In today's newscast:
Growing Plaskett Fire reaches over 26,000 acres
The Plaskett Fire in Big Sur more than tripled in size over the past few days. As of Tuesday morning, it has reached over 27 thousand acres and is one percent contained.
Evacuation warnings now extend into parts of northern San Luis Obispo (SLO) County. In an update posted by Cal Fire, spokesperson Neil Gamboa said the fire moved into the Los Burros Ridge area in southern Monterey County.
"Crews will continue to monitor the activity moving with the Los Burros line over to the west to Highway One,” said Gamboa.
Evacuation orders have also been issued for parts of southern Monterey County along the northern SLO County border.
Highway 1 remains closed near the fire. Details about evacuations and other resources are on our Big Sur Fires page.
That reporting from our partner, KCBX.
A bill to limit monopolistic behavior from corporations
The bill would make it easier for California’s Attorney General to bring legal cases against companies that’ve monopolized a market or product.
California law bans two companies from joining forces to form a monopoly. This bill would allow the state to go after single monopsonistic companies, too.
Democratic assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry introduced the bill.
“If you make the product or have the best business acumen, we want you to grow and succeed in California," she said. "However, if you use your power to hurt small businesses, jack up consumer prices, or leave workers with nowhere to go, that should be illegal in California.”
Business groups and California’s biotechnology sector fought the bill hard and ultimately succeeded in negotiating amendments to water it down. It would’ve allowed individuals to sue companies directly, but that provision was stripped out of the bill.
It now heads to the governor’s desk.
That reporting from our partner, CapRadio.