West News

California Advances Legislation Cracking Down on Auto Theft, Stolen Goods Resellers

The California Senate approved a bipartisan package of 15 bills this that would increase penalties for organized crime rings, expand drug court programs and close a legal loophole to make it easier to prosecute auto thefts. One proposal would require …

After Wildfire, Hawaii Fire Crews Take Stock of Their Ability to Communicate in a Crisis

Fire departments across the state are reevaluating their emergency communication capabilities after the Maui wildfires, when the vulnerability of the island’s cellular network — and a lack of advanced communication tools in fire vehicles — complicated efforts by first responders …

People Moves: SAIF Names Graneto Chief Financial Officer; Chapman and Crandall Join Alliant Employee Benefits; Huihui Joins Alliant’s Hawaii Team

SAIF Promotes Graneto to Chief Financial Officer SAIF, headquartered in Salem, Oregon, promoted Todd Graneto to chief financial officer. In his new role, Graneto will be responsible for the financial services division, including financial reporting, budgets, corporate accounting, and billing …

California Janitorial Company Owners Arraigned for $2.4M Insurance Fraud

The husband-and-wife owners of a janitorial company were arraigned on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud after an investigation allegedly found the couple underreported payroll for their company by more than $2.4 million to illegally save on workers’ compensation insurance …

New Cars in California Could Alert Drivers for Breaking The Speed Limit

California could eventually join the European Union in requiring all new cars to alert drivers when they break the speed limit, a proposal aimed at reducing traffic deaths that would likely impact motorists across the country should it become law. …

Bristol Myers, Sanofi Liability in Hawaii Plavix Case Grows to $916 Million

A judge in Hawaii on Tuesday ordered Bristol Myers Squibb and Sanofi to pay more than $916 million to the state for failing to warn non-white patients of health risks from its blood thinner Plavix, up from an earlier judgment …

Los Angeles Jury Awards $58M to Injured Train Yard Worker

A Los Angeles jury awarded $58 million to a train yard worker who slipped and fell on top of a train while performing electrical repairs at Kinkisharyo International’s Palmdale train manufacturing yard. According to the lawsuit, Pablo Scipione, 46, of …

Containment on Arizona Wind-Driven Wildfire Grows

Roughly 200 firefighters continued to battle a wildfire in Arizona that quickly grew to more than 14,000 acres. Firefighters have kept the Wildcat Fire size from growing over the past day, but extremely low humidity, warm temperatures and gusty afternoon …

California Mushroom Farms That Were Sites of Fatal Shootings Fined $450K

The owners of two Northern California mushroom farms where a farmworker killed seven people in back-to-back shootings last year will pay more than $450,000 in back wages and damages to 62 workers, the Labor Department announced. The owners of California …

US Regulator Launches Probe of VinFast Crash in California in Which Four Died

U.S. auto safety investigators said on Monday they have launched an investigation into the April crash of a VinFast 0TL.F, VFS.O VF 8 electric vehicle in Pleasanton, California, in which a family of four died. The National Highway Traffic Safety …

West News Archives by Month