California saw major developments in politics, public safety and tech this week, while Sacramento saw a former city council member take a plea deal. Here are the top stories from April 19-24.
• Former state controller Betty Yee suspended her campaign for governor, citing a lack of resources needed to remain competitive. She had polled at 2% in recent surveys.
• Former Sacramento City Councilmember Sean Loloee pleaded guilty to federal charges including obstructing U.S. Department of Labor investigations, underreported taxes tied to off-the-books pay at his Viva Supermarket stores and fraudulently obtaining nearly $1.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. He agreed to pay $1.4 million in restitution and forfeit about $1 million.
• Sacramento council members unveiled a proposed resolution to ban the use of city-owned property for immigration enforcement. Advocates said the measure lacked a timeline and enforcement power.
• A California bill would require autonomous vehicle manufacturers to be cited for traffic violations committed by their driverless cars.
• Kenneth Kin Chee, founder and CEO of Devastating Pyrotechnics, made his first court appearance on seven murder counts tied to the July 2025 Esparto warehouse explosion that killed seven workers.
• A group says it gathered more than 1.1 million signatures for a ballot measure that would hold ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft legally liable for sexual misconduct during rides.
• Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram and other sites, announced plans to lay off about 10% of its workforce — nearly 80,000 employees — starting May 20.
• A 25-year-old Southern California mountain biker died after being bitten by a rattlesnake while cycling at a trailhead.
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