'From $260 to $23': Californians navigate the end of pandemic food benefit boostsMay 17, 2023 | Kate WolffeDuring the pandemic, many people received the maximum in food aid through CalFresh. Now that the COVID emergency benefits have ended, they’re adjusting to a world with record inflation and some are relying on food banks to meet their needs. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
State Government‘I’m a hostage’: Why California’s COVID unemployment mess isn’t over yetMay 16, 2023Workers denied pandemic-era jobless benefits are still struggling with debt and stress — collateral damage as they fight a state employment agency on edge about fraud and an appeals system facing a ‘historic’ backlog.
State GovernmentUnderstanding how a California bill dies without public debateMay 16, 2023 | Nicole NixonThe twice-yearly procedure releases hundreds of bills to the Senate and Assembly floors, allowing for debate before the entire chamber. But for other bills, the suspense hearing provides a quiet, anticlimactic end. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
EnvironmentProtecting Molok Luyuk, a haven of biological diversity in Northern CaliforniaMay 16, 2023 | Manola SecairaIn 2015, Berryessa Snow Mountain became a national monument. But Molok Luyuk, nestled along the eastern side of the monument’s center, was excluded. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
California is losing population and building new houses. When will home prices come down?May 15, 2023When will the law of supply and demand cool California’s housing market? The state is losing population as it builds homes at its fastest clip in more than a decade.
California’s homeownership rate falls again — with the sharpest drop among younger adultsMay 15, 2023 | Chris NicholsA new research paper found homeownership fell 10 percentage points among Californians aged 35 to 45, to less than 40%.
Health CareMillions of people have long COVID brain fog — and there's a shortage of answersMay 15, 2023Psychologist James Jackson says people with long COVID experience impaired brain function and mental health issues. He offers some practical advice and support in his new book, Clearing the Fog.
Health CareCalifornia debates extending PTSD coverage to more first respondersMay 14, 2023A state Senate bill would extend workers’ compensation coverage of post-traumatic stress injuries for firefighters and police officers. But a separate bill to cover paramedics and EMTs is unlikely to be heard.
State GovernmentCan California find better paying jobs for people with disabilities?May 14, 2023A new state law aims to ensure workers with disabilities earn at least minimum wage. But some worry that the state doesn’t have enough resources to help these workers compete for jobs.
EnvironmentMangoes and agave in the Central Valley: California farmers try new crops to cope with climate changeMay 13, 2023The future of farming in California is changing as the planet warms, altering the rain and heat patterns that guide which crops are grown where. “We’re adjusting for survival,” one grower said.
