Jan. 4, 2019

Orange County

Why doesn’t California treat its wildfire hazards like it battles flood risks?

California wildfires scorched 1.9 million acres last year — as much land as Delaware and Rhode Island combined — destroying thousands of California homes and killing more than 100 people. The fires sparked lots of conversation about banning or restricting new home construction in high-risk fire zones

 

If teachers strike in Los Angeles, where will half a million kids go?

Many parents said their children would be more likely to be on a picket line than to cross one. “I absolutely want my child to learn that our community has power,” one parent added, “and when we don’t feel like we’re being treated fairly, we can use our voices and our actions to ask for the very best for our communities.”

 

National

Economy Gains 312,000 Jobs in December; Unemployment Rises to 3.9%

The U.S. economy gained 312,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate rose to 3.9%, according to figures released this morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This report shows an increase in unemployed workers and while wage gains are stronger, they are not consistent with a tight labor market.

 

Rental vouchers move families into impoverished areas, even when better apartments exist elsewhere

Overall, just 5 percent of metropolitan families using vouchers live in high-opportunity neighborhoods even though those areas account for 18 percent of all affordable rentals. Giving low-income families the option of living in wealthier neighborhoods with better schools and less crime leads to better outcomes. Their children are more likely to go to college and find better-paying jobs, other studies have shown.

 

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Publication Date: January 4, 2019