California Community Colleges board selects new chancellorFebruary 25, 2023Sonya Christian, current chancellor of Kern Community College District, will be the first woman appointed as permanent chancellor and the first person of South Asian heritage to lead the nation’s largest system of public higher education.
EnvironmentWater board waives Delta rules that protect salmonFebruary 23, 2023Angering environmentalists, the water board decided that cities and farmers would get more Delta water while restricting flows for endangered salmon and other fish. The move came after Gov. Gavin Newsom suspended key environmental laws.
California homelessness: Where are the state’s billions going? Here’s the new, best answerFebruary 18, 2023For the first time, a new state report offers a bird-eye view of how much the state has spent to halt homelessness — nearly $10 billion over three years. Of the half-million Californians who made use of those services, more than 40% ended up housed.
EnvironmentFloods, fires, droughts show California needs bigger safety net for farmworkers, advocates sayFebruary 17, 2023January’s rains flooded farm fields and orchards. Many California farmworkers lost weeks of pay. Advocates say the state should help them weather such crises. A leading proposal would pay $300 a week to undocumented workers.
State GovernmentWho draws the lines? A big push for independent local redistrictingFebruary 16, 2023Advocates and lawmakers are making a major push for independent redistricting commissions in local California elections.
EnvironmentNewsom suspends environmental laws to store more Delta waterFebruary 15, 2023Facing criticism that stormwater flowed out to sea, the governor asked the water board to waive rules designed to protect salmon and other endangered fish. Environmentalists call it “a breakdown of law and order” while growers laud it.
State GovernmentMore than 12,000 Californians are getting cash from guaranteed income experimentsFebruary 14, 2023State and local governments, and some private funders, are launching dozens of pilot projects making direct, monthly payments to low-income residents to help meet basic needs. Researchers will study what happens next. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
The fastest-growing homeless population? SeniorsFebruary 14, 2023Some seniors have been homeless for years and are now growing older. But the increasing numbers also reflect another trend: those experiencing homelessness for the first time after age 50. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
State GovernmentCalifornia Toxics: Out of state, out of mindFebruary 12, 2023A CalMatters investigation finds that environmentally stringent California sends nearly half its toxic waste across its borders, often to states with weaker rules. One of the biggest out-of-state dumpers: the state’s own hazardous waste watchdog.
State Government‘No light at the other end’: Impending loss of pandemic CalFresh boosts could trigger hunger spikeFebruary 11, 2023For nearly three years, an increase in federal aid has allowed California to issue higher-than-usual amounts in food stamps. That ends in April.
