California News & Current Events | Public News Service

Climate scientists say drought, megafires and air pollution are becoming more extreme and more common because of climate change. (Hotblack/Morguefile)

Monday, September 27, 2021

CA Business Leaders Speak Out for Infrastructure Bill

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The U.S. House of Representatives is supposed to vote this week on President Joe Biden's Build Back Better infrastructure bill…

The climate resilience package includes $1.5 billion for measures to better defend the state against wildfires. (Peter Buschmann/U.S. Forest Service)

Friday, September 24, 2021

Governor Newsom Signs $15 Billion Climate-Change Package

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Climate activists are praising Gov. Gavin Newsom for signing a $15 billion climate action package Thursday, but argued he …

A FEMA program will reimburse families for funeral expenses of multiple COVID victims, up to a limit of $35,500 per applicant. (Syda Productions/Adobestock)

Scammers Target Applicants to FEMA COVID Funeral-Cost Program

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Did you know the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a program to reimburse funeral expenses up to $9,000 when …

This, year the theme of Sea Otter Awareness Week is the species' key role in the mosaic of the ecosystem. (Wikimedia Commons)

Groups Push for Progress During Sea Otter Awareness Week

MONTEREY BAY, Calif. - This week, conservation groups are celebrating Sea Otter Awareness Week with online and in-person events across the state…

The "Build Back Better" proposal would significantly increase subsidies for child care. (Lordn/Adobe Stock)

Wealthy Americans, Businesspeople Petition Congress for Higher Taxes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- CARSON CITY, Nev. -- It is not every day people ask for higher taxes, but that's the gist of a letter just sent to Congress…

About 65% of community college students are taking for-credit academic courses. Of the remaining 35%, a large majority is pursing job-related skills. (Prayitno/Wikimedia Commons)

Community Colleges See Need to Make Upskilling Easier, Cheaper

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A new survey of community colleges and technical schools in the United States shows their courses and programs that promote job …

A new mentorship program for LGBTQ+ teens is part of AmeriCorps' Safe and Supportive Schools initiative. (Jirsak/Adobestock)

AmeriCorps’ First LGBTQ+ Mentoring Program Helps Central Valley Teens

FRESNO, Calif. -- AmeriCorps has teamed up with the nonprofit Equality California to offer a groundbreaking mentorship program for LGBTQ+ teens in …

The federal Emergency Broadband Program has doled out more than $400 million since May, making high-speed internet more affordable for millions of Americans. (Brittany Hosea Small/AARP)

Federal Pandemic Program Gives Discounts on Internet, Laptops

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Advocates for older Americans are working to spread the word about a federal program to cut people's internet bills. The …

Election envelopes for ballots in California are not uniform; they vary from county to county.(Pixelbot/Adobe Stock)

Fact vs. Fiction in CA Recall; Experts Address the Rumors

By Sameea Kamal for CalMatters.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service, reporting for the CalMatters - California News …

This year's water release from the Morelos Dam is a more targeted version of the first iteration of the diversion project, which took place in March 2014. (Peter McBride/Raise the River)

Colorado River Flows Once Again to Gulf of California

By Lourdes Medrano for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

In 2018 an unknown hunter killed and skinned one of the few remaining jaguars in Arizona, a male named Yo'oko. (Center for Biological Diversity)

Groups Look to Expand Jaguar Habitat After Victory Against Proposed Mine

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The battle against copper mining the Santa Rita Mountains outside of Tucson continues - even though the feds just handed a …

Smoke from the Dixie and Caldor fires have prompted air-quality alerts across northern California this week. (Ellend1022/iStockphotos)

Experts: Indoor Air Quality is Key as Wildfire Smoke Drives Many Indoors

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. -- Smoke from the massive wildfires, along with the summer heat, is driving millions of Californians indoors, so experts are …

An analysis from McKinsey suggests the learning gap from COVID may result in students earning $49,000 to $61,000 less income over their lifetime. (Andy Dean/Adobe Stock)

Without Mask, Vaccine Mandates, Moms Choose Between Jobs, Kids’ Health

By Katie Fleischer for Ms. Magazine. Broadcast version by Lily Bohlke for California News Service. Reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

A new report finds that very low-income households make up 18% of all student loan borrowers but are only 6% of participants in the income-dependent repayment plan. (mnirat/Adobe Stock)

Advocates Press for Reform Before Student Loan Repayment Deadline

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - In January, student loan borrowers will have to start paying off their loans again, as the pandemic-related pause on payment is …

The pandemic has added extra stressors for California's 9 million children and their parents. (Fizkes/Adobestock)

CA Parent and Youth Helpline Flooded During Pandemic

SACRAMENTO, Calif - More than 10,000 people have called the California Parent and Youth Helpline during the pandemic so far - but the funding is set …

President Joe Biden has predicted that projects funded by the infrastructure bill would create 2 million jobs per year over the course of a decade. (James Thew/Adobestock)

"Broadband Brigade" Presses for Passage of Infrastructure Bill

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Groups that want to see high-speed internet extended to all areas of the country are pressing the U.S. House to pass President …

A Trump-era rule, still in effect, absolves companies of liability if their activities (such as oil drilling) harm or kill migratory birds. (Remi Jouan)

Conservation Groups Press Congress to Restore Migratory Bird Protections

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Conservation groups are pushing for passage of a bill in Congress that would revive migratory bird protections dropped during …

The 2020 census shows that California is now home to more than 39.5 million people, and Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the country, with more than 10 million residents. (Driftwood/Adobestock)

New Census Data Helps CA Communities Prep for Redistricting

LOS ANGELES - New census data shows California is the second most diverse state in the nation, behind Hawaii - and that has big implications for new …

Safety standards for radiofrequency radiation from cell towers and wireless devices are based on studies done only on adults, not children. (Kevin Mottus/California Brain Tumor Association)

Advocates Press for New Cell-Phone Radiation Limits After Court Victory

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Wireless safety advocates are calling on the Biden administration to develop a policy on safer cell-phone technology in the wake …

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday announced vaccines or weekly testing of school employees will now be mandatory. (Office of the Governor)

California Mandates Vaccines or Weekly Testing for Teachers, Staff

OAKLAND, Calif. -- California has become the first state to require vaccination or weekly testing for COVID-19. Gov. Gavin Newsom made the …

California's End of Life Options Act took effect in 2016 with a ten-year sunset. Senate Bill 380, under consideration in Sacramento, would make it permanent and reduce the waiting period to 48 hours. (headz/iStockphoto)

Advocates Want More Doctors to be Trained in Medical Aid in Dying

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Patients with six months or less to live often have trouble finding a physician willing to prescribe the medication to end …

A new report predicts massive blazes such as the Dixie fire will become more common if the world fails to control carbon pollution. (NASA Earth Observatory)

Advocates: CA is Ground Zero in Wake of U.N. Climate Report

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Advocates contended a new United Nations report Climate change report United Nations 08/09/2021 waving red flags on climate …

Some experts recommend using speakerphones and wired earbuds to help lower personal exposure to wireless radiation. (Fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Study: Feds Should Lower Kids’ Exposure Limits to Wireless Radiation

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A new study argued the current federal limit for exposure to wireless radiation should be hundreds of times lower than it is…

Chinook salmon spawn in four runs per year. The eggs, fry and juveniles in the winter and fall runs are expected to be harmed this year by water flows that are too warm. (dhogan172/Adobe Stock)

Groups Warn of Massive Salmon Die-Off, Press for Water Reform

SHASTA LAKE, Calif. - Within the next several weeks, experts are expecting a massive die-off of winter-run Chinook salmon as they spawn below the …

A new report from Georgetown University and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a coordinated and far-reaching public health campaign about childhood vaccinations. (Adobe Stock)

Report Spotlights Low Child Vaccination Rates Ahead of New School Year

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Parents are gearing up for their children to return to the classroom for the first time in over a year, and public health …

Farmers' markets are starting to reopen, after some had to shut down when their venues were closed during the COVID lockdowns. (SEE LA)

Celebrating Progress in the Fight Against Hunger in CA

LOS ANGELES -- Hunger-fighting advocacy groups are speaking out in California, drawing attention to the continuing problem of food insecurity…

Statewide, about 40% of people eligible for a Medi-Cal waiver fail to request one; but that number rises to 70% in Merced, San Francisco and Ventura counties. (Pixabay)

State Waives Medi-Cal Premiums During Pandemic: Many Recipients Unaware

SACRAMENTO, Calif - Hundreds of thousands of Medi-Cal recipients who experienced financial hardship during the pandemic are paying monthly premiums …

Juvenile justice experts say the best response to common teenage misbehavior like smoking marijuana, petty theft or vandalism is counseling, not an arrest. (JDAI/AZ)

Racial Gap Among CA Youth Behind Bars Improves, But Remains High

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Despite decades of juvenile justice reforms, California is still incarcerating kids of color much more often than their white …

Crystal Witherspoon and Alma Esparza Castaneda are among the 49% of med students at the University of California Riverside who self-identify as an underrepresented minority. (Stan Lim/UC Riverside)

Grants Help Medical Schools Attract Students of Color

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Large grants are helping medical schools in Southern California improve diversity, because although Latinos are 39% of the …

Backers of a new initiative say nearly 9 million tons of plastic waste ends up in the world's oceans each year. (Raftography/Sustainable Coastlines)

Measure to Reduce Single-Use Plastic Qualifies for 2022 Ballot

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A groundbreaking measure to reduce plastic waste has just qualified for the 2022 ballot. The proposal would give companies a …

Churches and community groups are organizing dozens of events this week in California to promote outdoor recreation for all. (Hispanic Access Foundation)

Latino Conservation Week Draws Families Across State

LOS ANGELES -- This week is the eighth annual Latino Conservation Week, sponsored by the Hispanic Access Foundation, with more than 150 events taking …

California's state moratorium on evictions, intended to keep millions of families from becoming homeless, has been extended through October. This will give the state time to roll out its new Rent Relief Program. (Endho/Pixabay)

Expert: New CA Budget, Tax Credit are Windfalls for Families with Children

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Huge new aid programs are beating back poverty in the Golden State, especially among families with children. Gov. Gavin Newsom …

In May, Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected a waiver of COVID vaccine intellectual property rights that would allow the vaccine to be produced more widely. (Aleph/Wikimedia Commons)

Rallies for Vaccine Access Pressure German Leader Merkel on U.S. Visit

LOS ANGELES -- Rallies in three California cities and across the country, calling for better access to the COVID vaccine, will greet German …

The State of California spends $5 billion to $6 billion per year on nursing home care. (Creative House/Adobe Stock)

Hearing, Rallies Today on Bill to Reform CA Nursing Homes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- As the legislative session in Sacramento comes to a close, lawmakers will consider a bill to require nursing homes to better …

Local groups like the Sal Castro Foundation are pressing for federal recognition of Hazard Park in East Los Angeles, for its role in the 1968 student protests. (Manuel Galaviz)

Report: CA Latino Heritage Sites Need Greater Protection, Recognition

SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Sites tied to Latino history and culture are underrepresented on the list of historic places, according to a new report from the …

The stress of the pandemic led many people to develop weight issues. (Rotislav Sedlacek/Adobestock)

Pandemic Leads to Both Weight Gain and Eating Disorders

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- More than 60% of adults reported weight problems during the pandemic, according to the American Psychological Association…

Chris Davis of Upland passed away in 2019 before he could access aid-in-dying medications. His family says the hospital gave them misinformation. (Amanda Villegas)

Advocates Press for Improvements to CA's Aid-in-Dying Rules

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A bill to speed up the process for terminally ill patients to access aid-in-dying medications will be heard tomorrow in the …

Groups such as Veterans for Responsible Leadership and We the Veterans are urging current and former military officials to continue to stand up for the Constitution. (Daniel Thornberg/Adobe Stock)

Far-Right Movement Raises Opposition from Vets

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Veterans on both sides of the aisle are concerned about what they call recent attacks on democracy by far-right organizations…

Demonstrators rallied at California's State Capitol in June to expand health coverage for income-eligible undocumented seniors. (Yvonne Vasquez/Health4All)

Final CA Budget Opens Medi-Cal to Undocumented, Low-Income Seniors

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The California State Assembly is set to approve a budget bill tomorrow to make California the first state in the nation to …

A new study says California's eelgrass beds have been decimated by pollution, dredging, development, sea level rise and other problems. (Kathyrn Beheshti/U.C. Santa Cruz)

Loss of CA Eelgrass Leads to Coastal Erosion, Hurts Marine Life

MISSION BAY, Calif. -- An important part of California's coastal ecosystem, eelgrass, is disappearing, with 90% gone since the 1950s. A report …

Conservation groups would like more funding to restore wetlands at the site of the former Hamilton Air Force Base in Novato. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

Groups Call for $10 Billion to Bolster Shorelines Against Sea-Level Rise

SAN FRANCISCO - Sea levels in California are projected to rise up to 55 inches by the end of the century, so climate advocates are calling on …

Last week, solar-power advocates used a giant balloon to make their point at a rally against changes to net-metering programs in front of the California Public Utilities Commission. (CA Solar and Storage Assn.)

Rooftop Solar Backers Voice Concerns about CPUC Vote

SAN FRANCISCO - Groups working to battle climate change warn that rooftop solar and energy-efficiency programs could be in big trouble if the Californ…

A new report found, as of 2019, there were more children in families where the head of household hadn't graduated from high school than in any other state. (5Second/Adobestock)

Report: CA Children of Color Bear Brunt of Pandemic

LOS ANGELES -- Kids in California were among the hardest hit during the pandemic, according to the just-released 2021 Kids Count report. Researchers …

Gardeners are encouraged to plant bee-friendly flowers that bloom in succession to sustain the insects all season long. (David Bryant/California Native Plant Society)

“Bee” Happy – It’s Pollinator Week!

PISMO BEACH, Calif. -- This week is Pollinator Week, an annual event designed to draw attention to the plight of pollinators like butterflies and …

The infrastructure plan now before Congress includes funding to increase the number of E-V charging stations, such as this one at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. (Tonythetigerson/Twenty 20)

Report: Investments in Electric Vehicles Help Power CA's Recovery

LOS ANGELES -- The U.S. economy would see a five-fold return from every tax dollar invested in electric vehicles and the grid, according to a new …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know "a little bit" or "nothing at all" about Juneteenth, the date that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. (DoDEA.edu)

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by …

President Bill Clinton used the Antiquities Act in 2012 to designate the Carrizo Plain National Monument. (Bureau of Land Management)

Antiquities Act More Relevant Than Ever on Its 115th Anniversary

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. - Some of California's most dramatic landscapes have been protected under the Antiquities Act, which turns 115 …

Collisions between cars and mountain lions are a particular concern on highways along the mountain ranges of Southern California. (Mia and Steve Metsdagh/Wikimedia Commons)

Wildlife Crossings Bill to Reduce Collisions Heads to U.S. House

AGOURA, Calif. - California drivers collided with animals more than 2,200 times in 2019, and three people lost their lives in those accidents…

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