August 2020

ventilatopm

Capitol

A chance to fix poor ventilation in classrooms, protect children and teachers, and create jobs

Fixing poor ventilation in classrooms may slow the spread of COVID-19 when children and teachers return, and create new job opportunities.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 26, 2020

Flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires jump Butts Canyon Rd. on Aug. 23, 2020, as firefighters work to contain the blaze in unincorporated Lake County. The fire has killed four people, destroyed 845 structures and scorched more than 340,000 acres according to Cal Fire. Photo by Noah Berger, AP Photo

Environment

California lawmakers propose last-minute bill providing funds for fighting wildfires

A fee added to utility bills — less than $1 per month — would be extended until 2045 if the legislation is adopted by two-thirds of both chambers.

By

• August 26, 2020

Melynda Metheney, who lives in West Goshen, is one of many residents in the San Joaquin Valley who are undergoing a pilot project to test electric energy in their homes. The communities chosen for the project have relied on wood and propane. Photo by Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado, The Fresno Bee

California Divide

Old racist policies keep hurting these Fresno-area families. Will this make things safer?

By

Cresencio Rodriguez-Delgado

• August 26, 2020

Jesse Katz joins the firefighting effort as a civilian volunteer battling the CZU August Lightning Complex Fire on Aug. 21, 2020, in Bonny Doon. Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP Photo

WhatMatters

Amid lack of firefighters, residents step up

Brigades and beer As fires continue to rage across the state, stretching understaffed firefighting crews to the limit, some Californians are taking matters into their own hands and forming makeshift brigades to protect their communities. In the face of limited help from fire agencies, about 50 Bonny Doon residents defied evacuation orders to defend their […]

By

• August 26, 2020

A hospital employee enters Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland on August 24, 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Health

California COVID-19 workers’ comp claims soar

Health care workers make up nearly 40 percent of those seeking wage and medical benefits from the program.

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• August 26, 2020

vaccine

Commentary

Legislature needs an emergency hearing on vaccines – for COVID-19 and the flu

It’s critical that we encourage the early adoption of any successfully developed COVID-19 vaccine and promote the widespread use of the flu vaccine.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 26, 2020

vaping

Capitol

Ban on flavored tobacco – a half-hearted approach to protect youth – will hurt convenience store owners

There’s no doubt we need to address the rise in youth vaping, but ban on flavored tobacco will impact small businesses.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 26, 2020

Reader Reactions

CSU Long Beach should protect tribal land and use it as a teaching tool

If there is an American Indian Studies department at CSU Long Beach, it could utilize this land for classes, writing and cultural inclusiveness.

By

Guest Commentary

• August 26, 2020

California Capitol, home of the Assembly and Senate. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

Dan Walters

Politics, snafus stall jobless benefits

California's more than 3 million jobless workers depend on unemployment insurance benefits but snafus and politics put them in jeopardy.

By

• August 26, 2020

In Los Angeles County about 491,000 renters are at risk of eviction if Rule 1 is not replaced. Activists say this will exacerbate the county’s homelessness crisis and worsen the spread of COVID-19, which has already disproportionately impacted Latino and Black Angelenos. Image via iStock

California Divide

Elderly tenant on the verge of being displaced during the pandemic

Advocates for tenants rights have said the government has to step up and treat the pandemic as a health crisis.

By

Jacqueline Garcia

• August 25, 2020