The bipartisan bill approved by the state legislature on Tuesday now goes to Governor Gavin Newsom, who has until Sept. 30 to sign it into law. Newsom hasn’t taken a position on the legislation and his office declined to comment. If he does enact the bill, California will become the ninth state to legalize plug-in solar since 2025.

Four officials in Avenal, Calif., who refused to step down after being recalled earlier this year are “not lawfully” in office, a judge ruled on Monday.

The officials — including the longtime mayor, who is part of the City Council, and three other council members — have remained in office since the April recall, arguing that it was unauthorized. The standoff has become one of the messiest recall battles in modern California history and a highly unusual case of election denialism.

Judge Jennifer Giuliani of Kings County Superior Court ruled Monday that the four City Council members “do not lawfully hold or exercise their respective offices” and that the positions have been “vacant” since the election results were certified on May 28.

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.today/post/58898119

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/51780771

A man dressed as the iconic “Star Wars” villain Darth Vader on Wednesday appeared to defend the use of Flock cameras before the San Diego City Council, assuring that “this is what the emperor needs.”

The man approached the podium to address the Public Safety and Livable Neighborhoods Committee meeting, with the character’s signature breathing audible to the council chamber’s microphone. The council addressed him as “Darth Vader.”

“This is what the emperor needs. This technology will help us find the rebel scum and the hidden base on Hoth,” the man said, referring to the ice planet from “The Empire Strikes Back.”

He urged that the cameras be used to surveil any “rebel scum as they move from playground to playground, from playground to pool, from pool to gymnasium, because we all know that the Flock cameras are not only following the license plate readers, they are following children.”

This is done by the federal government to prop up the balance book of companies making Roundup, while poisoning leftist.

From the outside, the city of Avenal appears to embody every bit of its motto – an “oasis in the sun”. Approaching the community, passing through the dusty yellow hillsides of the Central valley, Avenal emerges with a sudden burst of green on the horizon.

Its small-town feel and quiet tree-lined streets offer respite from the bustling Interstate 5 about five miles away. But trouble is brewing here that has brought this lonesome city national attention.

In April, voters in the city of 13,500 people recalled four of five city council members, in what recall organizers said was a first in California. And, in another first, the city council members have simply remained in office.

For months, they have refused to accept the results, alleging that the recalls were improperly conducted, and have carried on holding meetings, overseeing city business and suing in an effort to invalidate the election. ...