CA political watchdog to investigate health district conflicts

The investigations by the California Fair Political Practices Commission, made public this week, will focus on whether three current and former board members violated the state's conflict-of-interest laws. The probes follow an investigation last month by The Bay Citizen and California Watch, which uncovered millions of dollars in questionable transactions involving companies and nonprofits with ties to top district officials. California's 74 taxpayer-funded health care districts control multimillion-dollar budgets with little state oversight. Some operate nursing homes and hospitals. Others manage real estate and distribute community health grants.