Covid-19

California Divide

Foster Farms processing plant in California ordered to shut down over COVID-19 outbreak

The Merced County Health Department ordered the Foster Farms Livingston Facility to shut down over the largest and most severe COVID-19 outbreak in Merced County, according to a statement released on Thursday by the health department. The shutdown order came Wednesday. However, late Thursday, Mike North, Merced County’s spokesperson, said county officials issued a 48-hour […]

By Manuela Tobias • August 28, 2020

California Divide

Why won’t counties report workplace COVID outbreaks to the public?

Coronavirus has exploded in essential workplaces across California, but many counties won’t report workplace outbreaks to the public, raising questions about who exactly ends up protected.

By Jackie Botts, Laurence Du Sault and Manuela Tobias • August 28, 2020

Commentary

Despite unprecedented times, natural resources should remain important to the Legislature

Lawmakers approved policies and funding that address environmental injustices, protect natural resources and build climate change resilience.

By Guest Commentary • August 28, 2020

WhatMatters

Lawmakers running out of time

Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, August 27. Deadlines fast approaching The clock is ticking for lawmakers to chart a recovery path for the world’s fifth-largest economy, keep millions of Californians from being evicted and respond to fires of historic proportions. They have until Friday to introduce new bills. The legislative session ends Monday, and lawmakers […]

By Emily Hoeven • August 27, 2020

College Beat

Pandemic tests an already-fragile college mental health system

This spring, as the coronavirus pandemic disrupted campus life for college students across California, UC San Diego sophomore Kayla Monnette had trouble sleeping at night.  The stress of moving to online classes, figuring out how to safely buy food during quarantine, and worrying about the well-being of her immunocompromised family manifested in what Monnette described […]

By Ethan Edward Coston • August 27, 2020

Health

‘Game changer’ in California coronavirus testing to double capacity and speed up results

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new deal today with a diagnostics company that he says will add 150,000 more tests a day, with results back in 24 to 48 hours.

By Ana B. Ibarra • August 26, 2020

California Divide

She’s ‘breaking the law’ to help Fresno’s homeless. Will the government stop her?

When Alejandra Hernandez arrived at the Dream Camp on Aug. 9, she dropped to her knees and kissed the dirt. The single mother of three boys lost her job and her home in June over COVID-19. They tried sleeping in their truck on Santa Clara Street, the only place in Fresno untouched by the city’s […]

By Manuela Tobias • August 26, 2020

Education

Blackboard brawl: How California’s teachers hope to avoid 60,000 layoffs

After a spring of crisis education, teachers’ unions hope to parlay many successful reopening battles into bigger electoral victories. But they're also bracing for layoffs of up to 60,000 educators, and some teachers are still scrambling for bare-minimum supplies.

By Lauren Hepler • August 26, 2020

Capitol

A chance to fix poor ventilation in classrooms, protect children and teachers, and create jobs

Fixing poor ventilation in classrooms may slow the spread of COVID-19 when children and teachers return, and create new job opportunities.

By Guest Commentary • August 26, 2020

Commentary

Legislature needs an emergency hearing on vaccines – for COVID-19 and the flu

It’s critical that we encourage the early adoption of any successfully developed COVID-19 vaccine and promote the widespread use of the flu vaccine.

By Guest Commentary • August 26, 2020