Public News Service

Medicare enrollees will not have to spend more than $2,000 annually on prescription drugs, starting next year. (Burlingham/Adobe Stock)

Report: New prescription drug cap for Medicare means big savings

Hundreds of thousands of older Californians will see huge savings on prescription drugs starting in January, according to a new report from AARP…

A partir del a�o que viene, los afiliados a Medicare no tendr�n que gastar ni un centavo m�s de $2,000 por a�o en medicamentos recetados.

Informe: Nuevo límite de recetas médicas para Medicare supone gran ahorro

Según un to nuevo informe de AARP, cientos de miles de californianos de edad avanzada se ahorrarán mucho en medicamentos a partir de enero…

Workers protested layoffs outside the Chet Holifield Federal Building in Laguna Niguel on June 21. (U.E. Local 1008)<br />

Layoffs at CA immigration services center lead to protests

The feds are laying off more than 400 workers at an immigration application processing center in Laguna Niguel, a move labor advocates say is union-…

The Laura Rodriguez Medical Assistant Institute is training members of the local community to reduce shortages in the health care workforce. (LRMAI)

CA program combats shortage of medical assistants

California faces a big shortage in the health care workforce, so health centers in San Diego are taking matters into their own hands, launching a …

In California, 750,000 fast-food workers were covered by the increase in the minimum wage in the sector from $16 to $20 per hour. (BlueSkyImages/Adobe Stock)

Fast food jobs increasing in CA despite rising minimum wage

New data show fast food jobs have been on the upswing in the four months since the minimum wage in the sector went from $16 to $20 an hour. The …

A job retraining program from Merit America hopes to help an additional 2,000 people transition from low-wage work into technology careers as it expands its efforts in the Bay Area. (Merit America)<br />

As CA workers seek higher wages, a program seeks to help them move up

Unions representing fast food workers are asking the state's new Fast Food Council to support a 70-cent-per-hour boost in the minimum wage at its next…

Activists protested high rents at a Blackstone property in the San Diego area earlier this year. (Fanguiano/Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment)

Tenants’ rights groups press lawmakers to rein in corporate landlords

Tenant's rights groups are asking policymakers to move on several fronts to rein in corporate landlords who they said are worsening California's housi…

President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. (Wikimedia Commons)

CA advocates raise awareness for Disability Pride Month

July is Disability Pride Month, and today is the 34th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Federal data show that more …

Defensores de California Competes se reunieron con legisladores en Sacramento para presionar por la aprobaci�n del proyecto de ley AB 2458, conocida como la Ley de Mayor Accesibilidad, Informaci�n, Notificaci�n y Apoyo (GAINS). (AJ Johnson)

Legislación disponible para ayudar a estudiantes universitarios padres en CA

Los grupos que abogan por la equidad en la educación superior se están pronunciando a favor de un proyecto de ley en la Legislatura de Calif…

American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten called on members to defend democracy, voting rights and public education in the run-up to the presidential election this November. (AFT)

Politics take center stage at national convention for educators

After a historic weekend, politics turned out to be the major topic Monday at the national convention of more than 3,500 teachers union members…

La Presidenta de la Federaci�n Americana de Profesores, Randi Weingarten, hizo un llamado a sus miembros para que defiendan la democracia, , los derechos al voto y la educaci�n p�blica en el per�odo previo a las elecciones presidenciales de noviembre. (AFT)<br /><br /><br />

La política ocupa un lugar central en la Convención Nacional de Educadores

Tras un fin de semana histórico, la política se convirtió en el tema principal de una reunión nacional que comenzó el lunes …

Los consumidores pueden presentar quejas sobre productos y servicios financieros, incluidos pr�stamos para autom�viles, en el sitio web del Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (Freedomz/Adobe Stock)

Feds multan banco con 20 millones por prácticas ilegales en seguros de autos

Fifth Third Bank acaba de aceptar pagar una multa de $20 millones para resolver los cargos por obligar a los compradores de automóviles a adquiri…

Advocates to flood social media to promote Black Women’s Equal Pay Day

Today is Black Women's Equal Pay Day and at 11 a.m. PT, advocates hope to get the topic trending with a "social media storm." The wage gap is stark…

Finn Does (center), summit co-chair, and other youth participants at the 2023 Bay Area Youth Climate Summit in San Francisco. (Finn Does)<br />

'Composting' our emotions: How climate action cultivates well-being

By Elizabeth Hewitt for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism …

Merit America's goal is to drive $1 billion in wage gains by 2025, by retraining low-wage workers for better-paying jobs in the tech sector. (BullRun/Adobe Stock)

CA tech job-training program expands with $15 million grant

Help is available for people looking to break out of a low-wage, "go-nowhere" job because the nonprofit Merit America is expanding its training …

Senate Bill 252 would require state pension funds to divest from oil and gas companies by 2031, with an extra four years of leeway if certain market conditions arise. (Dogora Sun/Adobestock)

CA climate-change groups press for fossil-fuel divestment

State lawmakers are considering a bill which would require two public pension systems to pull about $15 billion in combined investments from the fossi…

Last year, California's Market Match program provided 3.8 million servings of fruits and vegetables to families struggling with food insecurity. (EwaStudio/Adobe Stock)

As budget deadline looms, CA groups defend Market Match program

California anti-hunger groups are asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to preserve funding for Market Match, a program helping low-income families buy fruits and …

A new report finds 36% of nonprofit leaders say their funders have either no commitment to racial equity or have reduced or eliminated it in the last year. (Syda Productions/Adobestock)

Report: Burnout a major concern in nonprofit sector

A new survey of nonprofit leaders finds staff burnout is a major concern. The 2024 "State of Nonprofits" report from the Center for Effective …

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 …

Los defensores de los ni�os est�n presionando a los legisladores para que aprueben el Proyecto de Ley 2956 de la Asamblea, que continuar�a con las flexibilidades de la era de la pandemia en Medi-Cal que permitir�an que m�s personas calificaran. (Fizkes/Adobestock)

Cientos de miles de niños de CA dejaron de recibir Medi-Cal desde el año pasado

Medi-Cal ha eliminado a varios cientos de miles de niños de bajos ingresos de las listas de seguro médico desde abril de 2023, según …

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…

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…

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 …

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 …

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 …

Students at Magnolia High School used data analytics and project management skills learned as part of the Google Career Certificate program to plant and manage an urban farm. (Magnolia Agriscience Community Center)

CA high school students earn Google Career Certificates in high-demand fields

By Laura Aka for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Service Col…

A new report from California Competes outlined four main areas of action for colleges to take to reengage, reenroll, and propel comebacker students to completion. (Sacramento State/Jessica Vernone)

Report: How colleges can re-enroll students who’ve stopped out

More than 6 million Californians stopped out of college before getting a degree and a new report has laid out a plan to bring them back on campus…

Asian Health Services in Oakland, like many community health centers, tailors healthcare to their region, with culturally competent staff who speak multiple languages. (Asian Health Center)

Community health leaders press Congress for more stable funding

Community Health Center leaders are pleading with Congress to pass a budget deal by March 8 to avoid a partial government shutdown - arguing that the …

The U.S. Postal Service employs about 650,000 men and women, making it one of the country's largest employers. (Monkey Business)

Postal workers speak out about short staffing, mail delays

Members of the American Postal Workers Union are calling for more staffing and better pay to reduce turnover. They say the problem is affecting mail …

Leaders at the Community Action Program of San Luis Obispo said they would like to have more Section 8 vouchers to be able to find permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness. (CAPSLO)<br /><br />

Community leaders call for more housing to combat rising poverty

January is National Poverty in America Awareness Month and community action agencies across the state are working to change lives for the 5 million Ca…

Nationally, the percentage of adults with at least an associate's degree went from 38% in 2010 to 45% in 2020. (Daisy Daisy/Adobestock)

More Californians earn college degrees, but racial gaps widen

More and more Californians are going to college, earning an associate degree or higher but racial gaps persist, according to a new report. …

A nivel nacional, el porcentaje de adultos con al menos un t�tulo de asociado pas� del 38% en 2010 al 45% en 2020.(Daisy Daisy/Adobestock)

Más californianos obtienen títulos universitarios, pero aumentan diferencias raciales

Cada vez más californianos van a la universidad y obtienen un título de asociado o superior, pero persisten las diferencias raciales…

Climb Hire graduates often return to mentor new participants and help expand their social networks. (Climb Hire)

Nonprofit Climb Hire gets $6 million grant to help low-wage workers climb higher

If your New Year's Resolution is to leave your low-wage, dead-end job and find something better - the nonprofit Climb Hire may be able to help…

In 2024, a family of four would need to make less than $41,400 - less than 138% of the Federal Poverty Line - to be eligible for assistance under Covered California or Medi-Cal.(Gelmold/Adobe Stock)

New bill would modernize federal poverty line, make aid more accessible

The U.S. House of Representatives is considering a new bill that would modernize the Federal Poverty Line, which hasn't been substantially updated …

By some estimates, more than 15 million people covered through the ACA exchanges nationally, and 20 million insured by the Medicaid expansion would lose coverage if the Affordable Care Act was repealed. (Fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Health care advocates push back on Trump’s threats against ACA

Advocates for affordable health care are speaking out to remind people what is at stake if the Affordable Care Act is repealed in the wake of recent s…

As of 2018, 66% of California high school graduates had enrolled in a two-year or four-year college program. (Luckybusiness/Adobe Stock)

Report: Almost 3 in 4 future jobs will require some college

More than two million jobs will be created in California each year through 2031 - and 72% of them will require more than a high school diploma…

A partir de 2018, el 66% de los graduados de la escuela secundaria de California se hab�an inscrito en un programa universitario de dos o cuatro a�os. (Luckybusiness/Adobe Stock)

Informe: casi 3 de cada 4 empleos futuros requerirán algo de universidad

Se crearán más de 2 millones de empleos en California cada año hasta 2031, y el 72% de ellos requerirá más que un diploma de …

The current state budget allocated $35 million to the California Guaranteed Income Pilot Program for young people aging out of the foster care system. (Adobe Stock)

CA launches guaranteed income program for former foster youth

About 300 young adults leaving foster care in California will now receive a monthly check to help them make ends meet, part of the state's first …

To qualify for Head Start's preschool program, a family must be below the Federal Poverty Level, which is just under $15,000 for a single person, or $30,000 for a family of four. (Rawpixel.com)

CA advocates criticize proposed cuts to Head Start preschool programs

Children's advocates are slamming a budget proposal to slash funds for Head Start, the program providing free preschool for children in low-income …

College students pay upwards of $1,100 a year for books and supplies, so many schools are working to reduce that burden.(Fernanda/Adobe Stock)

CA colleges work to reduce high cost of textbooks

College students pay upwards of $1,100 a year for books and supplies, so many schools are working to try to reduce the burden. A study from U.S…

Los estudiantes universitarios pagan m�s de $1,100 al a�o por libros y �tiles, por lo que muchas escuelas est�n trabajando para reducir esa carga. (Fernanda/Adobe Stock)

Universidades de CA trabajan para reducir alto costo de libros de texto

Los estudiantes universitarios pagan más de $1.100 al año por libros y útiles, por lo que muchas escuelas están trabajando para …

The Biden administration and the credit bureaus have announced a plan to clear an estimated 70% of negative medical debt from consumer credit reports. (Adobe Stock)

During Health Literacy Month, protect yourself from big hospital bills

October is Health Literacy Month and advocates are speaking out against big hospital bills. Studies show about two-thirds of bankruptcies in the U.S…

The median pay for an information security analyst is $112,000 a year and usually requires a bachelor's degree. (Malambo C/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

CA faces huge shortfall in cybersecurity workforce

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News S…

El salario medio de un analista de seguridad de la informaci�n es de $ 112.000 al a�o y normalmente requiere una licenciatura. (Malambo C/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

CA enfrenta un enorme déficit de fuerza laboral en ciberseguridad

Octubre es el Mes de Concientización sobre la Ciberseguridad, y los expertos dicen que el país enfrenta una enorme escasez de personal …

Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, speaks with Andy Naja-Riese of the Agricultural Institute of Marin at the Clement Street Farmer's Market in San Francisco. (Felice Thorpe)

Anti-hunger advocates seek federal funds, honor CA lawmaker

Groups that fight hunger are calling for a fair shake in the upcoming farm bill, which provides federal matching funds for programs that help low-…

Federal data show more than 61,000 borrowers of all types in California have almost $3 billion in debt eligible to be discharged. (Terovesalainen/Adobe Stock)

New deadline looms as student loan payments restart

Federal student loan payments resume this month after a three-year pause, but people in public service have until the end of the year to benefit from …

Datos federales muestran que m�s de 61,000 prestatarios de todo tipo en California tienen casi $3 billones de d�lares en deudas susceptibles a ser condonadas. (Terovesalainen/Adobestock)

Se avecina un nuevo plazo en medio de la reanudación de pagos de préstamos estudiantiles

Los pagos de los préstamos estudiantiles se reanudan este mes tras una pausa de tres años, pero las personas que trabajan en la …

Advocates for Hispanic Community Sponsor Free Financial Literacy Training

Free financial literacy training is now available in low-income neighborhoods in Los Angeles, hosted by two nonprofits: The Hispanic Access …

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CA: Livable Wages/Working Families