Californians Facing End of Federal Jobless Benefits Still Have OptionsDecember 30, 2013 | Max PringleSome state and county assistance may be available to the more than 200,000 long-term, unemployed Californians who face the end of the federal unemployment benefit extension. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Governor's "Budget Elves" Hard at Work This Holiday WeekDecember 24, 2013 | Ben AdlerWhile many Californians will be taking time off this week to celebrate the holidays, it’s one of the busiest times of the year for one group of state employees: the people tasked with preparing Gov. Jerry Brown’s upcoming budget proposal. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
No Deadline Extension, Says Covered CaliforniaDecember 23, 2013 | Ben AdlerCalifornia’s health care exchange is not extending the same one-day enrollment grace period as the White House is, meaning the deadline for Californians to apply for health insurance that takes effect Jan. 1st remains Monday at midnight. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Study Shows California Prison Population Dropping After RealignmentDecember 23, 2013 | Max Pringle A new state study shows arrest rates for California inmates released during the first year of Governor Jerry Brown’s prison realignment program were down nearly three percent. Conviction rates were nearly unchanged. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Calif. Economy Improving as 2013 Nears Its EndDecember 20, 2013 | Ben AdlerCalifornia gained nearly 45,000 jobs in November, and its unemployment rate dropped from 8.7 percent to 8.5 percent. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Steinberg: More Money for Mentally Ill Offenders, Time to Address CalSTRS LiabilityDecember 19, 2013 | Ben AdlerSenate Leader Darrell Steinberg is proposing California spend $50 million to help reduce the rate at which mentally ill county jail inmates reoffend. He also says it's time for the state to deal with CalSTRS' $70 billion unfunded liability.
Parks Director: More Money Needed to Keep Parks Open Beyond JuneDecember 18, 2013 | Ben AdlerThe head of the California state parks department says the system will need more money to keep all 280 parks open when the new fiscal year starts next July. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
California Prepares For Third Straight Dry YearDecember 17, 2013 | Amy QuintonThe California Department of Water Resources is preparing the state’s farmers for a third straight dry year. It has assembled a drought management team to deal with the water shortage. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
State Tax Board Ends Business Deposit ProgramDecember 17, 2013 | Ben AdlerCalifornians are now no longer required to place security deposits with the state to open new businesses after Tuesday's Board of Equalization action that’s drawing praise from taxpayer and business groups. Listen /Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Brown Praises Calif. Obamacare Rollout, Credits Prop 25 for Budget HealthDecember 16, 2013 | Ben AdlerSpeaking at an event in Silicon Valley Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown declared California's Affordable Care Act rollout to be going "better" than the national effort and said the federal government should follow his state's budget strategy.