Weekly news update.

California voters passed an initiative, Proposition 35, which allows state and local agencies to contract out design work on public-works projects. Under California’s constitution, state agencies can contract out work only in certain cases, such as specialized projects or temporary jobs. California’s Department of Transportation, known as Caltrans, does most of its own design and engineering work and contracts out with private companies to do construction. Private engineering companies are eager to capture design contracts for transportation projects that could total billions of dollars. With all precincts reporting, 55 percent approved Proposition 35, and 45 percent rejected it, according to the California Secretary of State’s website, http://www.ss.ca.gov.