California News

Western States Top Wildfire Risk Scores in New Analysis

California, Oregon, Colorado, Washington and Arizona are the states most at risk for wildfires, earning an “F” rating, according to a new analysis by Guidewire detailing wildfire risk in the U.S. at local, state, and national levels. Guidewire’s HazardHub data …

Musk’s Ban on Remote Work at X Beats Disability Bias Claim for Now

A federal judge in California on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit accusing social media platform X of forcing out workers with disabilities after Elon Musk took over the company and barred employees from working remotely. U.S. District Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin in …

Wildfire Threats Make Utilities Uninsurable in U.S. West

Trinity Public Utilities District’s power lines snake through the lower reaches of the Cascade Range, a rugged, remote and densely forested terrain in Northern California that has some of the highest wildfire risk in the country. But for several years, …

GM’s Self-Driving Cruise Unit To Pay $112K for Delaying Crash Report

A California regulator said it is imposing the maximum penalty of $112,500 on General Motors’ self-driving Cruise unit for the company’s failure to promptly provide complete information to the commission about a seriouscrash involving one of its robotaxis last year. …

ShakeAlert Adding Satellite Capabilities for Earthquake Warnings

The U.S. Geological Survey and its partners have come out with a new capability designed to characterize large earthquakes quickly in hopes of helping warn the public about potentially damaging shaking headed their way. The ShakeAlert System, currently available in …

Los Angeles Area on Alert for Flash Floods: Weather Watch

California, which has been suffering through wet weather for weeks, has more rain in the forecast. A flash flood warning is in place for downtown Los Angeles, as well as the surrounding area, through early Wednesday. There are also warnings …

California Hillsides Are at Risk of Floods After Days of Downpours

The latest in a series of robust storms is drenching California again with rain and snow, prompting officials to warn residents to stay on high alert for floods as weakened terrain gets further tested. Some hillside communities — including affluent …

Inpatient Hospitalizations in California Workers’ Comp Declined 51%, Study Shows

The number of inpatient hospitalizations in the California workers’ compensation system declined 51.1% between 2012 and 2022, a new report shows. The trend was driven by declining claim volume, technological advances and changes in Medicare rules that allow more outpatient …

California to Get Drenched From Fast-Moving Atmospheric River

A fast-moving atmospheric river coming off the Pacific Ocean will drench northern and central California on Wednesday and then head for the the southern half of the state. Northwest California will likely get the worst of the storm, with as …

California May Face Major Flooding from Jan. 30: Weather Watch

The odds are rising that California and the West will be struck by a plume of moisture known as an atmospheric river from Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, the US Climate Prediction Center said in a social media post. The …