Local first responders are using a new app to simplify communicating the exact locations of those in need of assistance. The app is called what3words (W3W) and can be downloaded for free. It divides the Earth’s surface into squares 3 meters per side, (57 trillion of them) and assigns a unique combination of three common…

By John FensterwaldEdSource The California School Boards Association announced Wednesday, Dec. 4, that it and its partners will end their effort to put a $15 billion tax initiative benefiting K-12 and community colleges before voters next November (https://www.csba.org/Newsroom/PressReleases/2019/2019-1204-FullandFairFundingBallotUpdate). Stating it wanted to avoid the prospect of competing tax measures for education on the same ballot,…

On May 13, Gov. Gavin Newsom released his revised fiscal year (FY) 2022-23 budget. For the first time, the state budget exceeded $300 billion. His January proposed budget was $286.5 million. Total expenditures approach $227.4 billion and revenues are forecast to be $222.6 billion.The estimated $15.4 billion surplus from FY 2021-22 plus new revenues is…

By Phil GalewitzKaiser Health News In the Byzantine world of health care pricing, most people wouldn’t expect that the ubiquitous flu shot could be a prime example of how the system’s lack of transparency can lead to disparate costs. The Affordable Care Act requires health insurers to cover all federally recommended vaccines at no charge…