California Update

Congress will meet in a joint session on Wednesday to count the nation’s electoral college votes. Dozens of Republicans, including one California Congressman, say they plan to object to Joe Biden’s victory.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: Mike Garcia won a special election in May of 2020 to represent California's 25th Congressional District - Michael Blood / AP).

A new report from the state's Attorney General shows police were more likely to stop, search, and use force on Black and Hispanic Californians.

Story by Sarah Mizes-Tan.

A new report suggests California must reduce greenhouse emissions by four times its current rate if it wants to meet its 2030 goals.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

Freelance musicians, entertainment-industry professionals, writers and photographers won an exemption from California’s labor law AB 5, allowing them to remain self-employed rather than requiring venues or publications to classify them as employees.

Story by Chris Nichols.

Find more new laws taking effect in 2021.

California Governor Gavin Newsom will announce new restrictions today. It’s unclear what the restrictions will be, but he expressed concern about the potential for spreading the virus in indoor public spaces and at private social gatherings.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: via CapRadio)

The prospect of huge budget cuts to social programs has advocates for those programs rallying in the streets up and down the state this week – asking for higher taxes on the wealthy to help with the shortfall.

Story by Suzanne Potter – California News Service.

California billionaire Tom Steyer announced today he’s running for president. PolitiFact California takes a look at his background, including his role funding Democrats and ballot measures in the state.

Story by Chris Nichols.

(Photo: In this March 13, 2019, photo, billionaire investor and Democratic activist Tom Steyer speaks during a "Need to Impeach" town hall event in Agawam, Mass - Associated Press/via Politifact.com)

Officials say California's efforts to get more people insured will lead to lower cost increases for consumers on the state marketplace.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

(Photo: Gov. Gavin Newsom, right, talks with dental patient Arthur Hernandez, left, as he tours the Sacramento Native American Health Center with Dental Director Vanessa Franks, center, in Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, July 9, 2019 - Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo / via Capradio)

Nearly one million Californians do not have access to clean drinking water. Lawmakers have approved a plan to spend more than $1B over the next decade to address the issue.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: jenny downing, Creative Commons [CC BY 2.0])

Wednesday, July 10, 2019 

Amid the debate over whether schools should reopen, a California lawmaker claimed there’s “no science or data to suggest kids are at risk from COVID.” PolitiFact California examined this allegation.

Story by Chris Nichols.

(Photo: Jana Tinoco Gutierrez, a second-grader at Ethel Phillips Elementary School practices washing her hands under the watchful eye of licensed vocational nursing student Soledad Lupian in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, March 13, 2020 - Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo)

California is one of 14 states part of a new agreement to reduce diesel emissions from large pick-ups to buses to semi-trucks.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

Upwards of 100,000 Californians are getting tested for COVID-19 every day, but state health officials released new guidelines to prioritize testing people with symptoms, their close contacts, and essential workers.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

California's fluctuating rules for indoor-dining are making it harder for restaurants to stay afloat.

Story by Steve Milne.

In his first budget, Governor Newsom took a $50 million step forward on his campaign promise to launch college savings accounts for all incoming kindergarteners.

PolitiFact California has rated this promise ‘In the Works.’

Story by Chris Nichols

(Photo courtesy of PolitiFact California)

California lawmakers approved a wildfire liability fund last week to help utilities pay for fire damages, amid concerns that utility companies might see their stocks dive if they owed billions of dollars. Still, Moody’s remains cautious.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: Firefighters battle flames at a burning apartment complex in Paradise, Calif., in November 2018 - Josh Edelson /AFP/Getty Images/via Capital Public Radio)

When Governor Gavin Newsom signed California’s new wildfire liability law last week, he also named his pick for the lead regulator for utilities such as PG&E.

Story by Ben Adler.

(Photo: CPUC seal via copswiki.org)

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

A new lawsuit argues California parents and children are being denied their right to a “basic minimum education” under the state Constitution because of COVID-era distance learning.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: Michelle Hansen, principal at Phoebe A. Hearst Elementary School, left, hands a laptop computer to the parent of a student that attends the school in Sacramento, Calif., Friday, April 10, 2020 - Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo)

Attorneys generals from 20 states, including California, sued the Trump administration Tuesday over federal rules that they say undermine the protection of waterways like rivers.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

COVID-19 cases are on the rise among nursing home residents and staff, according to the latest state data.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

More than 108,000 potential students were accepted to the UC system. Also a record - the number freshmen from California accepted for the fall term.

Story by Randol White.

(Photo: A photo of the UC Berkeley campus - John Morgan / Flickr / via CapRadio)

Several bills meant to protect domestic and wild animals are moving forward in the California Legislature.

Story by Chris Nichols.

(Photo credit: Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio)

California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced changes to the beleaguered state Department of Motor Vehicles aimed at reducing wait times and making it more efficient.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: California Department of Motor Vehicles Headquarters - Coolcaesar [CC BY-SA 4.0])

The state is withholding dollars from counties until they hire more providers, but counties say they need more resources to meet state standards.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

(Photo by Sammy Caiola/Capital Public Radio)

Wednesday, July 24, 2019 

Schools in most counties are starting the year with distance learning, as coronavirus cases continue to rise across California. That's exposing the state's deep 'digital divide.’

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: One of the challenges to remote learning has been ensuring all students have laptops - Andrew Nixon / CapRadio)

Congress passed perhaps one of the largest conservation bills since World War II last week. It could expand natural areas, preserve habitat, and help cities buy land for parks.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

A new law will require presidential candidates to release 5 years of tax returns to appear on California’s primary ballot.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo: IRS Form 1040 – Wikimedia Commons)

Governor Newsom has vetoed a bill that would have downgraded the crime for owning or possessing a gun with an outstanding warrant from a felony to a misdemeanor.

Story by Ben Adler.

(Photo: St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office [CC BY-SA 4.0])

The right to register as domestic partners in California will no longer be restricted to same-sex and elderly couples, starting next year.

Story by Ben Adler.

(Photo: LGBT pride flag – via Wikimedia Commons)

Wednesday, July 31, 2019

US Education Secretary Betsy DeVos opened the doors for private schools to access coronavirus relief funds last month. California’s attorney general argues the money should be reserved for struggling public schools.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: In April, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos issued guidance suggesting private schools should benefit from a representative share of federal coronavirus aid money - Alex Wong / Getty Images/ via CapRadio)

Sacramento had to close five of its testing sites because they’re running out of the fluid needed to transport samples to the lab. Because of increased demand, some counties have had to limit who they test, and deal with longer wait times for results

Story by Sammy Caiola.

Will 458,000 Vote-By-Mail Ballots Go To Californians Who Have Died Or Moved? Election officials say the claim by a watchdog group ignores measures used to update voter rolls and the safeguards in place to prevent fraud.

Story by Chris Nichols.

Find full versions of all fact checks at PolitiFact.com/California.

As California moves to reopen bars, gyms, and other businesses this weekend, some areas are seeing their coronavirus numbers spike.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: University of California, Davis Medical Center - Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo)

Some recreational activities across California are reopening this weekend, but operators must follow safety guidelines and social distancing rules. Stay-at-home orders shut down recreation facilities more than two months ago.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

Some county health leaders are asking people who’ve attended demonstrations against police violence recently to get a coronavirus test.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

Credit: joeshlabotnik / Flickr / via CapRadioMore than a million Californians don't have access to clean drinking water. But a decision by the legislature Sunday to spend $130 million yearly could change that.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

Credit: Mark Lennihan/AP/via NPRA group of state attorneys general - led by California and New York - are filing a lawsuit to block T-Mobile's $26.5 billion bid for Sprint.

Story by Steve Milne.

California’s Department of Justice is preparing to take over the database that tracks potential gang members. Some civil rights groups say the move could perpetuate biased policing.

Story by Scott Rodd.

Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Sutter Health said they chose to remove the statue “out of respect for some community members’ viewpoints.” Some Sacramento-area activists have been advocating for the statue's removal because of accounts of Sutter's abuse of Native Americans.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

(Photo: Workers remove the statue of John Sutter outside the Sutter Medical Center in Midtown Sacramento on June 15, 2020 - Andrew Nixon / CapRadio)

Pacific Gas and Electric was back in court Tuesday for a criminal arraignment tied to the 2018 Camp Fire. The company pleaded guilty to over 80 felony manslaughter counts.

Story by Scott Rodd.

The California Highway Patrol mobilized across the state during the recent demonstrations against the police killing of George Floyd and racial injustice.

Story by Nick Miller.

As Black Lives Matter demonstrators push for reform in law enforcement and other sectors, some in the medical industry say it’s time to build a more equitable system.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

(Photo: Black Lives Matter demonstrators at Cesar Chavez Plaza, Wednesday, June 3, 2020 - Andrew Nixon / CapRadio)

California is poised to become the first state to require manufacturers to produce electric trucks. A California Air Resources Board vote taking place Thursday could result in 300,000 trucks on roads by 2035.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

The EDD has processed over 6 million unemployment applications since March and has paid out roughly 30-billion-dollars, but many Californians say they're still struggling to access benefits.

Story by Scott Rodd.

Mountain lions in Southern California could go extinct in just over a decade according to recent research. That's why a group of environmentalists want the state's Fish and Game Commission to list six populations of the big cats as endangered.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

(Photo: Female mountain lion, P-19, taken in February 2015 - National Park Service / Courtesy)

Starting Monday people who want to purchase ammunition for their guns will have to pass a background check.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo by Bob Moffitt / Capital Public Radio)

Wednesday, June 26, 2019

On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom and Stevante Clark cleaned up the Capitol together. The governor commended Clark for his leadership Monday night when he guided hundreds in peaceful protest after several days of standoffs between demonstrators.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

(Photo: Stevante Clark with Governor Newsom – via Twitter)

Demonstrators are calling for police reform and systemic change in the wake of George Floyd’s killing. What would ‘systemic change’ look like? California’s black lawmakers have a list of ideas.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

Struggling California businesses and nonprofits could see some rent relief under a legislative proposal.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

Entrepreneur Laneesha Senegal doesn't have health insurance but suffers from diabetes. Credit: Craig Kohlruss / Fresno Bee / via CapRadioMost California entrepreneurs don’t get employer-sponsored health insurance, and they often struggle to pay for government options. But they could get a boost under Governor Gavin Newsom’s latest proposals.

Story by Sammy Caiola.

Former California Governor Jerry Brown. Credit: Jay Godwin [Public domain]In one of his few public appearances since leaving office, former Governor Jerry Brown talked about climate change and wine Monday night at a UC Davis symposium.

Story by Julia Mitric.

Wednesday, June 5, 2019

East Bay Area Wind Turbines. Credit: Jeannie Wallen [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]The Green New Deal nationally includes social justice goals that aren’t always attached to plans to fight climate change. But some groups claim California didn't necessarily focus on equity when it initiated its climate policies.

Story by Ezra David Romero.

Calif., Gov. Gavin Newsom will sign an order on Wednesday imposing a moratorium on California's death penalty. Credit: Rich Pedroncelli / APGovernor Gavin Newsom has announced he's doing away with capital punishment in the state.

Story by Nick Miller.

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

California’s construction industry is exempted from the governor’s ‘stay-at-home’ mandate, meaning nearly 1 million employees can keep getting paychecks. How are workers staying safe?

Story y Chris Nichols.

(Photo: Construction scaffolding sits in a housing development in Folsom, Calif. - Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio)

California’s Attorney General wants the federal government to take full advantage of a 1950s-era law that directs companies to manufacture emergency supplies.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: California Attorney General Xavier Becerra - Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo)

California is currently working to lease hotels and motels for homeless people during the crisis. If that works out, it could also mean purchasing the properties from owners, who may be under economic duress during a recession.

Story by Scott Rodd.

(Photo:  Homeless people camp out in from of the San Francisco Ballet Wednesday, March 18, 2020, in San Francisco - Ben Margot / AP Photo)

Credit: Andrew Nixon / CapRadioOrganic food isn't served in most California school districts because it costs more. But a bill moving through the legislature would launch a pilot to help schools buy some organic produce, eggs, dairy, and meat.

Story by Julia Mitric.

A craft-brewed hazy IPA at Bistro 33 in Davis. Credit: Randol White / Capital Public RadioMost of the craft beer made in California is brewed with ingredients shipped from other states or countries. But now, the industry is working with scientists at U.C. Davis to change that.

Story by Randol White.

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

California Attorney General Rob Bonta yesterday [Tuesday] announced the launch of the Racial Justice Bureau. It will help the Department of Justice investigate hate crimes in the state.

Story by Kris Hooks.

(Photo: Attorney General Rob Bonta speaks after he was sworn in as California's 34th Attorney General, Friday, April 23, 2021 in Sacramento, Calif. Bonta, 49, is the first Filipino American to head the California Department of Justice - Paul Kitagaki Jr./The Sacramento Bee via AP, Pool).

A new UC Berkeley poll shows voters are more supportive of keeping Gov. Gavin Newsom in office than they are of recalling him.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

Governor Gavin Newsom wants to spend big to get California’s unsheltered people into housing.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

Immigrants' rights advocates and groups that fight hunger are pressing for passage of Senate Bill 464, which would remove immigration restrictions on the state food assistance program.

Story by Suzanne Potter.

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 guidelines to consider.

Story by Bob Moffitt.

(Photo: Stephanie Stoehr takes a call for a takeout order at the Dancing Tomato Caffe, in Yuba City, Calif., Tuesday, May 12, 2020 - Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo / via CapRadio)

In order to increase California coronavirus testing capacity, Governor Newsom announced pharmacies can now test people for COVID-19.

Story by Drew Sandsor.

A grassroots Facebook group is helping thousands of Californians navigate the state’s complex and confusing employment benefits system.

Story by Chris Nichols.

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

Credit: Capital Public RadioGovernor Gavin Newsom’s approach to charter schools has signaled a policy shift from his predecessor. The state Teachers’ Association wasted little time advancing an aggressive legislative to increase regulation of charter schools.

Story by Scott Rodd.

This photo, taken Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017, shows one of the elevated sections of the high-speed rail under construction in Fresno, Calif. Credit: Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo / via CapRadioCalifornia is responding to the federal government terminating cooperation and funding for the state’s high-speed rail project with yet another lawsuit against the Trump administration.

Story by Ben Adler.

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

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 Trump on Tuesday falsely claimed California Gov. Gavin Newsom is sending millions of ballots to “anyone living in the state, no matter who they are.” In reality, only registered voters will receive mail-in ballots.

Story by Chris Nichols.

Scientists say the hot weather could help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Story by Steven Milne.

Childcare providers say they've taken on increased costs serving families of essential workers during the pandemic, and warn many may be forced to close if they don't get some help soon.

Story by Nicole Nixon.

(Photo: www.vperemen.com, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Sacramento's highest public health official declared racism a health crisis and in the same sentence, used a derogatory term to describe the Asian American community.

Story by Sarah Mizes-Tan.

Gas appliances in homes and buildings are responsible for almost a quarter of California's greenhouse gas emissions. The California Energy Commission is working now to develop new building codes for 2022.

Story by Suzanne Potter – California News Service.