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Sacramento County Families & Children Articles



Image caption: Research shows kids with hearing loss suffer developmental setbacks if they cannot use hearing aids.
Newsom Vetoes Hearing Aid Coverage for Kids—Again

More than 30 states require insurers to provide some level of coverage for kids’ hearing aids. California isn’t one of them, and Gov. Newsom for the second time has vetoed a bill to close that gap.

Image caption: To pay for the cost of foster child care, counties routinely appropriate Social Security benefits meant for orphans and disabled kids.
Newsom Vetoes Bill to Stop Counties Swiping Foster Kids Benefits

States across the United States are banning the practice of billing kids for the cost of their foster care. Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar effort in California, citing costs to the state.

Image caption: A victory by McDonald's workers at a Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, location was a rarity among retaliation cases.
Workers Suffering Increased Retaliation for On-Job Complaints

More workers are filing claims with the state alleging employers are retaliating against them for engaging in legally protected activities, such as seeking overtime pay or reporting wage theft or discrimination.

Image caption: Protests have erupted statewide in response to right-wing activists in California school districts who are trying to put anti-LGBTQ+ policies in place.
State Moves to Stop Anti-LGBTQ+ Local School Board Policies

Under a system that has long prioritized local control for school districts. state officials now are fighting some recent board decisions regarding LGBTQ students.

Sacramento News and Review logo LOCAL NEWS
New California Volunteers program in Sacramento helps young people with job training

By Steve Martarano Youth corps member Brandi House was one of the first to step up to the power line at Sacramento’s SMUD Power Academy...

Image caption: Data shows that homelessness immediately decreased once renter protections were put in place.
Here's How California Policy Makes Homelessness Worse

Renter protections and eviction bans put in place for the COVID-19 pandemic have expired. By keeping them in place, California could slow the spread of homelessness. But that's not happening.

Image caption: School board meetings about educating children have deteriorated into battles over hot-button culture war issues in some districts.
State Moves to Stop Culture Wars Upending California School Boards

California grants school boards much local control, but recent events have pushed the state to take steps to stop local school board meetings from turning into potentially dangerous culture war battlegrounds.

Sacramento News and Review logo LOCAL NEWS
In Sacramento the story’s the same: TikTok is consuming a younger generation’s attention spans

By Acsah Lemma TikTok plays a big part in American culture, says Hassan Khadair, a TikTok influencer. In fact, he says, the social media platform...

Sacramento News and Review logo LOCAL NEWS
Proposed law would reduce barriers to mental health care for California youth

The legislation would overhaul the process to appeal denials of coverage by private health insurance companies. By Mark Kreidler, Capital & Main This story is...

Image caption: In 2001, Barbie faced her first real competition when MGA’s Bratz hit the market.
Ten Trendsetting Toys

Barbie is the most famous California-born toy. But there are other iconic playthings that were created or brought to market here.

Image caption: Barbie is suddenly a movie star, but the toy has long played a big role in one of Southern California’s major industries.
Barbie, Mattel, and California’s Toy Empire

Here's how the iconic Barbie doll and its manufacturer, toy giant Mattel, built an industry in Southern California that pours billions into the state’s economy.

Image caption: Forced and child marriage survivors arrive at a protest, organized to support a ban on child marriage, at the state Capitol in Sacramento on June 22, 2023.
Child Marriage Survivors Press California to Ban the Practice

You have to be 18 to get divorced in California, but there’s no minimum age to get married. Child marriage survivors protested at the state Capitol, but the Legislature likely won’t act until next year.

Image caption: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield voted to toughen welfare work requirements, while state lawmakers back home chose another tack.
CA May Loosen Welfare Work Rules as US Tightens Them

State lawmakers want to loosen CalWORKs job requirements so people keep cash benefits. Congress’ debt limit deal could curb that.

Folsom Telegraph logo LOCAL NEWS
Folsom Handcar Derby is rolling fast again

As traffic whizzed by on East Bidwell Street, sisters Kirra and Makayla Putman raced alongside the many vehicles on their quadripede, riding the rails in the 30th annual Folsom Handcar Derby.

Image caption: Migrants wait in line while California border activists organize the group to enter the U.S. and seek asylum through the Chaparral entryway in Tijuana, Mexico on Dec. 22, 2022.
Border Scramble

The Supreme Court is keeping in place, for now, Title 42 — the pandemic policy that OK’d migrant expulsions. California has yet to figure out how to meet the needs of an influx of migrants when it does go away.

Image caption: The newly opened Presidio Tunnel Tops provides free entertainment in pricy San Francisco.
Cheaper Thrills

California has some top-notch tourist attractions—with top-shelf prices. Here are some that won’t break the bank.

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California’s Reparations Could Include Tuition, Housing Grants

California’s first-in-the-nation task force to identify reparations said business loans, housing grants, tuition, wage and job protections could provide redress for African Americans.

Image caption: New Year's Day has been a time for celebration for at least 4,000 years.
Happy New Year, Explained

New Year's celebrations have been around as long as civilization itself. Here's how they started and how California marks the New Year today.

Image caption: A new bill would expand the state's paid family leave.
New Bill Makes Paid Family Leave Affordable for All Workers

A new bill now in the state Senate would make paid family leave accessible even to workers on the lowest end of the income spectrum.

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