California Connected Newsroom

The Los Angeles Times’ George Skelton, Sacramento Bee’s Daniel Weintraub, Los Angeles Daily News, and San Jose Mercury News comment and report on a new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California that finds a clear majority of voters want the bipartisan tone at the state capitol to continue. “Voters really are heaping praise […]

The Sacramento Bee’s Peter Schrag comments on how to discourage illegal immigration but reach a realistic compromise when it comes to driver’s licenses and the federal “Real ID” program. Beginning in 2008, the Real ID process is supposed to help secure the country against terrorism and illegal immigration by making state driver’s licenses tougher to […]

The Orange County Register reports that a federal agent is helping Costa Mesa check the immigrations status of arrestees at its city jail. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Angel Garcia will interrogate those arrested by Costa Mesa police for violent and nonviolent crimes. About 500 people will be screened each month by Garcia, who […]

The Los Angeles Times, San Jose Mercury News and Orange County Register report that immigrants hoping to become Americans will face a tougher exam next year, one that not only test their grasp of facts but also their understanding of the nation’s ideals and history. “The goal is to make it more meaningful,” says Emilio […]

The Press-Enterprise reports that next year’s Democratically controlled Congress is unlikely to push immigration reform too hard. The reason, according to House Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi’s team, is because more hearings and research is needed to find a consensus solution. There is also some speculation that immigration reform will entail a tough political battle. “Democrats may […]

The New York Times ran a feature story today on the changing social and racial make-up of Watts. The story focuses on James Dawson, an African-American who recently moved to the suburbs of Lancaster but still coaches youngsters in his old neighborhood. Despite his efforts, the local baseball league is quickly dwindling, reflecting a change […]

The Associated Press and the Orange County Register report that the U.S. Justice Department is suing two apartment building owners for discriminating against Hispanic tenants. The two owners made their Hispanic tenants leave for renovations. “When the Hispanic tenants tried to move back into the updated units, they were either told they could not return […]

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the Bay Area’s leading economic forum has released a 161-page report on the growing importance of business and cultural relationships with Greater China. “We can’t walk around San Francisco or drive around Silicon Valley without meeting people who are doing really interesting things in China,’’ says Sean Randolph, President […]

The San Francisco Chronicle reports today that a new study concludes that highly skilled immigrants and foreign students play a vital role in the U.S. economy, generating about $500 billion in domestic jobs, assets and revenues over the last 15 years.
In high tech, the numbers are even more impressive: Forty percent of venture-backed public […]

America’s Health Insurance Plans’ proposals for universal health care.
The Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday on a new proposal from the country’s largest insurance organization to provide health coverage to all uninsured citizens and to better control skyrocketing costs. America’s Health Insurance Plans, which represents companies that cover more than 60 percent of the nation’s population, […]