Free Republic

Gov. Jerry Brown is ordering California to permanently follow some conservation measures taken during the state's drought. Brown's order on Monday came as water officials consider whether to ease a 20 percent conservation order for cities and towns. The order does not set a mandatory percentage for saving water. The latest call for changes came after El Nino storms left a healthy snowpack and brimming water reservoirs in Northern California. Brown's executive order requires cities and towns to continue monthly reporting of water use. In addition, bans on overwatering lawns will become lasting. Brown's executive order also requires better drought...

At midnight Monday, the official deadline arrives for Americans to sign up through the new federal health insurance exchange for health plans that begin Jan. 1. But, without any public announcement, Obama administration officials have changed the rules so that people will have an extra day to enroll, according to two individuals with knowledge of the switch. Over the weekend, government officials and outside IT contractors working on the online marketplace’s computer system made a software change that automatically gives people a Jan. 1 start date for their new coverage as long as they enroll by 11:59 p.m. on Christmas...