Phil Willon covers Gov. Gavin Newsom and California politics for the Los Angeles Times. He reports from Sacramento and his previous assignments included the 2018 governor’s race and the 2016 U.S. Senate race. Before heading north, Willon covered Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and roamed Southern California’s mountains and deserts as the paper’s state correspondent in the Inland Empire. Prior to joining The Times, Willon served as the Washington, D.C., correspondent for the Tampa Tribune. At the Tribune, Willon also covered Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles, Hurricane Andrew and the investigation leading to the arrest of serial killer Danny Rolling. He began his newspaper career as the Kent Island correspondent for the Capital in Annapolis, Md. Willon grew up in Southern California and graduated from UC San Diego.
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Critics say Newsom frequently hypes announcements and keeps local government and public officials in the dark about his coronavirus plans.
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Celebrating MLK Day days after white supremacists joined a pro-Trump mob at the Washington insurrection, and faced with the limitations of a pandemic, social justice advocates find fear, hope and determination in California’s capital.
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Newsom said the governor’s Office of Emergency Services is coordinating the security response with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
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The complaint is focused on a $500,000 contribution to Rescue California, one of the campaign organizations supporting the recall.
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The party exposed something that has long been the subject of quiet discussion in Sacramento: Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to maintain a tight relationship with Jason Kinney, director of a lobbying firm with business before the governor.
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California students in kindergarten through second grade would be allowed back on campus when pandemic conditions improved under a proposal announced Wednesday.
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Padilla spoke with The Times by telephone shortly after his appointment was announced.
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Padilla, considered a politician to watch since his 20s, has served on the L.A. City Council, in the Legislature and as California secretary of state.
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Alex Padilla will be the first Latino to represent California in the U.S. Senate. He will succeed Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
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Groups that have the governor’s ear are already talking about what they would like to see in the next attorney general, including someone who will take aggressive action on criminal justice reform, police accountability, gun control and the environment.