LOS ANGELES — Sophisticated hackers, identity thieves and overseas criminal rings stole over $11 billion in unemployment benefits from California last year, but the extent of the fraud might grow far larger: billions more in payments are under investigation. California Labor Secretary Julie Su told reporters in a conference call...
California Taking More Control Over Vaccine Delivery After Complaints
Facing widespread criticism for its slow vaccine rollout, California is revamping its delivery system mid-stride by centralizing its hodgepodge of county systems and streamlining appointment sign-up, notification, and eligibility for its 40 million residents. Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday named Yolanda Richardson as secretary of the government operations agency that...
Walters: California Employment Takes a Downturn
Another day and still another maneuver in California’s erratic management of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, officials lifted California’s most recent stay-at-home order, giving businesses — small businesses mostly — and their employees permission to take a couple of baby steps toward reopening profitable operations. It’s not a moment too...
California Reveals Data Used to Lift Stay-at-Home Order
SACRAMENTO — California’s health department on Monday released to the public previously secret projections for future hospital intensive care unit capacity throughout the state, the key metric for lifting the coronavirus stay-at-home order. However, state officials did not explain how regional per capita virus cases and transmission rates that also...
Going Underground: California Business Operates in Secret Amid Pandemic Restrictions
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down his Bay Area region massage business, John went 93 days without income. In March, John and his business partner, Dee, packed away their massage tables and locked up their office. (Both John and Dee are going by pseudonyms for fear of legal repercussions.) But...
Walters: Will Reducing Criminal Penalties Reduce Crime?
California is conducting an immense sociological experiment, testing whether reducing prison time for criminal acts will, in the long run, mean less crime. Over the last decade, politicians and voters have lowered penalties for dozens of serious and minor crimes, reduced state prison populations by about 40% and adopted multiple...
California’s Bill for Fighting Trump in Court? $41 Million So Far
California has spent $41 million over the past four years fighting the Trump administration over its regulations and rollbacks involving climate change, immigration, consumer rights and more. During Donald Trump’s presidency, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra filed lawsuit after lawsuit, challenging the various federal agencies that set new national policies....
California Reports Record Daily COVID-19 Death Toll of 764
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California reported a one-day record of 764 COVID-19 deaths on Friday but the rate of new infections is falling. The deaths reported by the California Department of Public Health top the previous mark of 708 set on Jan. 8. In the last two days California has recorded...
California Sees Suspicious Surge in Unemployment Claims
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California is reporting a surge in coronavirus unemployment claims last week for independent contractors, gig workers and the self-employed — the category of benefits blamed for much of the state's fraudulent payments. The state last week received more than 110,800 Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claims, an increase of...
California Spent $19 Million to Shield Capitol From Protests
SACRAMENTO — California spent nearly $19 million for a week's worth of high security around the state Capitol and other locations because of fears of civil unrest surrounding the inauguration of President Joe Biden, officials said citing preliminary estimates Thursday. National Guard troops began standing down Thursday, but “state and...