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California Update for Friday, February 26, 2021
California's eugenics program is believed to have sterilized 20,000 women behind bars between 1909 and 1979. Groups that fight for human rights and the rights of people in prison want the State of California to compensate victims of medical abuse behind bars. Story by Suzanne Potter, in collaboration with Rey Levy Uyeda for YES! Media-California News Service. (Photo: California's eugenics program is believed to have sterilized 20,000 women behind bars between 1909 and 1979. - Kconnors/Morguefile)
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California Update for Thursday, February 25, 2021
Plans to reform single-family zoning are moving forward in some major cities across California, but not without controversy and misinformation. PolitiFact California explains in this week's Can You Handle the Truth segment. Story by Chris Nichols. (Photo: A housing project near Broadway in Sacramento - Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio). Advocates in the fight against climate change say this month's Texas power emergency underscores the need to move away from fossil fuels – because extreme weather linked to climate change caused the blackouts in the first place. Story by Suzanne Potter.
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The County is Nervous about Blue Shield's Vaccine Takeover
On March 7, Blue Shield of California will start administering Sonoma County’s vaccine rollout. The nonprofit insurer will take over the data collection and decide how many doses each provider receives. They’ll also streamline the sign-up process, making most appointments available through myturn.ca.gov. There’s hope that Blue Shield will bring more speed and organization to the rollout. But there’s also worry about how this could change the equity framework that the county’s worked hard to create, putting some of the most vulnerable residents at the top of the list. There’s still more questions than answers about what this shift actually look like. Tessa Paoli has the story:
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California Update for Wednesday, February 24, 2021
President Joe Biden's pick for health secretary, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, faces another day of U.S. Senate confirmation hearings that started Tuesday. Story by Steve Milne. (Photo: Attorney General Xavier Becerra, D-Calif., file photo - Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press) Millions of low-income and undocumented Californians will get 600-dollar stimulus payments as part of an economic relief package approved by state lawmakers Monday. Story by Nicole Nixon.
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California Update for Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Educators, state lawmakers, and Governor Gavin Newsom are at a standstill over a plan to reopen California’s public schools for in-person learning. One lawmaker says districts need to be held accountable. Story by Nicole Nixon. (Photo: Andrew Nixon / CapRadio) Gov. Gavin Newsom said today that he expects California will be able to administer a lot more COVID-19 vaccines once federal drug regulators clear Johnson & Johnson’s single-dose vaccine. Story by Steve Milne. Millions of low-income and undocumented Californians will get $600 stimulus payments as part of an economic relief package approved by state lawmakers Monday. Story by Nicole Nixon. People staying home, wearing masks in public…
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California Update for Monday, February 22, 2021
A CapRadio investigation found an overlap of companies that made substantial contributions to Gov. Newsom and received no-bid contracts from the state, or influential appointments and other opportunities related to California’s pandemic response. Story by Scott Rodd. (Photo: FILE - In this March 28, 2020, file photo, Bloom Energy CEO KR Sridhar, right, watches as California Gov. Gavin Newsom writes down a note during a tour with Sridhar of the Bloom Energy Sunnyvale, Calif., campus. - Beth LaBerge / Pool Photo via AP, File) San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener praised the city of Sacramento’s plans to create “missing middle” housing during a recent press conference. Wiener also introduced…
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Outbeat News for Monday, February 22, 2021
Out Pennsylvania representative Brian Simms announced he is running for the office of Lt. Governor in that state. Rumors are circulating on the Internet that America’s most famous transgender woman Caitlyn Jenner has her eye on Gavin Newsom’s job as California’s Governor should Newsom be recalled. Many west coast LGBTQ pride organizations are struggling to make decisions about having in-person pride events this year. Seattle Pride announced last week it is remaining virtual with this year’s event planned in June. Meanwhile, in San Francisco, Folsom Street event planners are optimistic about having an in-person event this September. A long-time member of the San Francisco Fire Department who…
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County Shifts Vaccine Priority to 65 and Up and Food Workers
On Monday, residents 65 and older, along with food manufacturing, grocery store and restaurant workers will be eligible for a vaccine at one of the county-supported clinics. Prioritization will be given to those with server illnesses, such as cancer or kidney disease. The decision to expand eligibility came after the county administered at least one dose to more than 42% of residents between the ages of 70 and 74 and about 60% to those 75 and older. The County has vaccinated 20% of the adult population with at least one dose, that's one in five residents. If you are eligible for a vaccine, click here to make an appointment at one of the county-operated clinics. If you have a primary…
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California Update for Friday, February 19, 2021
California lawmakers released a plan Thursday that would allow schools in counties with more relaxed COVID-19 restrictions to reopen for in-person learning for younger students as well as give school teachers and staff higher vaccine priority. Story by Kris Hooks. (Photo: In this July 13, 2020, file photo, a gate is locked at the closed Ranchito Elementary School in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles. - Richard Vogel, File / AP file COVID testing in California dropped by over 30% in recent weeks. Plus, the number of positive cases has steadily declined since the surge over the holidays, and positive rates are also way down. All good signs. Story by Scott Rodd.
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California Update for Thursday, February 18, 2021
Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers made some questionable claims about Vice President Kamala Harris during Trump’s impeachment trial. PolitiFact California fact-checked those in this week's Can You Handle the Truth segment. Story by Chris Nichols. (Photo: Vice President Kamala Harris - Noah Berger/ AFP via Getty Images) A $9.6 billion pandemic relief package would provide $600 payments to low-income Californians, as well as aid for small businesses. Story by Nicole Nixon. The number of visitors to Yosemite National Park last year plunged by almost half. Story by Rich Ibarra.
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The County Still Faces a Vaccine Shortage
Two months into Sonoma County’s vaccine rollout, 19% of the adult population has received at least one dose. The county is keeping up with other Bay Area counties in vaccinating residents and has opened up dozens of clinics, but the biggest problem has been the same since day one: the county isn’t getting enough vaccines. KRCB's Tessa Paoli has more:
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California Update for Wednesday, February 17, 2021
California officials say short supplies are getting in the way of a widespread inoculation campaign. But Governor Newsom says some counties could begin easing restrictions in coming weeks. Story by Nicole Nixon. (Photo: Ken Towns receives a first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from UC Davis Health on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Sacramento, Calif. - AP Photo/Noah Berger, Pool) The original creators of a new statewide Ethnic Studies Curriculum say the state has revised it in a way that it is no longer true to the mission of Ethnic Studies, and no longer centers on the voices and stories of marginalized racial groups. Story by Sarah Mizes-Tan. Actor Kevin Sorbo and other conservatives…
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California Update for Tuesday, February 16, 2021
The number of Black and Latinx Californians receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is low, compared to the prevalence of these residents among priority groups and in the general state population. Story by Sammy Caiola. (Photo: A nurse applies a COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination site at The Forum Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. - AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Dental health experts are speaking out during February in honor of Children's Dental Health Month about the importance of home preventive care during the pandemic. Story by Suzanne Potter. Backers of a bill introduced this week in the California Legislature say it would improve the state’s aid-in-dying law to make it available to…
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Outbeat News for Monday, February 15, 2021
President Biden wasted no time making it clear to the world in a presidential memorandum that it shall be the policy of the United States to defend the human rights of LGBTQI people here and around the world. But in a sharp contrast, former South Carolina Republican Governor Nikki Haley sharply criticized President Biden specifically for his defense of transgender people asserting that the President is attacking the rights of women. A Sonoma County gay man and an employee of the Fountain Grove Lodge was arrested by Santa Rosa Police on suspicion of child sexual abuse and is facing 29 criminal counts. (Photo: Nikki Haley - Amr Alfiky for NPR)
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California Update for Friday, February 12, 2021
A bill introduced in the state Senate would allow all public school kids to get free meals regardless of family income or circumstances. Story by Ed Fletcher. (Photo: via Cap Radio) Governor Gavin Newsom says the South African coronavirus variant has been detected in two California counties. Story by Mike Haggerty.
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California Update for Thursday, February 11, 2021
GOP Minority Leader and Calif. Rep. Kevin McCarthy greatly exaggerated the estimated number of jobs that could be lost if the national minimum wage is raised to $15 per hour. PolitiFact California reporter Chris Nichols discussed McCarthy’s claim. Story by Chris Nichols. (Photo: Eric Thayer – Reuters/via PBS) Californians can now bet on how much water will cost them down the line by using a new financial tool called a water futures market. But farmers and advocates alike are raising questions about how effective it might be. Story by Nina Sparling.
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The County Reaches for More Vaccine Data
Officials say Sonoma is administering vaccine doses at a faster rate than similarly sized counties. On February 10, officials announced the county has vaccinated nearly 50 percent of its residents who are 75 and older. But because of holes in statewide and local data collection, knowing exactly which vulnerable communities are currently being vaccinated is a challenge. KRCB’s Tessa Paoli has more:
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California Update for Wednesday, February 10, 2021
With a limited supply of vaccines and no state guidance on which essential workers to prioritize, farmworker advocates say these vulnerable residents are being overlooked. Story by Sammy Caiola. (Photo: California farmworkers work during the coronavirus pandemic - Centro Binacional para El Desarollo Oaxaqueño) California is set to receive another round of a little more than one million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine next week. But with only half of those earmarked for first doses, Governor Gavin Newsom says it highlights the issue of limited supply. Story by Kris Hooks. The only governor in California history to be recalled says he doesn't think the current effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom…
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The County Compromises on Eviction Limitations
On February 9, Sonoma’s Board of Supervisors voted to place more limitations on evictions during COVID-19. The amendment limits evictions to extreme circumstances, like when landlords can prove their tenants pose an imminent threat or danger, or when they’re taking the property off the rental market. The rules do not apply to commercial properties. But many renters and advocates wanted the board to go a step further. KRCB’s Tessa Paoli has the story:
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California Update for Tuesday, February 9, 2021
California health officials issued new rules for churches after the Supreme Court struck down the state’s ban on indoor religious services over the weekend. Story by Nicole Nixon. (Photo: Damian Dovarganes/AP – via CapRadio) California Governor Gavin Newsom says a new mass vaccination site will soon open in California's Central Valley. Story by Kris Hooks. At least nine CHP officers who worked at the state Capitol have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks. The spike in cases comes after the agency significantly increased its officer presence at the Capitol around Inauguration Day. Story by Scott Rodd. California’s main state lab in Valencia was hailed as a game-changer when it…
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Outbeat News for Monday, February 8, 2021
Representative Marjorie Greene who is best known for many crazy Q-Anon-type conspiracy theories introduced a Bill last week to ban the flying of the rainbow pride flag at U.S. embassies around the world. In Mississippi, another transgender woman was found dead after being shot in her car. Tragically, she was misgendered and her name disrespected by both police and local media. The Bay Area lost two activists last week for unrelated causes. Carmen Vasquez and Hershon are being remembered this week for their life’s work in our local LGBTQ community. (Photo: Marjorie Taylor Greene - Erin Scott, pool/AFP via Getty Images/NPR)
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Sonoma County Extends Stay-At-Home Order
State public health officials have extended a Stay-Home Order for the 11-county Bay Area region, including Sonoma County. The move comes as COVID-19 cases continue to rise and ICU capacity for the larger Bay Area region remains below 15%. The order will remain in effect until the state’s four-week projections of the Bay Area’s total available ICU bed capacity is greater than or equal to 15%. Under the extended order, residents are directed to stay at home except for work, shopping, or other essential activities, such as medical appointments. Under the order: Retail operations are allowed to continue at 20 percent capacity, or 35 percent capacity for stand-alone grocery stores. Schools that…
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California Update for Friday, February 5, 2021
Last week’s atmospheric river that poured heavy rain across Northern California was a long-awaited opportunity for the people trying to manage the state’s water supply. Story by Nina Sparling. (Photo: Sean de Guzman, chief of snow surveys for the California Department of Water Resources, measures the depth of the snowpack during the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station near Echo Summit, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2021. Randall Benton / AP Photo) California state lawmakers Thursday proposed a package of bills intended to make dramatic improvements to the state's embattled Employment Development Department. Story by Steve Milne.
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The County Promises an Equitable Vaccine Rollout
Earlier this week Sonoma County reaffirmed its commitment to vaccinate the oldest seniors first, those 75 and older. Younger seniors were told to be patient, along with essential workers whose communities have been gravely affected by COVID-19. The county says 65% of people who’ve tested positive for the virus identify as Latinx. And while essential workers were top of mind at the beginning of the county’s vaccine rollout, California’s move to vaccinate seniors first has delayed many of those who have to go into work everyday from getting their vaccines. While Sonoma’s still vaccinating people 75 and older, the County is partnering with grassroots organizations for the next phase of…
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