California Divide

Stacy Estes in front of his home in Sacramento on April 7, 2021. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

California Divide

California keeps millions in child support while parents drown in debt

Welfare advocates say California places low-income and minority parents in insurmountable debt by garnishing child support payments and imposing high interest rates when they fall behind on payments, keeping a larger-than-average portion for itself. The director of the agency overseeing child support says state changes would require legislative action, but meaningful changes have failed to gain traction at the Capitol.

By

Kate Cimini

• May 3, 2021

Helen Duffy, back right, a West Oakland landlord holds up a sign decrying SB 91, a rent relief plan signed into law earlier that day by Gov. Gavin Newsom, during a vigil at the Elihu M. Harris, State of California office building in Oakland on Jan. 29, 2021. Housing advocates fear that the new plan will exclude vulnerable tenants and will not have equitable reach. Photo by Anne Wernikoff. CalMatters

California Divide

Capitol mum on eviction moratorium extension as renters seek more time

With two months left before California’s eviction moratorium ends June 30, political momentum isn’t on the side of tenants for an extension.

By

Nigel Duara

• April 29, 2021

Politics

Is this the year the California Legislature closes the digital divide?

Lawmakers have more money and political will, but the telecommunications industry could still stand in the way of broadband for all Californians.

By

Ben Christopher

• April 29, 2021

Kiki Hall, who lives in Southeast Fresno, shares an internet connection with as many as eight other people in her home throughout the day leading to slow connections and frequent outages. Photo courtesy of Samantha Phillips

Education

How we analyzed why millions of California students lack broadband access

Combining data from agencies that oversee telecommunications companies and schools, CalMatters built a database of broadband adoption and availability estimates in K-12 school neighborhoods for most of California.

By

Jackie Botts

and

Jeremia Kimelman

• April 28, 2021

Mario Ramírez Garcia, 10, listen as his teacher addresses the class during distance learning in the bedroom he shares with his sister on April 23, 2021. According to their father, the internet connection at their Oakland home cuts out about twice a week, which is especially frustrating to the kids when they are taking tests. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

California Divide

The wires may be there, but the dollars aren’t: Analysis shows why millions of California students lack broadband

As millions of Californians finish a frustrating “virtual” school year plagued by tech glitches, a CalMatters data analysis exposes affordability as a key barrier to broadband access, for rural and urban students.

By

Jackie Botts

and

Ricardo Cano

• April 28, 2021

California Divide

More than 2 million missing stimulus checks

A study finds people who didn’t file tax returns in the last three years could be missing out on federal and state stimulus dollars. But they still have a chance to claim some assistance ahead of the May 17 tax deadline.

By

Nigel Duara

• April 23, 2021

A nurse tends to a COVID-19 patient inside the Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System in Salinas, on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2020. Photo by David Rodriguez, The Salinas Californian

California Divide

Call this phone number to apply for FEMA COVID-19 funeral aid

By

Kate Cimini

• April 16, 2021

Yadira Michel, far left, Alonso Ceceñas, far right, and their four children with whom they share a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles. Photo by Araceli Martínez Ortega

California Divide

Living without a job and under the harassment of the landlord

Alonso and his wife have been unable to afford rent during the pandemic. They share a one-bedroom apartment with their four children.

By

Araceli Martinez Ortega

• April 14, 2021

Silvia Hernandez plays with children at her daycare in Van Nuys on April 9,2021 photo by Shae Hammond for CalMatters

California Divide

Almost two months later, child care providers still waiting for relief checks

It could be mid-May or later before some child care providers get state stipends promised to them as part of a coronavirus relief package. Providers worry they may not be able to hold out that long.

By

Elizabeth Aguilera

• April 13, 2021

California Divide

Salinas PD: Man arrested, charged with multiple counts of attempted murder

By

Kate Cimini

• April 12, 2021

California Divide

Covering income inequality across the state