"Until recently, Prop. 26, which would require the Legislature and local governments to use a two-thirds vote rather than a simple majority to pass fees on businesses, had been overshadowed by other measures."

"[California] State officials have reached an agreement that will provide an estimated $188 million over 10 years to restore habitat for imperiled fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta."

A small earthquake in a part of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are where quakes aren't expected raises concerns about flooding from future levee failures.

California voters, evenly split in September on a controversial ballot initiative to suspend the state's global warming law, now oppose it 48% to 37%, according to a new poll.

"San Francisco nail salons that replace nail polish containing toxic chemicals with safer alternatives will be recognized by the city if the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approves the program in a vote next week.San Francisco nail salons that replace nail polish containing toxic chemicals with safer alternatives will be recognized by the city if the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approves the program in a vote next week."

"Petroleum giant BP's corporate sponsorship of Arco Arena has been lucrative for the Sacramento Kings during a long run that's set to end next year. It's also been a sweet deal for state Capitol workers. Since 2000, Arco's parent company has lavished more than $430,000 in the form of free tickets to basketball games, concerts and other arena events on lawmakers, their staff members and relatives, according to a Bee review of lobbyist disclosures by BP."

"California voters are remaining true to one stereotype -- their commitment to the environment. A measure to suspend the state's vanguard climate change law is heading for failure, by a margin of 49 percent to 37 percent, because voters see the law doing more economic good than harm, a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Tuesday showed."

"With button-brown eyes, striped cheeks and a bushy orange-black tail, the Inyo chipmunk has darted among the gnarled pines of the Sierra Nevada for centuries. But it has apparently vanished."

"Fed up with sending their kids' dirty diapers to the local landfill, three Bay Area families launched a business two years ago aimed at turning soiled diapers into compost for farms, golf courses and plant nurseries."