Wildfires are threatening homes across California. Those fires are offering critical data and insight that can be used by first-responders and government agencies to prevent them in the first place and better rebuild communities when they do occur.

Comstock’s publisher Winnie Comstock-Carlson on downtown Sacramento’s attempts to reinvent itself and how retail shopping was — and still is — one key element in its rejuvenation. 

Giving days are catching on throughout social media, and many communities and specific causes, have created their own smaller-scale giving days to raise much-needed money.

“Succession planning has become more difficult for family-owned businesses as generations break from the family operation to forge their own paths.” 

It’s likely we’ve all either worked for or even owned a family business — there are nearly 1.4 million of them, according to an advocacy group, and collectively they employ 7 million people. 

Women comprise nearly 50 percent of the American workforce, but they make up barely a quarter of all senior executives at large U.S. public companies — and only around 5 percent of Standard & Poor’s 500 companies have female CEOs.

The Fair Labor Standards Act has strict rules regarding paying nonexempt employees, and California is even stricter; one of the key components is that employees must be paid for every hour they work

Next year, voters will be asked to amend Prop. 13 through a ballot measure that will upset more than 40 years of that steadiness and a “no surprises” business environment. It’s a tax hit businesses can’t afford, especially in an economy with flat consumer spending and trade tariffs.

California continues to surf a huge economic wave with year-after-year tourism growth, generating more than $140 billion for the state last year and supporting the livelihoods of millions of residents. But as any big wave surfer knows, the thrill of success also comes with perils, and in the case of tourism, the situation can get gnarly fast. 

A good leader is someone whose people are productive, innovative and excited to be part of the team. How does an employee — particularly one new to a leadership role — develop the skills to create and manage such a team?