California
Southern California and San Joaquin Valley residents will be under a stay-at-home order after the intensive care unit capacity in the two regions fell below 15%, triggering a mandate issued by Gov. Newsom last week that aims to bring down the soaring number of COVID-19 hospitalizations…
Seven families took California to court Monday, 11/30, accusing the state of failing to ensure "basic educational equality" during a prolonged period of remote learning brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic…
Governor Gavin Newsom announced 11/30 that California will provide temporary tax relief for eligible businesses impacted by COVID-19 restrictions..
President and Administration
Disputing President Trump’s persistent, baseless claims, Attorney General William Barr declared Tuesday, 12/1, the U.S. Justice Department has uncovered no evidence of widespread voter fraud that could change the outcome of the 2020 election…
President Trump can redirect $3.6 billion in U.S. military funds to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border because Texas groups that challenged the decision didn’t prove they’ve been sufficiently harmed by Trump’s wall to challenge the funding shift, a federal appeals court said…
Education
Congressional education leaders are hopeful about reaching a deal this month to simplify applying for student aid, a major priority for Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), the chairman of the Senate education committee, who is retiring…
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced Friday, 12/4, the extension of the federal student loan administrative forbearance period, the pause in interest accrual, and the suspension of collections activity through 1/31/21…
Education Secretary DeVos announced Wednesday, 12/2, that students can now use the College Scorecard to compare average earnings two years after graduation based on field of study and how much federal student loan debt they can expect to incur, including new information on Parent PLUS loans, based on school…
Congress
Lawmakers are expected to vote midweek on a one-week Continuing Resolution (CR to fund the federal government past Friday, 12/11, when the current CR expires…
Bipartisan negotiators on a $908 billion pandemic relief package are planning to unveil more details of their proposal today, 12/7, aiming to settle on language that can satisfy enough Republicans and Democrats to secure passage of one final tranche of COVID-19 aid before Congress breaks for the year…
The House on Friday, 12/4, passed sweeping legislation that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, the first time either chamber of Congress has voted to legalize cannabis…
Transition
President-elect Biden named California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as his Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary on Monday, 12/7, and filled out a team that will lead the incoming administration’s response to the coronavirus pandemic…