The State Water Resources Control Board has placed California's Tulare Lake basin on "probationary" status for failing to address chronic overpumping of groundwater, causing water levels to decline and land to sink. This marks the first time the state has intervened to enforce measures under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. Large agricultural landowners will now be required to report water usage and pay fees, with potential for further state intervention if local agencies fail to address deficiencies in their groundwater plan. The decision aims to protect water resources and communities, but has sparked concerns among farmers about the impact on their livelihoods.
Chinese authorities have reportedly asked Ping An Insurance Group, one of China's largest insurers, to take a controlling stake in Country Garden, the country's biggest private property developer. The State Council has instructed the local government of Guangdong province, where both companies are based, to arrange a rescue of Country Garden by Ping An. While Ping An has denied the reports, authorities are keen to prevent any liquidity problems faced by Country Garden from spilling over to the wider economy. Talks between Ping An and authorities are still at an early stage, and if Ping An were to become Country Garden's controlling shareholder, authorities would like it to inject capital in stages to ease the developer's liquidity problems.
The Texas Education Agency will replace the superintendent and board of education trustees of the Houston Independent School District with a new board appointed by the state Commissioner of Education under a state law that allows the state to remove the board of districts with schools that are failing to meet certain state standards. The intervention is expected to take place in the next few months.
