West

'Shrinking' California GOP to blame for state's problems argues LA Times columnist

Published

2 years ago

September 9, 2024

'Shrinking' California GOP to blame for state's problems argues LA Times columnist

California Republicans share some blame for the poverty, homelessness and crime currently plaguing the state, Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez argued.

Though Lopez acknowledged how Democrats “deserve to be on the hot seat” based on their current control in all statewide offices, he explained “none of that happened overnight, nor did it happen exclusively under Democratic leadership.”

“For decades, through Democratic and Republican leadership, California made the mistake of not building enough housing to keep up with the flood of people who moved here to fill jobs in the state’s burgeoning economy. It’s one of many factors in rising home prices and homelessness today,” Lopez wrote Saturday.

Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez argued decades of both Republican and Democratic leadership are responsible for California’s state of decline. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

FORMER DEMOCRAT TURNS REPUBLICAN: KAMALA HARRIS ‘DID NOTHING TO CHANGE THE SCHOOLS’ IN CALIFORNIA

He more directly blamed the GOP for crime and illegal immigration based on its support for gun rights and the agriculture industry.

“Many of them come here to work in the largely conservative agri-business industry, which looks the other way while writing campaign checks to GOP lawmakers. Many more come to escape narco-violence in Mexico, where as many as 70% of the guns are sourced from the U.S.,” Lopez wrote. “It’s more than a little bit hypocritical to bash crazy, reckless California on public safety when no amount of carnage in the nation, including mass shootings at shopping malls and schools (on Wednesday it was two students and two teachers dead at a Georgia high school), can loosen the gun lobby’s death grip on GOP lawmakers.”

Lopez acknowledged Democrats are currently in “the hot seat” for California. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

He also criticized Republicans for refusing to expand their base and regain power in California to solve these problems.

“In a state that proudly celebrates inclusion and leads the resistance to the politics of race-based scapegoating, climate change denial and the stripping of women’s reproductive rights, the out-of-touch GOP has been hell-bent on shrinking its tent. Reagan, who signed an abortion rights bill as governor and an immigrant amnesty bill as president, would be booted out of today’s GOP,” Lopez wrote.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF MEDIA AND CULTURE

“None of them has offered winning solutions to deep-seated problems, and it might be too late for a party resurgence because as the electorate has grown more diverse, GOP voter registration has dwindled to roughly 25%. You can’t blame Democrats for that,” he concluded.

Lopez blamed Republicans for their shrinking presence in California. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

California has not had a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger who served from 2003 to 2011.

Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to lindsay.kornick@fox.com and on Twitter: @lmkornick.

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Montana

Lawsuit seeks to “cement legality” of corner crossing in Montana

Published

32 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Press Room

Lawsuit seeks to “cement legality” of corner crossing in Montana

HELENA — A group of conservation advocacy organizations are suing the State of Montana to “cement the legality of corner crossing” in Montana.

On Thursday, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the Public Land and Water Access Association filed a lawsuit against Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks in Lewis and Clark County District Court.

The legal action comes one day after Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras, a Republican, addressed the Montana Environmental Quality Council about corner crossing.

(WATCH: Lt. Gov. Juras discusses corner crossing with Montana lawmakers)

Montana elected leaders discuss “corner crossing”

Corner crossing is the act of stepping from adjoining corners of public land without stepping on the adjacent private land.

While there is no state law or case law directly addressing corner crossing in Montana, FWP, under the Gianforte administration, has stated that corner crossing remains unlawful in Montana, and people should obtain permission from the adjoining landowners before crossing corners. Wardens have been instructed to use their discretion to cite individuals for trespassing if caught corner crossing.

The new lawsuit argues that FWP policy on corner crossing is “incorrect and unlawful.”

“Though not an attack on the agency overall, as both BHA and PLWA are currently defending FWP as intervenors in separate litigation, we fundamentally disagree with the Department on this issue and believe this must now be decided before a neutral court,” said Jake Schwaller, Chair of the Montana Chapter of BHA, in a press release. “There comes a time when we simply need to stand up for our public land, and this is our time.”

MTN News

Ladder used by the hunters in Wyoming corner crossing case

The plaintiffs in the case say they had met with FWP several times about corner crossing, but believe the lawsuit is their path forward to resolving the debate.

“Montanans deserve clear, consistent guidance on how they can access their public lands,” said Alex Leone, Executive Director for PLWA, in the press release. “There is a commonsense path that respects private property while ensuring public lands aren’t effectively blocked. We’ve worked in good faith to find that solution and remain ready to do so.”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL COMPLAINT

According to data from onX, there are around 1.5 million acres of public lands locked behind private property in the Treasure State. About 871,000 acres of public land in Montana is “corner locked.”

Much of the recent debate on corner crossing has followed developments last year in a Wyoming corner crossing case.

(WATCH: Corner Crossing in Montana explained)

Corner crossing in Montana explained

In October, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal from the 10th District Court of Appeals on Iron Bar Holdings v. Cape. The case stems from a land access dispute in Wyoming. In 2022, the ranch, owned by pharmaceutical executive Fred Eshelman, sued a group of hunters who used a ladder to corner cross onto public land that was locked in by Eshelman’s property. The suit alleged that the hunters trespassed when they passed through the airspace over the private property.

A federal district judge agreed with the hunters, stating that nothing they did violated federal law. When the 10th District Court of Appeals took up the case, it ruled a property owner could not create an obstacle that would limit free passage over public lands.

Since the Supreme Court did not take the case up, the ruling effectively became case law. However, that ruling only impacts states in the 10th Circuit; Montana is in the 9th Circuit.

MTN has spoken with several lawyers, including a prosecutor, about the issue of corner crossing. They agreed to provide background as long as it was off-camera due to the clients they represent. The consensus from the lawyers was that most county attorneys don’t pursue corner crossing trespassing cases.

Juras also testified before the EQC that she was not aware of a true corner crossing trespass case that had gone to trial.

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Nevada

Best Nevada high schools for athletes? One study has revealed a top 25

Published

44 minutes ago

May 15, 2026

Press Room

Best Nevada high schools for athletes? One study has revealed a top 25

Nevada has a rich history of producing athletic legends.

Total number of sports: 24

1. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)

Total number of sports: 14

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New Mexico

Find out how New Mexico hospitals rank for patient safety

Published

1 hour ago

May 15, 2026

Press Room

Find out how New Mexico hospitals rank for patient safety

Leapfrog released its 2026 spring hospital safety grades.

Grades are assigned based on overall performance, including patient safety.

The Leapfrog Group’s goal is to publicly report patient safety and quality information for the benefit of consumers, purchasers, and referring physicians as they make decisions about where to seek care and where to direct patients,” the company stated on its website.

Here’s how your local hospitals performed.

MountainView Regional Medical Center – A

Leapfrog gave MountainView an “A.”

“Being the only hospital in Doña Ana County to earn an ‘A’ from The Leapfrog Group speaks to the high standards our team sets – and meets – every day,” said MountainView CEO Patrick Shannon. “This achievement reflects the dedication of our physicians, nurses, and employees to deliver the safest care possible for our community.”

“An ‘A’ Grade is a strong sign that MountainView is deeply committed to protecting patients from harm,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. “We commend the leadership, Board, clinicians, staff and volunteers for the role each played in earning this distinction.”

The hospital performed better than average in several areas including low infection rates, addressing safety problems, and ICU care. The hospital received below average performances ratings in surgical site infections post colon surgery, communication about medicine and discharge, communication with doctors and nurses and nursing and bedside care for patients.

Memorial Medical Center – B

Memorial Medical Center received a “B” grade from Leapfrog.

The hospital performed well in effective leadership, reduction and prevention of infections and addressing safety problems.

The hospital received below average ratings for kidney injury after surgery, serious breathing problems, harmful events, communication about medicine and discharge, and communication with doctors and nurses.

Not rated by Leapfrog were Three Crosses Regional Hospital.