State GovernmentWhat drives California’s budget decisions? A lot of politics, not as much dataMay 21, 2024State lawmakers often don’t know how well a program is working before deciding whether to cut or increase spending. Instead, they hear from advocates, interest groups and sometimes the public. Key budget hearings ramp up this week.
State GovernmentAfter a child’s death, California weighs rules for phys ed during extreme weatherMay 20, 2024A bill in California would require the state Department of Education to create guidelines that govern physical activity at public schools during extreme weather, including setting threshold temperatures for when students should exercise outside.
State GovernmentMan convicted of attacking ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer sentenced to 30 yearsMay 17, 2024The man convicted of attempting to kidnap then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a hammer has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.
State GovernmentCalifornia’s staggering budget deficit squashes hundreds of billsMay 17, 2024The state’s multibillion-dollar shortfall shapes which spending bills survived the ‘suspense file’ hearings by the Assembly and Senate appropriations committees.
Environment$20 billion: The Delta tunnel’s new price tagMay 16, 2024The centerpiece of California’s water wars pits Gov. Newsom against local communities and environmentalists. A new report says the benefits of the tunnel exceed the cost since other water supplies would cost more.
State GovernmentCalifornia moves closer to requiring new pollutant-warning labels for gas stovesMay 15, 2024The California Assembly has approved legislation that would require new gas stoves to carry a label warning users about pollutants that have been linked to respiratory illnesses.
Health Care‘Takes us out at the knees’: California local health officials warn against cutting fundingMay 13, 2024 | Kate WolffeTo balance the budget, Governor Gavin Newsom is proposing eliminating an annual $300 million payment to public health, instituted after COVID. Advocates warn it could leave us more susceptible to another disease threat.
Housing and HomelessnessAmid deficit, Newsom proposes California spend less to solve homelessness and create affordable housingMay 10, 2024Faced with a multibillion dollar budget deficit, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s May budget proposal includes hundreds of millions of dollars in additional cuts to housing and homelessness programs.
State GovernmentBig cuts, no new taxes: Gov. Newsom’s plan to fix California’s budget deficitMay 10, 2024Gavin Newsom proposes a mix of spending cuts and using reserves to balance the state budget. He says that core services will be largely untouched, but some existing programs would be affected.
State GovernmentCalifornia says restaurants must bake all of their add-on fees into menu pricesMay 10, 2024Service charges; resort fees; "surcharge" add-ons: A new state law requiring price transparency is set to take effect in July. Until now, no one knew how it would apply to restaurants.
