Billionaire tax and trans rights: what are key state ballot initiatives in midterms?
Voters in 39 states will face an array of referendum issues – including Alabama’s on the national anthem in schoolsAmericans heading to the polls for next month’s midterm elections are not just choosing whom to send to Washington, or their state…
America must reverse Trump’s moral squalor | Robert Reich
The president shows a unique disregard for the opinions, norms and ideals of the nation – and, for that matter, humanityThe Democrats’ focus on affordability seems to be a winning strategy (we’ll know for sure in a little over two weeks). But we mustn’t…
Flu cases rise on west coast earlier than usual as US officials encourage vaccine
California flu test rate at 9.65%, higher than normal 1% rate for early October, amid mutation of H1N1 influenza A strainFlu cases on the west coast are on the rise months earlier than normal, prompting health officials to stress the importance of the…
US judge orders Trump administration to halt noncitizen voting investigation
Federal judge says government’s investigation into alleged noncitizen voting in nine states is relying on flawed dataA federal judge in California has ordered the Trump administration to halt investigations in nine states into whether noncitizens are…
CDC denies approval for high volume measles test, ‘prioritizing emerging technologies’
A letter signed by health officials in California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington, asks the CDC to reconsiderCalifornia and Washington asked the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in May to validate a new way to test for measles – but…
Mark Zuckerberg Agrees to Stay in California Despite Billionaires’ Tax Ballot Measure
Meta’s board feared that its CEO’s departure could disrupt the company’s AI ambitions. A new stock agreement gives him financial incentives to stay put.
Meta fined $25bn for ‘lies’ over user data privacy
The fine is the largest to date against Facebook's owner, larger than an $18bn deal with California.
Thousands of California public employees set to strike over contract
SEIU Local 1000, representing nurses and teachers, pushing for higher wages, telework and affordable healthcareThousands of California state workers were set to strike on Wednesday, rallying outside government buildings in several cities, as tensions…
Race for crucial midterms attracting vast sums of money on both sides | First Thing
Billionaire Michael Bloomberg is spending $80m to help Democratic candidates, while Trump has promised Republicans $400m. Plus a vital investigation into justice in LouisianaGood morning. Vast sums of money are being ploughed into November’s midterms,…
DoJ’s suspected non-citizens list includes ‘high percentage’ of those born in US, LA officials say
The statement revealed in court papers raises questions about the reliability of the list of 20,000 people in CaliforniaThe justice department’s list of suspected non-citizens in California includes a “high percentage” of people born in the United…