$3.5B high-speed rail contract approved after Gavin Newsom adviser named board chair

California’s high-speed rail board approved a controversial business plan as well as a contract worth up to $3.5 billion Monday after Steve Kawa — a longtime political advisor to Gov. Gavin Newsom — was appointed chair of the authority overseeing the bullet train boondoggle. The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board approved a track-and-systems construction contract…