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Mayor of Stockton tries to avoid city bankruptcy

Jun 5, 2012
The city of Stockton, California, population 291,000 is trying to avoid becoming the biggest U.S. city to go bankrupt during this economic downturn.

Measuring five different Californias

Jun 1, 2012
A demographic survey says, California, like other states, is actually several different voting and demographic units within one. What are the public policy implications of these divisions?

Gov. Jerry Brown: We're going to cut and hopefully tax

May 24, 2012
California Gov. Jerry Brown talks about his plan to balance the state's budget. Currently, California is facing a deficit of close to $16 billion.

California Gov. Brown talks taxes, cuts and economic fairness

May 24, 2012
Like other states across the U.S., California's grappling with a giant budget hole. Gov. Jerry Brown talks about the role of government and the tension between taxing the rich and cutting programs for the poor.

Stockton on the brink

May 18, 2012
The city of Stockton, Calif. has been hit hard by the financial crisis. With the city on the verge of bankruptcy, residents share what it's like when your town is teetering on the brink.

California budget to benefit from Facebook IPO

May 16, 2012
California Gov. Jerry Brown recently informed Californians that the state was $16 billion in the hole, instead of the mere $9 billion everyone expected. The Facebook IPO will generate a lot of taxable income for a few thousand Californians.

California's budget deficit has risen to $16 billion

May 14, 2012
That's grown from $9.2 billion. The $16 billion is in projected spending, and that would be more than the money that could come in. Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to talk about the details later today.

For public good, not for profit.

Herculean effort to fix a city's budget

May 8, 2012
Hercules, Calif. was on the brink of bankruptcy. So the town made major sacrifices to stay solvent.

Hollywood chips in to save California state parks

May 7, 2012
This past weekend, Hollywood hosted a fundraiser for the California state parks. It’s not just left-leaning Hollywood altruism. Many directors and studios film for cheap in the parks.

Mad cow disease found in California

Apr 25, 2012
For the first time in six years, a cow in the U.S. has tested for so-called mad cow disease. While officials say the dairy cow identified in California at no time entered the food supply, the price of cattle futures has moved sharply downward.