California Lawmakers Look to Tax the Ultra-Rich

More than a dozen Democratic lawmakers have signed on to a bill that would tax earnings above a million dollars an extra one percent. There would also be an additional, higher tax brackets for income above two million and five million.

Reporter: Nicole Nixon, CapRadio

COVID-19 Spreads at Foster Farms Poultry Processing Plant

A COVID-19 outbreak at a big Central Valley poultry processing plant has grown to 73 confirmed cases with one worker dying. Livingston Mayor Gurpal Samra and other city officials met with Foster Farms representatives this week to make sure the company is following adequate safety protocols.

Reporter: Alex Hall, KQED

California Lawmakers Demand Fix to Unemployment Benefit Process

Over a million Californians still want to know why they haven’t received their unemployment benefits. The director of the Employment Development Department said at a hearing yesterday it will be until September to process even the backlogged claims that have been resolved.

Reporter: Julie Chang, KQED

Fight Intensifies Over Gig Worker Classification Bill

California’s Attorney General opened a lawsuit in May against Uber and Lyft for allegedly misclassifying workers. Now supporters of Prop 22, a referendum that would allow these companies to classify workers as contractors, are suing the attorney general for how he worded the title of their ballot initiative.

Reporter: Sam Harnett, KQED

Documentary Chronicles Closure of Public Hospital in West Contra Costa County

Doctors Medical Center in West Contra Costa County shut down five years ago, citing budget concerns. This hospital mostly served patients who were uninsured or on Medi-Cal. Now former hospital employees have set up a tiny urgent care clinic, where they try to triage patients with just a quarter of their former staff.

Reporter: Sasha Khokha, The California Report Magazine

Reporter Still Haunted Months after Being Shot by Police with Foam Round

Journalists have been injured by police using tear gas, batons and projectiles to disperse crowds these last few months. KPCC's Adolfo Guzman Lopez was hit in the neck by a policeman’s foam bullet while covering a protest in Long Beach in May.

Guest: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, KPCC and LAist reporter

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