With the rise in popularity of chatbots and the use of artificial intelligence in mental healthcare, California lawmakers are pushing legislation that they say is needed to protect consumers.
CalMatters
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Trump administration threatens to gut Head Start rules, affecting 70,000 kids in California
Head Start is a federal childcare program that serves the country’s lowest-income families — those earning less than $33,000 a year for a family of four. A move by the Trump administration would effectively strip the program of the unique features that have defined it since its creation in the mid-1960s.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
California nearly achieved universal healthcare. Now, millions are losing coverage
California’s uninsured rate could nearly double by 2030, with the sharpest losses hitting Black, Asian, and Latino residents in Southern California. A new documentary reveals the human toll behind the numbers, including families navigating Medi-Cal amid immigration raids and looming benefit cuts.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Controversial swan hunt appears to work: California’s mute swan population drops
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law last year allowing Californians to kill non native mute swans. It appeared to have worked.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Medi-Cal is changing. Here’s what to do if you’re worried about coverage
Most people with Medi-Cal won’t be affected, but it might be confusing to figure out whether your benefits will change. The two most important things to do: Update your contact information with your county benefits office, and keep an eye out for any letters mailed from the county or state.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Keep an eye on these five deals as California lawmakers close out the legislative session
Lawmakers could tackle climate money, wildfires and California Forever before they adjourn for the year and hit the campaign trail.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
‘Don’t Flock me’: California, U.S. lawmakers debate license plate reader technology
They’re all over our roads and really good at helping police solve crimes, but do California’s automated license plate readers need limits?
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Four myths about insurance in California
There’s a lot of misinformation floating around about insurance in California. Here’s what you should know.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
California can’t replant its forests fast enough to keep up with wildfires
California’s wildfires are destroying forests faster than the state can replant them, and federal cuts are making the gap worse.
Posted inEducation
California pulled the plug on new school air conditioners, leaving $200 million unspent
A program that promised schools upgraded AC systems was cut short in 2024, leaving hundreds of districts with broken systems and no money to fix them.
