California

Brown's Updated Budget Proposal: More Money to Schools, But Not Much Else

Marianne Russ — Tue, 14 May 2013 22:08:15 +0000

California Governor Jerry Brown has released an updated budget proposal that includes more money for schools this year, and less overall spending next year.

His spending plan for the fiscal year that starts in July includes about $1.3 billion less than his January proposal. Brown says the state’s economic picture has weakened due to the federal sequester and the federal payroll tax change.

“We have climbed out of a hole with a Proposition 30 tax. That is good, but this is not the time to break out the champagne,” says Brown.

Study Links Access to Parks to Teenage Exercise Habits

Joe Moore — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 00:20:08 +0000

A new study from the UCLA Center For Health Policy Research shows that teenagers who live near parks and open space areas are more physically active than those who don't.

The study also shows that low income teens use parks less, citing safety concerns. Low income teens were also less likely to be active for at least one hour a day.

California Cities Watch Closely as Stockton Bankruptcy Trial Begins

Ben Adler — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:53:17 +0000

The city of Stockton has begun a four-day trial in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. At stake: whether the city should be eligible for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection.

The case has other local governments watching closely – particularly those that still face large budget deficits. Chris McKenzie with the League of California Cities says he believes cities will “move heaven and earth” to avoid future bankruptcies.

California Tied With Rhode Island For Highest Unemployment in Nation

Amy Quinton — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 01:29:40 +0000

California now has one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. As Amy Quinton reports from Sacramento, the latest figures from the California Employment Development Department show no improvement in the state’s jobless rate for January.

California’s unemployment rate remained at 9.8 percent in January. That ties the state with Rhode Island for the highest unemployment rate in the country.

Report: California Women Faring Worse than Men During Economic Recovery

Joe Moore — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 23:59:47 +0000

A new study finds women in California aren’t faring as well as men during the economic recovery. The analysis was done by The California Budget Project and the Women’s Foundation of California.

It finds employment among the state’s women declined by a little less than one percent over the past two years – while it was increased nearly two percent among men.

Chris Hoene with the Budget Project says cuts to programs such as CalWorks, the state’s welfare to work program, and cuts to state subsidized child care have largely affected women:

California National Guard Troops Preparing for Deployment to Afghanistan

Bob Moffitt — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:51:01 +0000

The California Army National Guard is deploying about 50 soldiers as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

About a hundred medics, pilots and mechanics from California, Nevada, and Washington are flying out today. This is the third such deployment for Sylvester Wilson. He’s from Rancho Cordova, near Sacramento.

Kevin McCarthy: California GOP Has Nowhere to Go But Up

Ben Adler — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 01:30:49 +0000

House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy had plenty to say at the Sacramento Press Club Friday.

The California Congressman discussed everything from the federal budget cuts known as sequestration to the future of the Republican Party. Ben Adler has more from Sacramento.

McCarthy said President Obama was “creating hysteria” about the sequestration cuts – rather than working with Republicans:

“If we can’t find a way to cut $85 billion out of a $3.6 trillion deficit, we’re not gonna overcome our problems.”

Experts: 'Sequestration' Could Hurt California's Economy

Ben Adler — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 03:26:05 +0000

As the March 1^st deadline for automatic federal budget cuts approaches, their potential effect on California is becoming increasingly clear.

Ben Adler reports from Sacramento that “sequestration” cuts could slow the state’s economic recovery – and perhaps even create a new budget deficit.

Sierra Snowpack Has Water Managers Happy, So Far

Amy Quinton — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 00:00:07 +0000

California’s water managers say the state has a good supply of water so far thanks to a snowy December.

The first official measurement of the Sierra Nevada snowpack showed four-feet of accumulation. Manual and electronic readings showed the water content of the snow at 134 percent of average for this time of year.

Frank Gehrke is with the Department of Water Resources. He says last year the snowpack in the area was just over one-tenth of an inch.

New Report Gives A Snapshot of California

Marianne Russ — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 23:42:58 +0000

California has the ninth largest economy in the world, its workers are staying unemployed longer and home prices are rising. These are a few of the tidbits in a new report by the state’s non-partisan Legislative Analyst.

The Legislative Analyst gives us California in a snapshot. The state’s economy is number nine, right between Italy and Russia.