Dakota Smith is a staff writer in the Los Angeles Times’ Sacramento bureau, where she covers state government and politics. She was part of the team that won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for reporting on a leaked audio recording that upended City Hall politics. She joined the newsroom in 2016 and previously covered City Hall for the Los Angeles Daily News. She is a graduate of Lewis & Clark College.
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State legislators said Thursday that they plan to make “modest” changes to a controversial law that extended the statute of limitations for lawsuits over sexual abuse, resulting in billions of dollars in payouts from local governments.
Studies show that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to decreased fertility and developmental delays in children and increase the risk of cancer.
Proposed legislation to streamline California’s ability to seize abandoned stocks and mutual funds is drawing opposition from business groups and dividing Democratic lawmakers.
The latest developments in the federal inquiry come four months after Swalwell dropped his gubernatorial bid, denying allegations of sexual assault and misconduct.
A state lawmaker from San Diego has proposed fast-tracking the construction of an arena and housing project, drawing criticism from opponents who argue the site is not suitable for large-scale development because of flooding.
A bill that would have banned the sale of genetically-modified pets for cosmetic reasons died in committee Thursday.
Two state lawmakers want cold storage companies to take care of local communities after industrial disasters.
Regulators and environmentalists are divided over the PFAS chemicals, which are widely used in agriculture.
The lawsuit seeks to change the ballot’s summary.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday that his agency will withhold $867.5 million in Medicaid payments to California over concerns about fraud.