Drinking Water of Some Californians Exceeds Limit for 'Erin Brockovich' Chemical
When Erin Brockovich went after PG&E for poisoning groundwater in the desert town of Hinkley -- a campaign that later became a film starring Julia Roberts -- the toxic chemical was a heavy metal called hexavalent chromium. Also known as chromium 6, it's listed as causing cancer, developmental harm and reproductive harm in both men and women. A new report finds Hinkley isn't the only California city with chromium 6 contamination.
Would California's Proposed Tobacco Tax Hike Reduce Smoking? Just Ask New Yorkers
In November, voters in California and three other states will decide on whether to raise their tobacco tax. California currently has one of the lowest cigarette taxes in the nation at 87 cents per pack. If voters pass Proposition 56, the tax would go up to $2.87 a pack. The money would fund health care for the poor and cessation programs. So, do tobacco taxes work to help people quit?