California
Facing criticism for its chaotic COVID-19 vaccine rollout, California has quietly launched a long-promised statewide website to help residents learn when they are eligible to receive the vaccine and schedule appointments…
A federal appeals court ruled Friday, 1/22, in favor of California's indoor worship ban in areas hardest hit by COVID-19, but opposed strict numerical caps in less-imperiled counties…
In 2022, California voters will choose whether to keep a ban on flavored tobacco products…
Preliminary estimates from 1/28 showed California spent nearly $19 million for a week’s worth of high security around the state Capitol and other locations due to fears of civil unrest surrounding the inauguration of President Biden…
In a significant reshuffling of vaccine eligibility guidelines, California officials said Monday, 1/25, they will be shifting who is prioritized in the next round of COVID-19 inoculations to focus on age rather than specific occupations considered higher risk…
Tenants would be protected from eviction through the end of June under a deal announced Monday, 1/25, by Gov. Newsom and legislative leaders…
Coronavirus
President Joe Biden said Monday, 1/25, he believes it'll be "this spring" when any American who wants a COVID-19 vaccine will be able to get one…
Pregnant women looking for guidance on COVID-19 vaccines are facing the kind of confusion that has dogged the pandemic from the start…
President and Administration
President Joe Biden is open to some negotiation on his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, but the $600 billion counterproposal announced by some Republican senators Sunday, 1/31, is "not going to scratch the itch”…
Ten Republican senators have proposed an alternative plan for COVID-19 economic stimulus costing about $600 billion that they say would attract bipartisan support, and urged a meeting with President Joe Biden to discuss it…
More than 50 House progressives are pushing President Biden to prioritize recurring direct checks instead of one-time payments in the next rescue package, upping the demands on Democratic leaders in their race to draft a bill…
Congress
The Census Bureau blew its December deadline for delivering apportionment data because of the pandemic, slowing the mapmaking process to a crawl and leaving both parties essentially immobilized at a crucial moment…
A bipartisan group of senators on Tuesday, 1/26, proposed providing federal grants to help partnerships between community or technical colleges and workforce development groups to help the unemployed or underemployed earn degrees and partnerships…
Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) intends to become the top Republican on the Senate health and education committee…
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Representative Tom Suozzi (D-NY) are leading efforts to fully repeal the $10,000 limit on state and local tax deductions, or SALT…
Congressional Democrats introduced legislation Thursday, 1/28, to guarantee women and men are paid equally for the same jobs — one of several gender equity priorities backed by President Biden…
Incoming Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL) says he wants quick action on a measure to provide a pathway to citizenship for young undocumented immigrants in a limited initial attempt to alter U.S. immigration policy under the Biden administration…
Education
Dozens of higher education groups, including associations representing the nation’s colleges and universities, urged the Education Department on Thursday, 1/28, to clarify that undocumented and international students are eligible for emergency student grants created in the COVID-19 relief package Congress approved in December…
A recent survey from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics found that community college is playing a greater role in the educational trajectories of people with bachelor's degrees…
Miguel Cardona, President Biden’s nominee to become education secretary, said increasing access to community colleges would be a high priority if he is confirmed by the Senate…
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is considering a proposed amnesty program through which academics could disclose past foreign funding without fear of punishment…
Higher education groups asked Congress on Monday, 1/25, for $97 billion more in aid if there is an additional COVID-19 relief package…
Trump
Former President Donald Trump has opened an office to “advance the interests of the United States and to carry on the agenda” of his administration, according to a statement released Monday, 1/25…
Former President Trump's five impeachment defense attorneys have left a little more than a week before his trial is set to begin, amid a disagreement over his legal strategy…
Former President Trump’s upcoming Senate impeachment trial poses a security concern that federal law enforcement officials told lawmakers last week requires as many as 5,000 National Guard troops to remain in Washington through mid-March…
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the Senate president pro tempore, is expected to preside over former President Trump’s impeachment trial, assuming a role filled last year by Chief Justice Roberts…