State GovernmentFeds leave California on the hook for $300 million in COVID homeless spendingFebruary 12, 2024When Gov. Gavin Newsom launched his landmark effort to shelter homeless residents in hotels during COVID, the state and local governments were relying on FEMA to foot much of the bill. Now, they’re on the hook for $300 million.
EducationShould state government jobs require a college degree? Why California is rethinking its rulesFebruary 1, 2024Not all state government jobs require a college or even high school degree, prompting state officials to re-examine education mandates.
State GovernmentUC rejects proposal to allow campuses to hire undocumented studentsJanuary 26, 2024The proposal would have meant challenging a federal law that bars employers from hiring undocumented immigrants. Advocates requesting the change argue that the University of California, as a state agency, is exempt from that law.
State GovernmentDream for All: Down payment assistance for first-time California homebuyers relaunches with new lotteryJanuary 23, 2024State officials hope a lottery and an emphasis on first-generation homebuyers will make California’s most generous down payment assistance program more equitable.
State GovernmentState program to clear homeless encampments show signs of success, but housing remains elusiveJanuary 18, 2024A multi-year, $750 million program aimed at doing away with homeless encampments has had mixed results throughout California. Local leaders say ongoing funding is needed.
State GovernmentSupreme Court will hear case about homeless encampments, with huge implications for CaliforniaJanuary 12, 2024The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case that has implications for how much power California officials have over homeless camps. It will rule on current precedent later this year.
State GovernmentDigging out: Newsom outlines plan to cover state budget deficitJanuary 10, 2024Gov. Newsom says the deficit is far smaller than what the Legislature’s analysts projected, and proposes only $8.5 billion in cuts by delaying spending and taking $13 billion from the state’s main reserves.
EducationCal State faculty union vows to strike over the university’s final offerJanuary 9, 2024Union vows to strike at the end of January after Cal State offers a 5% faculty pay raise, far short of the 12% it is seeking.
State GovernmentWhat you need to know about the California Legislature’s 2024 sessionJanuary 3, 2024State lawmakers reconvene with a lot of problems to fix, but not a lot of money to spend on solutions with a projected $68 billion budget deficit. The first day is cut short by a protest over the Gaza war.
Health CareSurprise ambulance bills put these families in debt. A new California law bans the practiceDecember 28, 2023Surprise ambulance bills can leave families deeply in debt after a medical emergency. A new state law that forces insurance companies to negotiate payments is expected to save Californians tens of millions of dollars a year.
