The U.S. Department of Energy has moved ahead with $4.5 billion in new loans for clean energy projects in California – despite the recent bankruptcy of Silicon Valley-based Solyndra. The new loans all were approved last month during the final days of a federal program created with stimulus money. Reporter Dan Goldstein has the story.
Congress has called for further investigation of the Homeland Security Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis following a Center for Investigative Reporting examination that found the outfit has done little to add to or improve the nation’s intelligence data.
Federal prosecutors are preparing to target newspapers, radio stations and other media outlets that advertise medical marijuana dispensaries in California, another escalation in the Obama administration's newly invigorated war against the state's pot industry.
Police outside California say marijuana is drifting into their territory – as the Golden State’s burgeoning medical marijuana trade has pushed down prices and prompted growers to seek more lucrative business elsewhere.
More than a third of all states are experimenting with some form of decriminalization – and several California counties are attempting to regulate pot production.
As Republicans assumed control of the House last week, immigration advocates and Democrats are bracing for what could be a painful two years, with looming battles in the courts, statehouses and on the Hill.
California timber firms could emerge as big winners in the state’s fight against global warming, earning millions of dollars through the sale of carbon credits if a new set of rules are approved by the Air Resources Board this week.
