Emily Hoeven

WhatMatters

Newsom loses biggest court battle yet

Good morning, California. It’s Monday, February 8. Churches can reopen indoors The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a major blow to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive authority when it knocked down California’s ban on indoor worship, ruling that the governor’s pandemic restrictions unfairly targeted churches in violation of the First Amendment. The 6-3 ruling issued late Friday […]

By Emily Hoeven • February 8, 2021

WhatMatters

High school ethnic studies controversy heats up: Guiding principles ‘compromised’

The politically fraught work of developing an ethnic studies curriculum for California public high schools just got more contentious. In a Wednesday letter to the state Board of Education and Department of Education, the original curriculum’s authors and former advisory committee members demanded their names be removed from the text because its “guiding principles … […]

By Emily Hoeven • February 5, 2021

WhatMatters

School reopening battle hits fever pitch

Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, February 4. SF sues itself New lines have been drawn in the sand of California’s school reopening battle. Gov. Gavin Newsom at a Wednesday press conference said he believes schools can safely reopen before all teachers have received the COVID-19 vaccine — a stance that puts him at odds with […]

By Emily Hoeven • February 4, 2021

WhatMatters

Inside Newsom’s declining approval rate

Good morning, California. It’s Wednesday, February 3. Low marks for vaccine rollout Gov. Gavin Newsom’s approval rating has fallen from record-high levels notched earlier in the pandemic, according to two polls released Tuesday — potentially fueling the campaign to recall him from office. Around 54% of Californians approve of Newsom’s job performance, down from a […]

By Emily Hoeven • February 3, 2021

WhatMatters

Counties to get more money for vaccinations

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, February 2. Divided using equity formula California’s flagging vaccine rollout may have just gotten a shot in the arm. On Monday, the state Department of Finance formally notified lawmakers that California had received an unanticipated $1.7 billion in federal funds to help with its coronavirus response and vaccination efforts, according […]

By Emily Hoeven • February 2, 2021

WhatMatters

School reopenings stall — again

Good morning, California. It’s Monday, February 1. Let Them Play effort ramps up Today marks yet another missed deadline in the nearly yearlong struggle to get California kids back in school — leaving the state limited time to find a solution before reopening campuses this academic year becomes moot. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $2 billion proposal […]

By Emily Hoeven • February 1, 2021

WhatMatters

Two audits tell the tale: How California failed to detect unemployment fraud

The extent to which California’s unemployment department has failed to address rampant fraud came into clearer focus on Thursday, when the state auditor released her second report of the week on the Employment Development Department. Despite repeated warnings from federal authorities that fraudsters would target California, EDD waited six months and processed 7.4 million claims […]

By Emily Hoeven • January 29, 2021

WhatMatters

CA’s environmental agenda gets new energy

Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, January 28. EJ groups flex muscle President Joe Biden on Wednesday issued a lengthy executive order on the environment and climate change, paving the way for California to advance its ambitious agenda even as numerous roadblocks remain. Among Biden’s directives was a moratorium on new oil and gas leases on […]

By Emily Hoeven • January 28, 2021

WhatMatters

Inside California’s major shift in vaccine strategy

Good morning, California. It’s Wednesday, January 27. State takes reins Six weeks into a vaccine rollout largely left to the counties, California is taking the helm in an attempt to streamline a chaotic and fragmented process that has resulted in one of the nation’s lowest rates of vaccine administration. The new strategy, which state health […]

By Emily Hoeven • January 27, 2021

WhatMatters

Newsom’s reopening about-face raises questions

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, January 26. Data remains murky Monday was a day of coronavirus whiplash for many Californians as state health officials abruptly lifted the regional stay-at-home order and Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a major shift in the state’s vaccine plan. All but four counties are now in the purple tier of California’s […]

By Emily Hoeven • January 26, 2021