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Activists want California to ban fracking. What does Gov. Newsom want?

California has been deeply involved with the oil and gas business since the first wooden derricks were erected in sleepy Kern County in the 19th century. But these days California is flush with laws, regulations and goals that will likely cause the state to eventually sever its long relationship with fossil fuels.

Cosmetics industry crushes bill that would have made makeup and hair products safer

The $70-billion cosmetics industry prevailed over California consumers this week, succeeding in shelving a bill that would ban potentially toxic ingredients from makeup, hair products and other personal-care goods.

The state Assembly’s Environment, Safety and Toxic Materials Committee put off a scheduled vote on the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (AB 495) as it became clear to supporters they didn’t have enough votes to move the bill to the Assembly Health Committee, which was to take up the legislation on April 23.

Cosmetics industry crushes bill that would have made makeup and hair products safer

The $70-billion cosmetics industry prevailed over California consumers this week, succeeding in shelving a bill that would ban potentially toxic ingredients from makeup, hair products and other personal-care goods.

The state Assembly’s Environment, Safety and Toxic Materials Committee put off a scheduled vote on the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act (AB 495) as it became clear to supporters they didn’t have enough votes to move the bill to the Assembly Health Committee, which was to take up the legislation on April 23.

As concerns mount about injuries from electric scooters, Bird pulls repairs in-house

It was the day after Christmas when Mirona Constantinescu decided to take a dockless Bird scooter from a café in Bankers Hill to her home just several blocks away.

Cruising in the bike lane on Fourth Avenue, the 32-year-old hit the brakes around Laurel Street — but the scooter didn’t stop.

“I pushed the break again, and I heard this beep, and the scooter starts going faster,” she said. “I had to make a very quick decision. I just veered into a parked car.”

Legislation introduced to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarette and other tobacco products

Bill meant to stop upswing in youth nicotine consumption

Torrance, CA – Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) joined other state lawmakers in coauthoring Senate Bill 38 which will prohibit the sale of flavored e-cigarette and other tobacco products. The legislation covers flavored e-cigarettes, e-hookahs, e-pipes and other vaping devices as well as flavored smokable and non-smokable products, such as cigars, cigarillos, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, dissolvable tobacco and tobacco edibles. Violators would face civil penalties ranging from $400 to $600 for the first incident to $5,000 to $6,000 for a fifth violation in a five-year period.

Legislation introduced to ban sale of cosmetics that contain toxic chemicals

Torrance, CA – Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), along with Joint Author Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), introduced Assembly Bill 495, which would ban the use of toxic chemicals in cosmetics.  The bill would ban the sale of products containing toxic chemicals such as mercury, lead, phthalates, formaldehyde, among others.  In addition, the bill expands the California

Landmark bill would ban cosmetics with toxic ingredients

Lawmakers are taking beauty ingredients more seriously.

A new bill attempts to ban asbestos, lead, formaldehyde, and 17 other toxic chemicals in cosmetics. California lawmakers introduced the landmark bill on Tuesday, noting that sales of such products would be deemed illegal in the state. AB 495, the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act, would be the first of its kind in the country.

Legislation introduced requiring school districts to prohibit or restrict smartphone use on school grounds during school hours

Torrance, CA – Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) introduced Assembly Bill 272, which would require school districts to develop a policy that either prohibits or restricts the use of smartphones on school grounds during school hours.  Schools districts would be given authority to develop the details of the smartphone usage policy, allowing exceptions for emergencies and

California Is Attempting to Ban Toxic Chemicals in Makeup

Being dubbed as a "common-sense proposal" by one supporter, the Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act is specifically aimed at products that contain traces of mercury, asbestos, formaldehyde, and lead among others.

"Californians deserve to know whether the cosmetic products they purchase in the state are not harmful to their health," Assembly member Al Muratsuchi (D),and a co-sponsor of the state bill said in a statement.

More California students may be banned from using cellphones at school under new bill

California students could be restricted or banned from using smartphones at school under a bill by a state lawmaker who says the devices can interfere with classroom learning.

The measure by Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) would require school boards to adopt policies that limit or prohibit the use of cellphones on school grounds, leaving it up to them what their rules would do.