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Saturday

California fast-food workers will get $20 minimum wage, starting Monday

A McDonald's worker hands food to a customer at a drive-thru window in Los Angeles, on Sept. 28. Damian Dovarganes/AP hide caption

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Damian Dovarganes/AP

Business

California fast-food workers will get $20 minimum wage, starting Monday

Debate is hot about the impact of a higher minimum wage. Half a million Californians work in fast-food, where wages had stagnated for decades. Restaurant owners warn of higher prices and fewer hours.

California fast-food workers will get $20 minimum wage, starting Monday

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Thursday

Chevron operates a major refinery in Richmond, Calif., a community with high childhood asthma rates. It also owns the city's dominant news site, putting its own spin on events, and runs similar websites in Texas and Ecuador.

Chevron operates a major refinery in Richmond, Calif., a community with high childhood asthma rates. It also owns the city's dominant news site, putting its own spin on events, and runs similar websites in Texas and Ecuador. Tracy J. Lee for NPR hide caption

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Tracy J. Lee for NPR

Media

Chevron owns this city's news site. Many stories aren't told

Chevron operates a major refinery in Richmond, Calif. It also owns the city's dominant news site, putting its own spin on events, and runs similar sites in Texas and Ecuador.

Chevron owns this city's news site. Many stories aren't told

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Thursday

California voters pass Proposition 1 to tackle the state's homelessness crisis

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks in support of Proposition 1, a $6.38 billion bond ballot measure, during a news conference at the Los Angeles General Medical Center in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. Damian Dovarganes/AP hide caption

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Damian Dovarganes/AP

National

California voters pass Proposition 1 to tackle the state's homelessness crisis

Counties must spend about two-thirds of the money from a tax enacted for mental health services on housing and programs for homeless people with serious mental illnesses or substance abuse problems.

Thursday

Here are the concerns with artificial food dyes, as California weighs a ban in schools

Students finish their lunch at Lowell Elementary School in Albuquerque, N.M., on Aug. 22, 2023. A legislative proposal would ban six artificial food dyes in California schools. Susan Montoya Bryan/AP hide caption

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Susan Montoya Bryan/AP

Food

Here are the concerns with artificial food dyes, as California weighs a ban in schools

Six artificial food dyes and titanium dioxide would be banned in schools under a proposal in the state legislature. Critics say there isn't enough evidence to prove they're a health risk.

Friday

Monday

Saturday

Atmospheric river expected to bring life-threatening floods to Southern California

A car sits partially submerged on a flooded road during a rain storm in Long Beach, Calif., on Thursday. David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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David Swanson/AFP via Getty Images

Weather

Atmospheric river expected to bring life-threatening floods to Southern California

The National Weather Service warns the storm could drop unprecedented rain over a wide area from Saturday night through early next week, with the period of most concern from Sunday into early Monday.

Monday

5 people have been arrested in California desert killings, sheriff's department says

This aerial image from video provided by KTLA shows law enforcement vehicles where several people were found shot to death in El Mirage, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. KTLA/via AP hide caption

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KTLA/via AP

National

5 people have been arrested in California desert killings, sheriff's department says

The suspects were arrested after deputies served search warrants on Sunday. "We are confident that this appears to be a dispute over marijuana," a sheriff's department spokesperson said.

Sunday

The Sunday Story: Mental Health Care Goes to Court

A homeless encampment stands in front of a city water and power building in the Skid Row community in Los Angeles on Sept. 28, 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images hide caption

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Mario Tama/Getty Images

Up First from NPR

The Sunday Story: Mental Health Care Goes to Court

California's governor has made the rounds on local and national news pitching a new court as a solution to homelessness. But there's a gap between how these courts are being sold and the reality. Today on The Sunday Story, Ayesha Rascoe and Anna Scott explore what this policy experiment in California can help us understand about the causes of and solutions to homelessness.

The Sunday Story: Mental Health Care Goes to Court

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Thursday

A new California law restricts carrying guns in public — testing the Second Amendment

California's new law is already facing all kinds of hurdles in the courts. Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images

Interview highlights

A new California law restricts carrying guns in public — testing the Second Amendment

Gun owners in California can no longer carry firearms into a range of locations deemed "sensitive spaces." It is already facing all kinds of hurdles in the courts.

A new California law restricts carrying guns in public — testing the Second Amendment

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Saturday

Thursday

Judge blocks California law banning carrying firearms in most public places

A man fires his pistol at an indoor shooting range during a qualification course to renew his Carry Concealed handgun permit at the Placer Sporting Club, July 1, 2022, in Roseville, Calif. Rich Pedroncelli/AP hide caption

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Rich Pedroncelli/AP

National

Judge blocks California law banning carrying firearms in most public places

The law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom was set to take effect Jan. 1. It would have prohibited people from carrying concealed guns in places including parks and playgrounds, churches, banks and zoos.

Friday

California faces record $68 billion budget deficit, analyst says

Legislative Analyst Gabriel Petek, left, discusses Gov. Gavin Newsom's proposed 2020-21 revised state budget during a hearing the state Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., May 26, 2020. On Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, Petek said California is facing a $68 billion budget deficit. Rich Pedroncelli/AP hide caption

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Rich Pedroncelli/AP

National

California faces record $68 billion budget deficit, analyst says

The nation's most populous state — with an economy that is the fifth largest in the world — has been struggling with the rising prices of most goods and services.

Friday

Wednesday

Should Medicaid pay to help someone find a home? California is trying it

Community health worker Hector Gallegos and nurse Jose Lopez gather supplies to treat homeless patients in Modesto, California. Ryan Levi/Tradeoffs hide caption

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Ryan Levi/Tradeoffs

Shots - Health News

Should Medicaid pay to help someone find a home? California is trying it

TRADEOFFS

California is making the nation's most ambitious effort yet to cover non-traditional health care services like housing and food for some of the state's sickest and most vulnerable residents.