SpaceX, Musk Get Bias Apology From California Coastal Agency

A California environmental agency apologized to SpaceX for “improper” statements that showed political bias against the company and CEO Elon Musk, as part of a settlement agreement between the parties.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. and the California Coastal Commission agreed to permanently dismiss the case, according to the agreement filed Tuesday with the US District Court for the Central District of California. They stipulated that the agreement doesn’t constitute an admission “of any liability or unlawful conduct.”

The commission also agreed it wouldn’t require a coastal development permit pertaining to any aspect of SpaceX’s launch program at two different space ...