Press Coverage Proposed budget cuts stir up more protests than usual this spring Ventura County Star, April 12, 2008 When the California State Parks Foundation staged a statehouse rally last week to decry proposed budget cuts that would result in the closing of 48 state parks, organizers brought with them a number of props, including a camping tent pitched on the Capitol lawn. Stanislaus receives poor health rating Modesto Bee, April 9, 2008 Babies in Stanislaus County still die too often, children and adults still weigh too much and there's too much diabetes and heart disease. Schwarzenegger should take real steps toward real education reform in '08 San Jose Mercury News, January 14, 2008 There's been so much talk for so long about reforming California's ailing public education system -- to so little effect -- that it's no surprise some pundits were declaring the "Year of Education Reform" dead even before the governor finished his State of the State address Tuesday. California's kids deserve better San Jose Mercury News, January 8, 2008 California has 9.5 million children, and one out of every eight children in the United States lives in the Golden State. So, how well California educates and takes care of its children plays an important role in the state -- and nation's -- future. State receives poor grades on well-being of children MediaNews, January 3, 2008 A new report card on child well-being gives California near-failing grades for its rates of pediatric obesity and violence against children. Child health program pledged Ventura County Star, August 30, 2007 Top state officials on Wednesday vowed that universal health coverage for children will be enacted in California, and assailed President Bush for putting up roadblocks that will make it more difficult to achieve that goal. State's ranking for child well-being drops San Francisco Chronicle, July 25, 2007 California slipped one spot to No. 19 in an annual state-by-state analysis of child well-being -- a report that some advocates said raises concerns about the state's education system and the availability of health care for children. Kids from rich counties better off San Francisco Chronicle, June 20, 2007 Children who grow up in the Bay Area are more likely to be enrolled in preschool, have health insurance and score better on standardized school tests, according to a study to be released today by Children Now. Rural kids face gaps in health care, schooling, survey finds Sacramento Bee, June 20, 2007 Children in rural reaches of the Sacramento region have less access to quality health care and education than urban counterparts, according to a statewide survey of child health. Accountability and money crucial to schools' success San Jose Mercury News, March 22, 2007 Like canines marking trees, some big dogs in California education predictably staked out their turf last week. Prop. 86 empowers voters to save lives and money San Francisco Chronicle, October 20, 2006 Proposition 86 will support critical public-health priorities, such as disease prevention, medical research, children's health insurance and emergency-room care. Media ownership hearings in Los Angeles San Jose Mercury News, October 4, 2006 The battle over media consolidation began with hundreds of people imploring the Federal Communications Commission to prevent media conglomerates from growing even bigger. Law aims to improve afterschool programs Vallejo Times Herald, September 23, 2006 After school programs are sorely needed in Vallejo and opportunities are being explored to expand programs to benefit all youth. Congress Expected to Treat PBS Online Ad Decision as Positive, Says Sloan Communications Daily, August 31, 2006 PBS doesn't think its decision to carry ads on PBS.org and some of its kids sites will hurt its quest for money on Capitol Hill. Food Pitches Face Time-Out on Kids' Nets MediaWeek, July 24, 2006 Advertising to children is once again in play as an issue in Washington, as activists scrutinize possible links between food ads and obesity, and policymakers contemplate limits on interactive advertising.