From Farmworker to Olympian to Activist: A Boxer Fights for His Community

Staff / Truthdig Aug 5, 2014 Jose Ramirez could have walked away from Avenal, Calif., where the jobs are drying up like the ground, but he's determined to save his community. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Goodbye Governator, Hello Again Gov. Brown

Staff / Truthdig Jan 4, 2011 Something seems familiar about this scene: On Monday, California's former and now repeat Gov. Jerry Brown made his status official at a swearing-in ceremony in Sacramento, apparently comfortable enough in his position to get a bit goofy with the occasion. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Calif. GOP Assemblyman Resigns Over ‘Inappropriate Storytelling’

Staff / Truthdig Sep 10, 2009 We all know the drill by now: Conservative legislator, predominantly of the male variety, gets elected on pro-family-values platform, is accused of engaging in some kind of sexual activity that goes against said platform, and then resigns after some attempt to deny or reframe the offending sexual scenario. California's Mike Duvall, however, gets some points for originality. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

California Cuts Budget Deal

Staff / Truthdig Jul 21, 2009 Soon California can stop being the butt of jokes -- although seriously, Alabama, let's not point fingers. Party elders in Sacramento have reached an agreement that should balance the budget with $15.5 billion in cuts that will hurt students, the poor, children and the elderly. Republicans, who make up only about a third of the state Legislature, managed to thwart any new taxes. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

California’s Silent Big Spenders

By Matt Welch May 29, 2009 Instead of making the positive case for big government, or at least beginning to explain, let alone defend, what Sacramento does with all that money, California's political class has instead opted for a four-pronged strategy: deny, scare, attack, then call for higher taxes. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Moore Takes ‘Sicko’ to Sacramento

Staff / Truthdig Jun 9, 2007 Director Michael Moore will use his new documentary "Sicko" as an advocacy tool for healthcare reform on June 12, when he will testify before the California State Legislature in Sacramento about his film -- a scathing critique of the U.S. healthcare system. Moore will also join nurses' and doctors' activist groups, as well as state Sen. Sheila Kuehl, for a rally at the state Capitol. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Speaking the Language of Whales

Staff / Truthdig May 20, 2007 "Whale whisperer" Bernie Krause is attempting to save an injured mother humpback whale and her calf near Sacramento, Calif., where they hit a dead end in the San Jose River Delta. Krause is talking to the whales using recordings of humpback calls -- a strategy he used before to successfully reroute a wayward whale. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )