The Senate narrowly confirmed Xavier Becerra to be the Health and Human Services secretary on Thursday, giving the former California attorney general a crucial role in fighting the pandemic. Becerra, the son of Mexican immigrants, is the first Latino HHS secretary. The vote was 50 to 49. Maine GOP Sen. Susan Collins joined Senate Democrats in favor of…… MORE
Tai Confirmed as U.S. Trade Representative
Katherine Tai is the new U.S. Trade Representative. CNBC Dot Com says Tai, a critic of Chinese trade practices, was confirmed by a Senate vote of 98-0. She’s the first Asian American woman and the first woman of color to fill the USTR spot since the position was created 60 years ago. Her confirmation…… MORE
Gov. Newsom Gears Up for Big California Recall Fight
Gov. Gavin Newsom, D-Calif., is taking the campaign to kick him out of office seriously, trying to frame his opponents’ recall effort as an extension of the divisive 2020 presidential fight while preparing for a media blitz, and assembling a political A-team to steer him safely through it. Republicans nationwide view the California recall as their best chance to…… MORE
Report: Calif. Schools Discussed Paying Teacher Bonuses With COVID-19 Relief Funds
Multiple public schools and teachers’ unions in California at one point discussed using some of the federal and state funding for COVID-19 relief to provide teachers with bonuses, according to The Daily Mail. The group Reopen California Schools shared memos with the Daily Mail that appear to show discussions on how to use the relief…… MORE
Vote Expected For Farm Workforce Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Farm Workforce Modernization Act this week. The California Farm Bureau along with many other farm organizations support the bill. Earlier this month California Farm Bureau posted on its website a statement that says the bill would provide mutual benefit for farmers, ranchers and their…… MORE
Gunman Wounds Officer in Shootout, is Killed Near USC
LOS ANGELES (AP) – Los Angeles police say an officer has been wounded and a gunman killed during a standoff near the University of Southern California. The gunman died at an Exposition Park home Tuesday afternoon. Police Chief Michel Moore says the man’s family reported he’d fired a rifle into the air. Moore says the…… MORE
2 People Killed in So Cal Fireworks Explosion
ONTARIO, Calif. (AP) – Authorities say two people were killed when a fireworks stash exploded in inland Southern California, setting a house on fire, blowing out windows across the neighborhood, and sending up a huge plume of smoke. Multiple blasts were reported around midday in Ontario, east of Los Angeles. TV news footage showed at…… MORE
Report: White Supremacist Propaganda Surged in 2020
NEW YORK (AP) – A new report from the Anti-Defamation League says white supremacist propaganda surged across the U.S. in 2020. The anti-hate organization provided the report Wednesday to The Associated Press. It says there were 5,125 cases of racist, anti-Semitic and other hateful messages spread through physical flyers, stickers, banners and posters. The group…… MORE
CA Bills Would Take Badges from Misbehaving Police Officers
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California would start licensing law enforcement officers, create a way to end their careers for misbehavior including racial bias, and make it easier to sue under an expanded version of state Senate legislation that died at the end of last year’s legislative session. Law enforcement groups say the proposal lacks due…… MORE
Inmate Lawsuits Blame Calif. for Spreading COVID-19 Infections
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – The family of a 61-year-old California inmate who died of the coronavirus sued state corrections officials Tuesday. The family blames a botched transfer of infected inmates to San Quentin State Prison that killed 28 inmates and a correctional officer last year. His family’s attorneys said it’s the first such federal civil…… MORE
