News

Wholesale gas prices rose 6 to 10 cents in California after a large explosion at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance injured four workers and shut down a portion of the plant..

Administration officials have estimated $1.7 billion in revenue from the fees by June 30, 2016, the end of the state’s next fiscal year. But legislative analysts say the state could rake in between $3.3 billion and $7.7 billion in that period.

About one-fifth of the city’s water pipes were installed before 1931 and nearly all will reach the end of their useful lives in the next 15 years. They are responsible for close to half of all water main leaks, and replacing them is a looming, $1-billion problem for the city.

The space tourism company founded by British billionaire Richard Branson said it was opening a facility next to the Long Beach Airport that would eventually employ 100 engineers and other employees.

Shipping companies said they will stop unloading ships at West Coast ports for four of the next five days because they don’t want to pay overtime to workers they allege have deliberately slowed operations.

The release of climate change proposals by Senate Democrats on Tuesday quickly spawned a heated debate over the direction of California’s economy and the potential effect of new environmental regulations.

But there was wide variation across the state. Areas such as Stockton, Fresno and the Inland Empire east of Los Angeles ranked among the bottom 10 of the country’s large metro areas, showing the geographic disparities of high-value jobs in California.

Gasoline traders reacted quickly to the first nationwide oil refinery walkout in more than three decades, pumping up wholesale prices to their highest level in more than a month..

“California’s finances are roaring back,” the report said. “History would suggest, however, that any fiscal renaissance will be temporary.”

Business leaders say L.A.’s business tax rate is too high and puts local firms at a competitive disadvantage. Since taking office in 2013, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti has said he wants to reduce the tax to stimulate economic growth in the city.

Locally, logistic jobs increased and dockworker pay surged as businesses throughout the United States ordered more products from Asia to meet growing demand at home. Cargo volumes at the neighboring ports climbed nearly 4% from 2013 to 15.2 million container units, making 2014 the third-busiest year on record, behind only 2006 and 2007.

Proponents of the degrees say the programs could provide the state with thousands of workers in technical fields at a lower price. A four-year degree at a community college would cost about $10,000 in tuition, roughly half the cost of attending a Cal State campus, according to estimates.

Since February 2010, U.S. manufacturing employment has increased at a rate of 6.7%, with some Midwestern and Southern states such as Indiana and South Carolina seeing gains of 15% or more. By contrast, California manufacturing has grown at about 1% over the same period.

Housing developers are pushing a state bond because, without it, their share of school construction costs — passed on to home buyers — would double. School construction has been funded one-third each by local property taxpayers, developers and the state.

Jobs in the the solar sector have jumped 86% since 2010 and employment is expected to continue to rise in 2015 and 2016, although an expiring tax credit may stunt growth, according to the report. . . About 62% of installation firms said they would lay off workers once the 30% federal investment tax credit expires and reverts to 10% in 2017.