September 2020

Coronavirus

Whipsawed: California faces shifting federal messages over coming COVID vaccine

The evolving federal timeline has complicated an already enormous challenge for a state as large and diverse as California: how to distribute a brand new vaccine to millions of residents?

By

Barbara Feder Ostrov

• September 4, 2020

A delivery of state-supplied masks, face shields, no-touch thermometers, and hand sanitizer arrive for when Kern County schools are able to open for in-person instruction. Photo courtesy of Kern County Office of Education

Education

Behind the ‘Wild West’ of school reopenings

A still rampaging coronavirus pandemic means schools have spent gobs of money just to add the necessary protective equipment and cleaning staff necessary for a safe and effective school reopening.

By

Ricardo Cano

and

Ana B. Ibarra

• September 4, 2020

Visitors enjoy the beach in Half Moon Bay on Aug. 15, 2020. Californians are bracing for another heatwave over the holiday weekend. Photo by Anda Chu, Bay Area News Group

WhatMatters

Get ready: Another big heat wave is coming

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, September 4. Note: Due to the holiday weekend, I’ll be back in your inbox on Tuesday. Blackouts could return Another likely record-breaking heat wave is set to blanket California over Labor Day weekend — bringing with it the potential for more rolling blackouts. The operator of California’s electrical grid on […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• September 4, 2020

Commentary

New approach needed to protect health of California’s rivers

In the face of climate change, biodiversity loss and conflict over water, California urgently needs to rethink how it manages water for the environment.

By

Guest Commentary

• September 4, 2020

Commentary

To prevent blackouts, California needs more clean energy – and a bigger, better run grid

A regional electric grid coordinating diverse power resources with neighboring states and modernized grid planning would help California avoid blackouts.

By

Guest Commentary

• September 4, 2020

CalMatters en Español

Opinión: Taco Bell no es la solución para que los estudiantes tengan acceso a Internet

En el estado que es el epicentro de la industria tecnológica mundial, nuestros estudiantes se amontonan fuera de un Taco Bell para tener acceso a Internet de banda ancha y así poder estudiar.

By

Guest Commentary

• September 3, 2020

Una valla publicitaria que anima a los conductores a utilizar una mascarilla colocada en la I-80 en las afueras de Vacaville el 28 de agosto de 2020. Fotografía de Anne Wernikoff para CalMatters

CalMatters en Español

Lo siguiente: Los californianos se preparan para una “doble epidemia”

Mientras nos acercamos al otoño, y COVID-19 persiste, los expertos pronostican cómo pueden ser nuestras vidas y los desafíos que probablemente tengamos que enfrentar.

By

Ana B. Ibarra

• September 3, 2020

Beach front homes in Malibu, CA. Census response rates are low for some of the wealthiest areas across California counties with traditionally good participation. Image via iStock

California Divide

California’s Manhattan effect: The wealthy are skipping the census

State officials report a steep drop in census returns among California's wealthy residents. The rich, however, won't be the ones to feel the effects.

By

Nigel Duara

• September 3, 2020

WhatMatters

Newsom defends progress on homelessness

Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, September 3. ‘We’re just getting started’ Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday that California is making an “unprecedented” effort to address homelessness, two days after lawmakers failed to pass a bill to massively increase housing production — which Newsom said in his February State of the State speech was “the only […]

By

Emily Hoeven

• September 3, 2020

Capitol

Taco Bell is not the solution for student broadband access

In a state that is home to the epicenter of the global technology industry, our students huddle outside a Taco Bell for broadband access to study.

By

Guest Commentary

• September 3, 2020