May 10, 2021 Media Brief
California
OC Register: Two-thirds of Californians to receive $600 stimulus checks under Gov. Newsom’s new proposal
Gov. Gavin Newsom today unveiled plans to deliver a second round of $600 stimulus checks — this time for middle-class residents in addition to low-income families — in an effort to speed up California’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
OC Register: Pandemic eases, but California housing crisis worsens
Many families lost their incomes during the public health crisis and fell behind on their rent and mortgage payments. Whether to extend a state moratorium on evictions beyond its current June 30 expiration is a tough question for state legislators.
Orange County
Voice of OC: Anaheim to discuss joining cities with “hero pay” ordinances for grocery/drug store workers
While several Orange County cities, including Irvine, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and Buena Park have already approved “hero pay” laws, each effective for about four months, Anaheim, the county’s most populated city, has yet to do so.
Voice of OC: Are OC officials preparing for rising temperatures?
The threat of climate change and rising temperatures in Orange County will directly impact homeless people, seniors and low-income residents who live in units with poor or no air conditioning.
OC Register: Orange County adds 8 million-dollar ZIPs, loses 8 housing bargains
Orange County added eight million-dollar Orange County neighborhoods in the year ending in March as the pandemic era’s rapid home-price appreciation left eight fewer “affordable” ZIP codes with sales prices under $600,000.
OC Register: Independent report clears DA Todd Spitzer of protecting retired OC prosecutor from harassment complaints
An independent report commissioned by the county of Orange has cleared District Attorney Todd Spitzer of shielding a retired high-level prosecutor from complaints of sexual harassment and retaliating against a victim.
Labor
U.S. News & World Report: Union leaders decry Indiana’s high rate of worker deaths
Federal data shows Indiana had 146 worker deaths during 2019, the most recent year available. A report from the AFL-CIO says that represents 4.7 deaths per 100,000 workers compared to the national rate of 3.5 deaths per 100,000.
Spokane Spokesman-Review: Labor union sues Spokane over new charter rule on bargaining
The largest public employees union in Spokane is suing the city over a new law that requires collective bargaining be conducted in open view.
Nation
OC Register: American travelers set pandemic-era flying record
The Transportation Security Administration said that slightly more than 1.7 million people were screened at airport checkpoints on Sunday, the highest number since March 2020, when travel was collapsing because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Publication Date: May 10, 2021
