California

In a long read published in Places, Austin Troy delves into the complicated nexus between the need to increase water resources and decrease energy use, which are both exacerbated by, and exacerbate, climate change.

Tim Sheehan investigates the lessons -- both successes and mistakes -- that can be learned from Spain's 20-year history with high speed trains.

The State Supreme Court struck down redevelopment. Now it's up to the political players in California to strike a deal to bring it back. Can they do it? And what will the state's price be?

The court's decision is likely to have far-reaching effects on how cities in California finance and facilitate urban redevelopment.

Writing in The Atlantic Cities, Nate Berg looks at why the discouraging results of one pilot project has implementation of L.A.'s heralded new bicycle master plan off to an inauspicious start.

California has 7 of the 20 cities with the poorest air quality, according to a list complied by Forbes. Bakersfield, which has 60 days of unhealthy air a year, takes the top spot for its hot and dusty weather and proximity to oil fields.

Coachella Valley is home to agriculture, music festivals, and impoverished residents living in shanty mobile homes. Drinkable water, reliable electricity, basic sanitation, and clean air are scarce, says California Watch.

In early 2012, Facebook will launch a yet-to-be-named app that will allow 800 million users to access home energy usage information provided by their utility company. This 'Social Energy Application' will help users manage their energy.

In his last public appearance, Steve Jobs assumes the role of a land use advocate seeking to double the number of trees, move parking underground, and provide a self sufficient energy source for Apple's new campus in Cupertino.

The Mayors of West Hollywood, Santa Monica, Culver City, and the Vice Mayor of Beverly Hills discuss local redevelopment and planning in the face of state intervention. The conversation centers on politics, projects, transportation, and parking.

Researchers found in their analysis of 300 California municipalities that the cities that had slow growth or anti-growth policies were less impacted by the housing crisis, writes Mark Bergen for Forbes.

CA Speaker of the Assembly John Pérez discusses the current challenges faced by government in California, drawing particular attention to the struggle for consensus on how the State should support economic development at the local level. (VIDEO)

County of Riverside Supervisor Jeff Stone proposes breaking up California in order to form a new "State of South California."

The Kern County grand jury concludes that Maricopa no longer has the resources to maintain its status and duties as an incorporated city. One example includes accepting an $8,000 loan from a tow truck operator to make City payroll.

The California governor made an unscheduled appearance in front of the state's Strategic Growth Council -- unstaffed -- to find out what they're up to.

Cities in California, Florida, Arizona, and Nevada that were "sunburnt" by the economic recession need to smartly manage their future growth.

Infill development has been championed largely by architects, planners, and activist groups like the Congress for New Urbanism. Now developers have finally banded together in the Infill Builders Assoc. to insist that infill can be good business.

Laurent Belsie takes a first look at some unexpected results from Tuesday's data release.

In San Francisco, Bernal Hill residents with dubious claims of health risks from microwave antennas have persuaded their supervisor to kill a wireless service providers plan to add to an already existing antenna, says Todd Lappin.

Federal incentives have set off a rush to get solar power plants permitted for the California deserts. Plants approved before January could cover a combined 53 square square miles. Clean energy fans are happy. Desert tortoises, not so much.