Podcast

Capitol Weekly Podcast: Interview with Timothy L. O’Brien

Author and reporter Timothy L. O’Brien first came to national prominence with the 2005 publication ofTrump Nation, a book examining the then-TV star’s fortunes… and which claimed that Trump had vastly inflated the value of his holdings, and was not, in fact, a billionaire – or even close. Trump sued, claiming he was libeled; a judge dismissed the case.

News

Health care: Nurse practitioners push for greater role

A medical practitioner checks the blood pressure on an older patient. (Photo: Alexander Raths, via Shutterstock)

As California contends with a shortage of primary care doctors, some legislators are pushing to have nurse practitioners fill in the gaps. Assembly Bill 890, which is now headed to the Senate, would remove the requirement that nurse practitioners practice under a physician’s supervision.

Podcast

Capitol Weekly Podcast: Nevada Caucus Preview, with Roger Salazar

Then Sen. Barack Obama and Roger Salazar in Nevada, 2008

Democratic political operative Roger Salazar has worn many hats over the years, working high profile gigs for political heavyweights like VP Al Gore and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. In 2008 Salazar headed to Nevada to help with the launch the then-new Nevada Caucus.

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Housing dispute gears back up over key bill

A billboard urging approval for SB 50 in Santa Clara. (Photo: Sundry Photography, via Shutterstock)

Moments after the state Senate failed to pass SB 50, a bill that would have relaxed zoning laws to combat the state’s housing crisis, Senate Leader Toni Atkins vowed to pass housing legislation this year. But after three attempts — and three failures — to get SB 50 to the governor’s desk, the outlook rains uncertain. 

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Tracking poll: Sanders expands lead in March 3 primary

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at a rally in Ventura County during his 2016 run for president. (Photo: Joseph Sohm, via Shutterstock.

The final Capitol Weekly tracking poll is out. And it is finishing off with a bang. Last month’s leader in California’s Democratic presidential primary, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, is extending his lead, now up to 29%.  The surge is seemingly drawing straight out of Massachusetts Sen.Elizabeth Warren who drops to 16%, just above the all-important 15% threshold. 

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Mental illness cases up in California jails

Image of an inmate behind bars. Illustration: PhoelixDE, via Shutterstock)

Mental illness cases in California jails have significantly increased since 2009, health policy experts reported Thursday. California Health Policy Strategies, a Sacramento-based consulting group, gathered administrative data from the Board of State and Community Corrections and discovered a 42 % increase in mental health cases reported and an 80 % increase in inmate medication prescriptions over the last 10 years.

Podcast

Capitol Weekly Podcast: New Hampshire preview, with Steve Maviglio

In the wake of the Iowa Caucus debacle, the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire Primary takes on added significance in a presidential primary race that appears to have blown wide open. Veteran California political consultant Steve Maviglio is from the Granite State – and served in the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

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Caught in the crossfire between hospital chain, insurer

Zoe Friedland and her husband, Bert Kaufman (Photo courtesy of Bert Kaufman)

After Zoe Friedland became pregnant with her first child, she was picky about choosing a doctor to guide her through delivery. “With so many unpredictable things that can happen with a pregnancy, I wanted someone I could trust,” Friedland said.

News

CSU faculty, workers air concerns

Students heading to classes at San Diego State. (Photo: Pictor Picture, via Shutterstock)

The fiscal outlook at California State University is good and the sprawling, 23-campus system that serves nearly a half-million students is in the midst of expansion. But there appear to be segments of CSU that aren’t all that happy — the faculty and the university’s workers.

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