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California's Official State Rock Can Give You Cancer
Whether you knew it or not (or even cared), California has an official state rock. It's called serpentine and it contains a mineral -- chrysotile asbestos -- that's not so good for your health. Now State Senator Gloria Romero of Los Angeles wants the title to be stripped, according to the Sacramento Bee. "California should not designate a rock known to be toxic to the health of its residents as the state's official rock," reads her legislation. SB 624, which will be heard in an Assembly Committee on Monday, would leave the state without an official rock. But as the Bee notes, there are plenty of other official whatchamacallits, such as the state grass (purple needlegrass) and the official state fossil (the saber-toothed cat).
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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