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Gavin Newsom tackles a $68 billion deficit for the world’s fifth largest economy, the AI explosion and the Hollywood implosion

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California lawmakers return to work on Wednesday for the start of an election-year legislative session dominated by decisions on artificial intelligence and the state’s struggling budget.

The budget is a big issue every year in California, which is the nation’s most populous state and has an economy larger than that of all but four countries. But this year, lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom will have to figure out how to cover an estimated $68 billion deficit — a shortfall that is larger than the entire operating budgets of many states.

The race to regulate AI: How California could go beyond Biden

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan wants the Golden State to take the lead on regulating artificial intelligence before it’s too late.

President Joe Biden this week signed an executive order marking the most ambitious national effort yet to guide a rapidly-evolving technology. The sweeping measure was praised by both industry and consumer advocates as an important first step, but without more forceful action from Congress, its impacts are likely to be limited.

California’s next tech showdown

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Artificial intelligence has taken off at a breakneck sprint, and California lawmakers are hustling to make sure they don’t get lapped.

From the state that brought you standard-setting laws in digital privacy and social media, now comes efforts to place limits on AI before it’s too late. After a few faltering attempts to regulate the new frontier this year, lawmakers in Sacramento are again preparing to take aim at what may become a powerful global force.

San Ramon agencies launch behavioral health response program

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The San Ramon fire district and police department announced the start of a new behavioral health response program that has been in the works since 2021 and will see firefighters with the district -- rather than law enforcement -- respond to most mental health calls in the same timeframe as other medical emergencies in San Ramon.

New California law to bring big changes for campsite reservations

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Booking California’s high-demand campsites online will hopefully become a bit easier under a bill Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Monday morning.

The bill, AB618, aims to deter late cancellations and no-shows at campgrounds in state parks and beaches, issues that have inconvenienced prospective campers since the state adopted ReserveCalifornia as its go-to booking portal in 2017 and grown into a headache since pandemic lockdowns spiked interest in outdoor recreation.