EnvironmentRural ranchers face $4,000 proposed fine for violating state drought orderNovember 13, 2022The penalty is the maximum the ranchers — who pumped Shasta River water for eight days — could face under state law. It amounts to about $50 per rancher, which is no deterrent, ranchers and officials agree.
State GovernmentWhat’s next for sports betting in California?November 12, 2022Voters resoundingly rejected Propositions 26 and 27, but that doesn’t end the debate over California sports betting. Those behind the ballot measures are figuring out their next steps.
Poverty drops in California but only because of child tax credit, COVID relief fundsNovember 7, 2022If you haven’t filed for a child tax credit, now’s the time to do it. A deadline approaches.
Schools scramble to find teachers as California expands transitional kindergartenNovember 2, 2022This school year the California transitional kindergarten program began expanding to eventually include all 4-year-olds.
State GovernmentThough wage theft is a crime, few California DAs file charges for itOctober 25, 2022Some prosecutors say that may change. They are partnering with the state on more wage cases or forming special units to pursue labor abuses as crimes. A new felony law could help, they say.
Amid ominous signs, California releases first student test scores since the pandemicOctober 24, 2022State education officials — who initially seemed to be delaying the release of student scores until after the election — instead shared them in a way guaranteed to hinder coverage of what’s expected to be a steep pandemic-driven decline.
Health CareThe public health workforce got an infusion of money during the pandemic, but is it enough?October 22, 2022During the decade after the 2008 recession, state funding for public health dropped 64%. COVID-19 funding has boosted the budgets of local public health departments, but the exodus of staff has left local officials struggling to fill vacancies.
State GovernmentYour questions about California’s gas rebate answeredOctober 19, 2022Readers had questions about California’s gas rebate payments, including whether it matters how many cars you have and why it’s based on 2020 tax returns. We’ve answered some here.
California is a hotspot for catalytic converter theft. Will new laws make a difference?October 11, 2022A disproportionate share of catalytic converter thefts happen in California. Here’s what lawmakers are trying to do about it, and why one law-enforcement backed approach didn’t make it out of Sacramento.
Dual admission program will give community college students an early taste of life at UCOctober 5, 2022The University of California aims to ease the transition from community college to university with a new dual admission pilot program launching this spring.
