Northern California

The city’s first giant pandas in decades are due to arrive, Mayor London Breed announced from Beijing. She calls it “a momentous opportunity.”

Lawmakers were shocked to hear that a Tehama County station north of Sacramento couldn’t issue bonds for a project because its coverage fell short.

The money will support 20 projects in 17 cities. LA County will receive by far the largest sum: $51.5 million.

Supporters collected more than 900,000 signatures to place the tough-on-crime measure on the November ballot.

City leaders are negotiating with business execs and labor to craft reforms that would simplify taxes.

Opponents said the bill, modeled on similar laws in San Diego, is inhumane and would “further entrench people within the criminal legal system.”

In Southern California, 110,000 acres of Angeles National Forest will be added to the the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.

The clock ran out for officials who were unable to finish investigating the case before a 4 p.m. deadline April 16, allowing protesters to be released.

The legislation targets a carcinogen, methylene chloride, and notes that there are alternative ways of decaffeinating coffee.

San Rafael officials have struggled to address public safety issues surrounding a large homeless encampment near a middle school.

Newsom acknowledges the challenge of keeping rate increases in check while meeting emissions goals.

An expert said the building had barriers for disabled customers. The owner said adding a wheelchair ramp was too costly.

The visitors saw similarities between California prisons and those back home. Inmates said they didn’t see everything.

From January through March, law enforcement also destroyed 54,000 plants, a boon to the legal market, the governor says.