Rya Jetha

CalMatters en Español

La comida es la medicina: Prueban prescripciones de alimentos para combatir enfermedades crónicas como la diabetes, la hipertensión y el colesterol alto

Read this story in English. Cada dos viernes, el Banco de Alimentos de Emergencia de Stockton ofrece dos clases de cocina en vivo, una en inglés y otra en español. La semana pasada, Brenda Muñoz preparó un atún clásico con una ensalada de naranja, lechuga romana y diente de león.  “El diente de león es […]

By Rya Jetha • August 9, 2023

California Divide

Just what the doctor ordered: In California, a prescription could pay for your fresh fruits and veggies

Medi-Cal and other programs are testing food prescriptions that advocates say could improve chronic conditions, lower health care costs and reduce hunger.

By Rya Jetha • August 9, 2023

Explainers

How hungry is California? Millions struggle to eat well in an abundant state

How bad is California hunger? A lot depends on your access to food aid, which expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic but is being reduced.

By Rya Jetha, Jeanne Kuang and Jeremia Kimelman • August 8, 2023

CalMatters en Español

¿Más días de enfermedad y licencia familiar? Los legisladores de California presionan para mejorar el equilibrio entre el trabajo y la vida

Read this story in English. Cuando se produjo la pandemia de COVID-19 en 2020, los tres días de licencia por enfermedad remunerada de California para los trabajadores de tiempo completo no fueron suficientes para cubrir las cuarentenas o los efectos secundarios de las vacunas. El gobernador Gavin Newsom firmó una ley que exige que las […]

By Rya Jetha • July 11, 2023

Politics

More sick days and family leave? California lawmakers push to improve work-life balance

Supporters say a series of bills before the Legislature would improve work-life balance by expanding sick days and family leave. But opponents say the proposals would hurt struggling small businesses.

By Rya Jetha • July 11, 2023

California Divide

California gets reparations recommendations, as some bemoan Supreme Court’s ruling and Newsom’s absence

The first-in-the-nation state-appointed task force report contains hundreds of recommendations for reparation, including a proposal that the state apologize and make financial amends for slavery and decades of racist policies.

By Wendy Fry, Rya Jetha and Alexei Koseff • June 29, 2023

Explainers

What to know about California reparations: Is the state’s apology the beginning or the end?

California’s first-in-the-nation task force on reparations is handing lawmakers dozens of recommendations, including a proposal that the state apologize for slavery and racist policies, and make financial amends.

By Wendy Fry, Erica Yee and Rya Jetha • June 29, 2023

Politics

Child brides: A campaign starts to ban underage marriages in California

You have to be 18 to get divorced in California, but there’s no minimum age to get married. Child marriage survivors protested at the state Capitol, but the Legislature likely won’t act until next year.

By Rya Jetha • June 23, 2023

Politics

How fresh will CalFresh be? Food benefits on the table in state budget talks

A popular program doubles CalFresh benefits to buy fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets. It is among the California food benefit programs on the table in the budget negotiations between legislative leaders and Gov. Newsom.

By Rya Jetha • June 19, 2023

California Divide

A catastrophic hunger crisis? California food banks are being flooded by families seeking help

As extra pandemic benefits end, food banks say that they're becoming long-term supermarkets for Californians facing food insecurity. Several bills to boost CalFresh are before the Legislature, but the state budget deficit may get in the way.

By Rya Jetha • June 9, 2023