"California Republicans Call for Probe into Newsom's Panera Bread Wage Law Exemption"

Republican lawmakers in California are calling for an investigation into Governor Gavin Newsom's ties to a Panera franchisee and the restaurant's exemption from a new state law requiring major fast-food chains to pay workers $20 an hour. The exemption, reportedly influenced by a billionaire franchisee and Newsom donor, has raised questions about the legislative process and campaign contributions. Newsom's office denies any impropriety, stating that the exemption applies to bakeries that produce bread on-site, while critics argue that the appearance of favoritism is concerning. Democratic lawmakers involved in the law's passage claim ignorance of the exemption's origins, while calls for an independent investigation persist.