California confronts lack of qualified teachers

For many workers, ‘gig economy’ has a dark side

A delivery person -- an independent contractor? -- on the job. (Photo: Davide Bonaldo, via Shutterstock)

by Lilia García-Brower posted 05.24.2019

The expanding gig economy in California is often praised for giving workers flexibility and independence. Be your own boss, set your own schedule, companies tout, and these companies would like us to think that drivers, cleaners and personal shoppers actually prefer the gig economy to traditional employment. The rosy spin ignores the reality for California’s low-wage workers.

Path to fracking eased in oil, gas drilling plans

The silhouette of a pmpjack at sunset. The jacks can remove five to 40 liters of crude oil wuith each stroke. (Photo: Ronnie Chua, via Shutterstock)

by Chuck McFadden posted 05.20.2019

Once again, the stage is being set for a multi-pronged battle in California between environmentalists and the Trump administration. On May 9, the federal government announced plans to open 725,500 acres of public lands on California’s Central Coast and the Bay Area to new oil and gas drilling.

Wanted: A comprehensive data system for education

Illustration depicting the examination of complex data. (Image: alphaspirit, via Shutterstock)

by VALERIE LUNDY-WAGNER posted 05.22.2019

OPINION:

Newsom boosts pension-cost relief for schools

Near the entrance to the CalSTRS building in West Sacramento. (Photo: ZiKG, via Shutterstock)

by ED MENDEL posted 05.16.2019

School districts would get more pension cost relief under a revised state budget proposed last week by Gov. Newsom. The governor’s $700 million plan to lower scheool pension costs during the last two years of a seven-year CalSTRS rate increase would get an additional $150 million, if approved by the Legislature.

Grocery, beverage taxes hurt working families

An assortment of soft-drink brands at a Cypress, Calif., market. (Photo: David Tonelson, via Shutterstock)

by DONNA SMITH posted 05.17.2019

OPINION: While health and wellness must be a top priority for communities across the US, taxing the poor is not the way to do it. Taxes such as these place a considerably larger share of the economic burden on working families, poor communities and small business owners.

Capitol Weekly Podcast: It’s the interns’ turn

by Capitol Weekly Staff posted 05.15.2019

Capitol Weekly’s Journalism Internship Program has been established for more than a decade, and in that time we’ve hosted dozens of interns from a variety of schools across the state — and even a few from outside the state!

E-receipt mandate cold prove costly — and harmful

A man pays digitally at a restaurant using a smart phone. (Photo: Brain2Hands, via Shutterstock)

by Thomas Lawson posted 05.16.2019

OPINION: The demand for clean, cost-effective alternative fuel vehicles, trucks and buses continues to rise. The installation of thousands of alternative fuel pumps and charging stations up and down the state, supported by state grants and dedicated funding, has helped to make this possible. However, a bill making its way through the State Legislature threatens to unravel these advancements and slow the adoption of clean vehicle fleets.

Nursing shortage grows — and state isn’t helping any

Nurses in the corridor of a busy hospital. (Photo: SpotMatik Ltd, via Shutterstock)

by Jan Jones-Schenk posted 05.15.2019

OPINION: There’s a severe shortage of registered nurses in California, and it’s getting worse. Experts predict the state could be short nearly 200,000 nurses by 2030, with rural areas among the most vulnerable to the deficit.