December 8, 2019

As Republican Party popularity plummets in California, two moderate legislators —Chad Mayes and Tyler Diep — take opposite tacks to try to keep their jobs. Politicos will be watching.

Laura Holmes Haddad, cancer-patient advocate, speaker and author: I was 37 years old, and the mother of two children ages 1 and 4, when I was diagnosed with Stage IV inflammatory breast cancer. It is a rare, aggressive form of breast cancer that attacks the lymphatic system around the breast. A clinical trial saved my life. So why aren’t more cancer patients enrolling?

Laws require health plans to provide patients equal treatment for mental and physical needs. But "parity" is often elusive — and critics say the Legislature and health officials have failed to fix the problem.

Local government officials complain about rising pension costs but shy away from telling voters that is why they need to pay more taxes.