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California’s energy agency and regulator have released their recommendations for how the state can lower customers’ electricity rates and make utility bills more affordable.

In its report, released Tuesday, the California Public Utility Commission recommends lowering the burden on customers who subsidize programs for low-income households and for solar panel owners by finding alternate funding sources for these programs.

Legislative officials in California are aiming to curb a deadly issue that impacts Santa Monica and beyond.

This past week, Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine) and colleagues held a press conference discussing her latest piece of legislation, AB 366. The bill takes aim at the state’s drunk driving events, stopping the expiration of California’s current interlock ignition device policy.

Anyone convicted of driving while under the influence would need to install a device on their car that would prevent the car from starting if it detected alcohol, legislators proposed last week.

Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine) was flanked by Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera), Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho, and a host of safety advocates and traffic enforcement officers to announce the introduction of A.B. 366, the Save Lives with Every Start bill.

“This is an urgent call to action,” said Petrie-Norris. “This bill we’re introducing today is a chance to save lives.”

Authorities on Friday arrested a driver who has three prior convictions for their alleged part in a DUI crash that left an 88-year-old man in Dana Point. 

The crash, which involved a Land Rover SUV and a Ford Transit van, happened around 6:15 p.m. at Golden Lantern and Stonehill Drive, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. 

Paramedics declared a passenger inside of the van dead at the scene. They have been identified as Melvin Joseph Weibel, of Dana Point. He was 88 years old.

Can self-piloting helicopters help fight California’s most challenging wildfires? Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris wants to find out.

The Irvine Democrat introduced a bill Tuesday, AB 270, that would require California’s emergency management office to set up a first-in-the-nation pilot program to test autonomous firefighting helicopters.