School Reopening Bill Approved by Lawmakers

KQED's The California Report

California school districts could soon get billions of dollars, if they restart classes in-person . But it does not require that schools have to reopen.

Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED

Attorneys representing student athletes said the state has agreed to relax restrictions, part of a settlement that would allow kids to play both outdoors and indoors. There will be safety protocols in place, including regular testing.

Reporter: Matt Hoffman, KPBS

Despite suggestions that Californians have been leaving in droves during the pandemic, that may not be the case. A new report from the California Policy Lab finds that most people are moving are staying in California.

Guest: Natalie Harris, PhD Student, UC Berkeley Goldman School of Public Policy

California plans to almost double vaccine allocations to vulnerable populations, with state officials vowing to send 40% of doses to communities hit hardest by the pandemic. Officials said this will also help the state reopen more quickly.

Reporter: April Dembosky, KQED

A state lawmaker wants to make it easier for people who have been convicted of a crime and completed their sentence to erase that conviction from their record. An estimated 8 million Californians have criminal or arrest records that prevent them from doing fundamental things like getting a job, or securing housing.

Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED

The city of Pacific Grove near Monterey has long been known as “Butterfly Town USA”. But conservationists there suffered a double blow last year - when both state and federal governments refused to grant monarch butterflies protections as an endangered species.

Reporter: Erika Mahoney, KAZU