Here are the morning’s top stories on Wednesday, May 14, 2025…
- People who get their homeowners’ or renters’ insurance from State Farm will be seeing a bump in their insurance rates. The increase will average 17% for homeowners and 38% for rental units. State Farm is the largest property insurer in California.
- A Los Angeles County judge has granted a request for resentencing the Menendez Brothers, Erik and Lyle Menendez. After serving 35 years in prison for the murder of their parents, the brothers have been resentenced from a life sentence without parole, to 50 years to life. This reduced sentence makes the brothers eligible for parole under the state’s youthful offenders law, because they were under 26 at the time of the murder.
Budget Season in California
Right now, grassroots advocates from around the state are heading to Sacramento to plead for the funding they need for key community programs and projects. Often times, participating in the budget process and public committee hearings can be a heavy lift. That rings especially true for those outside Sacramento’s high-powered lobbyist class. Everyday people are driving hours or even booking flights to the state capitol, in an effort to get more funding. And during this time, these grassroots advocates have to compete with professional lobbyists for law makers time and attention. The state legislature has until June 15th to pass a budget plan.