July 2024

California Divide

10 years later, California may finally allow undocumented immigrants cell service subsidies

Advocates say the California Public Utilities Commission’s 10-year-old promise to make the state’s cell phone service subsidy program available to undocumented immigrants could be fulfilled in November.

By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde • July 30, 2024

California Divide

In this California prison, inmates who operate a restaurant for their guards and others ‘rely on each other’

The venture, launched by a venerable San Francisco foundation, counts former Governor Jerry Brown and current Governor Gavin Newsom among its supporters.

By Carol Pogash • July 30, 2024

Commentary

Los Angeles County supervisors look to rare reforms that would dilute their power

Three of Los Angeles County's five supervisors are supporting a major overhaul of county governance that would almost double the board's size and establish an elected county executive, which would arguably become California’s second-most powerful office.

By Dan Walters • July 30, 2024

CalMatters en Español

¿No puedes encontrar un médico? Un proyecto de ley de California castigaría a las aseguradoras por dar a los clientes información desactualizada

Los pacientes que buscan médicos que acepten su seguro a menudo encuentran que la lista de médicos proporcionada por sus compañías de seguros es inexacta o está desactualizada.

By Ryan Sabalow • July 29, 2024

Health

Can’t find a doctor? California bill would punish insurers for giving customers outdated info

Patients looking for doctors who will take their insurance often find the list of doctors provided by their insurance companies are inaccurate or out of date. Insurers and doctors are fighting a bill that would fine insurers for having “ghost networks” that aren’t accurate.

By Ryan Sabalow • July 29, 2024

CalMatters en Español

California retrasó un aumento al salario mínimo para los trabajadores de la salud pero algunos lo recibirán de todos modos

El gobernador Gavin Newsom firmó una ley que encaminó a los trabajadores de la salud hacia un salario mínimo de 25 dólares. Luego, los legisladores lo retrasaron, pero algunos hospitales están aumentando los salarios antes de lo previsto.

By Ana B. Ibarra • July 29, 2024

CalMatters en Español

California agregó el Kindergarten de transición para niños de 4 años pero algunos padres de familia no están inscribiendo a sus hijos

Ha aumentado el número total de niños de 4 años en el Kindergarten de transición. Pero a medida que el programa se implementa gradualmente, el porcentaje de niños elegibles que se inscriben ha disminuido.

By Erica Yee and Carolyn Jones • July 29, 2024

K-12 Education

California added a new grade for 4-year-olds. Are parents enrolling their kids?

The overall number of 4-year-olds in transitional kindergarten has increased. But as the program is being phased in, the percentage of eligible children enrolling has dropped.

By Carolyn Jones and Erica Yee • July 29, 2024

Health

California delayed a minimum wage bump for health workers. Some are getting raises anyway

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that set health care workers on a path to a $25 minimum wage. Lawmakers then delayed it, but some hospitals are raising pay ahead of schedule.

By Ana B. Ibarra • July 29, 2024

California Wildfires

Map: How big is the Park Fire? Use this tool to overlay it atop where you live

The Park Fire just pushed California’s wildfire season into overdrive. It has grown rapidly since it started near Chico on July 24. Within two days, the blaze had consumed some 178,000 acres, then it doubled the next day. By Sunday, the fire had devoured more acres than all of this year’s other fires to date […]

By Jeremia Kimelman and John Osborn D'Agostino • July 29, 2024