California Divide

After five years, a state occupational health board approves rules to protect workers from extreme heat indoors. They could take effect in August, but state prisons will not be covered.

A 2021 law has resulted in a $6 million penalty against Amazon for allegedly not notifying employees at two Inland Empire facilities of production targets.

Business and labor groups announce an agreement to limit a California law on class-action workplace lawsuits and avoid a battle at the ballot box in November.

California’s Black Legislative Caucus is touring the state to promote reparations bills that address forced prison labor and efforts to improve health, longevity and financial equity. The six-city tour is meant to urge the public to get involved in lobbying lawmakers.

Just before she was elected to Ventura City Council Liz Campos was evicted. Now she lives in a van and she has ideas about how to help others who have no home.

The California Occupational Safety and Health Standards Board is about to pass long-awaited rules to protect workers from indoor heat. The governor’s office demoted the board’s chairperson and removed another member who criticized the administration.

A 2020 California law compels businesses to offer employment benefits to more workers rather than treating them like independent contractors. Uber lost an effort to overturn the law.

President Biden’s executive action could allow border agents to immediately return migrants to Mexico without considering their asylum claims. While the White House says the new measures will bring order, advocates for migrants say it could cause more chaos and danger.

Needs at the U.S.-Mexico border in California are larger than ever.

The CalVans program in the Central Valley transports thousands of laborers to the fields. It is now trying to meet a mandate to electrify its fleet — a key test of how to make the state’s climate policies work in rural and disadvantaged areas.