In today's newscast:
Summer blood shortage
Blood banks are facing a shortage of type O, with supplies dropping to a two-year low.
Kristin Conner is with the blood donation nonprofit Vitalant. She says they normally aim to keep a four-day supply on hospital shelves. Right now, they have about two days.
Conner says summer is always a difficult stretch for donations.
"About 10% of our blood supply comes from our colleges and our high schools. So, school's out of session, folks are on vacation, not as many people are going to donate," she said. "And at the same time, the need typically goes up. Summer activities, potentially more trauma, more accidents."
Conner says type O is especially important because it's the most versatile. Nearly 40% of people have type O blood, and in an emergency it can be given to patients before their blood type is known.
She says most people are eligible to donate. Restrictions on gay and bisexual men donating have been eased, and having tattoos or living in England during the mad cow disease outbreak are no longer deal-breakers.
Donating blood takes about an hour.
That reporting from our California Newsroom partner, CapRadio.
State Republicans seek federal block of health insurance tax
Republican lawmakers say a new tax hike on private health insurers will drive up costs for Californians. The tax was approved as part of the state budget to bring in more revenue to fund Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program.
But some in the healthcare industry warn insurers will pass the increased cost onto consumers, which could mean families pay hundreds of dollars more per month in premiums.
Republican Assemblymember Carl DeMaio represents part of San Diego.
"Politicians in Sacramento have applied so many mandates and regulations on how we do healthcare in this state that it’s crushing," he said. "The cost is absolutely beyond reach and it’s not sustainable."
Republican lawmakers have sent a letter to the Trump administration asking it to block the tax hike from taking effect.
That reporting also from CapRadio.