SACRAMENTO (AP/CBS13) – California lawmakers on Thursday advanced what they called commonsense legislation requiring two state agencies to share information aimed at helping stop billions of dollars in pandemic-related unemployment fraud. The measure that cleared its first committee would require the beleaguered Employment Development Department to crosscheck unemployment applications with inmate records to identify fraudulent claims. READ MORE: Stockton Couple Identified As Major Drug Suppliers In Amador County, Sheriff Says State officials approved at least $810 million in the names of roughly 45,000 inmates, some of them on death row, according to a state audit in January that put the toll at more than double the amount previously reported by the state. Investigators say overall fraud losses will top at least $11 billion. “The notion that this type of fraud occurred simply because two agencies don’t communicate with each other during a global pandemic as we try to figure … [Read more...] about California Lawmakers Advance Bill Aimed At Stopping Unemployment Fraud
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Supreme Court says California must allow in-home prayer meetings
The Supreme Court late Friday said that California must lift its coronavirus-era restrictions on in-home prayer meetings and other forms of home-based religious gatherings. In an order from the court, five conservative justices wrote against rules in most parts of the state that limit indoor social gatherings to no more than three households, while different restrictions apply to places such as schools and churches. “California treats some comparable secular activities more favorably than at-home religious exercise, permitting hair salons, retail stores, personal care services, movie theaters, private suites at sporting events and concerts, and indoor restaurants to bring together more than three households at a time,” the justices said. ADVERTISEMENT Additionally, the justices noted that a lower court in its ruling “did not conclude that those activities pose a lesser risk of transmission than applicants’ proposed religious exercise at home.” While California … [Read more...] about Supreme Court says California must allow in-home prayer meetings
California to spend $536M on wildfire prevention
California on Thursday announced it will be designating $536 million towards combatting wildfires in the state, according to a statement from California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom Gavin Newsom California to spend 6M on wildfire prevention Former Trump campaign manager advising Jenner on potential California gubernatorial run Overnight Health Care: Biden says US still in 'life and death race' with virus | White House rules out involvement in 'vaccine passports' | Arkansas lawmakers override Hutchinson veto on transgender bill MORE 's office. The Wildfire Prevention and Resiliency package was agreed upon by Newsom and various lawmakers as the state experiences a dry year, putting it at risk for another deadly wildfire season. "It is critical that we get a head start on reducing our fire risk," reads a joint statement between Newsom, California Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D). "We are doing that by … [Read more...] about California to spend $536M on wildfire prevention
Prince Philip exemplified a greater generation of service and duty
May 7, 2007 was among the most memorable days of my life — the day I met Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip , the Duke of Edinburgh. With the duke’s passing on Friday at age 99, the world lost an iconic figure — a constant for nearly a century. So, too, we lost a connection to another era and a leading example of the lessons of the “Greatest Generation,” the merits of duty and honor. In the early 2000s, I advised the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee on U.K. affairs and founded the Congressional United Kingdom Caucus. In connection with these duties, I was thrilled to receive an invitation to the British Embassy Garden Party in honor of the royal couple’s 2007 State Visit . Like other attendees, I was awestruck to meet this pair, but the duke broke the ice by asking, “Young man, what is your affiliation here today?” I replied, “Sir, I founded a congressional group called the United Kingdom Caucus.” With the timing of a great comedian, Prince Philip shot back, … [Read more...] about Prince Philip exemplified a greater generation of service and duty
Living in the drone age raises new policy concerns — from battlefield ethics to personal privacy
The launch tomorrow of the Ingenuity drone by the Mars rover Perseverance is one more reminder that we are now living in the drone age. Officially “Unmanned Aerial Vehicles UAV’s” (or Unmanned Aerial Systems UAS’s, including ground systems), drones have actually been around for a long time. They have already come to redefine some sectors and — as artificial intelligence (AI) merges with drone technology — drones will re-shape other sectors, raising important policy issues. Nowhere is this more the case than with drones in the military and in aerial photography, two sectors in which the use of drones raises important policy issues. No one knows for sure how many drones exist in the U.S., since drones that weigh less than 0.55 pounds generally fall below the level of FAA registration and many drones that should be registered have not been. Current estimates of registered U.S. drones are slightly under 2 million and as many as 29 million more are projected to be sold worldwide this … [Read more...] about Living in the drone age raises new policy concerns — from battlefield ethics to personal privacy