A Superior Court panel had reversed a driver’s conviction for a traffic infraction and $158 fine in San Jose, ruling that the law prohibited only “actively using or manipulating” a hand-held phone for actions such as talking or listening, browsing the internet or playing video games while driving. The appeals court reinstated the conviction and the fine, in a ruling that could set a statewide standard unless it is narrowed or overturned on appeal.

The state Supreme Court seemed sympathetic Wednesday to arguments by environmental groups that California regulators are overcharging the 1.5 million users of rooftop-solar electric systems in order to cut costs for utility companies.

(Subscription required) A three-judge panel asked a U.S. Justice Department attorney about "the ordinary meaning" of the 14th Amendment while questioning whether it should wait for a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on nationwide injunctions.

This report explores responses from California adults—and public school parents in particular—to a range of questions, from the relative and absolute importance of civic education to perceptions of how the local public schools are performing in this realm to the topics and activities that should be the focus of a civic education. We then offer reflections and recommendations for moving forward.