California ballot will be heavy on health care
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — When Californians go to the polls later this year, they will confront contentious health care choices. Voters will weigh whether to overturn a state law that bans…
Category: California State
Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories impacting the lives of the Filipino-American community in the State of California.
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In California, redistricting by the people works for the people
By Mark Hedin/Ethnic Media Services California’s just-completed re-districting process offers a model for the rest of the United States in establishing political districts that do justice to rapidly growing racial…
Covered California deadline approaches as omicron variant underscores benefits of health insurance
SACRAMENTO — With the rapid spread of the COVID-19 omicron variant across the state, Covered California is urging uninsured and eligible individuals to act now so that they can have…
Covered California deadline approaches as omicron surge underscores benefits of health insurance
SACRAMENTO — With the rapid spread of the COVID-19 omicron variant across the state, Covered California is urging uninsured and eligible individuals to act now so that they can have…
Kick It California is here to help Californians quit smoking — and improve their mental and physical health
California is once again emerging as a leader in the fight against Big Tobacco with the California Smokers’ Helpline, renamed Kick It California — the state’s official effort to help…
Take advantage of DMV services without visiting a DMV office
THE kids are back in school, businesses have reopened, and while COVID continues to be a threat, life is busier than ever. The days are getting shorter and the holidays…
Staying safe for the holidays: California’s top health officer on celebrating the holidays responsibly amid COVID surge
IT’S no doubt that the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebration is the most highly anticipated holiday season in recent history. The coronavirus pandemic upended the last holiday season, which…
California reinforces indoor mask mandate amid COVID surge
STARTING Wednesday, Dec. 15, California will require face masks and coverings while indoors following a sharp spike in coronavirus cases since Thanksgiving. While individual counties — like Los Angeles and…
‘It is OK to ask for help. It is not a weakness’: Addressing the holiday blues and persevering the second Christmas in the age of COVID
LAST year, Charlene Fernandez had a Christmas she would rather just forget. A fourth-year animal science student at Cal Poly Pomona, Fernandez, 23, spent Christmas Day alone in her dimly-lit…
Attorney General Bonta co-leads multistate coalition in support of DACA
CALIFORNIA Attorney General Rob Bonta is co-leading a coalition of 24 attorneys general in a comment letter in support of the federal government’s efforts to preserve and fortify the Deferred…
California encourages full family vaccinations
THE California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is encouraging entire families – from young kids to grandparents – to get vaccinated, complete their vaccination series, and get a booster as part…
California extends COVID state of emergency
GOVERNOR Gavin Newsom has extended the state of emergency in California for the third time as a result of the threat COVID-19 poses. The executive order issued on Thursday, November 11, is…
California law aims to strengthen access to mental health services
THE number of people with symptoms of depression and anxiety has nearly quadrupled during the covid pandemic, which has made it even more maddeningly difficult to get timely mental health…
Renewal process begins for Covered California consumers
During this historic COVID pandemic, more people than ever before signed up for health insurance through Covered California, the state agency that administers the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare). With…
Larry Itliong Resource Center opens in Central Valley
THE Larry Itliong Resource Center has finally made its grand opening in California’s Central Valley. “We Are A Living Legacy” was the theme for the event held Sunday, October 24,…
California becomes only state with ‘moderate’ COVID-19 transmission level
THE Golden State is currently the only state in the country that has improved to a “moderate” rate of transmission for COVID-19, according to new data from the Centers for…
Q&A: How will California’s new 988 mental health line actually work?
By Jenny Gold/California Healthline IN September 2020, Congress passed bipartisan legislation creating a three-digit national suicide hotline: 988. Think of it as an alternative to 911 for mental health emergencies….
CA’s redistricting process gives citizens lead roles
By Mark Hedin/Ethnic Media Services TWO members of California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission joined a press briefing hosted by Ethnic Media Services on Oct. 11 to discuss the process of drawing…
Fil-Am labor leader Larry Itliong inducted into California Hall of Fame
FILIPINO American labor activist Larry Itliong is among the six notable individuals posthumously inducted into the California Hall of Fame. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom…
California becomes the first state to require ethnic studies for high school students
The requirement will be included in curricula starting with the class of 2030 IN order to graduate high school, students in California will now be required to complete an ethnic…
Q&A: COVID-19 vaccine mandate for students
By Dr. Dali Fan of UC Davis Health Governor Gavin Newsom is directing the California Department of Public Health to add the COVID-19 vaccine to other vaccinations required for in-person…
City of LA approves COVID-19 vaccine mandate for indoor establishments
THE City of Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 6 signed off on a mandate that requires proof of the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone entering most public spaces. The measure — which…
California vaccine mandate extends to aides for people with disabilities
WORKERS in adult and senior care facilities and in-home aides have been added to the list of California health workers who must be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Those who…
California becomes first state in nation to announce covid-19 vaccine requirements for schools
SAN FRANCISCO – At a school in San Francisco, Governor Newsom announced plans to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of vaccinations required to attend school in-person when the…
Newsom signs bill named after Fil-Am Navy veteran who died in police custody
CALIFORNIA Governor Gavin Newsom has signed eight new bills into law that advocate police reform, including one that bans law enforcement from strangulation restraint tactics that cause asphyxia. Assembly Bill…
‘A legacy of fights’: Unpacking ethnic communities’ impact on the California recall, future elections
Demographic surveys released over the last year continue to unanimously reveal a new reality: California is more diverse than ever, and that diversity continues to expand. This is particularly evident…
Newsom makes first-in-the-nation commitment to vaccine mandate for schoolchildren
The mandate applies to all children attending school who are eligible for the vaccine, pending FDA approval Schoolchildren in California who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine will now be…
California reaches major milestone in spending federal rent relief dollars before eviction protections change on October 1
SACRAMENTO – The California COVID-19 Rent Relief Program marked another significant milestone with $650 million paid out to 55,000 households as the state prepares to transition to new eviction protections that take effect…
Following federal approval, California ready to administer booster doses to high-risk residents
SACRAMENTO – With the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorizing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for boosters for those over the age of 65 and high-risk individuals, Governor Gavin Newsom…
Newsom signs suite of legislation in support of California’s immigrant community
CALIFORNIA Governor Gavin Newsom signed a suite of bills on September 24 expanding the state’s humane immigration policies by providing protections and support for immigrants, including a new law to…