San Joaquin County Government Digest

Constituents may soon be able to meet with their local, state and federal elected representatives at the Ripon City Hall following a resolution approved by the City Council.

If you’ve experienced any trouble or hiccups receiving your Social Security recently, California Attorney General Rob Bonta unveiled a new complaint page on Tuesday for residents to report disruptions they faced when accessing their benefits.

In a special Lodi City Council meeting to discuss the budget, the City Manager made startling allegations of widespread abuse of city funds. A special meeting is called for April 9 to discuss the issue.

Democrats in the state legislature are leaving the X social media platform, citing the increase in hate speech and discomfort in relying on the private service to communicate with constituents.

California’s state budget is mired in what fiscal authorities call a “structural deficit,” meaning its revenues cannot keep up with spending mandated by current law.

In the past few months, some Democratic state legislators have joined the reported exodus of users on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

A new program dubbed “Engaged California” aiming to give the public a greater voice in government is launching soon, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced. Described as an exercise in “deliberative democracy,” the program is designed to help the public influence and inform government actions such as the ongoing Los Angeles firestorm rebuilding and recovery, the governor’s office said.

The audit by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission followed CalMatters’ revelations that a law requiring trip organizers to annually disclose their major donors had been used only twice in seven years — even as interest groups continued paying millions for lawmakers’ travel.

Read on to learn how to apply to serve on the 2025-2026 San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury and do your part to hold local government accountable.

Read on to learn more about the $15 billion loan guarantee to PG&E granted in the final hours of the Biden Administration.

In their July 2 meeting, the Tracy City Council approved funding of legal representation for three council members named in a lawsuit disputing the legality of a retroactive pay raise for City Attorney Bijal Patel.

July 1 was celebrated as the first official day of business in California's newest city.

On May 21, the California State Senate advanced reparations legislation, which will now be taken up by the state Assembly.

Sacramento City Manager Howard Chan on Tuesday released a budget proposal outlining a plan to close the $66 million deficit staff warned of a couple months ago by increasing fees and cutting services. 

There’s so little data available, it’s impossible to even tell if several of California’s largest homelessness programs are working, according to a statewide audit released Tuesday.

Not filling open positions in state government, cutting a school facilities program and several climate initiatives, delaying funding for public transit — these are some of the first steps that California officials plan to take to deal with a looming multibillion-dollar budget deficit.

Tenants in many new privately owned, low-income units will be protected from double-digit increases. So will some in existing units, after a state committee on affordable housing imposed a rent cap.

According to emails obtained by CalMatters Capitol reporter Jeanne Kuang in response to a public records request, a range of employers have been trying to figure out if they must pay $20 ever since the law was signed late last September.

Evictions have exacerbated homelessness nationwide, increasing the rate of homeless infants and toddlers. Most of those children are not enrolled in early education programs.

Disputes between insurers and providers can lead to entire hospital systems suddenly leaving the plans.

The staff of Representative Josh Harder have intervened on behalf of constituents in 2,627 cases so far during the 118th Congressional session started in 2023.

California will miss its goals unless it can increase emission reductions threefold, according to a new study.

“Street releases” have resumed after the nonprofit that operated a migrant welcome center announced its “finite resources have been stretched to the limit.”

State officials determined that Rancho Palos Verdes can utilize an already-established state of emergency to expedite landslide stabilization efforts as the crisis escalates.

Ten conservation groups filed an intent to sue the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for its failure to list western wolves under the Endangered Species Act.

A study in the latest issue of Nature Communications helps explain why there is more unconscious, or implicit, racial bias in some cities than others.

Heritage District residents asked the Lodi City Council why street and infrastructure improvements have not been considered in their neighborhood.

The Galt City Council will consider appointing Chris Erias as interim city manager during its Feb. 20 meeting, the city announced.

San Joaquin County will get more than $7.5 million for projects that provide housing assistance or supportive services to people experiencing homelessness.

A first-in-the-nation council will set work rules in the state’s fast food industry, but can labor and business agree?

Among growing concern over copper wire thefts, L.A. City Councilmembers Kevin de León and Traci Park proposed a task force anchored by the LAPD.

The city of Tracy is seeking one person to fill an open seat on the Measure V Residents’ Oversight Committee.