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SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Gov. Gavin Newsom continued his statewide "rent and housing tour" with a stop in Los Angeles Wednesday, days after he signed a landmark rent control bill into law.

Newsom signed five new bills into law meant to address the state's housing crisis.

Some of the bills aim at making it easier for homeowners to turn their existing garages into "accessory dwelling units," or ADUs. The units then become affordable housing.

Assemblymember Laura Friedman authored the bills.

The free exchange of ideas and opinions, of fact-based independent reporting and the ability to illuminate issues from the world stage to the local, are not only what ushered in the founding of our nation, but are the breath that has kept it alive all these years. 

Since first being elected as your State Assemblymember in 2016, I have been given the privilege of writing opinion pieces in this paper. These op-eds have given me an opportunity to explain my perspective and to explore topics in-depth with the people of our district. 

The heads of the state legislative committees that oversee much of California's oil and gas industry are questioning whether a fine issued by state regulators against Chevron this week, for a massive uncontrolled release of crude petroleum in a Kern County oil field, will be effective.

California's Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources on Wednesday announced that it slapped the San Ramon-based oil giant with a $2.7 million fine for illegally allowing releases of large amounts of oil at one of the company's well sites in the Cymric Oil Field between May and July.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California is adopting nearly two dozen new laws aimed at preventing and fighting the devastating wildfires that have charred large swaths of the state in recent years, killing scores and destroying a Sierra foothills city last fall.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced signing the 22 bills Wednesday, saying several will also help the state meet its clean energy goals.

He said they largely enact recommendations from a June report by a governor's task force and build on $1 billion in the state budget devoted to preparing for wildfires and other emergencies.

After 86 people in the town of Paradise lost their lives in a massive wildfire last year, California lawmakers vowed to prepare the state for future infernos. But while millions of dollars are going toward new firefighting crews and technology, some say the state is overlooking an area in dire need of help: making homes and buildings safer.

For the 98th time since its incorporation, the Kiwanis Club of Burbank installed its elected officers.

Gathering at Pickwick Gardens Thursday, close to 100 local Kiwanians and guests were on hand to show their appreciation to outgoing president Luis Centeno, and their support to Caesar J. Milch, who was sworn-in as the club’s 2019-2020 president.

By Laura Friedman

There are few phrases in California politics that invoke as much passion as the words “high-speed rail.” The ambitious transportation infrastructure project seeking to move passengers from Los Angeles to San Francisco in two hours and 40 minutes, and ultimately connect San Diego to Sacramento, has become a centerpiece of public debate.

The two top California lawmakers that oversee the state's oil industry plan to call for hearings into a recent, massive oil spill in Kern County and revelations that officials at the agency that regulate oil wells held investments in the companies they were supposed to keep watch over.

SACRAMENTO — Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) today announced assignments for the membership of Assembly leadership positions and standing committees for the 2019-2020 legislative session.

There’s a not-so-silent killer on our streets – one responsible for 265 traffic-related deaths in Los Angeles County in 2016 alone.  In Glendale, where I previously served as Councilmember and Mayor prior to the Assembly, traffic-related injuries and fatalities rose 25% in 2016.  However, Glendale is not alone in this alarming trend; cities and neighborhoods across my district and throughout the Los Angeles region have seen an uptick in the overall number of traffic collisions involving other vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.  The statistics are alarming, and yet for decades, cities ha