Three Southern California churches that want to keep their doors open during the coronavirus outbreak sued Gov. Gavin Newsom and other officials on Monday, arguing that social distancing orders violate the First Amendment right to freedom of religion and assembly.The suit, filed in the federal court for the Central District of California, also names state Attorney General Xavier Becerra and officials of San Bernardino and Riverside counties.The suit seeks to block Newsom’s month-old stay-at-home order and two county orders designed to slow the spread of COVID-19 by having people mostly stay...…Three Southern California churches that want to keep their doors open during the coronavirus outbreak sued Gov. Gavin Newsom and other officials on Monday, arguing that social distancing orders violate the First Amendment right to freedom of religion and assembly.The suit, filed in the federal court for the Central District of California, also names state Attorney General Xavier Becerra and officials of San Bernardino and Riverside counties.The suit seeks to block Newsom’s month-old stay-at-home order and two county orders designed to slow the spread of COVID-19 by having people mostly stay...WW…

A fire broke out at the San Gabriel Mission early Saturday and burned the roof and much of the church’s interior, officials said.Authorities have not determined what caused the blaze at the on 428 S. Mission Drive.The San Gabriel Fire Department received a call about the fire at around 4:30 a.m. and arrived at the scene to find flames through the roof, Capt. Antonio Negrete told KTLA.The crews called for additional units after about 5 minutes, Negrete said. Some 50 firefighters responded to the location, and they struggled as parts of the roof began to come down, according to the...…A fire broke out at the San Gabriel Mission early Saturday and burned the roof and much of the church’s interior, officials said.Authorities have not determined what caused the blaze at the on 428 S. Mission Drive.The San Gabriel Fire Department received a call about the fire at around 4:30 a.m. and arrived at the scene to find flames through the roof, Capt. Antonio Negrete told KTLA.The crews called for additional units after about 5 minutes, Negrete said. Some 50 firefighters responded to the location, and they struggled as parts of the roof began to come down, according to the...WW…

Please enable Javascript to watch this videoDespite mounting pleas from California and other states, the Trump administration isn’t allowing states to use Medicaid more freely to respond to the coronavirus crisis by expanding medical services.In previous emergencies, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina and the H1N1 flu outbreak, both Republican and Democratic administrations loosened Medicaid rules to empower states to meet surging needs.But months into the current global disease outbreak, the White House and senior federal health officials haven’t taken the necessary...…Please enable Javascript to watch this videoDespite mounting pleas from California and other states, the Trump administration isn’t allowing states to use Medicaid more freely to respond to the coronavirus crisis by expanding medical services.In previous emergencies, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina and the H1N1 flu outbreak, both Republican and Democratic administrations loosened Medicaid rules to empower states to meet surging needs.But months into the current global disease outbreak, the White House and senior federal health officials haven’t taken the necessary...WW…

The Greek Theatre became the latest Los Angeles venue to cancel concerts Tuesday, scrapping the entirety of its season for the first time in 90 years.Most events on the Griffith Park venue’s packed schedule had already been canceled or postponed. But Tuesday’s announcement also includes events that were rescheduled for later this season, according to Anthony-Paul Diaz, chief of staff for the L.A. city parks department.“We followed suit with the Hollywood Bowl and other venues across the nation to say officially that the season will be closed,” Diaz told KTLA. “There will be no public, large...…The Greek Theatre became the latest Los Angeles venue to cancel concerts Tuesday, scrapping the entirety of its season for the first time in 90 years.Most events on the Griffith Park venue’s packed schedule had already been canceled or postponed. But Tuesday’s announcement also includes events that were rescheduled for later this season, according to Anthony-Paul Diaz, chief of staff for the L.A. city parks department.“We followed suit with the Hollywood Bowl and other venues across the nation to say officially that the season will be closed,” Diaz told KTLA. “There will be no public, large...WW…

The curfew in place across Los Angeles County amid peaceful demonstrations Tuesday will continue until “protests are gone,” Sheriff Alex Villanueva told KTLA.But the American Civil Liberties Union says the curfew is not constitutional to begin with.Cities across the region began issuing curfews over the weekend until local officials extended it to all of L.A. County starting Sunday night. People are expected to stay inside with the exception of commuting to and from work, or seeking or giving emergency care — beginning at 6 p.m. each night. The order does not apply to emergency...…The curfew in place across Los Angeles County amid peaceful demonstrations Tuesday will continue until “protests are gone,” Sheriff Alex Villanueva told KTLA.But the American Civil Liberties Union says the curfew is not constitutional to begin with.Cities across the region began issuing curfews over the weekend until local officials extended it to all of L.A. County starting Sunday night. People are expected to stay inside with the exception of commuting to and from work, or seeking or giving emergency care — beginning at 6 p.m. each night. The order does not apply to emergency...WW…

A California judge on Friday sided with Republican legislators who said Gov. Gavin Newsom overstepped his powers with dozens of emergency orders during the coronavirus crisis that changed everything from how public meetings are conducted to when tenants can be evicted.Sutter County Superior Court Judge Perry Parker only halted one of the orders, involving the November election, but ordered Newsom to refrain from new orders that might be interpreted as usurping the Legislature’s responsibilities.The judge appeared to adopt without changes a proposed order submitted to him by GOP Assemblymen...…A California judge on Friday sided with Republican legislators who said Gov. Gavin Newsom overstepped his powers with dozens of emergency orders during the coronavirus crisis that changed everything from how public meetings are conducted to when tenants can be evicted.Sutter County Superior Court Judge Perry Parker only halted one of the orders, involving the November election, but ordered Newsom to refrain from new orders that might be interpreted as usurping the Legislature’s responsibilities.The judge appeared to adopt without changes a proposed order submitted to him by GOP Assemblymen...WW…

Power was restored across California by 10 p.m. Friday, after rolling blackouts had been ordered earlier in the evening for the first time since 2001 as a statewide heat wave strained its electrical system. The state’s energy grid went into a Stage 3 emergency shortly after 6:30 p.m., and utilities were ordered to shed their power loads. But the grid stabilized around 7:50 p.m., and blackouts were no longer needed by 9 p.m., .The situation came amid heat watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service that covered much of the state. The scorching temperatures brought the threat...…Power was restored across California by 10 p.m. Friday, after rolling blackouts had been ordered earlier in the evening for the first time since 2001 as a statewide heat wave strained its electrical system. The state’s energy grid went into a Stage 3 emergency shortly after 6:30 p.m., and utilities were ordered to shed their power loads. But the grid stabilized around 7:50 p.m., and blackouts were no longer needed by 9 p.m., .The situation came amid heat watches and warnings issued by the National Weather Service that covered much of the state. The scorching temperatures brought the threat...WW…

The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg just six weeks before the election cast an immediate spotlight on the crucial high court vacancy, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell quickly vowing to bring to a vote whoever President Donald Trump nominates.Democratic nominee Joe Biden vigorously disagreed, declaring that “voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice to consider.”McConnell, who sets the calendar in the U.S. Senate and has made judicial appointments his priority, declared unequivocally in a statement not long after  that Trump’s...…The death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg just six weeks before the election cast an immediate spotlight on the crucial high court vacancy, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell quickly vowing to bring to a vote whoever President Donald Trump nominates.Democratic nominee Joe Biden vigorously disagreed, declaring that “voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice to consider.”McConnell, who sets the calendar in the U.S. Senate and has made judicial appointments his priority, declared unequivocally in a statement not long after  that Trump’s...WW…

Another minimum wage increase is set to kick in on Jan. 1 in California as a number of business and labor laws go into effect for 2021 in the Golden State.The minimum wage rises to $14 an hour under another existing law that will bring it to $15 an hour for all employees by 2023.Employers with 25 or fewer workers must pay at least $13 an hour.California has been incrementally across all industries annually since Jan. 1, 2017, and next year will be no exception despite the pandemic-induced recession caused by the coronavirus.While the governor has the authority to temporarily suspend the...…Another minimum wage increase is set to kick in on Jan. 1 in California as a number of business and labor laws go into effect for 2021 in the Golden State.The minimum wage rises to $14 an hour under another existing law that will bring it to $15 an hour for all employees by 2023.Employers with 25 or fewer workers must pay at least $13 an hour.California has been incrementally across all industries annually since Jan. 1, 2017, and next year will be no exception despite the pandemic-induced recession caused by the coronavirus.While the governor has the authority to temporarily suspend the...WW…

California state officials in April launched a new program that lets first-time homebuyers borrow a down payment at a 0% interest rate. The program, the Forgivable Equity Builder Loan, provides forgivable loans to homebuyers for up to 10% of the home’s purchase price. “We have to use every tool in our toolbox to tackle the housing affordability crisis head-on,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in an April statement announcing the program. And the biggest upside? If the homebuyer stays in the home for five years, they won’t have to repay the junior loan, according to the California Housing Finance...…California state officials in April launched a new program that lets first-time homebuyers borrow a down payment at a 0% interest rate. The program, the Forgivable Equity Builder Loan, provides forgivable loans to homebuyers for up to 10% of the home’s purchase price. “We have to use every tool in our toolbox to tackle the housing affordability crisis head-on,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in an April statement announcing the program. And the biggest upside? If the homebuyer stays in the home for five years, they won’t have to repay the junior loan, according to the California Housing Finance...WW…