California Divide

The reparations task force meets Saturday in Oakland. It may vote to recommend a state apology and payments to African Americans based on years living in state.

As pandemic relief dollars dwindle, low income families still need help recovering, advocates say. Two bills would expand California's earned income and young child tax credits for families making as much as $30,000.

After weeks of rain, the long-dry Tulare Lake is rising from the San Joaquin Valley floor, endangering farms, towns, livelihoods. Now record snow on the Sierra Nevada is melting. Will the Central Valley be ready?

A final study on Stockton’s famous experiment giving low-income residents unconditional cash found the money improved some recipients’ mental health and financial stability – but only during “normative” economic conditions.

California Democrats carved out the Dream for All money to help first-time buyers. The funds ran out after just 11 days with the average loan hitting $112,000.

Few assembly members have pledged their support for monetary reparations for the descendants of formerly enslaved people. Public response is split.

A California grandmother fights to retrieve $30,000 taken by San Diego County from her grandchildren's survivor benefits. Counties take millions of dollars in federal benefits from foster children, says a lawmaker trying to stop it.

It takes the state nearly 800 days — four times longer than is legal — to handle wage claims. Lawmakers ordered an audit to start Sept. 1, if agency issues aren’t addressed by then.

Gov. Newsom wants to spend $300 million the first year, which could help about 2,300 buyers. But home prices are falling and mortgage rates are rising, complicating the launch.

L.A. County's tenant pandemic protections expire March 31. But already advocates predict a spike in evictions, as landlords seek financial recovery.