Unemployment

Explainers

California’s unemployment crisis, explained

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.

By Lauren Hepler • February 24, 2021

WhatMatters

Lawmakers leave Newsom behind on schools

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 […]

By Emily Hoeven • February 19, 2021

California Divide

With raffles, food sales and fundraisers, Latinos do their best to avoid debt

Food sales, money pools and fundraising campaigns have been a lifesaver for many families affected by the pandemic.

By Araceli Martinez Ortega • February 18, 2021

California Divide

Lawmakers pass $600 stimulus checks plus boost for undocumented workers

As Congress debates President Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package, California legislators have approved $600 one-time stimulus payments to millions of struggling Californians and extra help for undocumented workers left out of federal relief. Gov. Gavin Newsom says he'll sign it into law.

By Jackie Botts • February 17, 2021

California Divide

Why personal debt looks healthy despite worst year for jobs

Americans spent more on homes and reduced more in credit card debt than nearly ever before, but California experts say traditional indicators have failed to capture the pandemic's true toll, warning of a much more complicated — and unequal — debt story.

By Laurence Du Sault and Jackie Botts • February 16, 2021

WhatMatters

Becerra, Su emerge as GOP targets

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 […]

By Emily Hoeven • February 11, 2021

WhatMatters

Newsom loses biggest court battle yet

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 […]

By Emily Hoeven • February 8, 2021

Commentary

Who should be accountable for Employment Department mess?

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

By Dan Walters • February 8, 2021

Commentary

How long will California economy languish?

California's once-surging economy has been clobbered by the COVID-19 pandemic and its recovery could be slow.

By Dan Walters • February 7, 2021

WhatMatters

High school ethnic studies controversy heats up: Guiding principles ‘compromised’

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 … […]

By Emily Hoeven • February 5, 2021