News

Should The State Investigate Local Police Shootings? California Rethinks Its Resistance

July 12, 2020

If this state is the nation’s laboratory for progressive laws, why has it been unable to keep the police from policing themselves?

Some California Schools Delay In-Person Classes As Coronavirus Surges

July 11, 2020

Schools across the state aren’t sure they can come up with procedures — and the money to implement them — to keep kids safe before class is scheduled to begin this fall.

To Confront COVID-19 Budget Crisis, Nevada Legislators Consider Cuts While Advocates Call For Reform

July 10, 2020 | Bert Johnson

State lawmakers meet for a special session to address $1.2 billion in budget shortfalls, reviewing deep cuts to state services. But advocates and community members urge revenue raising and police reform.

California To Release Thousands Of Inmates Early As Coronavirus Rips Through Prison System

July 10, 2020 | Nicole Nixon

The state corrections department announced roughly 8,000 nonviolent offenders could gain early release in the coming weeks under guidelines approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

PolitiFact California

California Lawmaker Makes ‘Oversimplified, Untrue’ Claim About COVID-19 And Lack Of Risk To Children

July 10, 2020 | Chris Nichols

Contrary to the claim by state Sen. Melissa Melendez, there are studies that show children can be at risk of COVID-19 even if the risk is less than that for adults.

Environment

The More Electric Uber And Lyft Cars There Are The More The Climate Benefits, Researchers Suggest

July 10, 2020 | Ezra David Romero

If an electric car is used for ride-hailing services it could have three times the climate benefits of a personally owned electric car. That’s because these cars are really efficient, among other reasons UC Davis researchers recently found.

Business

Business Journal: Federal COVID-19 Relief Program Boosts Some Sacramento Companies

July 10, 2020 | Steve Milne

New numbers show how much help Sacramento area businesses are getting from the Paycheck Protection Program, the federal government's biggest initiative to assist small businesses through the coronavirus pandemic.

California Has No Clear Use-Of-Force Standard For Security Guards. Regulators Say That Leaves Their Hands Tied.

July 10, 2020 | Scott Rodd

A federal lawsuit alleges a man died after private security at the Golden 1 Center kneeled on his neck for more than four minutes. Experts say vague regulations make it hard to punish guards for using excessive force in California.

Health Care

Sacramento Communities Already Struggling To Access Testing Say Temporary County Site Closures Were 'A Heavy Blow'

July 9, 2020 | Sammy Caiola

Sacramento community organizations worry the gap in COVID-19 testing availability this week, and the ongoing closure of one walk-up site, will exacerbate an already dire need for testing in underserved communities.

State Government

Newsom Says CalFire ‘Up To The Task’ For Fire Season, As State Reports Record Coronavirus Deaths

July 9, 2020 | Chris Nichols

Newsom says funding for new personnel and helicopters will help, while fire officials say there will be new safety measures during evacuations due to COVID-19. The news comes as California reported its deadliest day during the pandemic.

Pets In Need Delivers Medical Aid To Stockton Animals

July 9, 2020 | Rich Ibarra

Pets in Need operates out of a 38-foot RV and offers free veterinary care mostly aimed at homeless people.

Health Care

Fresno Nurse Died Of COVID-19 As Coronavirus Safety Complaints Piled Up Against Kaiser

July 9, 2020 | Scott Rodd

The California Nurses Association says Kaiser Permanente bears responsibility for the death of a nurse in Fresno after failing to provide adequate protective equipment. Kaiser denies this, claiming it has provided necessary protective gear.

UC Will Sue Trump Administration Over New International Student Visa Rules

July 9, 2020

The lawsuit challenges new visa guidelines that would force international students to leave the United States if they are enrolled in a college or academic program that only offers courses online.

California Attorney General Releases Second Report On Sacramento Police Use Of Force Policies

July 8, 2020 | Scott Rodd

Attorney General Xavier Becerra released his second round of recommendations for improvements to the Sacramento Police Department’s use of force policies.

Health Care

COVID-19 Tests Hard To Get In Some California Counties As Rising Demand, Supply Shortages Strain Capacity

July 8, 2020 | Sammy Caiola

California health officials say COVID-19 testing capacity has become strained due to the rise in demand for tests and an ongoing shortage of supplies used to collect and process samples.

UC System Picks First Black President

July 8, 2020

Michael V. Drake, a former leader at Ohio State University and UC Irvine, will have fewer tools than past presidents to deal with the UC’s imminent fiscal woes.

Newsom Says Safety "Non-Negotiable" In School Reopening Conversation As Hospitalizations, Cases Rise

July 8, 2020 | Ashlea Brown

Gov. Gavin Newsom said safety should be the main focus in conversations around reopening schools, but that some form of learning should start in the fall. It comes as COVID-19 hospitalizations increased 44% in the state the past few weeks.

Supreme Court Undercuts Access To Birth Control Under Obamacare

July 8, 2020

The opinion upheld a Trump administration rule that significantly cut back on the Affordable Care Act requirement that insurers provide free birth control coverage under almost all health care plans.

Supreme Court Carves Out Religious Exception To Fair Employment Laws

July 8, 2020

The decision was 7-2, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg dissenting. The cases involved two fifth grade teachers at Catholic parochial schools in California who were fired from their jobs.

California Challenges Federal Rule Diverting Coronavirus Relief To Private Schools

July 7, 2020 | Nicole Nixon

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos opened the doors for private schools to access coronavirus relief funds last month. California and a handful of other states argue the money should be reserved for the nation’s neediest students.