"New California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas takes on state's pressing challenges"

Robert Rivas, a Democrat representing a rural district in California, has been sworn in as the new speaker of the state Assembly. He is the first lawmaker from a rural district to hold this position in the state's modern history. Rivas pledged to address key issues such as housing and homelessness, public services and infrastructure, and climate change. His inaugural ceremony drew a wide range of political figures, and he was praised for his background in agriculture and his commitment to unity. Rivas, inspired by his grandfather's work with farmworkers, has championed farmworker protections throughout his political career.