, first proposed last year, is California’s hedge against the uncertainty of ongoing lawsuits challenging federal efforts to unravel Obama-era fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas standards. The car companies agreed to meet California requirements nationwide for cars and pickup trucks rather than fall in line with new, looser federal