Los Angeles, California - A Los Angeles-area woman and man who were responsible for more than $1.8 million in fraudulent Medicare billings—almost entirely for medically unnecessary power wheelchairs—have been found guilty of health care fraud.

Los Angeles, California - The owner of a Los Angeles-based international food distribution company pleaded guilty this afternoon to a federal charge of operating an unlicensed money transmittal business through which more than $17 million was transferred between Iran and the United States.

Sacramento, California - Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia’s AB 197 and AB 866, critical bills to our region passed today out of the Assembly.  AB 197 requires the Public Utilities Commission to direct investor and publicly owned utilities to procure renewable energy resources that supplement intermittent renewable resources, such as wind and solar.. AB 866 expands the role of the state Small Business Advocate to assisting small businesses overcome the challenges they face in meeting regulatory mandates.

Sacramento, California - Pundits here in drought-stricken California have become fond of proclaiming that farms consume 80% of the state’s water and generate only about 2% of its gross domestic product. “Why devote so much of our water to an industry that contributes so little fuel to our economic engine?” they ask.

Sacramento, California - The drought is expected to be worse for California’s agricultural economy this year because of reduced water availability, according to our preliminary estimates released today.

Los Angeles, California - Two individuals pleaded guilty today for their roles at fraudulent debt relief services companies that offered to settle credit card debts but instead took victims’ payments as undisclosed up-front fees, the Justice Department and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) announced.