Universal Basic Income

A Fresno-area politician wants California to prioritize struggling San Joaquin Valley farmworkers in a proposed pilot program that would put cash in the hands of some the state’s impoverished residents. State Sen. Melissa Hurtado, a Democrat from Sanger, issued a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom last week urging the state to prioritize California’s “displaced, underemployed, or unemployed […]

It’s only May, and I’m already having to write about wildfires forcing Californians to evacuate their homes. Around 1,000 people were displaced from their homes Sunday as the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles County grew to more than 1,300 acres. The blaze, which was 0% contained as of Sunday afternoon, carved a path through dense, […]

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, March 12. More vaccines, more reopenings Things are about to change big time in California. Today, the state is expected to reach its goal of administering 2 million vaccines in underserved communities, triggering a shift in reopening criteria that will make it easier for counties to move from the most […]

Good morning, California. It’s Friday, March 5. Lots of changes at once Gov. Gavin Newsom is leading California into its largest and fastest reopening since the state first shut down nearly a year ago — even as questions remain as to whether the necessary infrastructure is in place. State lawmakers on Thursday sent to Newsom’s […]

From shattered career prospects to pay cuts and sudden shift work, the pandemic is forcing skilled labor and middle-class workers into lower wages and gig jobs.

A coalition of mayors are advocating for a guaranteed income that would improve the livelihood of many California children and families.

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, June 30. Are we going back to square one? With California’s coronavirus trendlines heading in the wrong direction, “more restrictive” orders could soon be necessary, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday. He rattled off a list of statistics: Over the last two weeks, the state’s rate of positive cases went from […]

Newsom doubts schools will reopen before summer, leaves eviction bans up to local governments. Online learning is put to the test at colleges.

When Dontae Lartigue left foster care right before his 19th birthday in 2009, finding housing in Santa Clara County was one of his biggest obstacles. He struggled to find places he could afford on his $12 an hour wages at Walmart, and with a limited income and no rental history, landlords were often wary of […]

Stockton is halfway through an 18-month program that provides $500 a month to 125 people from low-income ZIP codes. Proponents say the program is a step toward economic equality; opponents say it’s unrealistic and enabling.