Hacker News with Generative AI: California

Luigi Mangione-inspired ballot initiative targets health insurance denials (newsweek.com)
A proposed California ballot initiative—informally named after Luigi Mangione, the alleged assassin of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson—aims to bar insurers from delaying or denying doctor-recommended procedures or medications.

Healthcare, Politics, California, Law, Insurance

75 points by howard941 3 days ago | 123 comments

Ivanpah Solar Thermal Units Shutting Down, as Tech Shifts (enr.com)
Power plant operator and co-owner NRG Energy Inc. is preparing to close down part of its Ivanpah Solar Power Plant in San Bernardino County, Calif., a little more than 11 years after it began operating.

Solar Power, Energy, Technology, California

17 points by LMSolar 4 days ago | 3 comments

California bill aims to phase out harmful ultra-processed foods in schools (thenewlede.org)
As states across the country move to ban food dyes, California lawmakers on March 19 introduced the first US bill that would phase out certain ultra-processed foods from school meals.

Food Policy, Health, Legislation, California, Schools

126 points by PaulHoule 6 days ago | 173 comments

Tesla sales drop 35% in San Diego County (fox5sandiego.com)
ENCINITAS, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The years of Tesla’s autopilot profits have come to a screeching halt with the latest Tesla sales numbers down 35% this February compared to February 2024 in San Diego County.

Tesla, Sales, Automotive Industry, California

125 points by doener 9 days ago | 156 comments

California bill would force ISPs to offer 100Mbps plans for $15 a month (arstechnica.com)
A proposed state law in California would force Internet service providers to offer $15 monthly plans to people with low incomes.

California, Affordable Internet, Policy, Legislation

17 points by pseudolus 10 days ago | 7 comments

California Attorney General issues consumer alert for 23andMe customers (oag.ca.gov)
California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert to customers of 23andMe, a genetic testing and information company.

Consumer Protection, Health, California, Genetics, Privacy

467 points by thoughtpeddler 11 days ago | 354 comments

New desalination technology being tested in California could lower costs (latimes.com)
A new deep-sea desalination technology is undergoing testing in Southern California. Water managers hope it will offer an economical and environmentally friendly way of tapping the Pacific Ocean for fresh water.

Desalination, Technology, California, Water Management, Environment

6 points by erictd 12 days ago | 1 comments

PG&E asks to raise rates for California customers so it can pay investors more (kcra.com)
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said Thursday it has asked California regulators to raise rates, citing a need to “adequately compensate investors” amid risks in the business environment.

Utilities, California, Finance, Business

57 points by toomuchtodo 12 days ago | 57 comments

University of California orders hiring freeze, cuts (latimes.com)
Facing unprecedented threats by the Trump administration to slash medical and science research funding key to its mission as the nation’s premier public university system, the University of California announced on Wednesday a systemwide hiring freeze to stave off layoffs and downsizing.

Higher Education, Funding, Politics, California

7 points by strangeloops85 14 days ago | 2 comments

How Los Angeles Is Getting Scorched by Its Homeless Problem (realclearinvestigations.com)
VENICE, Calif. – Francesca Padilla was awakened by the sound of screaming people and breaking glass. Soon she could hear the tortured howls of her neighbor’s dog Togo as the bungalow right next to her Venice home was engulfed in flames.

Homelessness, Los Angeles, California, Fire, Crime

4 points by mudil 14 days ago | 0 comments

Hyperion (Tree) (wikipedia.org)
Hyperion is a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) in California that is the world's tallest known living tree, measured at 116.07 metres (380.8 ft) tall in 2019.[1][3]

Trees, Nature, California, Environmental Science, World Records

28 points by carabiner 19 days ago | 17 comments

Record Judgement Against HOA, $1.8MM, in Santa Clara Suit over Abandoned Well (msn.com)
SANTA CLARA — It's been nearly seven years since water began accumulating in the crawlspace of Doug Ridley and Sherry Shen's condo — an alarming discovery that led to the uncovering of an abandoned artesian well under their living room that would wreak havoc on the couple's lives.

Lawsuits, Real Estate, California, HOA

5 points by fortran77 22 days ago | 0 comments

Are Family Vloggers Leaving California to Avoid Paying Their Kids? (vulture.com)
After a handful of California-based family influencers announced they were ditching the Golden State for Tennessee, other folks on the internet shared a theory: What if the reason they were leaving was because of a new child-labor law that requires parents to put a percentage of their earnings into a trust?

Family Vloggers, California, Social Media

5 points by PaulHoule 22 days ago | 3 comments

DOGE's chaotic effort to release billions of gallons of California's water (cnn.com)

California, Water Management, Cryptocurrencies, Dogecoin

19 points by zfg 26 days ago | 3 comments

California Lawmaker Introduces the "No Robo Bosses Act" (contracosta.news)
State Senator Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, on Thursday introduced the “No Robo Bosses Act” — groundbreaking legislation that would require human oversight of artificial intelligence systems in the workplace to help prevent abuses.

Artificial Intelligence, Labor Laws, Politics, California

11 points by PopAlongKid 26 days ago | 6 comments

California banned polystyrene. Has industry spooked the governor into silence? (latimes.com)
California’s ban on polystyrene was one of the biggest wins for environmentalists in the state’s recent history.It went into effect on Jan. 1 — but no one, including the governor’s office and CalRecycle, is talking about it.

Environmental Policy, Politics, California, Industry, Environmentalism

12 points by PaulHoule 26 days ago | 3 comments

Homebrew Computer Club in Menlo Park (homeip.net)
The Homebrew Computer Club was a legendary early computer hobbyist group in Menlo Park, California.

History, Computer Hardware, California

6 points by giuliomagnifico 29 days ago | 0 comments

Farallon Islands live (and controllable) webcam (calacademy.org)
Explore the fabled Farallones via the islands' only webcam.

Webcams, Wildlife, California, Nature, Technology

19 points by kaycebasques 29 days ago | 16 comments

Problems with New California Bar Exam Enrage Test Takers and Cloud Their Futures (nytimes.com)
Even under normal circumstances, the California bar exam is one final harrowing hurdle before aspiring lawyers can practice. But last week was worse than any other, as they were thrown into limbo by technical glitches, delays and what many said were bizarrely written questions on a revamped test that didn’t match anything in preparation.

Law, Education, California, Technology, Testing

8 points by cardamomo 30 days ago | 0 comments

Tesla applies for ride-hailing service in California, but with human drivers (electrek.co)
Tesla has applied for a permit to operate a ride-hailing service in California, but it will be using human drivers rather than the promised robotaxi.

Tesla, Ride-Hailing, California, Transportation, Human Drivers

5 points by zfg 32 days ago | 2 comments

Captain 'lost for words' after witnessing a super pod of more than 2k dolphins (cbc.ca)
Tour boat workers spotted a super pod of more than 2,000 northern right whale dolphins in Monterey Bay, Calif.

Marine Life, Animals, California, Wildlife

47 points by petethomas 34 days ago | 11 comments

After Moss Landing Power Plant reignites, officials brace for more flare-ups (sfgate.com)
A fire reignited at the Moss Landing Power Plant on Tuesday evening, weeks after a previous blaze forced evacuations in Monterey County.

Power Plants, California, Fires, Evacuations

56 points by speckx 38 days ago | 64 comments

A new fire at the Moss Landing battery plant ignited Tuesday evening (sfchronicle.com)
A new fire flared up at the Moss Landing battery plant in Monterey on Tuesday evening, weeks after a previous blaze forced evacuations in the Monterey Bay area.

Fire, Battery Storage, California, Monterey

5 points by iancmceachern 39 days ago | 0 comments

California off to a strong clean electricity start with solar up 33.8% (pv-magazine-usa.com)
California has kicked off 2025 with impressive clean electricity generation, marked by a decline in gas use, increased wind and battery output, and—last Sunday—solar meeting nearly 100% of grid demand in the middle of winter.

California, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Clean Energy, Climate Change

11 points by martinpw 39 days ago | 4 comments

California Nominates Steve Jobs for Its American Innovation $1 Coin (gov.ca.gov)
Sacramento, California – For California’s American Innovation Coin, Governor Gavin Newsom has recommended world-renowned innovator Steve Jobs. The coin, which will be minted by the U.S. Mint, highlights California’s legacy as a global hub of innovation.

California, Coins, Steve Jobs, Innovation

45 points by gnabgib 39 days ago | 93 comments

California Nominates Steve Jobs for $1 American Innovation Coin (macrumors.com)
California Governor Gavin Newsom this week recommended former Apple CEO Steve Jobs for the $1 American Innovation Coin for the State of California that will be minted by the U.S. Mint.

California, Coinage, Steve Jobs, Apple, History

5 points by stalfosknight 39 days ago | 1 comments

L.A. is getting fire recovery wrong. Two experts explain how to do it better (latimes.com)
One month later, two wildfire experts argue that the destruction didn’t have to be as bad as it was.

Wildfires, California, Disaster Recovery, Urban Planning

10 points by PaulHoule 40 days ago | 0 comments

PG&E reports profit of more than $2B for 2024 (mercurynews.com)
PG&E reported on Thursday that it had a profit of just under $2.48 billion in 2024, an increase from the $2.24 billion the company earned in 2023.

Business, Finance, Energy, California

30 points by ssuds 43 days ago | 27 comments

California homeowners to fund half of high-risk insurer's $1B 'bailout' (calmatters.org)
After saying it would run out of funds by March, California’s last-resort fire insurance provider will impose a special charge of $1 billion on insurance companies — which will in turn pass the costs along to homeowners — the first such move in more than three decades.

California, Insurance, Finance, Climate Change

36 points by JumpCrisscross 46 days ago | 44 comments

California's Fair Plan Gets $1B Bailout (nytimes.com)
California’s home insurance plan of last resort, designed for people who can’t get coverage on the private market, does not have enough money to pay claims from the Los Angeles wildfires and is getting an infusion of cash from regular insurers.

California, Insurance, Wildfires, Finance, Government

5 points by lxm 48 days ago | 1 comments