David Alvarez

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a package of bills to reduce barriers and incentivize building affordable student housing in California. He has also signed a bill giving on-campus housing priority to students experiencing homelessness or who have been in foster care.

Two bills sent to Newsom set new rules for determining when colleges can create bachelor’s degrees and how many they can offer.

Since Gavin Newsom became governor, state support for California’s public universities has grown by 50%.

The climate of STEM higher education programs can be unwelcoming for some minority populations. A state-funded program is trying to change that by providing mentors, relationship-building and financial assistance to California college students.

The law reduces Uber’s insurance liability, but a consumer advocacy group — and one lawmaker — say the company failed to disclose it largely insures itself.

As the U.S. and Mexico pursue $800 million in upgrades to wastewater facilities on the border, local officials are working on a smaller fix to improve conditions as soon as next year.

Transitional kindergarten came with an unanticipated downside; it’s making childcare less affordable for many CA families. That can be fixed.

California is considering handing oil refineries and other major polluters billions of dollars in free emission allowances just as the state says carbon reductions need to come faster than ever. In the last six months, two refineries have closed and gas prices have topped an average of $6 a gallon as the Iran-Israel war sent […]

Over 250 college students spent a day lobbying at the California Capitol recently, holding over 100 meetings with state leaders and their staff. The students are backing several bills aimed at increasing basic needs support, including one to streamline CalFresh applications and another to reform the process for building student housing. They also are leading the push to add more student voting power to the UC Board of Regents.

The latest bill would allow Southwestern College to create up to four additional bachelor’s programs aimed at workforce needs in south San Diego County.