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Kaiser Health News
Senior Correspondent at Kaiser Health News; former staff writer in the Sacramento Bureau of the Los Angeles Times
PROFILE
Jordan Rau
Guest
FROM Jordan Rau
To the Point
When a Hospital Is a Dangerous Place to Be Despite widespread alarm, the risk of infection by the Ebola virus has been virtually non-existent in this country so far. But 75,000 people die every year from homegrown infections contracted in hospitals -- more than from car crashes and gunshots combined. One astonishing reason: the failure of doctors to wash their hands. Another: the overprescribing of antibiotics, which creates resistant bacteria. The CDC has known of these and other problems for years, and there are easy solutions. Is Obamacare providing a crackdown?
Which Way, L.A.?
Another Budget Shortfall Impacts Politics and Schools In May, California voters will be asked to ratify the $42 billion tax increase and spending-cut program worked out by Governor Schwarzenegger and squabbling legislators of both parties. But last week, the Legislative Analyst dropped something awful into the punch bowl. For the first time since at least 1950, personal income is down, meaning a decline in state revenues of $8 billion. We hear about the implications for politics and schools.
To the Point
California to Lay Off 20,000 State Workers California, the Golden State with the world's eighth largest economy, faces a $42 billion deficit in the next 18 months and is about to run out of money. Democrats have the majority in the Assembly and Senate, but they lack the two-thirds of both houses required to pass a budget . After months of concessions and compromises, the measure has been short of one Republican vote for the past three days. Jordan Rau covers Sacramento for the Los Angeles Times .
Which Way, L.A.?
$40 Billion Hole in State Budget Stays Empty California faces a $40 billion deficit over the next two years, but in a few weeks it will run out of money to pay for operating expenses. Governor Schwarzenegger says new taxes are needed, but Republicans in the legislature won't go along. Democrats have a majority, but not enough to provide the two-thirds vote required for new taxes. They have been negotiating with Schwarzenegger on an $18 billion stop-gap, but today talks broke down. We get an update and learn more about the "dysfunctionality" of California government.
Which Way, L.A.?
California Election Results and Analysis Bipartisanship is the California way. That's what Governor Schwarzenegger said after yesterday's huge re-election victory and the success of the infrastructure bonds he and Democratic leaders put on the ballot. US Senator Diane Feinstein won in a walk, and Jerry Brown will be back in the statewide political picture, this time as Attorney General . Schwarzenegger bucked the national Democratic tide with a huge re-election win just one year after the crushing defeat of his special election measures, but will his plans for healthcare, prison reform and the water supply be conducive to more cooperation or will they accentuate the partisan differences that still exist in Sacramento?
Recommended
Red State, Blue State
How Did We Get Here? California used to be red. West Virginia used to be blue. We look at the political history of both states.
The Mixer
California catastrophe The fires rage on in our own backyard, and in Northern California, encompassing tens of thousands of acres each. In L-A and Ventura Counties, the Woolsey Fire has scorched everything in its path. To the north, in Butte County, the Camp Fire has charred and destroyed even more acreage, of trees, brush and everything else, north of Sacramento, and the town of Paradise is a scene of utter devastation and heartbreak.
The 805
Who will get displaced by a new Santa Barbara police station? The city of Santa Barbara says it needs a new police station, but building one means displacing either farmers or lawn bowlers. The Woolsey has not only destroyed hundreds of homes and forced thousands of people to evacuate, but it’s displaced a diverse mix of wildlife. And a new contemporary art exhibition takes a deep dive into the most famous art heists in history.