In today's newscast:
Education funding at risk in the state budget
The California legislature must pass its next budget bill by the end of today.
As state and federal cuts have hit the education sector especially hard, local legislators have been feeling extra heat from their constituents.
At a recent press conference in Salinas, Central Coast educators and parents called on Sen. John Laird, D- Santa Cruz, and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Salinas, to preserve funding for public schools.
"For Salinas City Elementary School District, nearly $5 million is at risk," said Oscar Ramos, president of the Salinas Elementary Teachers Council.
He’s referencing a proposal by Gov. Gavin Newsom to withhold $3.9 billion from the state’s public education fund to manage other budget shortfalls.
Ramos says the dollars on the chopping block fund critical services, like support staff who work with students in small groups to develop their reading skills.
"Without those resources, many students will lose opportunities that could make all the difference for their educational journey," Ramos said.
Central Coast schools would lose roughly $40 million under Newsom’s proposal.
Pushback on bill to ban surveillance pricing
A California measure aimed at preventing businesses from using personal data to set prices is scheduled for another hearing today.
Our partner CapRadio reports the bill banning surveillance pricing is drawing opposition from grocery stores and other retailers.
Louis Brown with the California Grocers Association told lawmakers in April that large chains offer thousands of promotions that vary by region and store.
"To list all the discounts on a website, on any given time, is really an impossibility when it comes to working in the environment we do," he said.
Retailers also warn the proposal could reduce the number of discounts available to shoppers if businesses face penalties for missing information online.
The debate comes as labor groups and consumer advocates raise concerns about new pricing technologies.
