California was admitted as the 31st state of the Union 175 years ago today on September 9, 1850. The matter was fraught with tensions of the day, with debates raging here and in Congress over the state’s boundaries, whether it should be one state or two, and of course the slavery question.

The legislation seeks to address California’s long-term water supply challenges through several provisions. It would set statewide water supply targets, update the California Water Plan to account for regional needs, and require collaboration and reporting among state agencies, water managers, and other stakeholders.

(Subscription required) In California, veterans facing criminal charges may receive treatment rather than incarceration through either collaborative courts -- where judges and court teams closely supervise rehabilitation -- or diversion programs, which divert defendants pretrial into treatment with far less court authority or oversight.

Throughout U.S. history, the Golden State has been a leader in realizing the American Dream, leading both by example and by influence. Today, California remains a beacon of endless possibilities, defined by its enduring promise of reinvention, discovery, and freedom.