Copy

As a nonprofit organization, CalMatters relies on your support to produce public service journalism that’s free and accessible. If you’re not already a CalMatters member, please consider making a donation to support reporting that empowers Californians to engage with their government.

Top Stories

California hospitals are expecting COVID-19-infected patients to triple by the end of January, with the surge expected to last until the end of February.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, Democratic leaders in the Legislature and labor unions are negotiating how to bring back extra paid sick leave for COVID. One big issue: Will businesses get state help to offset their costs?

As a third of hospitals report critical staffing shortages, California’s health department is considering issuing an order postponing many elective surgeries.

Although state and federal rules require COVID tests to be free or covered by health insurance, people often have to pay hundreds of dollars upfront.

An unusually high number of influential state legislators are retiring or running for higher office. The reasons include a combination of new electoral districts, term limits and political ambition.

Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to use the California budget surplus to confront the crises facing the state, including COVID-19 and climate change.

California is asking some 1.4 million unemployment recipients to prove their eligibility months after receiving aid as part of a fraud recovery campaign. But some people say they’re caught in the Employment Development Department’s dragnet because they don’t have the documents to be cleared. Now, some risk having to pay back more than $30,000 — or face collection.

A group of California lawmakers and labor leaders are pushing to test a version of sectoral bargaining for the fast food industry.

In his budget proposal, Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted his support for cities to remove homeless encampments but conceded it’s only a bridge to permanent housing.

In the latest episode of the California housing crisis podcast, new Assembly Housing Committee chairperson Buffy Wicks talks about her priorities.

The state discloses little about COVID in its juvenile prisons, but an internal memo reveals that one youth recently was hospitalized with severe symptoms.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced his budget priorities this week, describing how he would like to use that extra cash. But do you agree?

Commentary
By Glenn Sacks, social studies teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District

Los Angeles Unified has had necessary COVID safety precautions in place since returning to in-person learning in August.
By Harry Snyder, lecturer at the UC Berkeley School of Public Health

Single-payer systems in economically advanced capitalist countries like ours produce better health at much lower costs.
By Katrice Lee, senior director of development and grants for the San Diego Natural History Museum

Funding could support museum exhibitions, outreach programs and initiatives to educate the public about climate change impacts.
By Quentin L. Kopp, president of the San Francisco Taxpayers Association

Those who oppose destruction of the annex claim that improvements could be done for less than half the estimated price.
By Karen Pank, executive director for the Chief Probation Officers of California

Probation officers know the best approach in dealing with crime is an effective combination of accountability plus opportunity and rehabilitation.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new budget would spend nearly $300 billion in the 2022-23 fiscal year, but will the revenues support the plan?
By Cris Steller, executive director of California Artisanal Distillers Guild

The Legislature has a chance to modernize the state’s alcohol shipping laws and allow consumers to buy distilled spirits like they do wine.
By Jot Condie, president and CEO of the California Restaurant Association

Lawmakers should adopt statewide outdoor dining regulations and abandon legislation that would harm the restaurant community.
By Cathy Kennedy, president of the California Nurses Association

California legislators have studied proposals for universal health care at length; now it’s time to pass Assembly Bill 1400.

California’s huge public school system is in crisis, with declining academic achievement and financial squeezes, but Gov. Gavin Newsom new budget gives it short shrift.
By David Lloyd, senior policy adviser for The Kennedy Forum

AB 933 would address the cost barriers to medication that can prevent people from getting the help they need.
By Kim Belshé, executive director of First 5 LA

Investing in services that promote optimal child development, maternal health and family stability is crucial to California’s future.

The notion of creating a single-payer, state-managed health care system for 40 million Californians is on the political agenda again.

Elaine Howle has retired as California’s auditor but left behind a report that once again castigates the state’s failures in implementing high technology.






This email was sent to <<Email address>>
why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences
CalMatters · 1017 L St · #261 · Sacramento, CA 95814 · USA