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Thousands of out-of-work Californians are struggling through the most severe job crisis on record as the state tries to account for up to $31 billion in benefits lost to fraud. Here’s what went wrong — and what might come next.

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, February 19. Tensions ramp up Top Democratic lawmakers dealt a political blow to Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday by unveiling a school reopening package without his input — a move to which the governor did not take kindly. The bold step suggests that Newsom and lawmakers have significantly different interpretations […]

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, February 16. Map reveals disparities It’s the question on everyone’s minds: When will Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers announce a school reopening deal? Though Newsom said he hoped to unveil a plan last week, Friday came and went without any mention of an agreement — or of the issues on […]

Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, February 11. Tough confirmation hearings Two Californians nominated for top positions in President Joe Biden’s administration could face tough confirmation hearings later this month, putting the Golden State’s pandemic response under a national microscope. Attorney General Xavier Becerra, tapped to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, appears to […]

Good morning, California. It’s Monday, February 8. Churches can reopen indoors The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a major blow to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive authority when it knocked down California’s ban on indoor worship, ruling that the governor’s pandemic restrictions unfairly targeted churches in violation of the First Amendment. The 6-3 ruling issued late Friday […]

The meltdown in California's Employment Development Department resulted from bad managerial decisions. So who should be accountable?

The politically fraught work of developing an ethnic studies curriculum for California public high schools just got more contentious. In a Wednesday letter to the state Board of Education and Department of Education, the original curriculum’s authors and former advisory committee members demanded their names be removed from the text because its “guiding principles … […]

Good morning, California. It’s Thursday, February 4. SF sues itself New lines have been drawn in the sand of California’s school reopening battle. Gov. Gavin Newsom at a Wednesday press conference said he believes schools can safely reopen before all teachers have received the COVID-19 vaccine — a stance that puts him at odds with […]

State records obtained by CalMatters show that the employment agency made $22.5 million on unemployment debit card fees as the pandemic ravaged the job market, but it failed to track how much Bank of America earned off a debit card contract during the spike in benefits. Lawmakers are asking questions about the revenue-sharing deal as workers still missing money fight to survive.

Los registros estatales obtenidos por CalMatters muestran que la agencia de empleo ganó $22.5 millones en tarifas de tarjetas de débito de desempleo cuando la pandemia devastó el mercado laboral, pero no pudo rastrear cuánto ganó Bank of America con un contrato de tarjeta de débito durante el aumento en los beneficios. Los legisladores están haciendo preguntas sobre el acuerdo de reparto de ingresos mientras los trabajadores aún sin dinero luchan por sobrevivir.