New year, new burdens for small businesses

[Source: Press-Telegram] Small business owners must be diligent to comply with slew of new laws and regulations. The California Legislature enacted a dizzying array of new bills last year — with Gov. Jerry Brown signing more than 900 into law. With job growth stagnant and small business optimism unclear here in California, hundreds of new Read More…

Trump’s EPA pick casts doubt on California’s power to regulate auto emissions

[Source: The Los Angeles Times] Donald Trump’s pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency cast doubt on whether California should continue to have power to impose its own emission rules for cars and trucks, an authority the state has enjoyed for decades that is also the cornerstone of its efforts to fight global warming. Oklahoma Atty. Gen. Scott Pruitt said Read More…

California bioscience company moving HQ to Denver area, creating 130 jobs

[Source: Denver Business Journal] A California bioscience company is moving its headquarters to Arapahoe County and creating some 130 new jobs, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade said Thursday. Viveve Medical Inc. (Nasdaq: VIVE) manufactures non-surgical devices for treatment of vaginal conditions. It is finalizing a lease and expects to relocate from Read More…

Coastal Commission to gain environmental justice member to represent low-income communities

[Source: Los Angeles Times] Gov. Jerry Brown on Saturday signed legislation aimed at providing a greater voice on the California Coastal Commission to racially diverse, low-income communities. Brown signed a bill by Assemblywoman Autumn R. Burke (D-Inglewood) that requires one of the members appointed to the Coastal Commission by the governor to work directly with low-income Read More…

Legislature declines to add ‘environmental justice’ members to Southern California air quality board

[Source: Los Angeles Times] The state Legislature has rejected a controversial measure that would have shifted the political balance of Southern California’s air-quality board by adding three state-appointed “environmental justice” members to represent low-income communities suffering from pollution. The legislation to expand the South Coast Air Quality Management District board from 13 to 16 members fell 11 votes short of passage in Read More…