California Update for Wednesday, May 20, 2020

capitol north Questions continue about navigating, qualifying, and filing for unemployment benefits amidst the coronavirus pandemic. But now, Californians will have one less hurdle to jump.

Story by Steve Milne.

(Photo via CapRadio)

Antonio Becerra is urging Congress to allow cannabis businesses access to the federal banking system.

Story by Scott Rodd.

Blood banks are calling for plasma from COVID-19 survivors who can document they’ve been symptom-free for at least two weeks.

Story by Sammy Caiola

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California Update

June 01, 2020

Study Finds Heat Waves Are Worse in California's Poorer Neighborhoods

California broke some heat records last week. New research shows residents in the state’s poorest neighborhoods suffer the most during heat waves. But there are efforts underway to address this climate inequity. Story by Randol White. (Photo: The Hagan Park Community Pool in Rancho Cordova provides…
May 29, 2020

California Update for Friday, May 29, 2020

Governor Gavin Newsom’s revised budget proposes a 10-percent cut to the state’s funding model for K-12 schools. Teachers and school administrators say if their funding is slashed, students may not be able to return to school safely. Story by Nicole Nixon. (Photo: Patrick Q / Flickr / via CapRadio)…
May 28, 2020

California Update for Thursday, May 28, 2020

California is facing a steep budget shortfall, and Governor Gavin Newsom says he may have to cut programs to make ends meet. But some workers for those programs are pushing back. Story by Nicole Nixon. (Photo: Steven Senne / AP / via CapRadio) California filed its 82nd lawsuit against the Trump…
May 27, 2020

California Update for Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Scientists at UC Davis say Californians shouldn't worry about so-called "murder hornets" - or Asian giant hornets - invading the state. Story by Steve Milne. (Photo: The Asian giant hornet can be up to two inches long - Yasunori Koide Via Wikimedia Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0) President…
May 25, 2020

California Update for Tuesday, May 26, 2020

The California Republican Party along with the national GOP are suing Governor Gavin Newsom over his plans to send vote-by-mail ballots to all registered Californians ahead of the November election. Story by Chris Nichols. (Photo: Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio) The triple-digit heat is back.…
May 25, 2020

California Update for Monday, May 25, 2020

Gov. Newsom said K-12 schools could reopen by July or August. But is that realistic? What do educators and health experts say is needed to make that a reality? And what might schools look like once they finally do reopen? Story by Chris Nichols. (Photo: Andrew Nixon / CapRadio) California Governor…
May 22, 2020

California Update for Friday, May 22, 2020

More than two months into the coronavirus pandemic, Californians are still having issues filing for unemployment benefits. And state lawmakers…
May 21, 2020

California Update for Thursday, May 21, 2020

Lawmakers look to expand workers' comp for frontline workers who get COVID-19. About a half-dozen bills would expand workers’ comp for employees who…
May 18, 2020

California Update for Tuesday, May 19, 2020

California's aid for undocumented immigrants opened today. Call lines and websites to apply for aid were immediately flooded with requests, advocates…
May 17, 2020

California Update for Monday, May 18, 2020

Nearly half of all California businesses are minority-owned, and many of them own businesses in the personal care industry which is now suffering.…
May 15, 2020

California Update for Friday, May 15, 2020

California’s proposed budget update has cuts and reductions across environmental sectors including climate resilience programs to state parks. But…
May 13, 2020

California Update for Thursday, May 14, 2020

Governor Gavin Newsom is set to unveil a revised budget proposal Thursday, and state lawmakers are bracing for steep spending cuts. Story by Nicole…
May 13, 2020

California Update for Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Two counties so far have been given the go-ahead for phase two of economic recovery/re-opening of businesses. Restaurant owners have 11 pages of new…
May 12, 2020

California Update for Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to make sure every California voter gets a ballot in the mail this November. Secretary of…
May 08, 2020

California Update for Monday, May 11, 2020

California is home to 3 million undocumented immigrants, many of whom are essential workers in food service and health care. Many feel overlooked and…
May 07, 2020

California Update for Friday, May 8, 2020

Gov. Gavin Newsom released new guidelines Thursday for beginning to reopen parts of California, both for businesses wanting to expand operations and…
May 06, 2020

California Update for Thursday, May 7, 2020

California expands workers’ compensation across a range of industries. Eligible workers include those on the frontlines of the coronavirus response,…
May 05, 2020

California Update for Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Governor Gavin Newsom says small businesses that plan to reopen Friday will have to make modifications as the state shifts to a new normal. Story by…

NorCal News

June 02, 2020

In Information Age, Many Californians Struggle to Stay Informed

By Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado, The Fresno Bee/California Divide On a recent hot Saturday, residents in a small tract of homes west of Fresno huddled under the shade to wait for a distribution of hygiene products and food. Many of those who waited in lines for toilet paper, canned food and masks…
June 02, 2020

Santa Rosa Issues Citywide Curfew, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., Each Night Through Thursday

Santa Rosa has declared a local emergency and instituted a citywide curfew through Thursday morning in response to incidents of violence, looting and vandalism that occurred over the weekend following peaceful protests spurred by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The curfew is effective in…
June 01, 2020

Hundreds Demonstrate Against Police Brutality; City of Santa Rosa Establishes Curfew

Protesters gathered in Santa Rosa over the weekend after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis on Memorial Day by a White police officer. The officer held his knee to Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes as he pleaded for air and has since been charged with murder. The City of Santa Rosa estimates…
May 28, 2020

'InformaGente' - Health Dispatches to Latinx Communities

A new organization called Listos California, in partnership with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts (NHFA), today launched "InformaGente," a new online conversation series which seeks to support a culture of emergency readiness…
May 28, 2020

Two Members of H.S. Class of 2020 Animate Call for Unity

Kyle Trefny and Julian Jordan are graduating from the public arts high school Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts. To mark their graduation into this uncertain world, they created an animated short. They describe the project in their own words: [Share your own graduation celebration by June…
May 27, 2020

You Asked, We Answered: Your Questions About Reopening Hair Salons, Youth Sports And How Often To Get Tested

We put the call out for your questions related to the coronavirus pandemic, and you’ve asked about the reopening of additional business, youth sports, testing and more. Here are a few answers to some of those recent question submissions. We answer more each Tuesday night during our virtual…
May 26, 2020

Kaiser Disputes Health Professionals' Concerns on PPE

In a press conference on May 19, and again on Northern California Public Media's May 26 Town Hall, members of the group H-PEACE (Health Professionals…
May 26, 2020

Big Cuts Could Hit Little Californians: $1 Billion in Preschool and Child Care Dollars at Risk

By Elizabeth Aguilera, CalMatters Even the littlest Californians have not been spared in the governor’s big proposal to cut a budget decimated by the…
May 25, 2020

County Hiring Contact Tracers; Extra Pay for Being Bilingual

Sonoma County health officer Dr. Sundari Mase has long said that testing, tracing and isolation are at the core of the county's reopening strategy.…
May 25, 2020

We Need a Culturally Responsive Approach to COVID-19

Commentary by Ana Lugo, founder, Equity First Consulting Cultural responsiveness is the ability to learn from, relate respectfully to, effectively…
May 20, 2020

You Asked, We Answered: Your Questions About COVID-19 Hospitalizations, Senior Outings, and Visiting The Dentist

We put the call out for your questions related to the coronavirus pandemic, and you’ve had plenty. We've received questions about how many people are…
May 20, 2020

Pandemic Food Stamps Offer Up to $365 Per Child

By Jacqueline García, La Opinión Families with children who qualify for free or reduced-price meals at their schools — regardless of immigration…
May 20, 2020

Es Así Como un Déficit de 54.3 Mil Millones de Dólares Le Afectaría a Los Californianos

Por Judy Lin, CalMatters Hello! We’re publishing more of our work in Spanish to better serve our diverse state. Make sure to click here to read the…
May 19, 2020

Rep. Jared Huffman: $3 Trillion Bill is 'Opening Bid'

Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) returned to Northern California after voting Friday on the House of Representatives' $3 trillion…
May 18, 2020

Housing, Homelessness Funds Mostly Spared in Proposed Budget cuts

By Matt Levin, CalMatters With a forecasted deficit of near-record proportions and an economy in freefall, homelessness and low-income housing…
May 18, 2020

Financial Help for California’s Undocumented Immigrants Starts Monday

By Jacqueline García, La Opinión California’s undocumented immigrants can begin applying Monday for disaster relief payments of up to $1,000 per…

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