San Joaquin County Local News

After years of delay, a new California regulation to protect indoor workers from extreme heat is now in effect.

What happens when voters take to the ballot to thumb their nose at state housing law? Courts haven’t offered a clear answer.

California Forever’s announcement July 22 that it has decided to pull a ballot measure that would have let voters decide on a controversial planned city in rural Solano County drew swift reaction from political leaders and opponents.

Following a report released the previous week by Solano County citing billions of dollars in costs and a host of other issues, California Forever pulled their initiative from the November ballot.

There never was much of a chance that California Gov. Gavin Newsom would be running for president this year, even if President Joe Biden were to step aside.

On July 22, California Forever announced it was withdrawing its initiative to amend the Solano County General Plan off the November ballot and would instead begin working with the county through the normal, though less expeditious, process.

The Tracy City Council approved the rezoning of a 5-acre site on Byron Road for single-family homes.

Following reports of school book banning, Lodi Unified School District Superintendent Neil Young announced the disbanding of the book review committee.

In the wake of a civil grand jury report, the Stockton City Council has begun the process of updating ethics rules.

In a July 19 statement, the Ripon Consolidated Fire District announced it was suspending ambulance services because of a shortage in staffing.

The City of Manteca has begun a $1.6 million project to upgrade street signs to be more visible at night.

A judge has halted a union effort at the Wonderful Company, throwing into question a new state law designed to make it easier for agricultural workers to organize.

A new City of Lodi business license registration and renewal portal is available online.

The City of Ripon draft Housing Element Update is available for public comment.

Swimming is allowed again at Lodi Lake following closure due to bacteria alert.

A groundbreaking ceremony on July 17 celebrated the start of construction for upgrades to the interchange of state routes 99 and 120.

The City of Manteca is preparing to start work on several road upgrade projects, to be completed by the end of the year.

In 2021, responding to reports that the state’s homeless shelters were dirty and dangerous, the state Legislature crafted a plan: It would require local governments to inspect their shelters after complaints and file annual reports on shelter conditions.

California failed to ban private detention centers. Now, it’s focusing on their working conditions, for immigrants who toil for $1 a day.

California State Hospitals can bill patients for the care they receive during confinement. The charges often run in the tens of thousands of dollars, putting vulnerable people in debt for years.