California expected to end mask mandate soon
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom told Fox 11 Los Angeles that California’s mask mandate may end on June 15 when the governor plans to reopen the state economy
- This news comes as California continues to see low COVID-19 rates as California has the second-lowest seven-day case rate in the country, reporting 30.2 new cases per 100,000 people
- The California Department of Public Health guidelines call for face coverings in “indoor settings outside of one’s home,” like public transportation, regardless of vaccination status
- Unvaccinated individuals are required to wear masks outdoors “any time physical distancing cannot be maintained
- Fully vaccinated people don’t need to wear masks outdoors “except when attending crowded outdoor events
- On June 15, the color-coded tier system that restricts business openings based on county case rates will be eliminated
California lawmakers seek $200 million to fight hate crimes
- California lawmakers said Wednesday that they are seeking $200 million over the next three years to fight hate crimes against Asian Americans that have increased since the coronavirus entered the U.S. after originating in China
- More than half of the money would go for grants to nonprofit and community groups that provide legal services, health care, mental health, victim compensation or counseling
- Funding of $10 million would be provided for a statewide hate crimes hotline to collect reports in victims’ own languages and to direct them to police or legal, health or mental health services
- Another $20 million would help cultural enclaves including traditional Chinatowns, Japan towns, Koreatowns, and Little Manilas
California governor proposes kindergarten for 4-year-olds
- All 4-year-olds in California could go to kindergarten for free under a new proposal from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration, part of a broad new education spending package made possible by the state’s surprise budget surplus
- That surplus means that California has an extra $17.7 billion to spend on public education, money calculated by a voter-approved formula
- Newsom will announce on Wednesday that he wants to spend part of that money to expand the state’s transitional kindergarten program to all 4-year-olds by the 2024-25 school year
