Jim Patterson Archives - California Globe

California Adding 5 Temporary Natural Gas Power Plants to Help Alleviate Energy Shortage

August 20, 2021 3:09 pmAugust 21, 2021 11:18 pm

The California Department of Water Resources (CDWR) announced on Thursday that the state will be temporarily expanding natural gas power by adding new power plants due to energy supply concerns. According to the CDWR, five new gas powered generators will...

EDD Changes Unemployment Payment Policy Following Lawsuit

July 23, 2021 11:07 am

The Employment Development Department (EDD) announced on Thursday that unemployment payments would now be going through for claimants while they are under investigation or otherwise have been pending for more than two weeks under a new “pay now” policy. Specifically,...

Fatal Hit-And-Run Penalty Bill Fails To Move Past Appropriations For Third Year In A Row

May 21, 2021 11:51 am

An Assembly Bill that would have increased penalties for fatal hit-and-run incidents failed to move past the California Assembly Appropriations Committee on Thursday, effectively ending the bill campaign for the third time in three years. Assembly Bill 582, authored by...

Fatal Hit And Run Penalty Increase Bill Approved By Assm. Public Safety Committee

April 9, 2021 2:40 amApril 8, 2021 8:47 pm

For the third time in three years, a bill that would broaden the definition of hit-and-run incidents and increase prison sentences for those causing fatalities passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee. Assembly Bill 582, authored by Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R–Fresno),...

The Fallout of EDD Director Sharon Hilliard’s Resignation

November 2, 2020 8:20 pm

Over the weekend, Employment Development Department Director Sharon Hilliard resigned, opening up the likelihood of more extreme changes at the EDD next year. The EDD has been through a tumultuous year and has put the usually low-key organization in the...

EDD Begins To Reduce Backlogged Unemployment Claims Following System Updates

October 8, 2020 3:44 pmOctober 9, 2020 6:50 am

On Wednesday, the Employment Development Department (EDD) announced that 246,000 of the 1.6 million backlogged unemployment claims have been paid and mailed following a two-week hiatus of claims. However, the backlog will still take well into January 2021 to address....

Gov. Newsom Forms ‘Strike Team’ To Solve Unemployment Issues, Delays At The EDD

July 31, 2020 2:29 amJuly 30, 2020 7:35 pm

On Wednesday, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the formation of a “strike team” to solve numerous issues plaguing the Employment Development Department (EDD). Governor Newsom’s EDD “strike team” Fronted by Government Operations Agency Secretary Yolanda Richardson and open government group Code...