California will send out roughly 5.7 million Golden State Stimulus payments of $600 to residents struggling to stay afloat during the pandemic. For most recipients, the money could come in as soon as a month.
Recovery & Reopening
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Santa Cruz County elementary schools begin to map out timelines for return
A number of school districts are targeting the week of March 15 to start phased returns to in-person schooling for their youngest students — though PVUSD is moving more slowly. A town hall on districts’ plans is set for Thursday.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
State legislators approve $600 stimulus checks for the eligible 5.7M California residents
Crafted by Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders last week, the pandemic assistance plan also includes $4 billion in grants, tax breaks and fee waivers for small businesses.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Unemployed Californians face months of delays when appealing denial of jobless benefits
The sluggish appeals process marks another setback for the state as its Employment Development Department has been overwhelmed during the COVID crisis.
Posted inHealth & Wellness
Will new California high school sports guidelines sack or save football in Santa Cruz County?
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s changes Friday enable “moderate contact” sports — baseball, softball and lacrosse — to be cleared for seasons without COVID-19 testing. But “high contact” outdoor sports — including football, boys and girls soccer, and water polo — will be subject to once-a-week testing requirements, posing logistical problems for some schools.
Posted inVaccine Watch
Biden administration claims progress in COVID-19 vaccination drive
Although President Biden likely will exceed his campaign promise of 100 million shots in his first 100 days, the U.S. was on track to hit it by the time he took office.
Posted inVaccine Watch
Who’s ‘essential’? COVID-19 vaccine rollout leaving high-risk workers behind
California’s vaccine rollout is missing millions who work in risky conditions, and it’s unclear when those with less visible jobs can get inoculated.
Posted inCOVID Today
Coronavirus cases plummet to pre-Thanksgiving levels. Are more reopenings next?
Coronavirus infections have plummeted to pre-Thanksgiving levels in California, instilling new hope that the state is finally regaining its footing.
Posted inCOVID Today
Why a California scientist hosted superspreader event amid a deadly COVID-19 surge
Peter Diamandis, a doctor, engineer, executive and scientist, believed he could create an “immunity bubble” and safely host a scaled-down version of his pricey annual tech conference. Instead, the conference became a superspreader event that infected 24 people, including Diamandis, with the novel coronavirus.
Posted inVaccine Watch
Fauci more cautious on COVID-19 vaccine rollout, pushing ‘open season’ to late May or June
Last week, the nation’s top infectious-disease expert said the U.S. could see open vaccine distribution by April. On Tuesday, he pushed that timeline back.