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Presents excerpts of conversations between Enron employees taped in 2000. Negotiations with Snohomish, Washington city government on power contract; Personal take of Jeffrey Richter from the California government; California's initial effort to cap the price of power sold in the state.

Reports that Congress is poised to pass a law that would strike down groundbreaking rules in California intended to give people the power to stop banks, insurers and brokerage firms owned by the same company from sharing their financial details. Background on the law, which was passed by the California legislature two months ago; Claims by opponents of the bill that it would lead to the creation of a patchwork of legislation across different states; Comments by Senator Dianne Feinstein on her attempts to get a similar law through the U.S. Congress; Concerns by consumer advocacy group that people will lose control of their credit records.

Reports that the U.S. National Aeronautics & Space Administration has transferred authority for the investigation of the shuttle Columbia disaster to an independent review board. Explanation for the crash that has yet to be determined; Statement from Ron D. Dittemore, the shuttle program manager; Evaluation of the debris that has been found in California and Arizona; Panel that will be led by Harold W. Gehman Jr; Comments from N.A.S.A.'s top official, Sean O'Keefe.

Reports on the rejection by U.S. federal judge Bruce L. Birchman of claims by California for refunds for what officials said was price gouging during the energy crisis of 2000-2001. Support of the ruling by the energy industry; Criticism by California officials, who contend that widespread price-gouging caused blackouts and the bankruptcy of the state's largest electric utility; Outlook for the investigations; Comments of California Governor Gray Davis.

Reports that an administrative law judge concluded that the El Paso Corp. illegally helped to drive up natural gas prices in California during the state's 2001 power crisis. Significance of the ruling, which validates the suspicions of California officials that El Paso withheld natural gas from the state; Reaction of El Paso executives to the ruling; Impact of this on the value of its shares; Details of their actions in this case.

Reports that U.S. federal energy regulators said that there was evidence that natural gas prices might have been manipulated during the 2000-2001 California energy crisis, helping to drive up power prices. Investigations into whether Enron, Avista, and El Paso Electric broke federal electricity-trading rules; Implications if the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission endorses the findings, including increased refunds to consumers; Overview of the energy commission's findings.

Reports that U.S. federal regulators threatened to strip four energy traders of their ability to charge unregulated rates for electricity because of their responses to inquiries about their strategies in California. Belief that El Paso Electric, Avista Corporation and Enron subsidiary Portland General Electric may have submitted false information regarding manipulative energy trading strategies to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Refusal of the Williams Companies to answer a crucial question; Company responses.

Reports that the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rejected the demand of California to expand their claim for power-crisis refunds as of May 31, 2002.

Focuses on the trading strategies used by the Enron Corp. in California prior to its collapse. How its strategies may have been illegal; Description of a hearing before a United States Senate investigation panel concerning Enron; Denial that the company manipulated California energy prices; Details of the trading strategies.

Reports that two U.S. Senate committees moved to investigate price manipulation in the California energy market, as lawyers prepared to hear testimony on how Enron manipulated electricity prices during the 2000-2001 California energy crisis. Release of documents that detail trading techniques used by Enron to increase prices and profits in California; Belief that the documents provide incriminating evidence; Investigation of issues raised by the Enron documents.

Examines how the Enron Corp. manipulated California's energy market after it was deregulated. How Enron's trading strategies maximized gains in California's wholesale electricity market in 2000 and 2001; Ways that Enron exploited weaknesses in the state's energy markets, according to documents released by U.S. regulators; Details of the schemes; Contention of Enron lawyers that other energy companies used similar tactics.

Examines how electricity traders at Enron drove up electricity prices during the California power crisis. Questionable techniques that contributed to power shortages, according to Enron documents; Types of strategies used by traders; Argument of California officials that Enron and other power marketers manipulated the state's market, costing consumers and utilities tens of billions of dollars in 2000 and 2001; Request for a criminal investigation by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

Reports that Senator Joseph Dunn (D-Calif.) will testify before a U.S. Senate Commerce Committee on whether energy trader Enron helped manufacture California's energy crisis to increase company profits. Inquiry into whether Enron manipulated power prices in California in 2000 and 2001; Efforts of House lawmakers to improve pension safeguards in the wake of Enron's collapse; What Dunn will say to the Senate panel, according to an advance copy of his testimony.

Examines the contract signed by California Governor Gray Davis with electric companies in line with the stabilization of electricity prices in the state.

Reports on the decline of electricity prices in California in May 2001 due to the activation of power plants and the savings from conservation.

Focuses on the natural gas market as the energy crisis continues in California. The high price of natural gas in California compared with the rest of the United States; The shortage of gas pipelines, which has affected the fueling of power plants in California; Accusations of price manipulation by energy companies; Disputes between gas and electric utilities.

Reports that a judge has stated that internal documents submitted as evidence in a case against El Paso Corporation suggest that the company intended to manipulate natural gas prices in California. Comments of the judge, Curtis L. Wagner, Jr. of the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Contention of the California Public Utilities Commission and Southern California Edison that El Paso artificially inflated the price of natural gas in the state; Response of El Paso; Details of the legal proceedings.

Reports on the hearing of a testimony on California's natural gas pricing case involving El Paso Corp. on May 14, 2001.

Reports on the accusation by utility company Southern California Edison that the El Paso Corp. artificially inflated the price of natural gas in the state by using its partial control of a major pipeline to curtail the flow of gas. Complaint of the state that its high natural gas prices were due to market manipulation by El Paso; Response from El Paso; Description of the energy crisis in California.

Focuses on the financial status of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), a California utility company. Questions on whether the firm will prosper in spite of declaring bankruptcy; The fact that value investors are continuing to buy stock in the company; Thoughts on whether PG&E can keep creditors of its bankrupt utility unit from laying claim to the assets of its other businesses, a concept known as ring-fencing.

Reports on an inquiry by the United States Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Concerns of California officials that the El Paso Corp., an energy company, set out to manipulate the price of natural gas flowing to the state; Description of the complaint against El Paso Corp.; Insistence by El Paso that they did not manipulate gas prices.

Reports on the dispute between California and El Paso Natural Gas Company over a deal for the use of a pipeline from Texas and New Mexico to California. How El Paso awarded the deal to its sister company, El Paso Merchant Energy Company; Allegation that El Paso is trying to corner the market and manipulate the price of natural gas; Question of whether safeguards are doing enough to prevent anti-competitive abuses in the natural gas market.

Reports on debate over a bill by California legislators that would help the state's biggest utilities recover money lost through buying electricity at high prices. Likeliness that residents may have to pay a major part of the price of electricity to solve the power crisis; Details of the bill.

The article reports on the shooting incident at Saugus High School in Los Angeles, California in November 2019 that led to the deaths of two students and the shooter and injuries to three others. Topics include the experiences and comments of some parents like Jeremy Thompson, Lucy Gulley, and Kristine Almaraz of the incident, and the gun laws being implemented in California.