News

COVID-19: Groups form to help undocumented immigrants

Immigrant workers harvest strawberries in a Salinas field. (Photo: David A. Litman, via Shutterstock)

While we remain in the throes of an increasingly savage pandemic, policy makers at all levels of government are trying to soften the impact of the outbreak on our physical and financial health. But they are not the only ones: A group of little-known organizations are trying to ease the impact on an especially vulnerable community — undocumented immigrants.

Podcast

Capitol Weekly Podcast: Paul Mitchell on redistricting, COVID-19

Political data expert Paul Mitchell joins John and Tim — remotely, of course — on the Capitol Weekly Podcast to talk about the mechanics of a vote-by-mail election in November, how COVID-19 is impacting the prospects for redistricting, the census and what he learned by turning 50 while on quarantine.

News

At UC, standardized testing gets critical look

A student grapples with the timed SAT. (Photo: Have a nice day photo, via Shutterstock)

The University of California, grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, will make academic testing — such as the SAT and ACT  — optional for the Fall 2020 admissions cycle. But that policy may be short-lived: Next month,  the Board of Regents will meet to decide the future of standardized tests in UC admissions beyond 2020.

News

Q&A: Top L.A. County health official battles pandemic

Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County’s top health official, is in the hot seat as the COVID-19 pandemic exacts its rising toll. With over 10 million residents, the county is by far California’s largest, and it has the most confirmed coronavirus cases.

News

Reporter’s Notebook: Stimulus Symphony

Protester at the capitol, April 20, 2020. Photo by Karlos Rene Ayala

I had it in my head to make a series of documentaries about common people and how they are dealing with the fallout of COVID-19 in America. Nothing fancy, just simple questions, simple visuals and personal truths.

Podcast

Capitol Weekly Podcast: Lockdown protest w/Karlos Rene Ayala

Protest at the state capitol, April 20, 2020. Photo by Karlos Rene Ayala

The California state capitol was the scene of two recent Lockdown protests, the first on Friday April 17, and a second, much larger, on the following Monday. Documentary filmmaker Karlos Rene Ayala covered both and made a short film about each of the events.

News

Delayed census could greatly affect CA redistricting

A Census worker canvassing a neighborhood. (Photo: Wayne Via, Shutterstock)

Pushing back the census deadlines could have a profound political impact on California, ultimately forcing the state to draw scores of political districts for the 2022 elections within a tiny, two-week window. The Trump administration’s plan, announced earlier by Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham, calls for a 120-day  delay in developing and reporting the finished data.

News

PPIC: Three in four worried about finances, family illness

People line up outside a Trader Joe's market in San Francisco on April 5 during tne coronavirus pandemic. (Photo: Bjorn Bakstad, via Shutterstock)>

As the number of known COVID-19 cases statewide continues to grow, overwhelming majorities of Californians are worried about a family member getting sick or about their personal finances worsening due to the coronavirus.

News

$5.5 billion stem cell initiative facing rocky road

A laboratory researcher examines cancer stem cells. (Image: science photo, via Shutterstock)

Backers of a $5.5 billion stem cell research proposal in California today have once again missed a self-imposed, but critical deadline as they continue to struggle with securing enough signatures to place the measure on the November ballot.

Podcast

Capitol Weekly Podcast: Kim Alexander on voting by mail

Kim Alexander at Capitol Weekly's Post-Mortem of the 2018 Election. Photo by Scott Duncan, Capitol Weekly

Following the harrowing scenes of voters braving long lines and exposure to the coronavirus during Wisconsin’s primary election last week, there is a renewed discussion of the importance of vote-by-mail options.

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