California News & Current Events | Public News Service

Researchers at the World Resources Institute said the average American can cut their environmental footprint in half by reducing dairy and meat consumption. (Molly Condit/Sinergia Animal/We Animals)

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Congressional briefing promotes dairy digesters to curb methane emissions

By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…

A YouthTruth study found most high school students in California and around the country wanted to make a difference in their communities but felt they needed more civics education to participate. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Voting at 16: more than a teen dream

A national voting rights group supports a push to lower the voting age in California and other states to 16 for state and local elections. The Vote16…

The transition from diesel school buses to electric ones has been several years in the making. (California Energy Commission)

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Thousands of clean air school buses in CA hit the road this semester

By Hannah Wallace for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Ne…

Responding to California's troubled community college transfer system, Merit America travels to job fairs around the state, offering certificate programs in cyber security, data analytics, IT support, UX design and project management. (Merit America)

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Audit: CA higher ed transfer portals too narrow

It is not easy for California students to transfer between community colleges and the California State University and University of California systems…

Open enrollment for Medicare runs now through Dec. 7. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobestock)

Monday, October 21, 2024

Medicare open enrollment now through Dec. 7

Nearly 6.5 million Californians on Medicare can change their plan during the open enrollment period, which just got underway and runs through Dec. 7…

Union membership has remained stable in California over the past two decades, despite a dip in membership nationwide. (Michaeljung/Adobe Stock)

Monday, October 21, 2024

Union organizers make big push to get out the vote in CA

As election season comes to a close, unions are out pounding the pavement urging all Californians to vote. The Golden State is home to about 2.5 …

Crime survivors spoke out against Prop 36 at the opening of a new trauma-recovery center in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday. (Californians for Safety and Justice)

Crime survivors celebrate new trauma recovery center, slam Prop 36

Survivors of crime are speaking out against Proposition 36, which goes before California voters in November. The ballot measure would increase …

Contents of a net fished in the North Atlantic mesopelagic are being sorted onboard the RV Celtic Explorer. (HulloThere/Wikimedia Commons)

A call for moratorium on catching deep-sea mesopelagic fish

By Shi En Kim for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboratio…

The Salton Sea, south of the Palm Springs area, is a heavily polluted lake with large geothermal and lithium resources beneath it. (Dr. Manuel Pastor)<br />

Rural community seeks to benefit from lithium boom

Local groups in the Imperial Valley are working to make sure the coming boom in lithium extraction will benefit the community, as well as the …

Votes on bills comprised 80% of each legislator's grade on the 2023-24 Pro-Kid Scorecard, with budget and leadership actions making up the remaining 20%. (MikeFusaro/Adobe Stock)<br />

New legislative scorecard highlights leaders on children’s issues

The biannual Pro-Kid Scorecard from the Children Now Action Fund was released today. In it, 12 state Assembly members and seven state Senators …

Water purification in Orange County's Groundwater Replenishment System involves three steps: microfiltration, reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation. (Adobe Stock)

CA facilities could turn sewage into tap water, but public acceptance lags

By Matt Vasilogambros and Kevin Hardy for Stateline.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Jour…

Data suggested contrary to popular belief, rural and urban voters in America share many bedrock values. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

As election nears, experts explore issues uniting rural, urban voters

During this contentious election season, people may think rural and urban voters are hopelessly divided but experts said it is largely a myth…

Elkhorn Slough near Monterey is one of many areas likely to be included in the list of protected areas under the state's 30x30 plan. (Kerstin Wasson)

Ocean Protection Council refines plans to protect CA coastal waters

California has set a goal to protect 30% of its land and waters by the year 2030, so the Ocean Protection Council is working on which waters should …

A recent study from UC Berkeley and UCLA found millions of Californians who do not get insurance through their job, Medi-Cal or Medicare will see big premium increases unless federal tax credits are extended. (Andy Dean/Adobe Stock)

Advocates warn health costs will skyrocket unless Congress extends subsidies

Experts warn health insurance premiums could rise an average of $1,000 a year for more than 2 million Californians who buy coverage on the individual …

Participants display their paintings from a community art healing project run by a nonprofit called The Cambodian Family in Santa Ana. (The Cambodian Family)

Report: CA faces big shortage of bilingual mental health professionals

One in four Californians is an immigrant and a new report showed many are refugees who may need mental health services but have trouble finding treatm…

Doctors say patients should be tested regularly to monitor their cholesterol, an important indicator of cardiovascular health. (LAONG/Adobe Stock)

During Health Literacy Month, tips on monitoring cholesterol

October is Health Literacy Month - so experts are educating people on an important indicator of health - cholesterol. Low-density lipoprotein…

More babies are born during September than almost any other month (August is #1), with Sept. 9, 12 and 19 ranking as the most common birthdates on the calendar. (Phoompiphat/Adobe Stock)

New treatment, tips for taming postpartum depression

More new babies are born in the fall than any other time of year which also means some people who give birth may be heading into the winter months wit…

Many banks, credit unions and nonprofit agencies offer free financial counseling and can connect people with programs to establish credit or aid first-time home buyers. (Self-Help Federal Credit Union)<br />

During Hispanic Heritage Month, tips on financial literacy

During National Hispanic American Heritage Month, financial experts are speaking out to help Latino families build wealth. Federal data show that …

Lawmakers introduced the Freedom from Intimidation in Elections Act in Congress on Wednesday. The bill would limit the ability to openly carry a gun at a polling place. (Krakenimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Newsom signs bill to fight intimidation at CA polling places

With the election six weeks away, concern is building about attempts to intimidate voters at the polls - so, lawmakers are taking action at the state …

Starting in January, Californians' credit scores will no longer be affected by most medical debt. <br />(Orcea David/Adobe Stock)

Gov. Newsom signs bill to eliminate medical debt from credit reports

Starting in January, medical debt will no longer count against millions of Californians' credit scores thanks to a bill signed Tuesday by Gov…

The Endow-a-Bed program at Sierra College in Rocklin will begin serving students within two years. <br />

CA community college sets up endowment to fund dorm beds

A community college north of Sacramento is trying out an innovative way to lower costs for needy students with a new "Endow-a-Bed" program. Sierra …

Health care students at four San Diego-area community colleges are now able to be reimbursed for fees associated with professional testing, certification and licensing. (James Lantzy/Wikimedia Commons)

New CA program helps health care grads afford tests and licensing

California is facing a huge shortage of qualified health care workers, so the San Diego Community College District is stepping in to help recent …

Historically, the U.S. had tens of thousands of gray wolves but now fewer than 5,000 remain, spread over a few Western states including California. (Gary Kramer/USFWS)

Conservation groups slam federal effort to reduce gray wolf protections

Environmental groups are slamming a Biden administration effort to remove federal protections for the endangered gray wolf. The U.S. Fish and …

Latino Conservation Week, an initiative of Hispanic Access Foundation, started in 2014. (Hispanic Access Foundation)

Dozens of CA events this weekend honor Latino Conservation Week

Latino Conservation Week is in full swing, with 330 events across the U.S. and 90 in California alone. The 11th annual event runs through Sunday…

A 2023 report by Oceana and Turtle Island Restoration Network found that more than half of the animals caught in gillnets are thrown overboard as waste. (Oceana and Blancpain)

Deep dives near CA's southern islands aim to show harm from gillnet fishing

Marine biologists conducting deep dives near five California islands are collecting data they hope will strengthen the case for ending gillnet fishing…

The California Department of Conservation is holding a public meeting online on Sept. 24, to update the public on its progress in plugging abandoned oil wells. (Alizada Studios/Adobe Stock)<br />

Environmental advocates call on Newsom to sign 'make polluters pay' bills

Groups concerned about pollution and climate change are asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a trio of bills dubbed the "make polluters pay" package…

Groups fighting hunger will hold a panel discussion in Los Angeles, called

Feeding the unhoused in LA.: Searching for best practices

California is home to more than 181,000 people who are unhoused, with 75,000 in Los Angeles alone, so the Los Angeles Food Policy Council will host a …

As of 2021, California was 18th in the nation for lowest rate of youth confined in juvenile justice facilities, at 58 youth per 100-thousand. (Framestock/Adobe Stock)

New data show massive drop in youth arrests, incarceration

The number of youth held in juvenile justice facilities in California and across the U.S. dropped 75% between 2000 and 2022 - according to a new …

Youth Truth sponsors workshops to empower students to find their voice and get involved in their communities. (Ruby Wallau/YouthTruth)

Survey: Only 53% of high school students think voting is important

About 53% of high school students think voting is important, according to a survey out today from the nonprofit Youth Truth. Researchers polled 115,0…

A California law banning restrictive crates for pigs could be invalidated by a provision in the Republican proposal for the new Farm Bill. (Animal Equality)

How meat industry shapes U.S. politics and vice versa

Agribusiness has spent $500 million so far to lobby for changes to the next farm bill - in particular to invalidate a California law that bans extreme…

Childhood vaccines are stored in temperature-controlled refrigerators at pediatrician Eric Ball's practice in Orange County, Calif. (Jackie Forti�r/KFF Health News)

Pedatricians cut back on COVID shots as interest wanes

By Jackie Fortiér for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public Ne…

E-scooter companies say shared micromobility can be made safer if more people wear helmets, streets are properly maintained, and more cities add protected bike lanes. (Bondariev Volodymyr/Adobe Stock)<br />

8 years into America’s e-scooter experiment, what have we learned?

By Syris Valentine for Grist.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service, reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public …

A new study suggests that partisanship is less pronounced in local races when a particular local issue is deeply felt by voters. (The Stock Photo Girl/Adobe Stock)<br />

Study: 40% of voters willing to cross party lines on local issues

A common narrative suggests that deeply polarized American voters always support their party's candidates, but a new study suggests otherwise in …

The Parent Institute for Quality Education offers a

Nonprofit works to improve Latino graduation rates in CA

Latinos make up 40% of California's population and more than 56% of K-12 public school students. However, Latino high school graduation rates are …

Brazil and Vietnam are currently the largest coffee-producing countries in the world. Production is increasing in China and even in California and on the Gulf Coast. (Somchai20162516/Adobe Stock)

Climate solutions for the future of coffee

By Anne Connor for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public Ne…

A new California bill requiring speed warning systems on vehicles does not require data to be stored. Privacy issues would remain in the hands of car manufacturers. (Rawintanpin/Adobe Stock)

Newsom urged to sign bill to require speeding alert systems on cars

Groups fighting for safer roads are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a bill requiring new vehicles to have a speed-monitoring system to warn drivers …

Medicare enrollees will not have to spend more than $2,000 annually on prescription drugs, starting next year. (Burlingham/Adobe Stock)

Report: New prescription drug cap for Medicare means big savings

Hundreds of thousands of older Californians will see huge savings on prescription drugs starting in January, according to a new report from AARP…

A new online resource helps LGBTQ+ people navigate end-of-life decisions.(Cultura Creative/Adobe Stock)

New online tool aids LGBTQ+ people in making end-of-life decisions

LGBTQ+ Americans are twice as likely to experience discrimination in health care, including as they age, according to a new survey from the Kaiser …

Workers protested layoffs outside the Chet Holifield Federal Building in Laguna Niguel on June 21. (U.E. Local 1008)<br />

Layoffs at CA immigration services center lead to protests

The feds are laying off more than 400 workers at an immigration application processing center in Laguna Niguel, a move labor advocates say is union-…

Opponents of changes to California's auto lemon law include the National Consumer League and the Consumer Federation of America. (AA+W/Adobe Stock)

Consumer groups blast bill to change CA Lemon Law

Consumer groups are calling for the withdrawal of a bill that would change the way California's auto lemon law works - before the legislative session …

Citizens of the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation participate in the Netlh-'ii~-ne Steward program along the northern California coast, covering natural-resources management strategies and cultural practices. (Rosa Laucci/Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation)

CA tribes ask Newsom to sign bill on co-management of lands, waters

Indigenous leaders are asking California Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a bill that would allow federally recognized tribes to sign agreements with the …

Salmon are the most consumed fish in the world by value, and tuna are the most consumed by volume. (Jakub Rutkiewicz/Adobe Stock)

'Humane' and 'sustainable' fish labels may be misleading

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Coll…

In California, 750,000 fast-food workers were covered by the increase in the minimum wage in the sector from $16 to $20 per hour. (BlueSkyImages/Adobe Stock)

Fast food jobs increasing in CA despite rising minimum wage

New data show fast food jobs have been on the upswing in the four months since the minimum wage in the sector went from $16 to $20 an hour. The …

The Laura Rodriguez Medical Assistant Institute is training members of the local community to reduce shortages in the health care workforce. (LRMAI)

CA program combats shortage of medical assistants

California faces a big shortage in the health care workforce, so health centers in San Diego are taking matters into their own hands, launching a …

The Compassionate Care Act would create a public awareness campaign that encourages conversations between patients, their families and doctors about end-of-life wishes. (Nimito/Adobe Stock)

New bill in Congress would improve end-of-life care

A bill just introduced in Congress would raise public awareness of issues surrounding the end of life, including palliative care, and hospice…

Groups that fight for criminal justice reform argue that public safety improves when justice-involved people can clear their records and find better jobs and housing. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

New rules coming soon to help people clear old criminal records

Starting October 1st, it will get a lot easier for people with old felony convictions to get them expunged from their record - as Senate Bill 731…

A job retraining program from Merit America hopes to help an additional 2,000 people transition from low-wage work into technology careers as it expands its efforts in the Bay Area. (Merit America)<br />

As CA workers seek higher wages, a program seeks to help them move up

Unions representing fast food workers are asking the state's new Fast Food Council to support a 70-cent-per-hour boost in the minimum wage at its next…

CA delegation rides wave of excitement at DNC

The Democratic National Convention in Chicago kicked off last night with huge crowds and the biggest delegation, some 500 strong, hails from …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - October 23, 2024

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California

Congressional briefing promotes dairy digesters to curb methane emissions

Voting at 16: more than a teen dream

Thousands of clean air school buses in CA hit the road this semester

Audit: CA higher ed transfer portals too narrow

Medicare open enrollment now through Dec. 7

Union organizers make big push to get out the vote in CA

Crime survivors celebrate new trauma recovery center, slam Prop 36

A call for moratorium on catching deep-sea mesopelagic fish

Rural community seeks to benefit from lithium boom

New legislative scorecard highlights leaders on children’s issues

CA facilities could turn sewage into tap water, but public acceptance lags

As election nears, experts explore issues uniting rural, urban voters

Ocean Protection Council refines plans to protect CA coastal waters

Advocates warn health costs will skyrocket unless Congress extends subsidies

Report: CA faces big shortage of bilingual mental health professionals

During Health Literacy Month, tips on monitoring cholesterol

New treatment, tips for taming postpartum depression

During Hispanic Heritage Month, tips on financial literacy

Newsom signs bill to fight intimidation at CA polling places

Gov. Newsom signs bill to eliminate medical debt from credit reports

CA community college sets up endowment to fund dorm beds

New CA program helps health care grads afford tests and licensing

Conservation groups slam federal effort to reduce gray wolf protections

Dozens of CA events this weekend honor Latino Conservation Week

Deep dives near CA's southern islands aim to show harm from gillnet fishing

Environmental advocates call on Newsom to sign 'make polluters pay' bills

Feeding the unhoused in LA.: Searching for best practices

New data show massive drop in youth arrests, incarceration

Survey: Only 53% of high school students think voting is important

How meat industry shapes U.S. politics and vice versa

Pedatricians cut back on COVID shots as interest wanes

8 years into America’s e-scooter experiment, what have we learned?

Study: 40% of voters willing to cross party lines on local issues

Nonprofit works to improve Latino graduation rates in CA

Climate solutions for the future of coffee

Newsom urged to sign bill to require speeding alert systems on cars

Report: New prescription drug cap for Medicare means big savings

New online tool aids LGBTQ+ people in making end-of-life decisions

Layoffs at CA immigration services center lead to protests

Consumer groups blast bill to change CA Lemon Law

CA tribes ask Newsom to sign bill on co-management of lands, waters

'Humane' and 'sustainable' fish labels may be misleading

Fast food jobs increasing in CA despite rising minimum wage

CA program combats shortage of medical assistants

New bill in Congress would improve end-of-life care

New rules coming soon to help people clear old criminal records

As CA workers seek higher wages, a program seeks to help them move up

CA delegation rides wave of excitement at DNC