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Farmworkers line up in an equipment barn to get a health check-up at a farm outside of Helm last year.Only two Democratic lawmakers voted against Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget proposal last year curtailing healthcare for undocumented immigrants.
Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, from Los Angeles, is proposing legislation that would reverse many of those cuts and reinstate Medi-Cal eligibility for all income-qualifying residents regardless of citizenship.Durazo's bill would ensure that all immigrant adults age 19 and older could enroll in Medi-Cal. It would not reverse limits placed on dental benefits that last year’s state budget included, nor would it eliminate the $30 monthly premium required of the same population starting in July 2027. The state budget last year did not cut benefits for children without legal status.Whether Newsom will sign such a measure is unclear but seemingly unlikely. Grappling with a deficit for the fourth straight year — even as revenue grows — Newsom has already proposed cuts to other programs. Marissa Saldivar, a spokesperson for the governor, said his office would not comment on Durazo’s legislation.Now, Durazo, a Democrat from Los Angeles, is proposing legislation that would reverse many of those immigrant healthcare cuts and reinstate Medi-Cal eligibility for all income-qualifying residents regardless of citizenship.would ensure that all immigrant adults age 19 and older could enroll in Medi-Cal. It would not reverse limits placed on dental benefits that last year’s state budget included, nor would it eliminate the $30 monthly premium required of the same population starting in July 2027. The state budget last year did not cut benefits for children without legal status. “We are no healthier as a community than the person least able to access care. When we accept a two-tier healthcare system, we borrow trouble,” Durazo said Monday.each year and many of them now cannot benefit from programs those dollars support. The state spends about $12 billion annually on immigrant health care.for the fourth straight year — even as revenue grows — Newsom has already proposed cuts to other programs. Marissa Saldivar, a spokesperson for the governor, said his office would not comment on Durazo’s legislation. His January budget proposal made few changes to the state’s Medi-Cal program, which enrolls more than 14 million Californians, but it underscored the ongoing fiscal challenges. One major threat comes from President Donald Trump’s federal tax reform package, which imposed new limits on the provider taxes that nearly every state uses to support their low-income healthcare programs. California’s tax on health insurers is particularly large, generating about $7 billion annually for the general fund — a figure that the Medi-Cal spending has nearly doubled to $200 billion during Newsom’s two terms, adding to the state’s structural deficit, according to the nonpartisanBoth Democrats and Republicans criticize Newsom’s handling of healthcare for immigrants without legal status. Republicans blame Newsom’s gradual expansion of Medi-Cal eligibility to immigrants for the. Democrats are angry he partially reversed course, and some also take issue with his most recent budget proposal, which they say would needlessly extend some federal Medicaid cuts.on enrollees whose healthcare is paid for solely with state funds, a group that includes immigrants without legal status. State officials estimate work requirements will cause roughly 2 million Californians to lose Medi-Cal largely due to administrative hurdles. The fight over healthcare spending has become one of the defining issues heading into this fall’s elections.About this article Supported by the California Health Care Foundation , which works to ensure that people have access to the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. Visit www.chcf.org to learn more.Physician’s assistant Brett Feldman checks his patient Gary Dela Cruz on the side of the road near his homeless encampment in downtown Los Angeles in November.For the first time since Los Angeles County began tracking the data, fewer unhoused residents died on the streets in 2024, according to a report released Tuesday.About 2,208 people experiencing homelessness died in the county that year, 300 fewer than the previous year, according to thefrom the county Department of Public Health. The report also showed the mortality rate — which is the number of deaths per 100,000 unhoused residents — decreased by 10%. Health officials credit drug overdose prevention efforts for some of that decline, including greater distribution of naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.There was a 21% decrease in the drug overdose death rate among unhoused residents, according to the report. In 2024, 884 unhoused people died of drug overdoses in L.A. County. That was down from 1,140 deaths in 2023, according to the report. Unhoused residents were 46 times more likely to die of drug overdose than the general population. The report notes the overdose death rate is still about twice as high as it was in 2019.The numbers improved in 2024, but an average of six people experiencing homelessness died each day in L.A. County that year. People without stable housing face mortality rates over four times higher than the general population. Public health officials say many of those deaths are preventable. They recommend providing more access to shelter and housing, mental health and substance use treatment services.For the first time since Los Angeles County began tracking the data, fewer unhoused residents died on the streets in 2024, according to a report released Tuesday. About 2,208 people experiencing homelessness died in the county that year, 300 fewer than the previous year, according to theThe report also showed the mortality rate — which is the number of deaths per 100,000 unhoused residents — decreased by 10%. Health officials credit drug overdose prevention efforts for some of that decline, including greater distribution of naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. There was a 21% decrease in the drug overdose death rate among unhoused residents, according to the report. Still, an average of six people experiencing homelessness died each day in L.A. County throughout 2024. People without stable housing face mortality rates over four times higher than the general population."These disparities reflect systemic barriers — lack of safe housing, limited access to culturally responsive healthcare, unsafe environments, and the ongoing effects of trauma, discrimination, and social inequities," Barbara Ferrer, director of the L.A. County Department of Public Health, wrote in the report. She said she expects the work to get harder, with major state and regional funding reductions to some homeless services this year. “Just as we are beginning to see positive momentum on homeless mortality reduction, we are at risk of losing precious ground,” Ferrer continued. County health officials made several recommendations in the report, including providing more access to shelter and housing, mental health and substance use treatment services.The annual report relies on state death records, county medical examiner data and population estimates from the region’s annual point-in-time homeless count. More than 75,000 people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness in L.A. County in 2024, according to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority’s official count that year. Despite some decreases, drug overdose remained the leading cause of death among people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles County and accounted for 40% of all deaths among that population. In 2024, 884 unhoused people died of drug overdoses in L.A. County. That was down from 1,140 deaths in 2023, according to the report. Unhoused residents were 46 times more likely to die of drug overdose than the general population. The report notes the overdose death rate is still about twice as high as it was in 2019. Many of the deaths involved fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, but for the first time they accounted for a lower percentage than in the previous year — 59% in 2024 and 70% in 2023, according to the data. Most overdose deaths involve multiple drugs, according to the county. The percentage of deaths in which methamphetamine was a factor remained relatively steady — 80% in 2024 and 79% in 2023.The Public Health Department is tracking other leading causes of death for unhoused residents. In 2024, the rates for coronary heart disease and homicide among unhoused Angelenos went down, while transportation-related deaths and suicides went up.The second leading cause of death among L.A. County’s unhoused population continued to be coronary heart disease, which accounted for 14% of unhoused deaths in 2024. The previous year, it was 15%.Traffic-related injury remained the third leading cause of death among all unhoused L.A. County residents, accounting for 11% of those fatalities. That’s up from 8% the previous year. After a two-year plateau, the traffic injury mortality rate increased by 25% to 315 deaths per 100,000 unhoused people. About 230 unhoused pedestrians or cyclists were killed in traffic collisions in 2024. They were 24 times more likely to die from traffic-related injuries than the overall L.A. County population.Homicide was the fourth leading cause of death among unhoused people in L.A. County in 2024. That year, 105 unhoused people were victims of homicide, according to county data. That’s compared to 124 the previous year. Unhoused Angelenos were 14 times more likely to die by homicide than the general population.: The suicide rate among L.A.’s homeless population increased by 21% in 2024. County data show 80 unhoused L.A. County residents died by suicide in 2024. That was 4% of all recorded deaths among unhoused residents, up from 3% the previous year. Unhoused residents were 13 times more likely to die by suicide than Angelenos in general.The Department of Public Health made several recommendations to prevent premature deaths and continue slowing the mortality rate among unhoused people in the region.Ensuring that housing options support harm reduction, overdose prevention and substance use treatment.Published March 10, 2026 5:00 AM More Californians filed claims for paid family leave last year than ever before since the state started offering the benefits two decades ago.In 2025, California saw the highest amount of claims for paid family leave since the program started more than two decades ago.In 2025, more than 355,600 workers in the state took time to care for a sick family member or bond with a new child, up 16% from the year before, according to the California Employment Development Department, or EDD.who use the paid leave benefit. Workers in California can get up to eight weeks of paid leave and now recoup 70 to 90% of their regular wages, up from 60-70%.More Californians filed claims for paid family leave last year than ever before since the state started offering the benefits two decades ago. In 2025, more than 355,600 workers in the state took time to care for a sick family member or bond with a new child, up 16% from the year before, according to data LAist requested from the California Employment Development Department.for workers who use paid leave. Workers in California can get up to eight weeks of paid leave — and now recoup 70–90% of their regular wages, up from 60–70% the year prior. “The program continues to grow,” said Anne Chapuis, a spokesperson for EDD. While she said 2025 represents their largest year to date, the rise or fall of claims “can sometimes be attributed to a combination of factors including awareness, demand, and eligibility.” Jenya Cassidy, executive director of the advocacy group California Work & Family Coalition, said her organization is still working to understand why there’s a rise in claims, but have anecdotally heard of people taking it because of the increase. The group “Sixty percent of their income wasn't enough to pay their bills, and so many people are living on the edge in this state especially,” Cassidy said. She said there was also more publicity about the paid family leave program last year because of the payment increase. “There was a little bit of hubbub about this wage replacement , so I do think raising awareness about the affordability of taking it is a key thing,” she said. “People hearing it anecdotally, seeing it in the news, I think that kind of has an impact.”There are also cultural and general shifts around family leave, said Jessica Mason, senior policy analyst for economic justice at the National Partnership for Women & Families. “For millennials and Gen Z, there's a little bit more of an assumption that everybody's going to be doing caregiving, everybody's going to be involved in parenting, and those norms do kind of shift over time,” she said., with 14 states having paid family leave laws. But because California is such a big state, it plays a huge role in that statistic, she said. The program covers more than 18 million residents. “In California, about 97% of the private sector workforce is potentially eligible for paid leave … that's really at the top end of all of the states,” she said.To be eligible for paid family leave in California, a worker needs to have earned at least $300 in wages in a: Overview of California laws and helpline to get pro-bono legal advice, handouts about family leave and returning to work, sample letters to share with your doctor, and more If you're enjoying this article, you'll love our daily newsletter, The LA Report. Each weekday, catch up on the 5 most pressing stories to start your morning in 3 minutes or less.You can’t have your cake and eat it too, but you can for pie! This Saturday, March 14, is Pi Day — yes, 3.14 the math symbol — and you’ll have the chance to taste tons of pies at The Autry Museum, and help judge a mouth-watering contest.brings together more than 25 vendors in its “pie marketplace.” There will be baking demos, a beer garden and more. You’ll also get free entry to the museum. The event, which goes from noon to 5 p.m., is free and open to the public.Bakers will go head-to-head in a massive pie-baking contest, judged by Will Ferrell, Roy Choi and L.A. food writers. You’ll also play a role by voting for your visual favorites in the Pie Pageant. Pi Day is observed on March 14 because the month and day format we use has the first three digits for the value of Pi , 3.14. It was officially designated by CongressRideshare companies pass along to their customers a $4 or $5 airport fee. You might see this listed as a line item on your receipt as an “LAX Airport Surcharge.”The Los Angeles World Airports Board of Commissioners could vote tomorrow to increase that fee by as much as $2 to $8 depending on where the rideshare picks you up or drops you off.LAX officials are considering a proposal Tuesday to increase the fees rideshare companies are charged to access the airport. Currently, rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft generally pass a $4 to $5 airport fee along to their customers. You might see this listed as a line item on your receipt as an “LAX Airport Surcharge.” But the Los Angeles World Airports Board of Commissioners could vote to increase that fee by as much as $2 to $8 depending on where the rideshare picks you up or drops you off.once it opens and decrease congestion in the central terminal area, the area of the airport that’s also known as the horseshoe. David Reich, a deputy executive director for the city agency that manages the airport, told LAist that if the proposal is approved, LAX doesn’t plan on increasing the fee until after the Automated People Mover opens, which could be later this year.When the Automated People Mover opens, there will be new curb space for drop-off and pick-up. Known as the “ground transport center,” this new curb space will be a 4-minute trip from the terminal area via the Automated People Mover, according to Reich.If the proposal is approved, getting an Uber or Lyft to and from the ground transport center will come with a $6 airport fee. Even once the Automated People Mover opens, you will still be able to get rides directly to and from the curbs along the horseshoe, but they will come with a $12 fee. The proposed increases would also apply to taxi and limousine services, which currently operate under a slightly different fee structure than rideshare companies. The increased fees are expected to generate as much as $100 million in the first year the Automated People Mover is usable, according to a report to the board.In a report to the board, Reich said the Automated People Mover represents a"significant investment” that aims to “fundamentally reshape how vehicles move through the airport.” The idea behind having a higher fee for direct access to the curbs along the horseshoe is to encourage “use of new, high-capacity infrastructure” and preserve central terminal access for trips “that most require it.”. The proposal detailed in this article is item number 21. A related item, number 22, will also be heard tomorrow. While you can watch the meeting remotely via the link in the agenda, only in-person public comments will be heard.Uber is trying to fight the increases“Raising the LAX rideshare fee from $5 to $12 at the curb would punish travelers, working families, and seniors who depend on affordable, reliable transportation,” Danielle Lam, the head of local California policy for Uber, said in a statement. On Monday, Uber sent an email to passengers who recently used the rideshare service, urging them to write to city officials to “stop this massive fee hike.”Ten state lawmakers who are members of the L.A. County delegation sent a letter on Monday to the board expressing their “strong opposition” to the proposed increases. “Many Angelenos rely on a mix of options, including rideshare services and friends or family dropping off loved ones,” the legislators wrote in the letter. “Managing congestion cannot realistically rely on steep fee increases for certain transportation options.” Eight of the 10 legislators who signed the letter have received campaign contributions from Uber or Lyft, according to an LAist analysis of state campaign contribution data.Now is probably a good time to remind folks that there are other ways to get to the airport that don’t involve rideshares, taxis or even lifts from families and friends. The FlyAway bus offers regularly scheduled rides from the airport to Union Station in downtown L.A. and Van Nuys. You can see the schedulesLast year, the countywide transportation agency unveiled the LAX/Metro Transit center, which is accessible from the C and K rail lines and several bus routes. For now, an LAX shuttle is bringing travelers from the station to the airport. It will be one of the stops on the Automated People Mover once it opens.
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