Jackson is 4 years old. His little sister, Isabella, is 3. They live with their mother, Rachel, a recovering heroin addict at Saint John’s Program for Real Change, a shelter for formerly homeless women and children that I head. Rachel, like many of the mothers in our shelter, is a participant of a court-ordered reunification program. To keep custody of her children, she must refrain from using alcohol and drugs.
SACRAMENTO, Calif — Since 1973, the California Latino Legislative Caucus has been serving Latino people and their communities.
The mission of the Caucus is 'to identify, promote and advocate on behalf of the professional, educational, social, political and cultural interests of the Latino community.'
The Caucus is made up of members from the State Senate and Assembly and on Wednesday, the Caucus voted to prioritize 20 bills for this legislative session. Out of the 20 bills, nine of them focus on education.
Lawmakers in California are considering a pilot program that would financially support would-be physicians from underrepresented groups while addressing the shortage of healthcare workers in underserved communities.
Julia Conover’s advocacy for veterans, and for the families who have lost loved ones to war, has become well-known in Northern California and in San Joaquin County and Tracy, where she is most active.
FRENCH CAMP, Calif. —
Stockton Assm. Carlos Villapudua wants to bring much-needed physicians to underserved areas of the Central Valley by offering full scholarships to aspiring doctors.
According to his office, San Joaquin County has a dire need for more physicians. For every 100,000 residents in the county, there are only 39 primary care physicians, leading to delays in care. However, if Assembly Bill 2132, known as the “California Future Physician Fund,” is passed by the State Assembly, $20 million would be set aside for scholarships.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
A bill that would make possession of a detached catalytic converter a crime and punishable with jail time faced stiff opposition on California's Capitol Hill on Tuesday.
Assm. Carlos Villapudua, D Stockton, vied for his bill in front of the Assembly committee, where he spoke about the importance of implementing a bill that cracks down on thefts, so his constituents can feel some relief.
Nearly two-dozen state lawmakers unveiled a proposal on Thursday to give California taxpayers $400 rebates to offset spiking gas prices and inflation.
“Too many Californians are struggling to make ends meet right now,” Assembly member Cottie Petrie-Norris (D–Laguna Beach) said at a press conference outside the state Capitol. “We are here to offer help.”
STOCKTON, Calif. — It's a familiar crime that takes seconds to commit but leaves victims without a car and out hundreds of dollars in some cases.
As some police departments in California note an uptick in catalytic converter thefts in recent years, videos showing the at-times brazen thefts have swept the internet and have caught the attention of state lawmakers.
On February 14, Assembly Member Carlos Villapudua (D-Stockton) introduced Assembly Bill 2035 to make important changes to California’s existing New Employment Credit (NEC). Under existing law, in both the Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law, there is a tax credit, the NEC, for tax years 2014 through 2025.
SALINAS – A bill that has its origins in Monterey County, was recently signed into law allowing consumers to bring their own wine bottles to be refilled at participating tasting rooms, reducing waste and expanding business.
“It is important to have a level playing field for all winery establishments. The new legislation allows wineries to reduce packaging waste and cost,” said Heather Brand, owner I. Brand & Family Winery. “This is a win, win situation. We can reduce our environmental footprint and pass savings through to our guests and customers.”