Only 1 in 5 kids ready for kindergarten in county, report finds
Communities all over the state are reporting impacts on enrollment and test scores for school-age children in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Sonoma County has released a sobering, detailed report focusing on kindergartners there and how they are faring post-pandemic.
California EDD accuses approved applicants of fraud, garnishes wages to get money back
The EDD is accusing some pandemic-era claimants of fraud and demanding repayment, years after their applications were approved. In some cases, current wages are being garnished to claw back the unemployment money, even before appeals are filed.
Final California emergencies winding down 3 years into pandemic
California’s coronavirus emergency officially ends Tuesday, nearly three years after Gov. Gavin Newsom issued the nation’s first statewide stay-at-home order and just days after the state reached the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths related to the virus.
California won’t require COVID vaccine to attend schools
California won’t make children get the coronavirus vaccine to attend schools, state public health officials said Friday, reversing a state policy first announced by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2021.
China estimates 250 million people caught COVID-19 since end of 'zero-COVID' policy: report
Officials reportedly estimated around 37 million people were infected on Tuesday alone.
With 10 days of holiday shopping left, shoppers are cutting back on spending
The director of Santa Clara University’s Retail Management Institute says it’s been a tough year for consumers and retailers. Recent data shows people may be looking for a social experience and are not spending as much money on gifts while shopping.
SF reports its first flu-related death of season
San Francisco on Friday reported its first death of the current flu season in a resident under the age of 65.
Twitter drops COVID misinformation policy as hospitalizations rise
Twitter’s decision to stop enforcing its policy against false COVID information comes as cases and hospitalizations increase across California.
Newsom to end California's COVID state of emergency in February
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that he will end the state's COVID state of emergency early next year.
Homelessness increased for California Latinos during pandemic
A new report says due to the pandemic, over 22,000 additional people fell into homelessness in California. The data also shows that Latinos experienced an increase in homelessness during that time, more than any other group.
Most California students won't need to return to school with masks
California will not be bringing back statewide mask mandate for classroom for the coming school year.
Gov. Newsom tests positive for COVID
Gov. Gavin Newsom tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday and is "currently experiencing mild symptoms," he said in a tweet.
UCLA reinstates indoor mask mandate due to rising COVID cases
Citing rising COVID-19 cases across the county and on campus, UCLA Friday will reinstate an indoor mask-wearing mandate for all students, staff and visitors at campus facilities.
State boosts 'test and treat' capacity, urges booster vaccines as cases continue to rise
COVID-19 testing capacity will expand across the state in the coming weeks as public health officials in an effort to make it easier to access both testing and prescription treatments, state health officials said Wednesday.
California’s population fell again amid pandemic’s 2nd year
California’s population shrank for the second year in a row in 2021 as the nation’s most populous state was hit by declining birth rates, higher deaths from the pandemic and fewer people moving into the state from elsewhere in the U.S., officials said Monday.
California set to keep workplace pandemic rules through 2022
California workplace regulators are poised to extend mandatory pay for workers affected by the coronavirus through the end of 2022, more than two months after state lawmakers restored similar benefits through September.
California delays coronavirus vaccine mandate for schools
California is delaying a coronavirus vaccine mandate for schoolchildren until at least the summer of 2023.
CA health dept. says people exposed to COVID-19 but are asymptomatic no longer recommended to quarantine
People who have been exposed to COVID-19 but are asymptomatic will no longer be recommended to quarantine for any length of time, according to new guidance from the California Department of Public Health.
California lawmakers extend eviction ban for some renters
Tens of thousands of Californians facing eviction on Friday for not paying their rent will get to stay in their homes for at least another three months after Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis signed a law to extend protections just hours before they were scheduled to expire.
2 years since COVID-19 lockdown in Bay Area, here's what has changed
March 17 marks two years since six Bay Area counties enacted a shelter-in-place order at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health officials say the tools, strategies, and lessons learned to battle the coronavirus will prevent future lockdowns, mask mandates, and restrictions.