Gloria DeZordo was born in San Francisco in 1926 to Ines and Settimo Casini, both immigrants from Italy.

Gloria grew up in South San Francisco, the middle child with two other sisters, Adelma and Lola. Her father and uncle had a truck farm from which they supplied produce to high-end grocers in San Francisco. In her childhood, Gloria spent many hours on the farm. She later went to work first as a clerk at the local Sprouse-Reitz store and then at a bakery and a children’s store, where she made many friends.

In 1945, she married Dini DeZordo. They made their first home in South San Francisco, but always visited Ferndale and the many friends they made here. Dini had been coming to Ferndale since he was 18 years old and his friends included the George Scalvini family. He and Gloria purchased property long before they moved to Ferndale, confident their dream of living here would come true.

In 1968, they built their house on Rose Avenue and settled into life in Ferndale. Because of all the years of visiting and the friends they had made, they felt like they were home. Gloria began working as a lunch lady at Ferndale Elementary. She has many found memories of the students she met, including a young Guy Fieri (Ferry). Gloria remembered Guy pushing his pretzel cart to town and she always said she knew that young man was going somewhere.

In 1996, she began an eleven-year career as a volunteer in the kindergarten at Ferndale Elementary. Gloria became known as Grandma to hundreds of kindergarteners. Often, adults would come up to her and say “Hi Grandma” – another grown-up kindergartener remembering her hugs and encouragement. Gloria lived independently in her own home on Rose Avenue.

Gloria is survived by her sister Lola Clark, daughter Nadene (DeZordo) Bass and Jim Bass, Lydia DeZordo and Mike Goldsby. She was Nonie to Regina Byrd, Megan Goldsby, Phillip Bass and Orrin Goldsby. She was great grandmother or “Other Nonie” to Hayley Byrd, Jayden Byrd, Vincent Bass, Luci Bass, Elio Goldsby, and Rae Goldsby and was looking forward to a new great granddaughter in September. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Dini DeZordo, sister Adelma Baker and her parents.

Gloria was a great cook but most famous for her biscotti. Even though she would share her recipe, her biscotti were always better. She loved entertaining for the holidays and hosted Christmas dinner for years. She enjoyed her Saturday coffee time with her neighbor John Filipini and desserts with her neighbor Sandra Siddall.

Gloria will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. A celebration of life will take place on Saturday, April 20, at 3 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building in Ferndale. Donations can be made to your favorite charity.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Gloria DeZordo’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

On Tuesday, February 20, 2024, Ken lost a short but aggressive battle with Stage 4 advanced lung cancer. He passed peacefully at St. Joseph hospital surrounded by his family.

Ken was born March 3, 1958 and adopted by Dr. Andrew and Josephine “Penny” Robertson. He became the younger brother to Andrew. Their father was in the Navy during the Korean War. They lived in the Marshall Islands (Kwajalein) as well as Hawaii before returning to Eureka. They moved to Walker Point road. That was where life really began for the boys. Ken made many life long friends in the neighborhood. In the early days of moving to the neighborhood, the family dog came up missing. That was when Ken met his lifelong best friend, James Ballew, and they may have found themselves in a bit of trouble from time to time.

Ken had his first job in high school as a delivery driver for a local pharmacy, Ritchie Woods. He then became a Certified Mechanic at Isaacson Motors. After that, Ken had many more delivery jobs. He worked for Heuer’s Florist as a delivery driver and always smelled so good after work. Then as a driver for his father in-law’s pizza parlor, Blue Max Pizza. He then returned to delivering pharmaceuticals for three local pharmacies: Redwood Pharmacy, Lima’s Pharmacy and Cloney’s pharmacy. And that was where he belonged — it gave him both the joy of driving as well as helping others, which were two of Ken’s favorite things to do. So many customers turned into friends. He was known for going above and beyond to help the older ladies make up weekly med boxes as well as driving over at 6 a.m. on their trash days to take the can out for them.

April 19, 1984, Ken and Ellen welcomed their baby girl, Courtney, into the world. She was the light in his life. Ken spent five years in Salinas, California before returning home to Eureka. At that time he had lost touch with his daughter. But in the last few years he was able to reconnect with her. This last year was when they really found the chance to connect and it was so beautiful to witness their reunion.

Ken met his wife Linda Willams-Ballew in 1978. At the time, she was married to his friend James. But life has a funny way with things and fast forward to 1993 they started dating. On September 14, 1996 Ken and Linda were married. Ken now had two new stepdaughters, Amy and Leslie. They enjoyed many camping trips and a family vacation to Montana together. He loved to travel. Especially to the many NASCAR events he attended, but To the Edge Music Cruises really warmed his heart. Most of the time, Ken could be found tinkering on something or working in the yard. He was always busy in the yard, whether it was planting the seasons bulbs or just mowing. He was also known to be a sucker for a stray. Ken brought home countless puppies and kittens “in need” and never turned away a stray or rescue . He was very passionate about his NASCAR. That is what you would find him at home watching every Sunday, February through November. He had a love for Ford vehicles and everything about the sky. Whether it was the clouds or the stars he could talk about them for hours. He could tell you when a satellite or Starlink was going to pass and would text to tell you to go outside to see it. He was very passionate about everything in life. He always had a smile on his face and a go-getter attitude. Even on his worst days he put on that well-known smile and made the best of things.

In 2021 Ken finally had a hit with his ancestry DNA test. He had a match to a maternal cousin. With the help of a genealogist he was able to find some information on his birth family. He had reunited with his daughter and had contact with some of his birth family. Ken had stayed in contact with his sister Millie Haecherl, although he never got to meet her in person. Having been able to reconnect with his daughter and family, Ken’s life was complete.

Ken is survived by his wife of 27 years, Linda Willams Ballew Robertson; his daughter, Courtney Robertson; step-daughters, Amy Thallheimer (Mike) and Leslie Pollace (Krysti) and bonus daughter, Dara Lawson; his brother, Andrew Robertson; brother-in-law, Jim Williams (Lyn); grandchildren Michael Thallheimer, Robert Brennan, Bradley Brennan and Payton Pollace; nieces and nephews Andrew Robertson (Katee), Patricia Robertson, and Tami Williams as well as many great-nieces and nephews. Ken was preceded in death by both his parents, Andrew Robertson and Josephine “Penny” Robertson, as well as his sister, Helen “Rose” Robertson; mother and father In-laws, James “Jim” Williams and Becky Williams.

There will be a Celebration of Life, Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. in the afternoon at the Fortuna Volunteer Fire department. 320 S.Fortuna Blvd. Fortuna , 95540. The family asks that you wear your favorite flannel, Hawaiian shirt, band tee or NASCAR apparel. Please bring your memories for the memory box (both good or bad) the family will appreciate all memories and stories of Ken.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to the Sequoia Humane Society or a charity of your choice.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Ken Robertson’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

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Offshore wind development efforts are full steam ahead here in Humboldt. 

That was the message sent by Congressman Jared Huffman during a press conference at Eureka’s Wharfinger Building this morning. Surrounded by more than a dozen local, state and federal stakeholders, Huffman voiced his enthusiastic support for offshore wind and port development on the North Coast, touting the anticipated economic boon that comes with it.

“I’ve been representing this area for 12 years in the United States Congress and I have heard every manner of dream scheme plan to revitalize the economy,” he said. “None of it really holds together in a way that delivers the benefits and possibilities that this offshore wind project does. This [project] is incredibly responsive to the needs of this region, state and nation.”

Over the next decade, the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District hopes to transform its Marine Terminal II property — formerly home to the Samoa pulp mill — into a state-of-the-art industrial site to support floating offshore wind farms all along the West Coast.

“As exciting as all those possibilities are, I think we’re also very clear-eyed that it’s not easy; it’s complicated,” Huffman said. “In some ways, we are creating an entirely new industry and … we want to help California – the fifth largest economy in the world – to meet these essential climate goals. This project is a very important part of that, and we want to do it in a way that honors our marine environment, that lifts up working people with good quality union jobs.”

And at the “front and center” are tribal values, Huffman said, acknowledging the recent surge in tribal opposition to offshore wind development on the West Coast.“We need to make sure that this works for Indian Country in a way that, historically, some economic opportunities have not. There’s a history of disappointment and exploitation, and we are determined to get this right for our tribal partners.”

As of this writing, five local tribal councils have adopted resolutions formally opposing the proposed offshore wind project, citing “grave concerns” about potential risks to marine ecosystems and the sustainability of industrial-scale renewable energy.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su visited the North Coast earlier this week to hear tribal concerns surrounding offshore wind. Asked to elaborate on the outcome of the discussions, Huffman said local tribal leaders “expressed a variety of views,” ranging from “enthusiasm” to “really grave concerns.”

“I think it was a frank exchange of views that are not a monolith,” he said. “I think that we did a lot of listening and heard them, but I didn’t hear anything that I believe is in any way insurmountable. I think we can realize all of the upside of this incredible opportunity while making it work for tribal nations in a way that previous waves of economic development have not. And I know that the intention to do that is here and it’s sincere.”

Huffman was joined by 65th District Assemblymember Mike Gipson, Chair of the Select Committee on Ports and Goods Movement, who discussed how the Port of Humboldt Bay fits into a greater “offshore wind industrial complex” slated for the West Coast.

Gipson

“I have spent the last eight months touring all up and down California, touring our ports, meeting with surrounding communities and I must admit: Humboldt, you have been second to none,” Gipson said. “Your hospitality [and] your engagement far transcends this moment. … You lead the way in making [this] happen, and I believe others will follow.”

While out at dinner last night, Gipson said, he had the opportunity to speak with a few local folks about offshore wind development and the potential benefits of the project. “And they said, ‘We want jobs. Not only jobs – we want to make sure the people who live here get the jobs first,’” he said. “When I was a local leader of the [Carson] City Council, a big department store was coming to our city, and I said that I expect 85 percent of those jobs to be found for people who live in my community. How can I feed my neighbor’s kids, if my own kids are going hungry? … We hear you. We see you. We support you.”

Dozens of local, state and federal stakeholders attended this morning’s press conference, including Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Senior Advisor for Offshore Wind Jana Ganion, Director of Initiatives at Cal Poly Humboldt Connie Stewart, Humboldt County Supervisor Natalie Arroyo, Eureka Mayor Kim Bergel, harbor district and county personnel, representatives from the major international firms investing in offshore wind, among others.

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CLARIFICATION: This article has been changed from its original version to include additional context from Asm. Gipson regarding local jobs.

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Martinez

On January 22, 2024, the Eureka Police Department responded to a report of a juvenile with a severe neck laceration allegedly caused by a family member, Daniel Martinez.

Martinez had barricaded himself with other occupants, including juveniles, in a residence on the 1400 block of Union Street, Eureka. EPD requested the Sheriff’s SWAT and Crisis Negotiators to the scene to assist with this critical incident. After several hours, negotiations led to the safe release of four hostages, one juvenile had a severe laceration to the neck.

All hostages were then treated for injuries and the juveniles were placed in the care of Child Welfare Services. Despite continued negotiations, Martinez refused to surrender and comply with commands. Martinez rapidly approached the law enforcement officers in a threatening manner with a large knife, leading to an officer-involved shooting. Martinez suffered mortal wounds and was pronounced dead a local hospital. 

Pursuant to state law, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is releasing body worn camera video, which captured the officer involved shooting. It should be known that all the deputies involved in the incident had cameras, however due to the length of the incident most of the batteries were depleted except for one deputy whose camera was operational during the incident. The images are at times hard to see, due to equipment and safety gear worn by the deputy and other law enforcement officers on scene.  

A total of four videos will be seen. The first video is an adult female being rescued. The 2nd and 3rd video are 3 juveniles being released, one of which was injured by the suspect.  The last video is the officer involved shooting. As a warning, some viewers may find this video disturbing and it is not suitable for children.  

The Humboldt County Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), led by the Eureka Police Department and the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office, was activated to investigate this incident. Any further information related to this case should be directed to the Eureka Police Department. 

The below linked video contains graphic images and explicit language that may be disturbing to some viewers. This video is not suitable for children. Viewer discretion advised.
https://youtu.be/z93pHyXIW5E

REVIEW HCSO POLICIES: Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Policy Manual

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PREVIOUSLY: 

• SWAT Team Deployed to 14th and Union in Eureka After Report of Stabbing; Barricaded Suspect With Hostages; Streets Closed in the Area
• EPD Names Suspect Killed in Yesterday’s Standoff, Police Shooting; 43-Year-Old Eureka Man Had Sliced Two Juveniles’ Necks With a Knife, Police Say

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Well, my fellow film nerds, looks like we’ll have to wait nearly a year and a half to watch Leonardo DiCaprio’s Humboldt County adventures on the big screen.

Warner Bros. has announced a release date for the latest project from master filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson (“Boogie Nights,” “Punch Drunk Love,” “There Will Be Blood”), and it’s NOT SOON ENOUGH, if you ask me: Aug. 8, 2025.

What will we do in the meantime? Keep collecting information tidbits that emerge from the hive mind of cyberspace, I suppose.  Below are some such tidbits, divided into two categories: “probably reliable” and “unconfirmed rumors.”

PROBABLY RELIABLE:

• This will be the most expensive and most commercial movie of Anderson’s career thus far. With a reported budget of around $100 million, the project (still known only under the working title of “BC Project”) will be an “event film” summer blockbuster, with a dedicated release in IMAX theaters, of which Humboldt County has zero, unfortunately. The nearest ones are in Sacramento and the Bay Area.
• The multi-star cast includes DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor, Alana Haim, Wood Harris and newcomer Chase Infiniti.
• Anderson is writing, directing and producing the film, his 10th feature. 
• In addition to the confirmed Humboldt County locations (Cutten, outside Eureka High, Trinidad, Arcata), the production went on to film scenes in Sacramento County. A minor controversy flared up when a homeless encampment in Cesar Chavez Park was cleared to make way for filming. Other locations include Ronald Reagan’s former mansion in East Sacramento and the Fab 40s neighborhood, where a simulated explosion was shot. Anderson has said that other shooting locations will include Texas and Mexico.

UNCONFIRMED RUMORS:

• The plot. We still don’t know what this thing is about. While many signs point to it being an adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s 1990 novel “Vineland,” other signs (including the contemporary setting) point elsewhere. The latest rumor, reported by movie gossip site World of Reel, is that Anderson is very loosely adapting “Vineland” while updating the book’s Reagan-era plot to set the events “in an alternate reality America” where hippies do battle with Trump/MAGA types, possibly even including batshit Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Anderson previously adapted Pynchon’s novel “Inherent Vice.”
• Sean Penn’s character is rumored to be the head of a white supremacist group who’s out to eliminate an interracial child he had with Regina Hall’s character. In this rumor, DiCaprio plays the child’s adoptive father.
• The budget could be as high as $175 million — this according to World of Reel.

Anyone else have any tasty rumors? Let us know. Just 497 days left to speculate.

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Press release from Congressman Jared Huffman’s office:

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Jared Huffman (CA-02) announced that he secured $1,419,382.50 in federal funding to Humboldt County for roadway repairs as part of the Monument Road [Improvement] Project. Funds for this grant were awarded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and authorized under Section 428 of the Robert T. Stafford Act.

About the Project

In 2017, severe winter storms, flooding, and mudslides created an immediate threat to the public health and safety of the state of California. Due to heavy rains a subsidence of approximately 4-feet vertical, damaged 15 feet of the roadway width for a length of 225 feet.

Version 0 (V0) awarded $467,473.00 at 75% federal cost share = $350,604.75 on 4/14/2028 to install a 4,100 square feet (SF) mechanically stabilized embankment (MSE) wall, 2,278 cubic yard (CY) wire wall structure excavation, 1,974 CY imported borrow, 228 CY class 1 permeable base, 68 CY class 2 aggregate base, 410 square yard (SY) cold plane, 69 tons HMA, 205 linear feet (LF) 8” perforated plastic pipe underdrain, 15 LF 8” non-perforated plastic pipe, 205 LF metal beam guard railing (metal posts), and two terminal end section (type SRT). Version 1 (V1) was created for an improved project to install a soldier pile wall, instead of a MSE wall, and restore the public roadway to pre-disaster function and capacity.

Cost for the improved project will be based on the MSE wall; FEMA reviewed the costs associated with installing a MSE wall estimate and increased the approved amount of funding. No insurance proceeds are anticipated for this project. No mitigation has been identified or utilized for this project. Work to be Completed cost (WTBC) is based on the cost estimate format (CEF) developed by the Applicant. The costs V1 are $1,892,510.00 (CEF) funded at a 75% federal cost share = $1,419,382.50. Total project cost is $467,473.00 (V0) + 1,892,510.00 (V1) = $2,359,983.00 at 75% federal cost share = $1,769,987.25 less $350,604.75 (V0 Award) = $1,419,382.50.

Joy Perrin had been living in a van with her two children for several months when she walked into a welfare office in 2018. She had left an abusive partner and had failed her first semester at Laney College in Oakland.

A social worker told Perrin she qualified for the CalWORKS family stabilization program, which provides cash assistance, transitional housing and counseling to families experiencing crises such as domestic violence, substance abuse, or the risk of homelessness.

Five years later, Perrin spoke to lawmakers on March 20, trying to save the program that helped her find a safe home and achieve an associate’s degree in biology.

“This program gave me the opportunity to show my children that poverty doesn’t have to be our name,” said Perrin, who plans to study radiology. “Not only am I a testament of the power of this program, but my children will be able to share their stories and how it can change their path to their future.”

“This program gave me the opportunity to show my children that poverty doesn’t have to be our name.”
— Joy Perrin, CalWORKS recipient

Because California faces a projected budget shortfall of $38 billion to $73 billion, Gov. Gavin Newsom in January proposed cuts that would wipe out funding for the family stabilization program and for another CalWORKS program that subsidizes jobs for low-income recipients.

Both cuts would undermine CalWORKS’ effectiveness, advocates say, and contradict the governor’s stated goals of helping move families out of poverty.

The family stabilization program serves more than 31,000 people. The extended subsidized employment program reaches about 8,000 participants a month. In total 354,000 households with 659,000 children receive CalWORKS benefits a year.

CalWORKS cuts

To shrink CalWORKS’ $7 billion annual budget, Newsom would take away what’s left of the $55 million from family stabilization this year and $71 million next year and $134 million each year from the expanded subsidized employment program — along with other cuts.

Some lawmakers are resisting.

Attendees watch the Budget Subcommittee on Human Services hearing at the state Capitol in Sacramento on March 20, 2024. Photo by José Luis Villegas for CalMatters

Assemblymember Corey Jackson, the Morena Valley Democrat who chairs the Assembly’s Human Services Committee, held the recent hearing to make clear how many people would be hurt.

He told CalMatters he opposes “a vast majority” of Newsom’s proposed cuts to CalWORKS and is seeking alternatives.

“The question is no longer whether something is a good program; the question is whether it is more important than another,” Jackson said. “CalWORKS is one of the most important programs that the state has. Very few can compete with it from a priorities perspective.”

Assemblymember Corey Jackson, chairperson of the Human Services Committee, at a hearing at the state Capitol on March 20, 2024. Photo by José Luis Villegas for CalMatters

State senators recently proposed shrinking the state budget shortfall by trimming current-year allocations. They agreed with Newsom’s plan to take back $336 million from CalWORKs, saying the money “is projected to be unexpended and should have no programmatic impact.”

But that doesn’t mean the cuts are set in stone. Newsom’s administration has proposed “a number of solutions across state government,” said H.D. Palmer, a spokesperson for Newsom’s finance department, including some funding for both CalWORKS programs.

The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office is also recommending reducing CalWORKS funding to reflect “consistently unspent funds,” said Sonia Russo, a policy analyst there. Almost $40 million a year remains unspent in the subsidized employment program, she said, though the family stabilization program spends all of its funds each year.

A family’s lifeline

Part of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, generally known as welfare, CalWORKS requires recipients to get a job or participate in activities intended to lead to employment.

Its subsidized employment program helps people transition off public assistance by placing them into jobs and paying part of their wages.

At the height of the pandemic, the subsidized employment program’s caseload dropped, largely due to worksite closures and restrictions. But it began rebounding in 2021 and this year increased again, though still below pre-pandemic levels.

Lizbeth Paz Alegria at the Budget Subcommittee on Human Services hearing at the state Capitol in Sacramento on March 20, 2024. Photo by José Luis Villegas for CalMatters

Lizbet Paz Alegria, a program participant, said it’s a lifeline for many who need it.

Paz Alegria, a Mexican-born immigrant, sought CalWORKS help in 2022 because her husband at the time had lost his job. Bills were piling up and she and her three children needed to escape domestic violence, she said.

The subsidized employment program gave her a job at a San Mateo County resource center, where she helps other Spanish-speaking CalWORKS participants find employment.

“I was so grateful, because I was placed in a position to welcome families,” she told CalMatters, “and they see in me someone who has walked in their shoes, who knows that feeling of desperation.”

Paz Alegria is a permanent resident who immigrated more than two decades ago. Many other immigrants do not qualify for CalWORKS benefits because they are undocumented or have legal status but have lived fewer than five years in the U.S.

“I agree there must be cuts. The only question is where and whether we accomplish this through a just process.”
— Assemblymember Corey Jackson, Democrat from Morena Valley

CalWORKS bases its grants on the number of eligible family members in a household. The average cash grant was $1,021 a month last year, though families living in high-cost coastal counties, such as Los Angeles and San Francisco, received 5% more than families in inland counties, such as Shasta and Fresno.

In Fresno County, where poverty is nearly 19% higher than the rest of the state, more than 8,000 people received employment services from CalWORKS last year, said Maria Rodriguez-Lopez, the county’s deputy director of employment services.

The county contracts with the Marjaree Mason Center to help domestic violence victims. Last year the center handled 8,748 domestic violence cases, Rodriquez-Lopez said, and more than 500 people, including 257 children, participated in the family stabilization program.

“If funding is terminated, the risk of transitioning out of this contract is high,” Rodriguez-Lopez said. “However our department will make every attempt to mitigate the negative consequences to our families.”

A question of priorities

Jackson said the state has an obligation to prevent its vulnerable population from plunging further into a financial crisis. Last year California’s poverty rate grew from 11.7% in 2021 to 13.2%, with 5 million people living in poverty, according to the Public Policy Institute.

“I agree there must be cuts,” Jackson said. “The only question is where and whether we accomplish this through a just process.”

Jackson said he and other lawmakers have asked Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas to “not rush the process so people are not hurt due to political theater.”

Attendees at the Budget Subcommittee on Human Services hearing at the state Capitol in Sacramento on March 20, 2024. Photo by José Luis Villegas for CalMatters

Advocacy groups and nonprofits wrote a joint letter to legislative leaders predicting the cuts won’t save money but will instead cost the state: “Every $1 in CalWORKs received by a family saves the state $8 by preventing increases in child protective services, worsened children and parents’ health, and reductions in future education, employment and earnings,” it said.

State Sen. Scott Weiner, the San Francisco Democrat who chairs the Senate Budget Committee, said it will release a budget package later this spring. “Our goal will be to protect our progress for California and mitigate any impact on core program improvements of recent years, including CalWORKS.”

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CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.