Gov. Brown has a carrot-and-stick plan for the state university system that calls for reforms and puts the schools in a financial pinch if they don't comply.
From the LAT's Chris Megerian and Larry Gordon: "Gov. Jerry Brown wants to tie some state funding for California's public universities to a host of new requirements, including 10% increases in the number of transfer students from community colleges and the percentage of freshmen graduating within four years."
"Brown, who has repeatedly said the universities should be leaner and serve more students, is asking for equivalent increases in several other areas as well, according to a copy of his plan obtained by The Times. Those include raising the overall number of graduates and a stipulation that more students coming from community colleges finish their studies within two years."
"The document, which updates Brown's January budget proposal for overhauling higher education, also reiterates his demand for a four-year freeze on tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate students. If either university system hiked costs, it would forfeit $511 million in state funding — a roughly 20% increase — over the life of Brown's plan."
There may not be enough doctors to go around as the new health care reforms get up and fully running.
From HealthyCal's Leah Bartos: "In the coming year, millions of currently uninsured Californians will gain coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act — but that does not necessarily mean it will be any easier for them to see a doctor."
"As the state prepares for the expected onslaught of newly insured patients, health-care professionals are warning there may not be enough doctors — particularly, those practicing primary care — to meet the increased demand. Some say that the problem will be even more amplified in rural California, which already suffers a physician shortage and dwindling workforce, as the majority of rural physicians nears retirement and recruitment of new doctors lags in replacing them."
“The country family docs are getting old and retiring, and the younger folks don’t necessarily want to come out the remote areas,” said Dave Jones, board president of the California State Rural Health Association."
Speaking of medicine, for some reason, California ranks low on the prevalence of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a problem of some children in school and a challenge to educators.
From EdSource's Janre Meredith Adams: "California has one of the lowest rates of diagnosis in the nation of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children, raising questions about the role of regional, economic and cultural differences in identifying what scientists regard as a brain disorder."
"Over-diagnosing ADHD and over-prescribing medication to children has been the cause of considerable concern in education and other circles. But some researchers interviewed by EdSource Today say that the state’s relatively low rates may indicate that the condition is being under-diagnosed among some demographic groups. They suggest that some students aren’t getting the treatment they need to succeed in school."
"California ranks fifth lowest in the nation – tied with Alaska – in the percentage of children diagnosed with ADHD, according to newly released data from the 2011-12 National Survey of Children’s Health. In part, California’s ranking reflects low rates of diagnosis among Latinos, who make up 38 percent of the state’s population, and even lower rates of diagnosis among Californians of Asian descent, who make up 14 percent of the state’s population."
The number of prisoners in state facilities for drug offenses was cut in half between 2010 and 2012, the state's correctional system reports.
From the Bee's Phillip Reese: "It's been almost two years since the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ruling that mandated California reduce its prison population drastically due to overcrowding. The resulting realignment has largely focused on reducing the number of drug criminals in state prison through attrition and diversion."
"On the last day of 2010, about 25,000 drug criminals were in California prisons. On the last day of 2012, that number had fallen 50 percent to roughly 12,400, according to the latest report from the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation."
"The figures represent a sharp acceleration of a long-term trend away from incarcerating drug criminals in state prison. About one drug criminal sits in a California state prison today for every three incarcerated five years ago."
Internecine squabble: The State Department's environmental impact study on the hotly controversial Keystone pipeline project got a critical assessment from another federal entity -- the Environmental Protection Agency.
From the LAT's Neela Banerjee: "The Environmental Protection Agencyissued a sharply critical assessment of the State Department’s recent environmental impact review of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, certain to complicate efforts to win approval for the $7-billion project."
"In a letter to top State Department officials overseeing the permit process for the pipeline, the EPA lays out detailed objections regarding greenhouse gas emissions related to the project, pipeline safety and alternative routes. Based on its analysis, the EPA said it had “Environmental Objections” to the State Department’s environmental assessment due to “insufficient information."
"A State Department spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. The State Department assessment concluded that Keystone XL would have a minimal impact on the environment. But the EPA analysis appears to challenge that conclusion."