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  • BREAKING NEWS: The Tech Exodus from San Francisco: High Costs, Crime, Homelessness, and Anti-Business Policies Are Driving Companies Away

    David Ganezer, Republican Candidate for California's 11th Congressional District|Updated May 12, 2026

    San Francisco used to be the undisputed capital of technology and innovation. Today, it is rapidly becoming a city that talented people and companies are desperate to escape. If you talk to engineers, startup founders, or mid-level managers in the Bay Area, you'll hear the same stories over and over again: "I'm tired of stepping over tents and used needles on my way to work." "My company just raised our remote work policy because nobody wants to come into the office anymore."...

  • BREAKING NEWS: San Francisco Spends $100,000 to $300,000 Per Homeless Annually. Yet the tents and fentanyl crisis remain. Why?

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated May 11, 2026

    As the only Republican running for Nancy Pelosi's former seat, voters deserve to know exactly how my views differ from the leading Democratic candidate, State Senator Scott Wiener.Here is a clear, side-by-side comparison on the issues that matter most to San Francisco residents:Housing Scott Wiener has authored several major bills (SB 35, SB 423, SB 79) designed to force more housing development by overriding local zoning. While we both want more housing, I believe we must...

  • BREAKING NEWS: Opinion: The Six Biggest Challenges Facing San Francisco - And What Washington Can Actually Do

    David Ganezer, Republican Candidate for California's 11th Congressional District|Updated May 10, 2026

    While a student at Stanford in the early 1980s, I served as a U.S. Coast Guard reservist at Station Fort Point in San Francisco's Presidio. As a Second Class Boatswain's Mate, I performed search and rescue operations on the often treacherous waters of the San Francisco Bay. That experience gave me a deep love for this city and taught me that public service must be measured by real results. As San Francisco's representative in Congress, I will work aggressively to secure...

  • BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Forces Capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and His Wife in Dramatic Overnight Raid

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 6, 2026

    Caracas, Venezuela - January 3, 2026 -- In a stunning escalation of U.S. foreign policy, American military forces conducted a large-scale strike on Venezuela early Saturday, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. President Donald Trump announced the operation, describing it as a successful effort to apprehend Maduro on longstanding U.S. criminal charges. The raid, reportedly involving elite U.S. Army Delta Force operators, took place...

  • BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Confirms Military Strikes on Targets in Caracas and other Cities, Amid Escalating Campaign Against Venezuelan Regime

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 6, 2026

    Caracas, Venezuela — January 3, 2026-- The United States has confirmed that it conducted military strikes on multiple targets inside Venezuela early Saturday, marking a significant escalation in Washington's pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro's government. U.S. officials told CBS News that President Donald Trump ordered airstrikes on sites in Caracas, including military facilities, in the early morning hours. The operation targeted locations linked to what th...

  • Los Angeles Allocates $40 Million for Griffith Park Pool Reconstruction,Twice What it Would Cost In Another U.S. City

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated May 8, 2026

    Santa Monica, California - The City of Los Angeles is moving forward with a $40 million reconstruction of the historic Griffith Park Pool, a project that has drawn scrutiny for its escalating price tag and extended timeline amid broader questions about public works efficiency in high-regulation jurisdictions. Originally constructed in 1927, the Griffith Park Pool has remained closed since approximately 2020. The current plan calls for complete replacement of the leaking...

  • Former Campaign Volunteer Alleges Sexual Misconduct by California Gubernatorial Candidate Eric Swalwell

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Apr 14, 2026

    A woman who volunteered on Rep. Eric Swalwell’s campaign for California governor has come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct, claiming two separate incidents occurred after campaign-related events in recent years. According to the accuser, who has not been publicly named, the first incident took place after she drove Swalwell home from a campaign event. She alleges that while they were in his car in a parking lot, Swalwell tried to kiss her without her consent a...

  • California's High-Speed Rail Project Will Take 216 Years to Complete, as Construction Creeps Forward

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Apr 14, 2026

    California's long-delayed high-speed rail initiative, approved by voters in 2008, now carries an estimated price tag of $126 billion to link Los Angeles and San Francisco - roughly triple the original $33 billion to $45 billion projection that secured Proposition 1A approval. A 60 Minutes segment aired in early April 2026 spotlighted the latest cost escalation, with California High-Speed Rail Authority board member Anthony Williams telling CBS that officials now believe the...

  • Rep. Eric Swalwell Drops Out; Suspends California Gubernatorial Campaign Amid Sexual Assault Allegations

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Apr 14, 2026

    WASHINGTON — Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), once a leading contender in the crowded Democratic primary for California governor, announced Monday that he is suspending his 2026 campaign to focus on defending himself against multiple allegations of sexual assault and misconduct from former staffers. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Swalwell wrote: “I am suspending my campaign for Governor. To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in jud...

  • In Address, Trump Tell the US that three more weeks of war lie ahead, and that the war was justified.

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Apr 1, 2026

    President Trump Delivers Prime-Time Address to the Nation on Iran: "Objectives Nearing Completion"President Donald Trump addressed the nation Wednesday evening, providing what the White House called an "important update on Iran" amid the ongoing U.S.-Israel military campaign (Operation Epic Fury), now in its fifth week since strikes began on February 28, 2026.In a victory-oriented speech blending swagger, superlatives, and pragmatism, Trump declared that America's "core...

  • Steve Hilton's "Make California Golden Again" Campaign Ignites Excitement Across the Golden State

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Mar 26, 2026

    SANTA MONICA - In a state longing for fresh leadership and practical solutions, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is bringing infectious energy and grassroots momentum to his bid for California governor in the June 2026 primary. With packed campaign events, strong early fundraising, and a clear vision centered on affordability and opportunity, Hilton is inspiring voters who believe it's time to restore California's shine. Born in the United Kingdom to Hungarian...

  • Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Denies Altering Palisades Fire Report, Despite Evidence That She Did

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Feb 11, 2026

    February 6, 2026 -- Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has strongly denied allegations that she intervened to soften or alter key sections of an official after-action report on the devastating January 2025 Palisades Fire, which claimed multiple lives and destroyed thousands of structures across the Westside. A Los Angeles Times investigation published February 4 cited sources familiar with the mayor's office who claimed Bass flagged early drafts of the report as potentially exposing...

  • Worried about surveillance, states enact privacy laws and restrict license plate readers

    Stacker, Shalina Chatlani for Stateline|Updated Jan 13, 2026

    Worried about surveillance, states enact privacy laws and restrict license plate readers As part of its deportation efforts, the Trump administration has ordered states to hand over personal data from voter rolls, driver’s license records and programs such as Medicaid and food stamps. At the same time, the administration is trying to consolidate the bits of personal data held across federal agencies, creating a single trove of information on people who live in the United S...

  • Pennsylvania's unique system of electing poll workers comes with downsides

    Stacker, Carter Walker for Votebeat|Updated Jan 10, 2026

    Pennsylvania’s unique system of electing poll workers comes with downsides For this November’s election, no candidate was listed on the ballot for judge of elections in Scranton’s Ward 6, Precinct 1. So the poll worker on duty allegedly wrote her own name on the ballots. According to the Lackawanna County district attorney, Kathie Sico, who was serving as the precinct’s judge of elections that day, decided to write herself in for the position on the ballots before handing...

  • Rep. Doug LaMalfa, Longtime California Republican Congressman, Dies at 65; Special Election to Fill Vacant Seat

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 9, 2026

    Chico, California - January 7, 2026 -- Republican U.S. Representative Doug LaMalfa, who represented California's 1st Congressional District for over a decade, died on January 6, 2026, at the age of 65 following a medical emergency and complications during surgery. LaMalfa, a fourth-generation rice farmer from Northern California, experienced a medical emergency at his home on January 5. He was transported to Enloe Medical Center in Chico, where he underwent emergency surgery...

  • Iran's 2026 Uprising: From Economic Despair to Calls for Revolution

    David Ganezer, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 9, 2026

    As the new year unfolds, Iran finds itself gripped by widespread unrest that many observers are now labeling a full-scale revolution. Sparked by a plummeting economy and long-simmering grievances against government repression, protests have erupted across the nation, drawing international attention and even eliciting pointed exchanges on social media between global figures.The demonstrations began in late 2025 amid a dramatic collapse of the Iranian rial, exacerbated by...

  • Everyone hates gas-powered leaf blowers. So why is it so hard to ban them?

    Stacker, Kate Yoder for Grist|Updated Jan 7, 2026

    Everyone hates gas-powered leaf blowers. So why is it so hard to ban them? The push to ban gas-powered leaf blowers has gained an unlikely figurehead: Cate Blanchett, the Australian actress. “Leaf blowers need to be eradicated from the face of the Earth,” she said in an interview in March. Her complaints have gone viral on TikTok and other social media platforms. “It’s a metaphor for what’s wrong with us as a species,” Blanchett said. “We blow s--- from one side of our lawn t...

  • Minimum Wage Increase, Police Officers Can't Wear Masks, and All Gender Restrooms on tap for 2026 as California Laws Move Yet Further to the Left

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Jan 3, 2026

    Many new laws signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2025 take effect in California in 2026, with most starting on January 1, 2026 (unless otherwise noted). Over 800 bills became law, covering consumer protection, health care, labor, education, environment, public safety, and more. Here are some of the most notable ones: Consumer & Environment. Plastic bag ban expansion - Stores can no longer provide thick plastic film bags at checkout; only recycled paper bags (with a fee) or...

  • Bitcoin adoption rates by state: Where cryptocurrency is most popular

    Stacker, Jaclyn DeJohn, CFP for SmartAsset|Updated Nov 3, 2025

    Bitcoin adoption rates by state: Where cryptocurrency is most popular Over 2.78 million Americans reported actively participating in cryptocurrencies according to the latest IRS data, with estimates asserting Bitcoin prevalence for roughly 75% of all users. The ascent in Bitcoin’s value over the years — among other currencies — has undoubtedly made fortunes for many investors. But the IRS did not start tracking general cryptocurrency involvement in earnest until 2020, when it...

  • ERIC data-sharing alliance helps uncover alleged double voting case in Pennsylvania

    Stacker, Carter Walker for Votebeat|Updated Oct 10, 2025

    ERIC data-sharing alliance helps uncover alleged double voting case in Pennsylvania Officials uncovered a five-year-old case of double voting in Pennsylvania with the help of a voter roll maintenance program that has been the target of conservative attacks in recent years, Votebeat reported. The case involved a man named Matthew Laiss, who moved from Pennsylvania to Florida in August 2020, and allegedly voted both in person in Florida and via mail ballot in Bucks County in...

  • More 16- and 17-year-olds are gaining the right to vote. Could this become the norm?

    Stacker, Jessica Huseman for Votebeat|Updated Aug 10, 2025

    More 16- and 17-year-olds are gaining the right to vote. Could this become the norm? Amid all the worries about the perennially elusive youth vote, there’s a promising trend to talk about: In a growing number of towns and cities across the U.S., 16- and 17-year-olds are gaining the right to vote. The numbers are still small, but the momentum is real. Advocates say it’s about nurturing lifelong voters. Votebeat looks at the growing trend of youth voting. Take Newark, New Jer...

  • What free transit looks like in Albuquerque, nearly two years after the city eliminated fares

    Stacker, Erin Rode for Next City|Updated Jul 31, 2025

    What free transit looks like in Albuquerque, nearly two years after the city eliminated fares Sabina Wohlmuth’s days used to include long, hot walks across the city of Albuquerque, sometimes two or three miles at a time. Wohlmuth relies on the bus, but when she was short on cash, she walked instead of paying the fare. “It was only a dollar for a one-way trip, but still, if you’re homeless and you’re poor, that’s a lot of money,” Wohlmuth says. Wohlmuth now takes the bus eve...

  • Freshman lawmakers see increased donations from industries under their purview

    Stacker, Jonathan D. Salant for OpenSecrets|Updated Jul 25, 2025

    Freshman lawmakers see increased donations from industries under their purview When California Democrat Sam Liccardo ran for the U.S. House of Representatives last year, 13% of his political action committee contributions came from finance companies, insurers, and real estate agents, OpenSecrets data shows. Liccardo won, and received a coveted appointment to the Financial Services Committee. During the first three months of 2025, as he began raising money for his re-election,...

  • How AI-powered police forces watch your every move

    Stacker, Jamiles Lartey for The Marshall Project|Updated Jul 18, 2025

    How AI-powered police forces watch your every move Change in the criminal justice system is rarely linear. It comes in fits and starts, slowed by bureaucracy, politics, and just plain inertia. Reforms routinely get passed, then rolled back, watered down, or tied up in court. However, there is one corner of the system where change is occurring rapidly and almost entirely in one direction: the adoption of artificial intelligence. From facial recognition to predictive analytics...

  • What the REAL ID delay tells us about implementing proof-of-citizenship laws

    Stacker, Jessica Huseman for Votebeat|Updated Jul 4, 2025

    What the REAL ID delay tells us about implementing proof-of-citizenship laws You know the REAL ID that you need if you want to board a plane? The deadline to get one was supposed to be May 7. But just days before that, the Department of Homeland Security hit pause, again. Twenty years after Congress passed the REAL ID Act, too many people still didn’t have the right kind of ID, so enforcement was delayed — as it has been multiple times. It’s easy to see why. In states like...

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