News

Environment

Exclusive: California’s Clean Air Programs Take A Hit In New Funding Squeeze

August 3, 2020

Projects that tackle vehicles, pollution in low-income communities, prescribed burns and even cows have lost 14% of their original budgets because of cap and trade shortfall.

State Government

Is The Summer Surge Fading? California’s Test-Positivity Rate Finally Declines.

August 3, 2020 | Nicole Nixon

After stubbornly sitting above 7% for weeks, California’s 7-day average test-positivity rate fell to 6.1% Monday. Gov. Gavin Newsom said it’s a good sign but warned he still anticipates another wave of the virus in autumn.

California's Apple Fire Destroys More Than 20,000 Acres

August 2, 2020

Officials have ordered evacuations for nearly 8,000 people in southern California, as the state continues to grapple with a rapidly growing number of COVID-19 cases.

‘I Want To See It In My Lifetime’: Black Lives Matter Marches To Sacramento Police Headquarters Demanding Reform

August 1, 2020 | Sarah Mizes-Tan

Organizers say the demonstration is in response to what they feel is a lack of action from city leaders after calls of police social equity reforms.

Health Care

Hospitals Juggle Resources, Continue Surgeries As California’s COVID-19 Cases Rise

July 31, 2020 | Sammy Caiola

California hospitals are performing a careful balancing act of continuing business as usual while maintaining COVID-19 surge capacity. In most cases, that doesn’t involve canceling or postponing non-essential procedures.

Court Bans 'Abusive' Spiking, But Sticks With Pension Protections

July 31, 2020

Thursday's ruling gives counties the right to prevent “abuse of the pension system,” but stops short of ending a half-century of precedent. “It’s probably great news for pension lawyers.”

Updates From Nevada’s Special Legislative Session: Here’s What You Need To Know

July 31, 2020 | Bert Johnson

Lawmakers are in Carson City for the second special legislative session of the year. They’re considering reforms to eviction court proceedings, rules around policing, how elections are administered and the state’s beleaguered unemployment division.

Looking For Solutions To Income Inequality During COVID-19

July 31, 2020 | Kris Vera-Phillips

While Congress continues to debate a coronavirus stimulus package, government and community leaders are looking for other options that could help communities who need help paying off bills and keeping their families fed.

Environment

Are Shrimp-Flavored Dog Treats The Answer To Keeping Lake Tahoe Blue?

July 31, 2020 | Ezra David Romero

Each year, scientists release data about how Lake Tahoe is changing — and in the past year the lake lost eight feet of clarity. But tiny shrimp are making it difficult to sustain that clarity. That’s why researchers want to turn them into dog treats.

Business

Business Journal: TriWest Healthcare Closes Rancho Cordova Office, Cuts More Than 200 Jobs

July 31, 2020 | Steve Milne

In a sign of the pandemic times, a healthcare benefits company closes its Rancho Cordova office and cuts more than 200 local jobs.

State Government

EDD In The Hot Seat As 1 Million Californians Remain Stuck In Unemployment Insurance Purgatory

July 30, 2020 | Scott Rodd

A bipartisan group of lawmakers channeled frustrations from unemployed constituents, while EDD director Sharon Hilliard defended her department’s efforts to keep on top of historic benefits claims.

U.S. Agriculture Officials Warn Residents Not To Open Mystery Seeds From China

July 30, 2020 | Rich Ibarra

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the concern is that the seeds, which have arrived in small packages with Chinese writing on the outside, could contain viruses or bacteria or they could be an invasive species.

Black Lives Matter Criticizes How Sacramento Police Officers Treated Victims After Oak Park Shooting

July 30, 2020

After graphic video surfaced online of the aftermath of an Oak Park shooting, Black Lives Matter Sacramento is questioning whether or not police officers followed proper protocol when they responded.

Low-Wage Workers Nervous As $600-A-Week Unemployment Stimulus Expires

July 30, 2020 | Nicole Nixon | Sarah Mizes-Tan

More than 10% of Sacramentans are unemployed and will lose the extra $600 a week in benefits, which could mean not being able to pay rent as the Senate debates a new stimulus plan.

PolitiFact California

Trump Draws False Contrast Between Absentee, Mail-In Voting, Election Experts Say

July 30, 2020 | Chris Nichols

The verification and security processes are the same for absentee and mail-in voting. In many states the term ‘absentee voting’ has been phased out because there’s no difference between it and mail-in voting.

Health Care

California Doesn’t Need To Force More People Into Mental Health Treatment, But Services Are Lacking, State Audit Finds

July 30, 2020 | Sammy Caiola

Many severely mentally ill Californians are cycling in-and-out of forced hospitalizations due to a lack of treatment options when they’re released, according to a recent report from the state auditor.

State Government

What's On The Ballot? Here's A Look At California's 2020 Propositions

July 30, 2020 | Nicole Nixon

California has 12 propositions on the November 2020 ballot. Here are the basics of what you need to know about each one as we get close to Election Day.

Coronavirus Pandemic Puts A Spotlight On Stockton’s Guaranteed Income Experiment

July 30, 2020

Mayors for a Guaranteed Income is the brainchild of Michael Tubbs, the 29-year-old mayor of Stockton.

John Lewis, Towering Civil Rights Icon, Memorialized At Atlanta Funeral

July 30, 2020

The longtime congressman and civil rights legend will be memorialized at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are scheduled to speak.

Democratic Lawmakers Want Tax Hikes For California’s Million-Dollar Earners

July 29, 2020 | Nicole Nixon

Amid the coronavirus crisis, some lawmakers want to raise taxes on the state’s top earners to boost services for schools and unemployment benefits. Critics say it could slow California’s economic recovery.