California’s Right to Die movement got a burst of momentum last year when Brittany Maynard, a terminally ill 29 year-old newlywed from the bay area moved to Oregon in order to take advantage of the state’s Death with Dignity act. Her struggle and subsequent death received national attention and spurred a conversation about the rights of the terminally ill. Today, Sens. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, and Bill Monning, D-Carmel, are introducing legislation to create a California version of the law. Melody Gutierrez has the story at SFGate:
“Titled the End of Life Option Act, the bill would require two California physicians to confirm that a patient has six months or less to live and is mentally competent before prescribing life-ending drugs. The patient’s doctor would have to discuss alternative treatment options, including palliative care and pain control. The patient would be required to make a written request for aid in dying and two oral requests at least 15 days apart.”
Fifteen California community colleges are on track to begin awarding bachelor’s degrees in mortuary work, ranch management and consumer technology design after the community college system’s governing board approved the pilot programs Tuesday.
From Alexei Koseff at the Sacramento Bee:
“Advocates of community college bachelor’s degrees, which already are in place in 21 other states, have pushed for their introduction in California to generate up to an additional 1 million degrees in the state workforce by 2025. Senate Bill 850 allowed for up to 15 pilot degrees in majors not offered by the University of California or California State University, with the aim of meeting demand for highly trained workers in technical fields….”
“A committee selected the 15 college programs from among ‘34 tremendously done proposals,’ [Chancellor Brice W. Harris] said, considering labor market needs and the ability of colleges to deliver on their applications, as well as geographic, institutional and subject diversity. “
Community colleges aren’t the only adult ed getting attention. Samantha Gallegos reports that after years of declining or stagnant funding, adult education may be seeing a boost in this year’s budget. From Capitol Weekly:
“In Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2015-2016 proposed budget, he’s lined up an estimated $150 million more for adult education programs, which have been required in the last three budget cycles to maintain a spending at around $350 million. The unique funding scheme is called a ‘maintenance of effort,’ meaning adult education isn’t a back to being categorical budget item that limits districts’ flexibility, but it’s also not a general purpose item that can be spent somewhere else.”
Speaking of education, Dan Walters looks at big changes for the state’s K through 12 schools. From his column in the Sacramento Bee:
“Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature overhauled how state school aid is distributed, removing limitations on billions of dollars, sharply increasing overall aid and directing that it be concentrated on poor and “English-learner” students.
“The state also adopted a new Common Core curriculum and ordered big revisions in its “accountability” regime that change academic testing and downplay test scores by adding additional measures, including high school graduation rates and “career preparedness.”
“All are works in progress aimed, it’s said, at improving outcomes in a system that’s been deservedly criticized for its shortcomings.”
Over at The Grizzly Bear Project, Anthony York looks at the prospects of GOP Senate hopefuls in a Jungle Primary.
“We’ve had one U.S. Senate primary under these rules, in 2012. The results were not good for Republicans.
“In that race, the establishment GOP candidate was Elizabeth Emken… Even in the June primary, Emken found it hard to break through and only secured 12.6% of the vote.
“Because Democrats were united behind Feinstein, Emken’s dismal showing was enough to secure second place. But in a deep Democratic field, 12.6% would likely not be enough to advance to a run-off…”
And, have you ever wondered how much money you’d have if you had saved every penny you’d gotten in your adult life? Texan Ira Keys has the answer for you: eigh hundred and sixteen bucks.
“After 65 years of saving, an 81-year-old Slaton man has deposited $816 worth of pennies at Prosperity Bank.
“Ira Keys hasn't spent a penny since he was 17 years old, because of advice his father gave him.
"’He says, “Whatever you do son, save your money,”' Keys said. ‘Back when I started in '52, I didn't have a lot of money, so I saved pennies and I just kept saving them.’
“The collection weighed in at about 500 pounds.
"’I like to have broke the springs on that little-ole pickup,’ Keys said.”
