Millions of Californians at risk of losing Medi-Cal coverage as rules tighten
THE CHRONICLE, CATHERINE HO: "Impending changes to California’s Medicaid program, Medi-Cal, are expected to make it harder for adults — especially undocumented adults — to retain, enroll in and qualify for Medi-Cal coverage, and to afford coverage and care.
Most of the federal changes under HR 1, commonly referred to as the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” apply to adults on Medi-Cal, the joint federal-state health insurance plan for low-income Californians. They enact new work requirements, more frequent renewal rules, and new copayments."
Trump says authorities have apprehended Charlie Kirk shooting suspect
LAT, GRACE TOOHEY/JENNY JARVIA/CLARA HARTER/RICHARD WINTON: "President Donald Trump said Friday that he believes “with a high degree of certainty” that authorities have apprehended a suspect in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“Essentially, somebody that was very close to him turned him in,” Trump said during an appearance on Fox & Friends."
California lawmakers pass ban on ICE officers wearing masks
THE CHRONICLE, SARA DINATALE: "California lawmakers passed measures Thursday that would ban federal and local law enforcement officers — including immigration agents — from covering their faces and require them to clearly identify themselves.
The bills now head to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who, despite being an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, will have to grapple with potential legal questions presented by one of the measures."
California’s incarcerated firefighters, who make about $30 per day, could get a big raise
LAT, LAURA J. NELSON: "In howling winds and choking smoke during the January fires that devastated Altadena and Pacific Palisades, more than 1,100 incarcerated firefighters cleared brush and dug fire lines, some for wages of less than $30 per day.
Those firefighters could soon see a major raise. On Thursday, California lawmakers unanimously approved a plan to pay incarcerated firefighters the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour while assigned to an active fire, a raise of more than 700%."
California courts and effective versus operative dates
Capitol Weekly, CHRIS MICHELI: "What is the difference between a law’s “effective date” and its “operative date”? A common definition of “effective date” is when the new law is “on the books.” A common definition of “operative date” is when the new law becomes operative or is implemented (which commonly, but mistakenly, is described as when the new law is “in effect”).
How do California courts define the two terms? How do the courts distinguish them in determining when a new law applies to a specific set of circumstances? The following are three appellate court decisions that look at the differences between effective and operative dates of statutes in this state."
High-speed rail project slated to received $20 billion in state funding
LAT, COLLEEN SHALBY: "California’s high-speed rail project is slated to receive $1 billion a year in funding through the state’s cap-and-trade program for the next 20 years — a relief to lawmakers who had urged the Legislature to approve the request as billions of dollars in federal funding remain in jeopardy.
State leaders called the move, which is pending a final vote from the Legislature, a necessary step to cementing investments from the private sector — an area of focus for project officials. And the project’s chief executive, Ian Choudri, said the agreement is crucial to completing the current priority — a 171-mile portion from Merced to Bakersfield — by 2033."
Legislature, Gov. Gavin Newsom agree to fund high-speed rail through 2045
SacBee, LIA RUSSELL: "California legislative leaders and Gov. Gavin Newsom reached a deal this week to fund the state’s beleaguered statewide train project with $1 billion every year through 2045.
High Speed Rail Authority chief executive Ian Choudri said the Legislature had agreed to fund the rail system project as part of a deal brokered to renew the cap-and-trade program, California’s signature vehicle to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
NFL and UFC athletes try ‘game-changing’ psychedelic to treat brain injury
LAT, CLARA HARTER: "As awareness grows around the dangers of head trauma in sports, a small number of professional fighters and football players are turning to a psychedelic called ibogaine for treatment.
Ibogaine, which is derived from a West African shrub, is a Schedule 1 drug in America with no legal medical uses, and experts urge caution because of the need for further studies. But the results, several athletes say, are “game-changing.”"
UC Berkeley gives Trump administration 160 names in antisemitism probe
THE CHRONICLE, NANETTE ASIMOV: "UC Berkeley has given the Trump administration the names of 160 students, faculty and staff and information about their “potential connection to reports of alleged antisemitism” to comply with a federal investigation into campus handling of such claims, a campus spokesperson confirmed Thursday.
The campus said the information was shared at the direction of the University of California’s Office of the President."
How every California high school ranks on preparing students for UC admissions
THE CHRONICLE, DANIELLE ECHEVERRIA: "San Francisco public high schoolers are more likely than their peers in any other county to have completed the required courses to get into a four-year California public university, a Chronicle analysis found.
Almost three-quarters of San Francisco high school graduates in the 2023-24 school year completed the set of 15 high school courses that students must take — and pass — in order to be considered for admission to universities in the California State University or University of California systems. Statewide, around half of students did so."
Odds of La Niña developing have increased. Here’s what it means for California weather
THE CHRONICLE, JACK LEE: "Chances have gone up for La Niña conditions developing in the coming months, according to an update Thursday by the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center. Forecasters say there’s a 71% chance that La Niña develops this fall, up from the 53% chance given in the agency’s August outlook.
“This is a significant shift, especially in the near term,” said Climate Prediction Center scientist Michelle L’Heureux."
Californians must fund heat pumps
CAPITOL WEEKLY, BRIAN BARNACLE/ZACH HILTON: "From Sonoma County’s fog-kissed neighborhoods to the sun-soaked farm-worker apartments of Gilroy, our constituents keep telling us the same thing: they love heat pumps. It’s no surprise heat pumps are wildly popular.
They’re a two-for-one appliance that provides both heating and cooling more efficiently than a gas furnace or old air conditioner can. Their silent, reliable operation keeps babies warm during winter storms, cools seniors through summer heatwaves, and shaves dollars off utility bills throughout the year. It is no wonder that 9 out of 10 homeowners with a heat pump recommend them to others."
How Google organized opposition to a California privacy proposal
CALMATTERS, KHARI JOHNSON/YUE STE,LLA YU: "In April, Rhode Island resident Navah Hopkins received a plea for her help to defeat legislation thousands of miles away in California.
The ask came from Google, maker of the world’s most used web browser, Chrome. The tech giant sent a message to an email list that Hopkins and other small business owners were subscribed to. Google’s request: To sign a petition opposing Assembly Bill 566, which would require browsers to provide users with a way to automatically tell websites not to share their personal information with third parties. The measure is sponsored by the California Privacy Protection Agency, which enforces state regulations on such sharing."
Messages show blurred lines before and after deadly Esparto fireworks blast
SacBee, JOE RUBIN, DANIEL LEMPRES and JAKE GOODRICK: "The day after an Esparto fireworks facility without local permits exploded with enough force to register as an earthquake, volunteer firefighter Craig Cutright sent a text message to Fire Chief Curtis Lawrence. “Just checking in boss man,” he wrote.
Cutright first volunteered with the Esparto Fire Protection District the day after forming his own company, BlackStar Fireworks, in April 2023, following years of work as a pyrotechnics operator for Devastating Pyrotechnics. He resigned two days after the July 1 explosions — the deadliest incident during his tenure — amid an investigation into the blasts tied to the two improperly licensed fireworks."
Sacramento proposes new homeless sites that would charge fees. Where are they?
SacBee, MATHEW MIRANDA: "Sacramento leaders will consider four new locations for homeless people, including three tiny home communities designated for seniors at a monthly fee.
The sites — proposed at four vacant lots in different neighborhoods — would provide a place to sleep for about 220 people. Three of the locations would be interim housing “micro-communities” with about 40 tiny home units, 24-hour security, bathrooms and communal gathering spaces."