Reporter

John Woolfolk

John Woolfolk is a reporter for the Bay Area News Group, based at The Mercury News. A native of New Orleans, he grew up near San Jose. He is a graduate of the UC Berkeley School of Journalism and has been a journalist since 1990, covering cities, counties, law enforcement, courts and other general news. He also has worked as an editor since 2013.

Proposed initiative would amend Proposition 47, the 2014 initiative, by strengthening theft penalties for repeat offenders and incentives for drug addicts to seek treatment.

Backers say they have enough signatures to qualify Prop 47 rollback initiative

April 19, 2024 at 4:13 p.m.

Proposed initiative would amend Proposition 47, the 2014 initiative, by strengthening theft penalties for repeat offenders and incentives for drug addicts to seek treatment.

Homeowners have been stung with massive increases in premiums -- if not stripped of coverage altogether.

California spent $3.7 billion reducing wildfire fuel. Bill would make insurers factor that into coverage

April 17, 2024 at 6:55 a.m.

Homeowners have been stung with massive increases in premiums -- if not stripped of coverage altogether.

Shanahan says Khanna encouraged her to run before publicly calling for her to drop out, but the Santa Clara congressman said he'd cautioned her that her candidacy would hurt issues she's championed.

RFK Jr.’s running mate in public dispute with Ro Khanna over her candidacy

April 11, 2024 at 3:58 p.m.

Shanahan says Khanna encouraged her to run before publicly calling for her to drop out, but the Santa Clara congressman said he'd cautioned her that her candidacy would hurt issues...

While fast food restaurants buckle under a state-mandated $20 minimum wage for their workers this month, Republican leaders noted a Lake Tahoe area cafe that's part of a hospitality group run by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's sister is seeking a $16-an-hour busser.

GOP raps Gov. Newsom as sister’s cafe seeks $16-an-hour busser while fast-food eateries must pay $20

April 3, 2024 at 3:40 p.m.

While fast food restaurants buckle under a state-mandated $20 minimum wage for their workers this month, Republican leaders noted a Lake Tahoe area cafe that's part of a hospitality group...

A bill could make California the first state to give workers the right to ignore calls, texts, emails or other communications from their bosses outside their normal work hours.

Business |
California could be first state to give workers right to ignore boss’s after-hours calls, texts, emails

April 2, 2024 at 4:21 a.m.

A bill could make California the first state to give workers the right to ignore calls, texts, emails or other communications from their bosses outside their normal work hours.

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara in 2022 promised homeowners that insurers would credit them for making their home less vulnerable to wildfires, but homeowners say aren't getting credits and are losing coverage anyway.

Real Estate |
Are California homeowners getting any insurance breaks for beefing up their property to protect against wildfires?

April 2, 2024 at 4:10 a.m.

Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara in 2022 promised homeowners that insurers would credit them for making their home less vulnerable to wildfires, but homeowners say aren't getting credits and are losing...

The president of the California FAIR Plan said that one bad wildfire could overwhelm the plan’s resources.

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California News |
California home insurance exodus pushes state’s last-resort backup plan toward insolvency

April 1, 2024 at 8:18 a.m.

The president of the California FAIR Plan said that one bad wildfire could overwhelm the plan’s resources.

California's largest insurer said it will not renew coverage for those homes.

California News |
California home insurance meltdown worsens as State Farm sheds 72,000 policies

March 22, 2024 at 9:19 a.m.

California's largest insurer said it will not renew coverage for those homes.

Commissioner sets meeting on proposal to let insurers use catastrophe prediction models to justify higher home policy prices.

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California News |
Will catastrophe modeling ease or worsen California insurance crisis?

March 15, 2024 at 8:26 a.m.

Commissioner sets meeting on proposal to let insurers use catastrophe prediction models to justify higher home policy prices.

Proposed California law would prohibit schools from offering foods with dyes Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6 and titanium dioxide, a white pigment. The FDA considers the additives safe.

On the heels of proposed “Skittles ban” last year, California moves to ban food dyes from school meals

March 13, 2024 at 5:24 p.m.

Proposed California law would prohibit schools from offering foods with dyes Blue 1 and 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5 and 6 and titanium dioxide, a white pigment. The...

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