California News & Current Events | Public News Service

The new Public Lands Rule is designed to protect places such as Joshua Tree National Park, which is bordered by vast swaths of Bureau of Land Management land. (Dmitry/Adobestock)

Monday, May 20, 2024

Conservation groups praise new rules governing oil and gas on public lands

Groups fighting for public lands and national parks are praising two recent Biden administration rules for managing federal land. The oil and gas …

The southern resident sea otter was listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1977. The population went from just 50 animals in the 1930s to more than 3,000 today. (Lilian Carswell/USFWS)

Many outdoor events planned in CA for Endangered Species Day

Nature walks, festivals and more are happening this weekend to celebrate the 19th annual Endangered Species Day, which is tomorrow. California is …

A new poll finds that policies designed to prevent gun violence and improve racial equity are highly important among women voters of color. (Seventyfour/Adobestock)

Women voters of color say lawmakers focus on wrong issues

More than one in five Americans is a woman of color - and a new poll shows they are not feeling heard and want policymakers to address issues they car…

Families at Luiseno Elementary School in Corona listen to a recent workshop featuring the Ready, Tech, Go program. (Lifetouch)

Schools partner with PTA, AT&T to teach families online safety

Parents may wonder when is the right time to give a child a cell phone or tablet, or how can they help their kids stay safe online. The National …

A new study showed polluting chemicals in car interiors are a bigger risk for children and for people who drive for a living or have long commutes. (Dmindphoto/Adobe Stock)

Consumer groups call on feds to regulate flame retardants in cars

UPDATE: A response has been added from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. (2:02 p.m. PDT, May 14, 2024) A new study showed the flame …

The Mojave Desert Tortoise is now listed as endangered in California, but is still listed as �threatened� under the federal Endangered Species Act. (Joanna Gilkeson/USFWS)

CA lists Mojave Desert Tortoise as endangered

Groups that fight to recover endangered species are praising the California Fish and Game Commission's decision to change the Mojave Desert tortoise f…

Union workers spent Wednesday lobbying California lawmakers to pass bills to protect labor during the transition away from fossil fuels. (Brooke Anderson)<br />

Union coalition calls for CA worker climate bill of rights

Dozens of union members rallied Wednesday in Sacramento, calling on lawmakers to pass a set of bills called the California Worker Climate Bill of …

A new comic book in Spanish and English educates consumers on best practices when buying a used car. (Oregon Consumer Justice)

Can a comic coloring book help you avoid used car scams?

Buying a used car can be a risky proposition but a new consumer guide can help people avoid common pitfalls. The nonprofit Oregon Consumer Justice …

Children's advocates are pressing lawmakers to pass Assembly Bill 2956, which would continue pandemic-era flexibilities in Medi-Cal that allow more people to qualify. (Fizkes/Adobestock)

Hundreds of thousands of CA children dropped off Medi-Cal since last year

Medi-Cal has dropped several hundred thousand low-income children from the health insurance rolls since April 2023, according to a new report from …

Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument's new Molok Loyuk region provides habitat for tule elk, mountain lions, bears, bald eagles and golden eagles. (Hispanic Access Foundation)

Public lands groups cheer expansion of two CA national monuments

Conservation groups, tribes and community organizers are praising President Joe Biden's decision Thursday to expand two national monuments in …

Protest encampments such as this one at San Francisco State University against the war in Gaza have now spread to a half dozen campuses across California. (Sam Cheng/Adobestock)

Campus protests opposing war in Gaza grow across CA

Massive protests and tent encampments opposing the war in Gaza are growing at universities across California, with classes canceled at the University …

Under a new DEA proposal, marijuana would be considered less dangerous than heroin but still more addictive than cocaine, alcohol or Xanax. (Roxxyphotos/Adobe Stock)

Advocates cheer feds’ proposal to reclassify marijuana as lower risk

Marijuana legalization groups are celebrating after the Drug Enforcement Agency proposed Tuesday to reclassify cannabis as less dangerous or addictive…

A new report from UCLA and the Bipartisan Policy Center found election officials in larger cities, especially in swing states, have been more likely to be harassed or threatened in the past few years. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: CA election worker turnover has soared in recent years

A new report showed turnover among California chief election officials reached 57% in 2022, a record high. It then declined this year to 40%…

Households in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Francisco counties pay the highest prices for groceries in the state. (Stokkete/Adobe Stock)

Feds: Grocery chain profits soared during and after pandemic

Consumer groups are accusing major grocery retailers - like Amazon, Kroger and Walmart - of price gouging, both during and after the pandemic…

Currently, more than 2.7 million Californians live within 3,200 feet of an operational oil well. (MSPhotographic/Adobe Stock)

CA climate leaders fight to keep setbacks around oil and gas wells

Leaders concerned about pollution and climate change are raising awareness about a ballot measure this fall on whether the state should mandate buffer…

Protests in May 2023 called for cleaner air at the ports. State data show ships idling at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in 2021 during the pandemic emitted as much diesel particulate matter pollution as 100,000 big rig trucks per day. (Pacific Environment)

Clean-air activists to hold 'die-in' Friday at LA City Hall

A coalition of climate groups seeking cleaner air at the rail yards and ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will hold a "die-in" rally tomorrow at Los…

Grass-fed beef is prepared for serving at an industry event called the Meat Summit. (Roots of Change)

'Regenerative' beef gets boost from California universities

By Naoki Nitta for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public Ne…

15-year-old Cash Hennessy and his parents became advocates for better training in schools on sudden cardiac arrest after the teen survived a brush with death. (Kristine Kelly/American Heart Association)

Advocates promote bill to improve survival after cardiac arrest in schools

The California State Assembly is considering a bill to require schools to have a cardiac arrest response plan. Assembly Bill 2887 would make sure …

The proposed Ambler industrial mining road would have crossed nearly 3,000 waterways, including the Kobuk and Koyukuk rivers, which are important spawning grounds for the Yukon salmon. (National Wild and Scenic Rivers System)

Biden administration moves to protect Alaska wilderness

Conservation groups are rejoicing over the decision Friday by the Biden administration to reject a proposed mining road in Alaska. The 211-mile …

Advocates say a proposed bond measure could help improve fire resiliency in California's redwood forests. (Kchassiephoto/Adobe Stock)

On Earth Day, climate activists press for CA bond measure

Today, in honor of Earth Day, climate advocates are asking California lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom to rally around a plan to put a $15 billion …

Environmental advocates are asking California's next state budget to prioritize climate mitigation and cut tax breaks for fossil fuel companies. (The Climate Center)

Climate groups seek to remove tax breaks for oil and gas companies

As state budget negotiations continue, groups fighting climate change are asking California lawmakers to cut subsidies for oil and gas companies …

Since 2009, Market Match has served tens of thousands of low-income Californians to buy produce at markets like this one in San Francisco.(Heart of the City Market)

Groups plead with CA legislators to save Market Match program

California's program helping low-income families buy fresh fruit and vegetables is on the chopping block and health care advocates are asking legislat…

Statistics show that women make up nearly two-thirds of Americans 65 or older living with Alzheimer's disease. (Africa Studio/Adobestock)

On National Healthcare Decisions Day, advocates spotlight end-of-life planning

Today is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day when everyone is encouraged to review their end-of-life planning. The 2024 Alzheimer's Association …

Will California do reparations right?

By Erin Aubry Kaplan for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Yes! Magazine-Public News …

Protesters rallied in San Diego in 2012 against trade agreements that allow corporations to sue for future profits when governments deny permits. (Arthur Stamoulis/Trade Justice Education Fund)<br />

Climate activists call on U.S. company to halt trade lawsuit over LNG

Environmental activists are rallying today in Sunnyvale, asking the American company Ruby River Capital to drop a lawsuit the protesters called "a …

Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, Crime Survivor for Safety and Justice leader Stephanie Hatten and senior staff attorney Katherine Wutchiett for Legal Aid at Work spoke Tuesday in Sacramento on behalf of a bill to allow family members of crime victims to take unpaid leave. (Assembly Democratic Communications Office)

Criminal justice package moves ahead in CA state Legislature

A package to improve public safety is moving ahead in the California state Legislature - with a floor vote in the State Assembly on the first bill exp…

The Health4All Coalition rallied in Sacramento on Monday, asking state lawmakers to open up the Covered California health insurance exchange to all people, regardless of their immigration status. (Ed Sifuentes/CA Immigrant Policy Center)

Coalition presses to open health exchange to undocumented Californians

This week, groups fighting for health equity known as the Health4All campaign are asking the California Legislature to remove barriers to the …

Jewish Vocational Services has helped more than 100,000 people across California access jobs and economic mobility. (Adobe Stock)

CA workforce advocates call job-training budget cuts 'ill-advised'

As California faces a $38 billion budget deficit, state lawmakers have identified $17 billion in potential cuts before the Legislature begins …

Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego celebrates a bilingual Mass for Earth Week at St. James Church in Solana Beach, California, April 17, 2021. (CNS/The Southern Cross/John Gastaldo)

San Diego Catholic Diocese divests from fossil fuels

By Brian Roewe for Earthbeat.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service …

Students at High Tech High in San Diego were asked to surrender their cellphones each day at school last session, and were surveyed on the changes they noticed throughout the year. (Edrick Macalaguim/High Tech High)

Banning cellphones at school brings positive changes for students

Separating high school students from their cellphones might be seen as a daunting task but one California school said having students stash them durin…

The new, free IRS Direct File site offers access to live customer service reps who can answer tax questions. (MargJohnsonVA/Adobestock)

IRS promotes new program to file your taxes for free

This year Californians can file simple tax forms for free and save time to boot, thanks to a new pilot project from the Internal Revenue Service …

The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Educators sound alarm about teacher shortage

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

A bill called Save Our Sequoias to fund wildfire resilience is tucked into this year's farm bill, currently being negotiated in Congress. (Save the Redwoods League)

Major progress in effort to protect CA giant sequoias from megafires

Crews have been ramping up wildfire resilience projects to thin out brush and dead wood in California's giant sequoia groves, clearing twice as many …

Humpback whales sometimes get tangled up in ropes from discarded crab fishing gear. (Jenn Tackaberry/Kiirsten Flynn/National Marine Fisheries Service)

Partial shutdown of crab fishing season considered to protect whales

A working group convened by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife meets today to consider a partial closure of the commercial Dungeness crab …

California's Family Urgent Response System's mandate is to be available to send an emergency care team to any California foster family within one hour. (DimaBerlin/Adobestock)

CA foster care advocates ask lawmakers to fund in-person response teams

Advocates for foster families are pressing lawmakers to save the Family Urgent Response System from the budget ax. California faces a $37.9 billion …

A new bill would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out a new grant program, to fund a 24/7 helpline for parents and youths. (Raushan_films/Adobestock)

Bill would fund National Parent & Youth Helpline

The new National Parent & Youth Helpline has already taken 6,700 calls, texts and live chats since its inception in January, and now the U.S…

Small seasonal streams lost Clean Water Act protections last year when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against the Biden administration in 'Sackett v. EPA.' (Derrick/Adobe Stock)

On World Water Day, advocates call on Congress to reinstate protections

Today is World Water Day, established 21 years ago by the United Nations to promote clean, fresh water. This year, advocates in the U.S. are …

An estimated 3 million Californians live within 3,200 feet of an oil or gas well. (MSPhotographic/Adobestock)

CA referendum would lift ban on new oil wells near homes

A referendum on the ballot this fall gives California voters the chance to either uphold or reject a law which would require oil and gas wells to be s…

New EPA rules on vehicle emissions aim to save drivers money through reduced fuel and maintenance costs of electric and hybrid vehicles. (Tongpatong/Adobestock)

Environmental advocates cheer new EPA clean-car rules

Clean-air groups are calling the Biden administration's new rules on vehicle pollution the single biggest action the Environmental Protection Agency h…

Leaders from the Yurok Tribe and the nonprofit Save the Redwoods walk among native plants planted as part of a revegetation effort at 'O Rew. (Evan-Marie Petit)

Historic agreement to return Redwoods land to Yurok Tribe

Plans to open a new gateway to Redwoods State and National Parks got a big boost Tuesday, paving the way for a key parcel of land to be returned to …

Higher education advocates are calling for the creation of new federal-state partnerships to create a path to debt-free college. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Higher education experts call for more equitable financial aid reform

Each spring, hundreds of thousands of California high school seniors have to figure out if they can afford to go to college in the fall - and two new …

American teachers in training trek through Tijuana on their way to visit a school as part of a trip to foster cross-border understanding. (Rick Froehbrodt/SDSU)

Aspiring bilingual teachers cross the border to gain insight

Immigration is a hot-button issue these days, but people studying to become bilingual teachers at one California university are making an effort to …

A new AARP survey of California women age 40 and older found 71% are concerned about affordable health care and 68% are worried about access to affordable long-term care. (Ink drop/Adobestock) A new AARP survey of California women age 40 and older found that 71% are concerned about affordable health care, and 68% are worried about access to affordable long-term care. (Ink drop/Adobestock)

Survey: CA women age 40-plus highly likely to vote

Nearly 80% of California women age 40 and older say they are highly motivated to vote, according to a new survey from AARP. Researchers for the new …

Many species, including sea lions, are injured or killed by set gillnets, which target halibut and white sea bass. (Robert Schwemmer/NOAA)

CA bill aims to reduce marine mammal entanglements in set gillnets

A new bill aims to reduce the number of sea lions, sharks, rays, skates and giant sea bass dying off the coast of Southern California in huge set …

Care4All California, a coalition of more than 70 healthcare advocacy groups, is pressing for a package of bills this legislative session to rein in healthcare costs and improve equity. (Kit Bear/HealthAccess CA)<br />

CA healthcare advocates unveil package of bills to lower costs

On Tuesday, Care4All California, a coalition fighting for affordable health care, unveiled a package of bills its members say they would like state …

San Diego State University is one of 23 California State University campuses. A new grant will simplify the admissions process. (SDSU)

Cal State system wins $750K in Great Admissions Redesign challenge

In the next few years, big changes are coming to the Cal State University admissions process, thanks to a $750-thousand grant from Lumina …

A proposal before the California Air Resources Board would allow fossil fuel producers in California to buy credits from factory farms that use anaerobic digesters like these to extract methane from animal waste. (Rob Thomas/Adobe Stock)

Midwest community activists slam proposed CA emissions incentives

Community groups in the Midwest are worried a change in California carbon emissions policy could hurt quality of life in the nation's heartland…

Students and staff from colleges marched in Sacramento on Thursday calling for lawmakers to address the high cost of tuition and housing. (Matthew Hardy/CFT)

College students, staff rally in Sacramento for 'March in March'

Hundreds of college students and staff from across the state held a march and rally in Sacramento on Thursday, calling for changes to make higher …

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