Adam Beam

Associated Press

Today in Manufacturing Podcast

Today in Manufacturing Podcast

Today in Manufacturing has a new podcast brought to you by the editors of Industrial Media. In each episode, we discuss the five biggest stories in manufacturing, and the implications they have on the industry moving forward.

Abigail Disney, granddaughter of Walt Disney Co. co-founder Roy Disney, speaks with reporters at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020. Disney testified before state lawmakers in support of a bill that would raise taxes on some of the country's largest corporations. The size of the tax increase would depend on the gap between what a company pays its CEO versus the average salary for employees. The larger the gap, the higher the tax increase.

Calif. Targets Companies with Highly Paid Execs

Tax increases would depend on how much its highest-paid executive makes compared to its employees.

In this July 23, 2019, file photo, Gov. Gavin Newsom talks to reporters at his Capitol office, in Sacramento, Calif. California could become the first state with its own prescription drug label. Newsom announced Thursday, Jan. 9, 2020, he wants California to contract with generic drug companies to make prescription medications on behalf of the state so it can sell them to the public. He said the goal is to lower prices by increasing competition in the generic market. State lawmakers must approve the plan before it can take effect.

Calif. Could Start State Prescription Label

It could lower prices by increasing competition in the generic market.

In this Oct. 31, 2019, file photo, smoke from a wildfire known as the Maria Fire billows above Santa Paula, Calif. California's preemptive power shutoffs to prevent wildfires have affected more than just lights. Some lost their phones, too.

Calif. Eyes Back-Up Power for Cellphone Towers

Outages affect more than just cellphones.

In this June 19, 2008 file photo, a truck drives past Mt. Shasta, near Weed, Calif. California regulators will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019 about whether to require a certain percentage of truck sales to be zero emission vehicles. California has some of the worst air quality in the nation, largely driven by pollution from cars and trucks.

Calif. Considers Zero Emission Truck Requirement

It could become the first to require a portion of new truck sales be electric or 'zero emission' vehicles.

In this July 24, 2019, file photo, Gov. Gavin Newsom tours the Chevron oil field west of Bakersfield where a spill of more than 800,000 gallons flowed into a dry creek bed in McKittrick, Calif. Newsom's administration has temporarily banned new oil wells in California if they use an extraction method that is linked to an ongoing oil spill in Kern County. On Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2019, the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources announced it will not approve new oil wells that use high-pressure steam to soften the thick crude underground so it can flow more easily.

California Puts Brakes on Fracking Permits

Gov. Gavin Newsom is halting approval of hundreds of fracking permits until independent scientists can review them.

Pacific Gas & Electric CEO Bill Johnson discusses the utilities' decision to turn off power for millions of people to prevent California wildfires during an oversight hearing of the Energy, Utilities and Communications committee at the Capitol in Sacramento, CA on Monday, Nov. 18.

PG&E Boss Says it Wasn’t Fully Ready for Outages

The company's CEO blamed the poor response to the blackouts on a sense of complacency after a much smaller outage went well earlier this year.

In this Sept. 18, 2019 file photo California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, right, flanked by Gov. Gavin Newsom, discusses the Trump administration's pledge to revoke California's authority to set vehicle emissions standards that are different than the federal standards, during a news conference in Sacramento, Calif. Twenty-three states have sued to stop the Trump administration from revoking California's authority to set emission standards for cars and trucks. Becerra is leading the lawsuit filed Friday, Sept. 20 along with Newsom and the California Air Resources Board.

23 States Sue to Keep CA's Emission Rules

The cities of New York and Los Angeles and the District of Columbia also joined the lawsuit.

CA Looks to Preserve Clout

The administration's move to stop California from setting its own emission standards would undermine it's ability to convince automakers to make more environmentally-friendly vehicles.

113-Month Job Growth Ties Record

This data tied a record as the world's fifth largest economy continues its recovery from the Great Recession.

21 States Sue Over New Coal Rules

Opponents feel new regulations ease restrictions on coal-fired power plants, with California's governor saying the President is trying to rescue an outdated industry.

EPA Won't Approve Roundup Labels

It's the state of California versus the EPA on how to handle the chemical glyphosate, which is "probably carcinogenic."