EnvironmentThe hidden cost of California’s hot workplaces: 20,000 job injuries a yearJuly 30, 2023A workers comp study says one day above 100 degrees can cause 15% more accidents, costing workers and employers millions. A new advisory panel may help the state improve its work heat rules.
Health CareThe CDC sees signs of a late summer COVID waveJuly 30, 2023In July, coronavirus infections, hospitalizations and emergency room visits have inched up. Recent summers have seen a bump in COVID-19. This year's rise looks modest so far.
EnvironmentThis CDC data shows where rates of heat-related illness are highestJuly 26, 2023Emergency rooms report when patients visit with health problems caused by heat. Find out when and where rates of illness are spiking, and explore trends over the last five years.
Health CareYoung men making quartz countertops are facing lung damage. One state is taking actionJuly 26, 2023Countertops made of the engineered stone "quartz" are incredibly popular, but public health experts say cutting this material unsafely can expose workers to deadly dust.
Health CareSacramento Kaiser health care workers picket amid contract negotiationsJuly 25, 2023 | Kate WolffeOver 100 health care workers picketed at the Sacramento Arden-Arcade hospital campus, joining unionized workers across the state. Some workers say Kaiser is refusing to ameliorate a shortage that has persisted for a decade.
Health CareThousands dropped from Medi-Cal in first eligibility check since the start of the pandemicJuly 25, 2023 | Kate WolffeIn the first renewal period since the start of the pandemic, Sacramento County shed 21% of its Medi-Cal cases, close to the statewide average. Advocates and community workers say the county needs to do more to make sure people don’t lose coverage.
State GovernmentAlmost all people incarcerated in California now have free tabletsJuly 19, 2023 | Kate WolffeCalifornia has almost completed distribution of Android tablets to all incarcerated people, a program aiming to ease communication and promote rehabilitation. Prisoners inside say it has changed the culture, but related costs can add up.
State GovernmentGavin Newsom’s mental health plan could strip more than $700 million from services, report saysJuly 17, 2023Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to rethink how California spends its millionaire’s tax by directing more money toward housing. Some county-run mental health programs could lose out.
Health CareExcessive drinking during the pandemic increased alcoholic liver disease death ratesJuly 16, 2023The number of Californians dying from alcoholic liver disease rose dramatically in the last decade, sped by the pandemic.
Health Care'People are calling': More Californians are reaching out to 988 mental health hotlineJuly 13, 2023 | Kate WolffeData released one year after the launch of 988 shows a 28% bump in contacts. Mental health experts say more infrastructure is needed to respond to mental health crises.
