CALIFORNIA STATE CLIMATOLOGIST

May 30 2026BUSINESS

Small fixes, big headaches: How California's ADA rules hurt small businesses

California's reputation for strict accessibility laws actually creates a messy situation for small businesses. While the state leads the nation in ADA-related lawsuits, most violations are minor—like a slightly off-center handicap parking sign or a bathroom mirror positioned an inch too high. These

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May 28 2026POLITICS

Beard Battle: California’s Governor Race Gets Facial‑Haired

California voters are seeing a new twist in their upcoming governor race—an unexpected showdown over facial hair. Two Republican contenders, Sheriff Chad Bianco and former commentator Steve Hilton, are not only debating policy but also competing for the most impressive mustache or beard. Bianco,

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May 27 2026POLITICS

Money, power, and California’s governor race

California’s race for governor just got stranger as a billionaire spends millions trying to win. Tom Steyer has poured $200 million of his own money into the campaign, mostly on ads and paying influencers across California. Even his own supporters call it “disgusting, ” but they hope all this spendi

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May 26 2026POLITICS

State lawmakers and suicide discussions online: what’s really being said?

State lawmakers in the U. S. are posting more often about their work online, and some of those posts touch on sensitive topics like suicide. Given how common suicide is as a cause of death here, these discussions could matter more than many realize. But what exactly are legislators saying about it?

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May 25 2026BUSINESS

Why Jobs Matter More Than You Think for California Home Prices

California’s housing market moves in strange ways. One big reason? Jobs. When work is easy to find, home prices usually climb. But when jobs dry up, so do price gains—sometimes they even drop. Looking back to 1990, the best years for job growth in California saw home prices jump nearly 8% a year. D

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May 23 2026POLITICS

Gas prices jump across California—what it means for your wallet and beyond

California drivers are now paying over six dollars a gallon for gas, a sharp jump that didn’t happen overnight. Back in late winter, regular gasoline cost less than half that amount. War tensions in the Persian Gulf have cut oil shipments, squeezing the global supply like never before. Prices aren’

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May 19 2026EDUCATION

Who should lead California’s schools? Ten candidates want the job

California has to keep over 5. 7 million students in safe classrooms and good programs. Some kids speak English at home, some don’t. Some have disabilities, some are top performers. All of them need a state leader who can help districts meet those needs. The current superintendent can’t run again, s

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May 16 2026OPINION

Youth Voices Unite: A Call to Action for Safety and Support

Staten Island faces a growing problem: more teens are getting involved in shootings, even though overall city violence is falling. This trend shows that young people are slipping into dangerous situations faster and with fewer safeguards than before. The Canvas Institute has seen the hidden struggl

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May 16 2026WEATHER

New York prepares for quick weather flip

Staten Island will see some rain today, but not much. After a cool mid-60s Friday—a bit too chilly for mid-May—a big warmup is coming. The city’s temperature will jump from the comfortable 70s on Saturday to the low 80s on Sunday. By early next week, it could even hit the 90s, which is way above wha

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May 15 2026POLITICS

California's Money Surplus: How Tech is Filling State Coffers

California's latest budget update shows the state sitting on $16. 5 billion more than expected, thanks largely to the tech industry's AI gold rush. This extra cash means no immediate budget shortfalls, allowing the governor to keep funding favorite programs without cutting corners. While this might

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